Writing is a task that many students have varying opinions on; some love it, while others hate it. What causes these differences in opinion? How can we change the writing process so that all students see writing as a form of artistic expression? I decided to investigate the reasoning behind students’ differing views of writing, in hopes of discovering motivational factors that contribute to the enjoyment of the writing process.
I began my research with many questions in mind, and hoped to discover new ideas and information that could assist me in my future teachings. The overall question I hoped to answer was the following: what motivational factors can be used to help students with writing? Many students tend to struggle with the writing process, often lacking the desire or motivation to write, both in the classroom and at home. By researching the reasoning behind these behaviors, I could increase my own knowledge and implement a more student-friendly writing environment in my classroom. In addition to researching motivational factors of students, I also investigated to find out what specific activities and instructional practices can be used in the classroom in order to increase student motivation. Knowing how to motivate students greatly helps in the effort to create lifelong writers.
While conducting my research, I discovered an abundance of knowledge related to the idea of student motivation, and learned how to implement effective writing instruction in the classroom. It is important to provide students quality, educational opportunities in order for students to meet their fullest potential. By learning what motivates students, we can help further their personal growth. I hope that the research I share inspires you to reflect upon your own ideas of the writing process, and how motivational factors can influence such an important part of education.