How a PhD is like The Big Bang Theory

How to write academically or

How a PhD is like

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Jodie Martin

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You start off thinking and talking like Penny. You know what you know, you have a vague idea of what you don’t know, but you’re okay with that.

All PhD students sound (and frequently look) like Sheldon to you and you think if you get a PhD then that’s what you’ll sound like, though you swear never to wear plaid trousers.

Then you start to learn things but you also learn how much you don’t know. So you start talking like Leonard. Every statement comes out as a question. And you can’t write a single sentence without adding “possibly” or “could be argued”.

The problem is every academic article and thesis reads as if it is written by Sheldon – confident, immovable and completely convinced of its own genius.

But in reality a lot of us are just Leonard mimicking Sheldon.

So the key to write academically is very simple.

Step 1: Write like Leonard speaks. Include “arguably”, “potentially” and “theoretically” if it makes you feel better.

Step 2: Take out the phrases Leonard had you add: “debatably”, “it is possible” and “it might be seen”. Pretend you are Sheldon. Be convincing and confident. But don’t wear plaid trousers.

The End.

Twitter.com/jodie__martin

Slideshare.net/jayelem

Jodie Martin

About.me/jodiemartin