John Swales as mentor: The view from the doctoral group

Abstract

Graduate advisors have great potential power to influence their students' academic experiences and future careers. In this article, four of John Swales' former doctoral students narrate their experiences with his mentoring style. Four areas in which mentoring plays a part are discussed: beginning the research process, analysis and writing, preparation for academic careers, and the relationship between advisor and student. The narratives reveal both the complexity of the graduate advisor's role and the ways in which John Swales was successful in that role.