• The Mindful
Research Paper:
Getting Students to
Slooooow Down and
Actively Focus
Joe Eshleman
and
Fernanda Tate-Owens
Johnson & Wales
University
What does it
mean to be
mindful?
attentive
aware
observant
conscious
reflective
“in the
moment”
Mindfulness is characterized by
awareness and acceptance of present
moment thoughts, emotions and
physical sensations (Kabat-Zinn, 1982)
Why are you
here now?
Are you here
now?
How does this apply to
a student working on a
research paper?
Topic selection is difficult and stressful,
and can be a barrier to student success on research assignments.
I just think that the research process
is dumb, stressful,
stupid, meaningless and just simply
anything that defines the word awful!
I do not like doing it; doing research
papers stress me out.
The research process is
stressful. But it’s a certain kind
of stress where you can’t do
anything else to help hide it but
actually finishing the research.
But I hate doing research; it takes
forever. Papers in general are so
stressful, but research papers are
really stressful in knowing what to
write and the order things should be
in.
This took me a while to understand where I
could take my paper with this question but it
hit me about 1:30 this morning while I was
sitting at my desk stressing out.
Working Together
• Professor introduces assignments and librarian’s role to students
• Librarian visits class for an introduction and short review of assignment
• Librarian is e-mailed assignment , grades (copies Professor) and gives feedback to
students
• Librarian has library instruction session with students, gives quiz, is given feedback
on session from students
• Professor meets with students individually to discuss research paper
• Librarian gives feedback on e-mailed annotated bibliography (optional for students )
and provides an extra source for student’s topic
Making a Mindful Topic Choice
Thinking about Writing the Research Paper: Picking a Topic
Asking and answering the question, “What can I do to make my research paper
experience better?
Step back for a moment and reflect on the reasons that you write a research paper and
how to improve your experience. In some of your other classes, for example, why you
are learning a particular skill in the kitchen, a trend in a certain hospitality industry, or
how to write a particular business letter may be obvious. Take some time to think
seriously about the ideas explored here and answer the questions honestly. Write
complete sentences in paragraph from, for each question.
The Importance of the Topic
When you are choosing a topic for a research paper, pick something that motivates you and creates
passion about wanting to explore that idea. The topic is very important because what you choose
motivates you to find information on it.
What specific topics would you choose to create an assignment that would produce enthusiasm and
motivation?
Why would that choice of topic or topics get you interested in finding information about it?
Finding Information about Your Topic
Now that you have a topic that interests you and you are eager to find information about it, what do
you want to find out about it?
Where could you find this information
Search
Learn
Outline
Write
Time to slooooow down
Student Sample Problem and Solution Research Proposal
Social Security: Will It Be in Place for the Current Generation?
Interest and Motivation: The Social Security system is not a long-term plan. The way the system is currently working, benefits for those individuals who will
be entering the workforce within the next decade will be very slim, maybe even nonexistent, by the time they are at a point where they can retire. I have
chosen to write about the Social Security system because it is a problem that will have an effect on my life. I am aware that there will be a significant effect
on my generation, and I want to take this opportunity to educate myself on the subject further. I want to use the information that I gather through writing
this paper to make sound decisions on how to handle my retirement funds when I enter the workforce after college.
Source
Kurtzleben, Danielle. "5 Ways to Reform Social Security." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 15 Sept. 2011. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.
Five potential means of reform for Social Security are proposed in this article with explanations of how each would be beneficial. The article also states how
each proposed item of reform would not work if it were implemented or how it would create difficulties.
Solution: One proposed reform to the Social Security system is to privatize the system. This motion would make the Social Security system for private
contributors only, not for all tax payers. Kurtzleben says, “As current workers’ payments into the system go to current retirees, a shift to privatization could
hurt those beneficiaries.” This means that current beneficiaries of the Social Security system would lose the support that they receive because they did not
contribute to the private system. Another issue that could come from the privatization of the system is the rate of return that contributors would receive. If
individuals are given the ability to contribute to their funds privately, it has the potential of increasing the rate of return significantly (Kurtzleben). This
occurrence would allow certain individuals to benefit more from the system than others.
Audience and Significance: The target audience for this research project would mainly be those individuals who will be entering the workforce within the
next decade and those who have been in the workforce for approximately a decade. The individuals who fall within that group will benefit from reading this
research because it will give them insight as to the potential effects that reform to the Social Security system could have on them in their lifetime. This paper
will also help these individuals make decisions on whether they should invest their money for retirement in a 401k, or if they should rely on Social Security.
Question: What potential reforms can be proposed for the troubled Social Security system?
Claim: The Social Security system is beginning to pose problems for large amounts of people, but there are several means of reform that can improve the
system.
Outline (Solutions)
I. One measure of reform that can be taken to decrease the gap would be to privatize the system.
II. Increasing the age of retirement is another mean of reform that can benefit the Social Security system.
III. Another measure of reform that can be implemented would be to increase the cap for payroll tax.
Some benefits of mindfulness
• Pacing through steps
• Becoming more aware of processes
• Understanding the “why” rather than just the
“how” (New IL Framework – Threshold
Concepts)
Results and Take A-Ways
• Being more in the moment to take note of
processes (students, faculty, librarians)
• Understanding the role of the librarian
• How can you bring some mindful concepts
into your work?
Thanks, and
stay mindful!
References
“An Introduction to Mindfulness”. Youtube Posting. 3 April 2010. Web. 4
June 2014.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are, Hyperion.
Project InfoLit. “PIL InfoLit Dialog, No. 2: Procrastination”. Youtube Posting.
9 April 2009. Web. 4 June 2014.