Stata 15 Cheatsheets

Sure, Stata 15 is nice but what's even more exciting? Stata 15 cheatsheets!!! Download them! Print them! Post them! Memorize them! Use them!  

For Students Going on the Market: Time for the Big Push!

Ok, maybe asking for papers drafts is a special procrastination device of mine, but it's also really important. Here is some advice on twitter for students planning on going on the market. The big takeaway: "You should have a rough draft at this point, a good sense of what to do to polish everything up, and a plan with your advisors on how to do that. If you don't - make a final push or wait until next year." 

Favorite Professor Procrastination Activity

Emailing students asking about drafts of papers at odd hours!

PhDComics comes through again.

How to Write a Paragraph

Ok, I have blogged about how to write introductions and conclusions, and also how to write the parts in between. Today: how to write a paragraph. In all honesty, I have never really thought about how to construct paragraphs. In fact, I laughed when I read LSE's Writing for Research advice because I am absolutely guilty of some of the "common paragraph problems." I often split paragraphs just because they are getting too long and struggle with what to do about one sentence paragraphs. For the official record, this often happens when referees ask me to add references, and I don't know where to put them. Take away: include all important references in the first submission. 

In any case, my main message about writing paragraphs is actually not that you need to very carefully follow any formula. What I want you to get from this post (especially my three students going on the market this coming year!) is that (a) writing is important and (b) that it is hard. I know you are busy with coding new specifications and running many robustness checks, etc., but please please, give yourself some time for writing. Job market paper writers, maybe have another look at this old post on how to write a paper.