WriteTEL: Session4

Revising and reviewing your paper

WelcomeSession overview

Length – 1 hourPresentations and activities

Ground RulesRaise hand for urgent questionsUse chat for general questions and activitiesArriving late/leaving early

Learning outcomesAt the end of this workshop, you will:appreciate the practicalities of submitting

papers for publication;recognise common errors made in paper

submissions;be able to identify techniques for dealing

with the review process.

Last session, we looked at...The literature reviewGetting your first draft on paperThe abstract

Any questions?

From first draft to finished articleHave a break after your first draftCritical reviewers are key

Don't ask too much of peopleBe clear about the type of feedback you wantChose people you can trustValue criticism and diversity of opinionYou don't have to agree with your reviewerAcknowledgments/co-authors

Be prepared to rewrite, and rewrite...But also be prepared to submit

Submitting your paperThe review process

Submission systemsAuthor checklistsBlind/double-blind reviewsTimescales

Getting your paper backAccepted as isAccepted with amendmentsResubmissionReject

Don’t give up!Next steps

Have a backup planMake changes quicklyReview and address the feedback thoroughlyMake it easy for the reviewerGet another critical review

Things to rememberReviewers’ opinions are opinionsReviewers disagreeSome reviewers are poor reviewersDevelop a thick skin

Activity: common problems

Think of (student) papers you’ve read… what was wrong with them?

Please make your suggestions in the chat window.

Common problems (1)Content

not appropriate for conference/journalno discussion of obvious flawsnot adding anything to the field

 Contextinadequate literature reviewlack of knowledge of the fieldtoo few/inappropriate references

Common problems (2)Structure

lack of clear structureno clear point/purposeno conclusions

 Stylepoor written Englishtoo informalnot writing for the audience

Common problems (3)Format

spelling, punctuation, grammarreference format, number, typeformatting, style and layoutlanguage and writing stylelengthelements missing

Activity: dealing with rejection

Rejection is an inevitable part of getting published.How can you deal with it?

Please add your suggestions to the chat window.

Some ideasHave a backup planTake some time out but don’t sit on itRemember that reviewers are humanDon’t waste time plotting revengeHave more than one paper on the goRemind yourself that ‘no-one finds it easy’