Research Starts with A Thesis Statement

The theory that research begins with a thesis statement is a dangerous belief and practice when it comes to writing. In her essay “Research Starts with A Thesis Statement” in the book Bad Ideas About Writing Emily Wierszewski believes that a “thesis- first research model in research is only used to verify our existing ideas or thesis” (Wierszewski pg.231). This is a bad idea when it comes to writing due to the fact that it doesn’t welcome the idea of uncertainty and curiosity. Thesis- first approaches exist only to glorify that a researcher’s pre-existing belief is correct. Without openly accepting curiosity writers are deprived of the chance to explore the infinite varieties of ideas and question that could develop while doing research. A better idea of writing would be to “begin research with a question or a statement of a problem” (Wierszewski pg. 233). Allowing individuals to ask questions allows them to embrace the unknown and new findings, rather than limiting the possibilities.

Thinking Allowed

Emily Wierszewski has the firm belief that starting research with a thesis statement is a bad idea about writing. She believes that students view research as a tool only reliable for supporting beliefs, rather than asking questions. Wierszewski believes this is a bad idea when “In a thesis-guided research process, a question is posed, an answer is generated, and sources are found that match up with that answer” (Wierszewski pg.232). She believes students need to be guided to open ended question first approach to research to create an authentic process of analyzing sources and material. Having this freedom creates a safe space for inquiry and honest answers for students, and the ability to advance as a writer. “When we understand research as a process of discovery rather than a process of proof, we open ourselves up to be changed by our research—to better our lives, our decisions, and our world” (Wierszewski pg.234). She believes that once students open up to this idea, they not only improve as writers, but they explore curiosity with a new perspective. Students will no longer be afraid of the unknown but rather intrigued with what it could lead too.  Wierszewski beliefs of asking questions, is supported by Robert Davis and Mark Shadle, two authors who further discussed the benefits of trying different research processes. Davis and Shadle not only believed in having a research process built on creativity and inquiry, but also how important writing itself affects this process.

Research writing as useful as it can be is very disregarded by students as an unnecessary skill. Research has been thought of as a standard way of writing from creating a thesis statement, to carrying out research and proving theories to be right. In Mark Shadle and Robert Davis essay “Building a Mystery: Alternative Research Writing and the Academic Act of Seeking” Mark Shadle helps readers understand that research writing can be a resourceful tool in straying from the “modernist ideals”(pg. 418 Davis & Shadle) of writing and formulate different strategies a student could use when it comes to writing a research paper. Davis and Shadle believe that in comparison to the classical idea of research writing, students should embrace the ambiguity of passion and freedom to explore the unknown. As an example, Shadle and Davis point out that an important aspect of research, is writing. More specifically they state that writing is a way for “writers to demonstrate their place in society.

Writing

This idea about writing has further been supported by David Bartholomae as he further discusses how analysis and writing can be resourceful to a student learning to write complex content. For a student to write, he feels that they must “learn the language and how to speak as we do”(pg. 8 Bartholomae) and to learn the language student must be brave enough to try and be open to guidance. Bartholomae argues that “the writing that students do in colleges and universities takes place in a complex context of already ongoing disciplinary discourses”(pg. 12 Bartholomae).The base of research is writing, getting back to the basics and redefining the understanding you have of the language of writing and avoiding writers block. He expresses that every paper a student writes invent the university and at some point, learn the language. Bartholomae argues that a solution to shape students into better writers is “If we look at their writing, and if we look at it in the context of other student writing, we can better see the points of discord when students try to write their way into the university”(pg. 17 Bartholomae). If teachers example the factors under which students write, we can better understand the lack of connection to the language of writing. Ultimately bridging the gap between writing and how it connects to all other forms of writing.

https://wac.colostate.edu/jbw/v5n1/bartholomae.pdf

http://academic.shu.edu/english/1201/Davis_&_Shadle,_Alternative_Research_Writing.pdf

https://textbooks.lib.wvu.edu/badideas/badideasaboutwriting-book.pdf

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/board-school-teaching-students-2353410/