Frequently I am finding that after master's students have completed their course work, which included their research courses, they are still lacking in the rudiments of academic writing (e.g., APA style citations, paraphrasing, use of grammar and punctuation, and writing concisely). In addition, I find that I have to spend much time to review the study elements such as the Background, Purpose, Problem Statement, Significance, Literature Review, and Methodology in supervising their research study. Do you have any pre-assessments that you administer to determine their readiness for undertaking graduate research or advice on how to close this gap in order to maximize their time in actually doing the research? Your feedback is truly appreciated here.
Many thanks,
Debra
I think that the best way to prepare students for academic writing is to give them a complete guide, including sampe wording, and also to have them study several excellent examples.
Here is a very basic outline of a thesis or dissertation.
Method Scholarly Writing Outline for Thesis or Dissertation
Dear Michael:
I wish to follow-up on your suggestion about providing excellent examples for students to follow. Could I kindly ask you to share any of these examples that you may have?
Many thanks,
Debra
More than pre-evaluation instruments, it is convenient to train postgraduate students in scientific research methodology; in such a way, that from the formation in some specialty, masters or doctorate of its discipline or profession, it must develop competences for the elaboration of a protocol of investigation and application of the same, for the generation of new knowledge in the matter of its interest .
This training involves the development of capabilities such as documentary research, critical reading, analysis and evaluation of scientific research papers published in high-impact journals; also theory of knowledge, epistemology, research methodology, original field research, design and validation of measurement instruments, biostatistics or statistics applied to specific sciences, etc.
Finally, all this to apply to develop their thesis, develop the standard document and publish the results of their research in a Scientific Journal, the last requirement, along with dissertation of the thesis before an academic jury, to obtain the specific degree.
To assess if master's students are ready to start their research, I would simply give them the task of each preparing a research project proposal. If they succeed, then they can start the research they proposed. If not, you can see which areas need remediation.
If they need remediation, they could usefully study my E-textbook to close the gaps. https://www.amazon.com/how-research-todays-tips-tools-ebook/dp/b01i5jjdxc
Tony Lynch and Kenneth Anderson (2013), GRAMMAR FOR ACADEMIC WRITING, English Language Teaching Centre University of Edinburgh
https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/grammar_for_academic_writing_ism.pdf
This is an interesting topic, which I'll address from the perspective of the student as I do not have to privilege to lecture yet. Academic writing is a skill that all students should develop throughout the pre-modules building up to the finial project, so I agree with Mutasem Z. Bani-Fwaz that it is learned daily. If this method is implemented with a checklist for all the areas Debra mentions and students get critical feedback from the first module assignment students may improve their skills to such a level that more time can be spent on the actual research. I support Ian Kennedy's idea of compiling a solid research proposal, however many a student my at this stage still not be too sure what their research topic should entail, so the guidance of 'advisor' is of paramount importance. I also have found that the person in charge of the research proposal section and introducing the areas José Luis García Vigil mentions during the finial project stage has too many students, upto 30+, to support from quite a wide scope of departments, so the much needed guidance turn into a generic funneling, that most possibly may rob the research from a solid start. It is helpful to the student to start with a well define template, which will ensure the desired areas are in sequence and not missed, the layout and font will then also be correct, which link strongly with Michael W. Marek concept of providing excellent examples to work from, but student originality should also be taken into account. Academic writing in an era where humanity is reverting back to hieroglyphics, emoticons, will become more challenging to address.
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