From thesis to academic papers

From a thesis to an academic paper – 10 tips for success

Roger WatsonEditor-in-Chief(courtesy of Professor Mark Hayter)

@jadvnursing

Why publish from your thesis?

Career progression/ CV strengtheningUseful at VivaPrestige of your institution/supervisorsTo share research findingsTo disseminate good practice

Because you enjoy it........and

Let’s be honest..! – it’s good to see your name in print!

The road to publication can be daunting.....

It can be done!

10 ‘tips’ for publishing from your thesis.......

1 – ‘Plan Ahead’

• Discuss with supervisors

• Authorship discussion

• This may affect your writing style/structure

2. How many papers?

• Literature review separately?

• Qualitative and quantitative elements?

• Theoretical/clinical paper?

• Beware of ‘salami slicing’.

3. Target journal/s

• Aims and scope• Types of papers• Always right for a

particular journal• And make sure

you follow the guidelines

Journal guidelines

4. Make a ‘template’ paper

• Set out the sections and headings

• Paste material from the thesis into each (don’t think about word count yet.

• Think about style• Start to edit

5. Edit! Try not to be sentimental

• Try to remove sections rather than words at first.

• Seek help and feedback.

• Always think ‘what is essential’ to my paper.

6. Order of writing and editing

1. Methods

2. Findings and Discussion sections

3. Background or literature review

4. Abstract

7. Use tables when you can

• Tables can reduce the word count.

• Check author guidelines

• Tables for results – but also demographics and data analysis

Table 6: extract from consultation 6 (clinic A)Nurse: what we suggest you do is start your pill

from whatever date your period starts and from

then on you are sort of protected.

Woman: the last day…?

Nurse: no, the first day of your period, so

whatever day of the week that is and you carry on

for all your 21 pills. We suggest you take it at the

same time everyday, it doesn’t matter what time

of day it is, it’s whatever suits your lifestyle. It’s

best if you get up at the same time in a morning

and are able to remember to take it with your first

cup of coffee at breakfast.

Woman: yes

Nurse: What we suggest you do is take it at the

same time everyday within a few hours

Woman: I tend to do that

Nurse: That’s great. This is the leaflet we will be

giving you to go through. The pill is over 99%

effective, but that depends on how well you take

it, if you forget to take it and go messing around

with the times, then it is not so effective.

Open codesInstructions on use

Protection from pregnancy

Women questioning

Awareness of menstruation

Being aware of time

Instruction in use

Fitting into lifestyle

Affirming understanding

Awareness of time

Instructions on use

Confirming compliance

Giving written information

Contraceptive % efficacy

Danger of non compliance

Interference with contraception

Education about physiology

Timing of pill taking

Requirement for protection/STI’s

Affirming compliance

Contraceptive % efficacy

Informing of side effects

8. Final editing – things to watch

• Qualitative data representativeness

• Remove references to ‘appendix’ etc

• Remove thesis section numbers

• Check all tables referred to are there

Seek criticism of your writing

NOT THIS

OR THIS

THIS

9. Understand the publishing process

• Write first for:• Editors• Reviewers• Your audience• Understand the

process papers go through

What to expect when you submit to JAN

Submission online

Rejection

Revisions

Accept

Response in 10 weeks

Immediate email acknowledgement and MS number

Copyright Transfer Agreement

10 – Don’t give up

• Rejection is part of academic writing.

• Not all rejections are about quality.

• Treat rejection as part of the next submission – have a plan ‘B’.

Edited by Karen Holland and Roger Watson

An invaluable guide on writing for publication, enabling

the reader to develop skills in writing articles, book reviews and other forms

of publications, written by experts in the field.

September 2012, 288 pages

ISBN: 9780470657829

£19.99 / €25.90 / $32.95

Order online at www.wiley.com

Prefer digital? Visit your e-book retailer to order

Writing for Publication in Nursing and Healthcare:Getting It Right

Thank youEmail: r.watson@hull.ac.uk

@rwatson1955