tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post5312015056366545034..comments2008-12-15T21:05:05.853-07:00Clint Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07671508034667904543Clint.Gardner@slcc.eduBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-46830070325787425792008-12-15T21:05:00.000-07:002008-12-15T21:05:00.000-07:00I agree with Jenny. <BR/>I think the student knew she needed help and if the paper was due Monday and she just now realized she needed to expand... then it's a good thing you were there to point her in the right direction. =)Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16315792627961670466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-49823150728273099282008-11-16T14:42:00.000-07:002008-11-16T14:42:00.000-07:00I don’t think that letting someone know what they need to work on is at all hindering them. I’m sure the writer already realized that she needed more research. It might be hard to hear sometimes, but what can you do? I think if you had told her that she had met all the requirements, you would have been hurting her more. One of the things that I have to watch most in consultations is saying that a paper is “good.” It is difficult for me because I really want the writer to feel good about their writing, but I am treading on dangerous territory when I make a blanket statement about the paper. Since I am not the person who will grade the paper, I try instead to find specific things to complement in the paper. I think what you did is you gave your honest opinion about what needed work in the paper; the writer can choose to take it or leave it. And it sounds like you gave her a lot of helpful suggestions! I don’t see how that could hinder her. As a matter of fact that seems to me to be a big help!jennywrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01653667071739845649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-27713998143143344962008-11-12T15:47:00.000-07:002008-11-12T15:47:00.000-07:00Hi Susan. Lynn here from London Metropolitan University in the UK. In response to your experience, I'd say that a large proportion of my peer mentoring sessions have highlighted the need for further research, and quite often this has been greeted with cries of "Oh no!"<BR/><BR/>My feeling is this; if you've identified that certain additional work is required, you're giving the student a free choice between doing it or taking a different path. You've raised their awareness and with it their range of possibilities. Of course, this may be seen as being quite burdensome, but you know what a wise man once said about the price of freedom being eternal vigilance, right? <BR/><BR/>I'd be really interested to hear everyone else's views.Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710216198570247742noreply@blogger.com