Unscholarly for Dummies

Unscholarly is a word that describes something or someone that is not scholarly or academic in nature. It refers to actions, behaviors, or methods that go against the accepted norms and standards of the academic world. Picture a classroom where students are engaged, asking thought-provoking questions, and participating actively in a respectful manner. These are the characteristics of a scholarly environment. Now, imagine the opposite of that: a classroom where students are disinterested, not actively engaging with the subject matter, and not adhering to the expectations set by the teacher. This would be an example of an unscholarly environment.

Unscholarly behavior can manifest in various ways. For instance, it can be seen when a student does not put effort into their studies, lacks curiosity, or fails to acknowledge the importance of academic integrity. It could also refer to the use of unreliable sources or the neglect of proper citation in a research paper. Basically, anything that does not align with the principles of scholarship can be considered unscholarly.

Now, let's think of it in terms of playing a game. In sports, there are rules and guidelines that players need to follow in order to play fair and maintain a level playing field. If a player constantly breaks these rules, shows a lack of respect for their opponents, or doesn't put in the effort to improve their skills, they would be considered unsportsmanlike. Similarly, if a student consistently fails to adhere to the rules, guidelines, and expectations of an academic setting, they would be seen as unscholarly.

So, in summary, "unscholarly" means not conforming to the accepted standards and behaviors of academia, much like being unsportsmanlike means not adhering to the rules and sportsmanship expected in a game.