16.00 qs1 mon helen fallon

Helen Fallon, Deputy Librarian,National University of Ireland Maynooth

Helen.b.fallon@nuim.ie

Goals of this workshopIncreased energy and confidence in writingGreater understanding of the mechanics of

writingGreater understanding of the different

requirements of peer-reviewed and professional journals

Increased knowledge on finding out about publishing opportunities and publicising your publications

Task 1– Writing to PromptWrite for five minutes, in sentences, without

stopping, using one of the following prompts

I am interested in writing about…

An area of my research which I would like to

write about is…

I feel at my most creative when I’m writing

about…

Task 2- Finding TopicsWork with a colleague and list as many

topics as you can that you feel you could write about. These topics could relate to work you have been involved in, subjects that interest you or topics you have done research on

Next list the sources you might use in your article

Task 3 – Making a case for writingWrite for five minutes in sentences,

in no more than fifty words, explaining to your department head why is it important that you publish

Task 4– Defining audience and Purpose

Describe in one sentence the purpose of the piece you are writing

What is the audience for your article? What’s your angle?What data do you have? Is this topic most suited for a research article/a practice-based article or some other format e.g poster?

Practice-based articleBased primarily on experienceGive some backgroundDescribe what happenedWhat was the impactReflection – what worked, what didn’t

work so well, what could be done to improve it

Conclusion(who, what, when, where, how)

Research-based article• Must draw on research• Generally longer than practice-based article

e.g. 5,000 words• Double blind peer review• Has an abstract (informative or structured)• Literature Review• Gives methodology and results• References

Outlining/StructuringThere are different ways to structure articlesStudy the format of articles in the journal you hope

to targetRead first for story then for structureModel articles on other articles that work well

(template)Different structures can achieve the same end in

different waysBe aware of your audience

Outlining Murray, R. (2005) Writing for Academic Journals. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press, p. 9

Context/Background

Literature review

Method/approach

Results/Analysis

Discussion

Conclusion

Topic 1 – 250 words

Topic 2 – 250 words

Topic 3- 250 words

Introduction

Task 5 - OutliningDraw up an outline for an article you

wish to writeGive approximate number of words in

each sectionWrite a description of each section

beginning with the words This section will cover…

Elements of a peer-reviewed articleTitleAbstract & KeywordsIntroductionLiterature reviewMethodologyResults/AnalysisDiscussionConclusionReferences

Task 6 - Drafting a query e-mailBefore writing/submittingIdentify journalIdentify editorSingle sentences

I am writing an article on…My experience is this area…I think that readers of your journal would be interested

in… because…

WritingTo begin writing you have to begin

writingWriting generates ideasDon’t look for perfection, just writeGive yourself permission to write

badlyAll writing is rewriting

WritingCan start at any point, but generally not

introduction or conclusionScientists often write the results section up

firstWrite in sentencesNo more than one idea in each sentenceLogical movement from sentence to sentence

and from paragraph to paragraph

StyleHouse style (journal style)First, second or third personActive or passive voiceTense TransitionsSignposts

Headings & subheadings (official)Endings of sections that hark back to what went before, announce what comes next (unofficial)

Movement/Coherence/clarity

Writing as StorytellingWriting as storytellingBeginning, middle and end (not necessarily in

that order)What makes a story interesting?A story has a themeA story has movementA story has a flowSomething happens/changes

Drafting and Revising

Draft and redraftNumber and date draftsRefer back to your audience & purpose

statementAsk a critical colleague to readRevise title, abstract & article

Drafting and RevisingWhen finished put aside for at least a

weekReread Spell checkRecheck submission guidelinesFile preprintLet go

SubmissionProfessional Journal – editorAcademic Journal – double blind peer-reviewers

Accept as isAccept with revisionsRevise and resubmitReject

Make changes as quickly as possibleRereadResubmitKeep postprint

Publicising Your WorkDeposit in Institutional Repository

Policy available at www.sherpa.ac.ukCreate a profile using google scholar

http://scholar.google.co.uk/intl/en/scholar/citations.html

Create a profile on Academia.edu

Academic Writing Librarians BlogTo encourage/promote academic writing

among library staffCalls for papers/posters/book chapters etc.Links to my articles on academic writingTips from published authorsTips from journal editorsOther

http://www.academicwritinglibrarian.blogspot.ie/

Academic Writing ToolkitSection 1. Beginning to writeSection 2. Ideas generationSection 3. OutliningSection 4. Abstract and titleSection 5. Finding a journalSection 6. Writing the articleSection 7. SubmissionSection 8. Peer-review and resubmissionSection 9. Publication and celebration

Follow Academic Writing LibrariansFollow Helen Fallon on Twitter for updatesAccess the blog at http://academicwritinglibrarian.blogspot.ie/Sign up as a followerFollow by e-mail from the box on the

homepage

Moving on with your writing

WriteDescribe, reflect

and evaluateTalkNotebookDataCollaborate

Be strategicCite key peopleSet realistic goalsGive and look for

peer supportCelebrate

Bibliography on Academic Writing

Academic Writing Librarianshttp://anltc.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/BIBLIOGRAPHY-ON-ACADEMIC-

WRITING.pdf

Online Academic Writing GroupE-mail helen.b.fallon@nuim.ie by Friday 4

AprilPut online Writing Group in title of Message