WRITING AND PUBLISHING JOURNAL ARTICLES

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WRITING AND PUBLISHING JOURNAL ARTICLES Northeast Forestry University 4 th November

To Northeast Forestry University To Professor Song To Professor Gastel and INASP

of Programmes, International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications

editing and publication of over 500 journals from Africa, Asia and Latin America

associate: impact of electronic publication on research and libraries Desk editor for

books) Today s presentation 20 tips for writing and publishing journal articles

your article Please ask questions Please wave at me if I talk too quickly!

1 WRITING AND PUBLISHING JOURNAL ARTICLES Northeast Forestry University 4 th November 2013 Thank you! To Northeast Forestry University To Professor Song To Professor Gastel and INASP (AuthorAID) Sara Gwynn About me Consultant researcher, editor and facilitator Director of Programmes, International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications Access to journals for universities and colleges in developing countries Support in editing and publication of over 500 journals from Africa, Asia and Latin America Training and mentoring early career researchers to publish their work Research associate: impact of electronic publication on research and libraries Desk editor for the Institute of Physics Publishing, UK and Springer Verlag (academic journals and books) Today s presentation 20 tips for writing and publishing journal articles Preparing to write Writing Improving your article Polishing your article Submitting your article Please ask questions Please wave at me if I talk too quickly! Copies of presentation available PREPARATION 1. PLAN FOR PUBLICATION AS YOU PLAN YOUR RESEARCH Is the research carefully designed? Is the analysis carefully designed? Will it have all the information needed to be publishable? 1

DECIDE AT THE START Who are the authors? Which journal do you want to publish in? 5.

2 2. KNOW THE ETHICS Accurate and honest Original Acknowledge others work State conflicts of interest Good treatment of humans and animals 3. USE YOUR LIBRARY Important for background knowledge and context Provides reference material Books, journals, open access and other information Your librarian can help you! 4. DECIDE AT THE START Who are the authors? Which journal do you want to publish in? 5. read the journal s instructions Very important and useful Most journals have the instructions on their website Follow them!! WRITING 6. SET ASIDE TIME FOR WRITING Choose times when: You concentrate well You will not be disturbed or distracted You can set aside regularly Maybe have a writing plan? 2

7. USE MODELS OF GOOD WRITING Look at papers you think are

publish in Look at the language, style, length, references,

START WITH THE SECTION YOU FIND EASIEST Methods? Results?

9. ORGANISE YOUR INFORMATION CAREFULLY Can save you a lot of

are the sections in the journal you wish to publish in?

literary skill than with organisation Robert A Day 10.

3 7. USE MODELS OF GOOD WRITING Look at papers you think are well written Look at papers in the journal you want to publish in Look at the language, style, length, references, diagrams, etc 8. START WITH THE SECTION YOU FIND EASIEST Methods? Results? Discussion? Introduction (often easiest last) Something else? 9. ORGANISE YOUR INFORMATION CAREFULLY Can save you a lot of time Usually: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion What are the sections in the journal you wish to publish in? The preparation of a scientific paper has less to do with literary skill than with organisation Robert A Day 10. REMEMBER YOUR READERS Who will be reading your paper? Match your paper to their knowledge Match your paper to their interests IMPROVING 3

11. USE POSTERS AND PRESENTATIONS Helps you to focus your work Helps you to organise your work

teachers Set your paper aside for a while and come back to it 13.

feedback from an expert in your field, someone general from your field, and someone outside your field

4 11. USE POSTERS AND PRESENTATIONS Helps you to focus your work Helps you to organise your work Encourages you to analyse your work Provides feedback from colleagues and teachers 12. REVISE, REVISE, REVISE!! Every paper will be improved by writing then revising Listen to feedback from your colleagues and teachers Set your paper aside for a while and come back to it 13. ASK PEOPLE TO READ YOUR PAPER BEFORE SUBMITTING Pre submission peer review Can be helpful to get feedback from an expert in your field, someone general from your field, and someone outside your field Revise some more!! POLISHING 14. CHECK THE LANGUAGE AND READABILITY Check grammar and punctuation Define acronyms, where needed Use simple common words Delete complicated phrases and words that are not needed See plainenglish.co.uk for free advice 4

15. CHECK TABLES AND FIGURES Remember to mention every table and figure in the text Make sure text and table/figures don t overlap

MAKE GOOD USE OF FREE ONLINE GUIDES On being a scientist: a guide to responsible conduct in research www.nap.edu/openbook.php?

Consider getting help from a mentor or author s editor Do you now someone who has published a lot of papers? Professors?

Author s editors: help improve papers before submission editing companies, freelance, some universities SUBMITTING 18.

5 15. CHECK TABLES AND FIGURES Remember to mention every table and figure in the text Make sure text and table/figures don t overlap too much Text should present the main message Detail should be clear from the figure or table 16. MAKE GOOD USE OF FREE ONLINE GUIDES On being a scientist: a guide to responsible conduct in research cord_id=12192 AuthorAID: UsingEnglish.com Plain English campaign etc 17. Consider getting help from a mentor or author s editor Do you now someone who has published a lot of papers? Professors? Senior colleagues? Author s editors: help improve papers before submission editing companies, freelance, some universities SUBMITTING 18. UNDERSTAND HOW JOURNALS WORK Initial screening Peer review Editor s decision Revision Copyediting Review of proofs Etc 19. EDITORS AND PEER REVIEWERS ARE YOUR ALLIES Peer reviewers can offer useful advice to authors The Editors also want you to publish an excellent paper Work together! 5

6 Most important 20. WRITE TO COMMUNICATE, NOT TO IMPRESS You want readers to understand your work They should think it is clear, important and interesting Use clear, simple language Good writing is mostly invisible Thank you for your attention Any questions? 6

The Language of Instruction in the Writing Workshop: Some possibilities organized by teaching methods

The Language of Instruction in the Writing Workshop: Some possibilities organized by teaching methods DEMONSTRATION Write in front of students, or refer to a piece already written Focus may be only on