Once you have determined the subject that you are interested in writing about, you need to spend a great deal of time studying it. However, you can optimize the time you spend studying if you know how to identify useful books and articles as opposed to those that are useless and deceptive. Furthermore, you need to approach the subject with an open mind so you do not dismiss important information or get drawn into a fallacious argument. The intelligent reader will recognize that some information is better than others.
In the area of education, there are three kinds of information: edifying, destructive, and useless. Some books and articles will teach true principles and stir you to action. Others will leave you feeling frustrated and hopeless. Others may be interesting to read, but in the end they won't contribute to your overall knowledge. Books are almost always the best source of information, so focus your study on them.
Edifying Books
Edifying books are positive books in which the author has carefully studied the subject, has a good understanding of it, and has presented the ideas well. In short, edifying books are those that are well-written, just like you want your paper to be. Here are some attributes to look for to identify edifying books:
- They will motivate you to action: you will want to put their information to use in your life.
- They boldly declare the truth.
- They don't needlessly repeat information.
- They present a thorough argument and a fair presentation of the opposing point of view.
- They reveal their sources so you can repeat their research.
- They are logical and reasonable.
You should seek out edifying books to aid you in your studies. Since edifying information is objective and looks at the whole picture, you can get all of the necessary information needed to write a great paper from this type of book.
Destructive Books
Destructive books can hinder your research if you don't recognize them for what they are. They may make you feel confused and uncertain about the subject, or they may convince you that something that isn't true is. If you learn to recognize destructive books you can put their information into context. Here's how to recognize a destructive book:
- They make you feel helpless, overwhelmed, frustrated, and depressed.
- They offer unsubstantiated assumptions and often present them as facts.
- They may be redundant.
- They unfairly condemn all opposing points of view and belittle those who believe them.
- They ask for blind acceptance of their point of view.
- They use logical fallacies to make their point.
Note that destructive books aren't useless. If you recognize that a book or article you are reading has these destructive qualities, then you can benefit by putting the information you glean from them into context. They can also be used to provide different points of view. They might even stir you to action in order to disprove them. However, you should be careful not to focus on these kinds of books, or believe their point of view without further evidence.
Useless Books
Very few books and articles are truly useless. Even novels can provide helpful insights. However, in the realm of education, some books just don't do much at all. Here are some signs that a book isn't helpful to you in your studies:
- The facts they present are useless: unimportant to everyday life.
- They may leave you feeling entertained, but not fulfilled or even frustrated.
- They don't enhance you as a person.
Useless information should be avoided during study. It may be entertaining, but it won't help you write a strong paper. It will only waste the time you could be using to study helpful information.
Where to Find Edifying Books
When searching for appropriate books to help you with your studies, look to the original authors of the ideas you are exploring. In other words, if you are studying the theory of relativity, study Einstein's writings on the subject. When you begin your search for good information, start by identifying the most well-known voices on the subject. Follow the history of your subject back as far as you can. Studying the different authors on a subject throughout history can give you an understanding of how ideas developed and took shape. You will gain a much more thorough idea on the subject than if you only study modern books that summarize the works of the great voices through the ages.
Keep an open mind
An open mind is essential in studying for your paper, because writing well is an activity that will lead you to enhanced understanding if done right. If you approach a subject hoping to prove a certain point of view and dismiss all opposing points of view without consideration, you may be missing out on an opportunity to learn true principles that will enhance your life. Effective studying is a search for truth.
You will be able to tell if you have studied well for your topic because you will feel the desire to write about it. If in fact you have learned true things during your studies, those things will motivate you to do good things in your life and share the information with others. That is the nature of good things. Effective studying is one of the greatest tools in the writing process because it not only gives you the information you need to write the paper, it gives you the desire to write about it. Take time to study well and let your studying touch your life. You will find that this is what writing is all about.
