Hi everyone. let me add to Maya's note.
The goal of this assignment is to improve your classmate's paper as
much as possible. If you have an incredibly novel idea, donate it.
They'll do the same for you (or for someone else, who will do that for
someone else, ..., who will do that for you).
When you graduate, one of the most difficult but crucially important
resources for you to develop is a set of people who will read your
paper in detail and give you constructive criticism. This is
essential to make it in academia. One way to cultivate these
connections is to give serious constructive comments to others.
(I.e., reciprocity usually works!). So we're simulating this
important task that you will, I hope, learn soon enough if you haven't
already. but its also not entirely a simulation, since in past years
the connections made in this class have lasted many years after class
and after graduation; perhaps that will happen here too.
Finally, you certainly should point out anything you think is wrong,
suboptimal, in need of improvement, etc. Making sure that you are
clear enough so that the person gets your advice is essential, but its
also a good idea to be nice. You can say the same thing in caring or
cutting ways, and so do your best so that you will be heard. We all
have egos, and so getting someone to listen to you obviously involves
how you say something. So to conclude with the message I started
with: replicate and design your comments to make the paper you've been
assigned the best paper there is.
Gary
---
http://gking.harvard.edu
On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 3:31 PM, Maya Sen <msen at fas.harvard.edu> wrote:
Hey folks,
As promised, I've got your replication-of-replication assignments. (Attached
to this email; I also posted this to the course website.) In almost all
cases, I was able to honor exactly everyone's preferences. (If you didn't
submit preferences, you got matched more randomly.)
IMPORTANT: In lieu of a problem set, your assignment this upcoming week is
to replicate the paper you've been assigned and to draft a memo to the group
with constructive feedback and suggestions. Remember, these are your
colleagues, so you should be respectful and helpful.? You should give
feedback on both the replication itself (code as well as substantive
content) as well as suggestion on possible extensions and improvements
(ditto). This memo will be due one week from today, April 1, by 6pm.
ALSO: You should plan on getting in touch via email with the people who are
replicating your paper this evening and sending them the code, data, and PDF
write up of your replication so far. Feel free to CC me and Iain on these
emails.
best, Maya
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