Winds Of Change: Writing For Publication

WRITING FOR PUBLICATION

Thomas Baker

Writing for Publication

Thomas Baker

Colegio del Verbo Divino

profesorbaker@gmail.com

“...even in one’s native language, academic writing

can be a formidable undertaking.”

Bartholomae, D. (1986) Inventing the university. Journal of basic writing. 5, 4-23.

Outline

� Why Should We Write?� The Writing Process.� The Publication Process.� Dealing with Rejection.� Q & A Session.� Conclusion.

WHY SHOULD WE WRITE FOR

PUBLICATION?

Why should I write?

� Make contributions to the field.� Expected / required.� CV / Resume.� Advancement.� Enjoyment.� Skill you have.� Asked to do so.

Six Myths That Haunt Writers Henson, K. T. (1995) The art of writing for publication.

Needham Heights: Allyn and Bacon.

� I am not sure I have what it takes.� I don’t have time to write.� I don’t have anything to write about.� The editor will reject my work because

my name is not familiar to them.� My vocabulary and writing

skills are too limited.� In my field there are few

opportunities to publish.

Types of Articles

� Literature reviews � Experiential� Data-based research� Action Research� Theoretical� Case Study

Some Questions to Ask when Choosing a Journal...

� Number of readers?� Refereed?� Themed Issues?� Research?� Rejection rate?� Weeks for decision?� Months required for

publication?� Style?� Electronic submission?

HOW MANY EDUCATION JOURNALS ARE THERE?

� Answer: 7930� How many are refereed?� Answer: 1298 (16%)� Corby, K. (2007) Technology and quality in

educational scholarly communication. (Table 2, pg. 3)

� Paper presented at the Society for Information Technology in Teacher Education Conference (San Antonio, Texas, Mar, 2007).

20 ELT-RELEVANT: JOURNALS & NEWSLETTERS

The Writing Process

Questionnaire:

Aspect of writing most challenging (choose 3)

Searching for relevant information using academic databases or journals

Paraphrasing from reading materials

Writing in an academic style

Structuring your written work

Using references and quotes in your written work

Presenting research results

Using correct grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation

Other

THE WRITING PROCESS(for me)

� PREWRITING� DRAFTING � REVISING

PREWRITING

� Topic / Audience / Purpose� Brainstorming / Freewriting� Outlining / Listing / Organizing� Questioning� Concept map

DRAFTING

� What works best for you?� Do you have to write to see what you

think or do you write in your head?� Do you need to wait until you are

“ready” and then write a “clean” draft or do you write multiple drafts?

REVISING� Meaning: Evaluate claims & evidence.� Purpose: Evaluate audience.� Organization: Evaluate order / logic.� Style: Word choice / tone / syntax.� Clarity: Look for wordiness/ambiguity.� Coherence: Connectors used correctly.

Transitions between paragraphs.� Mechanics:

Spelling/grammar/punctuation.� Read the paper out loud.

PROFESSOR JOHN SWALES’ “CARS”

MODEL (1990)Create A Research Space

� 1. Establish the significance and centrality of the research area.

� 2. Selectively summarize previous research.

� 3. Establish the need for their own study. (The “gap” statement)

� 4. Suggest that their own study will rectify the problem.

� http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/

Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge: CUP.

Parts of a Research Article

� Abstract� Introduction � Methods� Results� Discussion� Conclusion� References� Appendixes� http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/

Tips for Writing up your Work

� Determine the type of physical environment you need to be productive.

� Determine the time of day when you write best, and the length of time needed.

� “Talk” your way through. Describe to yourself or to others what you intend to write.

� Before stopping, list what you intend to do during the next writing session.

Tips, (cont.)

� Set aside what you have written and reread after some time has gone by (days).

� Don’t get bogged down in the technical aspects of writing such as spelling and grammar; these can be corrected later.

� Expect there will be times when conditions are perfect, but you still cannot write: do something else and try again later.

For More Engaging Writing...

� Narrative of some personal experience.� Open or close with a quotation / poetry.� Use humor (appropriately).� Begin with a controversial or debatable

statement.� Use metaphors (implied comparisons).

The Publication Process

The Publication Process

� Manuscript is submitted according to “author” or “submission” guidelines.

� The editors may do a “pre-screening” for appropriateness of the ms. for the journal.

� Ms. is sent out for review to 2 or 3 reviewers; the review is “blind” in that the author does not know who is reviewing the ms., nor do the reviewers know who the author is.

� Reviewers return review to the editors who then make a final judgment on its status.

Publication Process (cont.)

� Author is notified with a cover letter from the editors and comments from reviewers.

� An “accepted” decision almost always requires some revisions.

� Author makes revisions and returns ms. to the editors with a cover letter saying what revisions were done.

� Author receives page proofs for editing.

_______________________

Increasing your Chances� Present your work at a conference or workshop for

feedback before writing the article.� Ask colleagues to read a draft of your article.� Develop a writing/reading group to help each

other.� Make a careful selection of the journal before you

write the article.� Follow “author” or “submission” guidelines and

format according to the journal.� Submit to one journal at a time. After 3 months

check on the “status” of your manuscript.

DEALING WITH REJECTION

REVISE & RESUBMIT

� This is not rejection!!!� Articles are very rarely

accepted for publication without revision.

PERSISTENCE

� “... authorial persistence, that is, willingness to continue revising and resubmitting when faced with extensive critical commentary from reviewers, can result in publication.”

� Belcher, D. (2007) Seeking acceptance in an English-only research world. Journal of second language writing. (16) 1-22.

_________________

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6 Common Reasons for Rejection of a Manuscript� Lack of a theoretical framework.� Tries to do too much, cover too many topics.� Focus of ms. is unclear and/or inconsistent. � Implications not explicit.� No support for claims made.� Ms. sent to wrong journal.

Plagiarism: What is it?

Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s

work, from any source whatsoever, as your own.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/StudentServices/69038.htm

Plagiarism: How is it detected?

� Knowledge of the discipline and its literature.

� Changes in writing style, inappropriate writing style.

� Electronically using “Turnitin”.� Electronically using: “Google”.

CONCLUSION:Successful Writing

� Writing is hard work:– Self discipline– Self denial– Rejection is high

� “Writing is hard work, even to those for those who enjoy it.”

� Henson, K. T. (1991, pg. 9) Writing for successful publication. ERIC Clearinghouse on reading and communication skills. Bloomington: Indiana. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/23/16/73.pdf

A Final Thought

Successful Writing... is not easy,

but....

You Can Do It!