How to Avoid Misunderstanding Your Students - Research Study on Writing Papers

How to Avoid Misunderstanding Your Students - Research Study on Writing PapersAs a writing instructor I have come across many students that, when I introduce them to the discipline of research, express surprise and outrage. Many of these people feel that in order to write well then they should be writing from their own intellectual position. This is not so.The student in question probably feels as if their Professor has been reading their works and teaching them every minute detail. The fact is, a good course of study is based on a real understanding of the issues involved and the use of critical thinking to solve problems. A good professor will never state the obvious, the answer to a question that has been asked and put forward on the blackboard.In order to become an effective student researcher the first principle of research should be the importance of research, not teaching. Teaching students how to conduct research is a huge part of a course of study. The second principle is th at research must be an integral part of every one of the student's studies. I am certain that if you had a course with no research component, every student would have dropped out before you finished the course.I would say that it is only the most effective student researcher that takes a long time preparing a series of independent projects. The day I learnt this principle was from my colleagues in the London School of Economics, Professor Mankiw. At that time he was in the process of making a book on leadership.Every decision-making process starts from an idea. An idea is a wish or a need, based on the available information. It is the collection of data that actually makes up the concept of the 'idea'. Every research student should consider this part of the task of their course as if this were his or her primary research project.You may think that the term research is too vague and that you can't think of anything to do with research. Well this is true. But you should remember that while looking for the answers to the questions in your mind, you are also gathering all the information you have, which enables you to look at the world more objectively. You are collecting the facts and figures in order to arrive at the best possible conclusion.You need to make sure that a strong research component is present in every one of your student's studies. The cost is minimal, the time is highly valuable and the benefit is huge. So go ahead, find out for yourself what a good research component is.