tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post955326361667865020..comments2023-10-30T12:26:15.822+01:00Comments on Research as a Second Language: The Length of the JourneyThomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04858865501469168339noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post-56618885808042058352013-02-07T17:38:20.524+01:002013-02-07T17:38:20.524+01:00And in that formula, don't we have the whole p...And in that formula, don't we have the whole problem of graduate education?<br />Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858865501469168339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post-77050816129487175742013-02-07T17:34:46.568+01:002013-02-07T17:34:46.568+01:00Yes, put another way, some should be intimidated b...Yes, put another way, some should be intimidated but are not. Others shouldn't be intimidated but are. Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371893596402673898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post-44635186452331853162013-02-07T07:50:45.388+01:002013-02-07T07:50:45.388+01:00Maybe this is splitting hairs, but I meant "d...Maybe this is splitting hairs, but I meant "daunting" in the sense of "intimidating" and "discouraging". When the student gets intimidated by the task of making a scholarly contribution, s/he has misunderstood the task.<br /><br />We agree that it's not the right response to tell them, "Don't worry, it's just an exam". The right response is to help them understand what contribution they might make.<br /><br />At the more general level, I also think students who either can't or won't (for a variety of reasons) make a contribution should be given occasions reflect on their choice of career.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858865501469168339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post-59001792533361263492013-02-06T22:43:44.206+01:002013-02-06T22:43:44.206+01:00It should seem daunting. It is a tall order. It d...It should seem daunting. It is a tall order. It depends really on whether the doctor will be a scholar subsequently or not. If it is a credential to which an exam attests, then so be it. My post was written for the alpha scholar. Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371893596402673898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post-5095280351303653352013-02-06T22:02:55.200+01:002013-02-06T22:02:55.200+01:00Yes, that's the point. The question of "s...Yes, that's the point. The question of "seriousness" turns on the distinction between being a student and being a scholar.<br /><br />But this is also where the problem of taking things <i>too</i> seriously arises. Sometimes the task of making an actual scholarly contribution can seem daunting (this normally stems from a misunderstanding of the task). I think that's what people mean when they helpfully remind PhD students that it is, ultimately, "just an exam".Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858865501469168339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post-77713729548699691642013-02-06T19:27:06.993+01:002013-02-06T19:27:06.993+01:00Don't write in order to prove that you deserve...Don't write in order to prove that you deserve the degree. Write in order to make your first contribution to knowledge. It might be a modest contribution, but it will contribute something. Don't approach the dissertation as an exam to be passed on the subject matter. <br /><br />If it makes a contribution, then it will also prove that you deserve the degree. If it proves that you deserve the degree, but doesn't really contribute, then you are still a student but not yet a scholar. Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371893596402673898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post-75631764663423438932013-02-05T16:47:40.779+01:002013-02-05T16:47:40.779+01:00Thomas, thanks for this insight.
I haven't hea...Thomas, thanks for this insight.<br />I haven't heard "don't take your dissertation too serously" explained quite this way before.<br />Makes sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com