Hello

I hope to continue much of what I was writing about in my previous blog, scholarssurvival.blogspot.com  But now in a more regular weekly or daily column, with posts no more than 1000 words, and likely 750. Let us begin.
MK

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Robert Caro as a Model

In today's New York Times (9Jan20) there is an article about Robert Caro, author of monumental histories of Robert Moses and LBJ. His research and writing are monumental as well. You are unlikely to finish writing a Caro book in time for tenure review, unless it began as you dissertation. But few academic historians as as revered as is Caro. While it is foolish to expect your dissertation work to be as pathbreaking as is Caro's work, still it sets a standard for effort and writing that may well inspire you, not a bad thing. Choose your heroes with care, and surely do not restrict them to professors and the like. 
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Micro and Macro

 The standout part of the Harrassment Training was the video on  microaggressions .  My version of that is when I am said to be intellectual and  smart . Often it is less a compliment than a microaggression. I first recall being told I was smart when I was an assistant professor, by a friend/colleague, and it was meant as a genuine description--I had always known really talented people since I was exposed to them from places other than my high school, and then in college. I surely was  and am not in their league, neither so smart or sophisticated. We know that "smart" or other such terms were used to describe Jewish academics, and it was generally not at all a compliment, meaning uncouth and just intelligent. The Soviet Union specialized in this as did the Third Reich, so supplying the US with some of its greatest scientists and mathematicians. In general, until about 1955-1960 the Ivies were not exact so welcoming of Jews, for which see Karabel,  The Chosen . https://www.
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Plagiarism

The current public affairs person at Treasury has been found to have a doctoral dissertation rife with unattributed quotations etc. Several years ago, in a doctoral course, I found that the final papers were filled with unattributed quotations, paraphrases, etc.  This is cheating, violations of academic integrity, and may lead to harsh penalties. Of course, do not intentionally cheat, leave out references to sources, and quotation marks when appropriate. To be sure, ask you advisor or instructor to put your paper through TurnItIn's test for originality. Such copying is common in consulting and politics.  So for advice see a regular faculty member who has a deep research portfolio and many publications. (Our spectacular teaching faculty may not have these since research is not part of the job description.)
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