HOW TO DECONSTRUCT

ALMOST EVERYTHING
 INTRODUCTION

Overview of Argument: Writer endorses the view that

Academics get paid for being clever, not for being right

Preview:
Writer is a software engineer
He attends an International Conference on Cyberspace involving
people from different disciplines
The writer is convinced that that the presentation by academicians
are extremely verbose with little or no relevant content
 SITUATION ANALYSIS

Background of the writer

A Software Engineer by profession
Little or no relevant background in Humanities

An Interdisciplinary conference
The conference consisted of people from varied background
The discussion of the academicians from Humanities group (post
modern literature critics) made no sense to the writer
 PROBLEM ANALYSIS

Symptoms / Facts / Inference / Analysis Inference / Analysis Working Hypothesis

Evidence Level 1 Level 2
Use of metaphors & Academic conferences Use of metaphors & Every academic
jargons makes the involve excessive use jargons is necessary in discipline has
discussion opaque to of such metaphors & a homogenous group developed its own set
out-group jargons of metaphors /
jargons for easy
interchange of
information and ideas

Comprehensibility to Communicating in a It is thus imperative Incomprehensibility is

outsiders has not group assumes a that intragroup a necessary evil, it is
been one of the standard level of communication would not intentional by the
selective criteria to understanding of the be difficult to academicians
which academicians subject comprehend for out-
are subjected group people
 DECISION ANALYSIS
Alternatives Criteria1 : Criteria 2: Criteria 3:
Prior knowledge of Conflicting notions Understanding of
the subject / Industry-Academia
academic literature collaboration
& Preconceived
notions

Join as a part-time Prior knowledge Enhanced Enhanced

faculty to appreciate assessed by the
an academicians students
standpoint
Explore the option of Enhanced No change Enhanced
joining R & D wing of
his company
Restrict himself to No change Dissonance No change
attending conferences mitigation
in his own field
 RECOMMENDATIONS

Best Option: Join as a part-time faculty to appreciate an

academicians standpoint

Credibility & Benefits

Experiencing the life of an academician will make him appreciate the
important role of academia
Better perspectives in the light of new things
Understand the necessity of using metaphors and jargons in writing
papers and getting published