HOW TO PUBLISH IN SCHOLARLY JOURNALSLesson 7-10

OUTLINE

Abstract Introduction Planning before writing Writing the manuscript Submitting the manuscripts The review process

ABSTRACT

At the beginning of an article, there is the Abstract

Usually it contains about 100-150 words MUST READ!! This can be the key to unlock your

understanding of the paper! Main points of the paper are usually

highlighted in a very concise form Worthwhile to read several times if you do

not grasp the ideas

ABSTRACT CONT.

“The authors discuss issues to consider when one is planning and writing a scholarly manuscript”

(pointing out the audience) This paper offer suggestions about -- substance 内容 -- organization 结构 -- style 写作风格 (detail scope of content) Describe journal submission and peer review

process (additional content)

INTRODUCTION

This introduction is not a conventional one, it basically repeats the abstract, adding a little bit more detail.

Read together the intro

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING

1 Consider your reason for publishing 2 Determine the scope of your manuscript 3 Connect your research to the field 4 Decide early on the target journal 5 Consider whether to co-author your

manuscript

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING

Good writing begins with planning! Consider: Your purpose for publishing Your audience Think through why you want to publish?

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING

Consider your reason for publishing Determine the scope of your manuscript Connect your research to the field Decide early on the target journal Consider whether to co-author your

manuscript

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING (1A)

The main reason should be you have something worthwhile to say

Scholars contribute to their profession by publishing

Contribution needs to be timely, and adds new thoughts

Contribution can be: -- ground breaking work -- “good steady work” (add-ons) -- advance the field incrementally -- coherent with current research

Another practical reason to publish is to gain opportunities

Yours might also be: to fulfill a course requirement, want to study abroad (build resume), get a good job, sustain a good position

In academia: publish or perish! High quality paper definitely will put you in

top category on the job market

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING (1B)

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING

Consider your reason for publishing Determine the scope of your manuscript Connect your research to the field Decide early on the target journal Consider whether to co-author your

manuscript

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING 2A

After establishing a focus for your research and clear about the reason for publishing

You can address the scope To Focus, not be overly ambitious, and try to

cover too many issues in one paper Specific focus + depth Think carefully about the focus, and stay

focused

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING 2B

Solid proof and support needed DO NOT overextend your findings DO NOT exaggerate in writing DO NOT claim any weak conclusion It will be a waste of time to write an

indefensible case!!!!! TRUE! A common reason of rejection: THERE is NOT enough support in the data for

the claims made

An example of an empirical research: a. clearly articulate research questions derived

from review of literature and theoretical framework

b. well-conceived design c. a thorough explanation of how you collected

and analyzed the data d. outcome or findings e. well-drawn, sensible conclusion (No

overstatement)

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING 2C

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING

Consider your reason for publishing Determine the scope of your manuscript Connect your research to the field Decide early on the target journal Consider whether to co-author your

manuscript

Introduction includes a literature review Review should be thorough and up-to-date DO the literature review first before your

attempt to write Avoid duplicate unwittingly or Make unwise or uninformed claims Cite references: do not cite all, cite most

relevant Cite: influential sources, fairly recent ones,

key historical pieces, high quality work relates to your points

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING 3A

Avoid citing weakly supportive reference, or just a speculation which you proceed to claim as fact

Read the source that you are citing Misleading or erroneous literature can show

that you are not qualified to write this topic Meanwhile, the closing discussion should

connect your research to a larger field In the conclusion, you should come full circle,

connecting your research findings to the body of work that you described in lit review

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING 3B

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING

Consider your reason for publishing Determine the scope of your manuscript Connect your research to the field Decide early on the target journal Consider whether to co-author your

manuscript

Different tiers of journals Peer reviewed journals are the most

prestigious for some disciple Book, book chapters Journal ranking is affected by different

factors: -- Wide circulation -- low acceptance rate -- well-known editors -- citation half life, SSCI -- Impact factors -- high visibility, included in different DB

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING 4A

Publish-for-pay journals are disputable Pay to publish is even more disputable Magazine or organization newsletters * read articles from the journal you are going

to submit your paper, make sure there is a good fit

* editors must reject papers, excellent ones that are outside their scope.

* get current information about the journal

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING 4B

Ask more experienced colleagues Many scholars consider it their professional

responsibilities to mentor next generation scholars. (e.g. game theory professor)

Try higher tier journal first if you believe there is a chance

Good reviews from those journal reviewers can be great help to improve your paper

Seek information by emailing the editor directly

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING 4C

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING

Consider your reason for publishing Determine the scope of your manuscript Connect your research to the field Decide early on the target journal Consider whether to co-author your

manuscript

Collaboration with number of others Have some first author paper or sole

authorship paper Make sure you are not publishing only with

your graduate school mentor Can create synergy Can also be a painful process

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING 5

WRITING THE MANUSCRIPT

Tell them what you set out to do Tell them what you did Tell them what you found Discuss your findings Don’t forget about style Get help from others

Tell what you set out to do

Earlier in your paper, you need to establish your intended contribution

Clearly state the topic, particular problem or questions you will address and why they are important

WRITING THE MANUSCRIPT

Tell them what you did Must report the method used in the research Your research method should align with your

theoretical framework, purpose statement and research questions

For quantitative studies, your methods need to be detailed to the point others can duplicate.

A detailed methodology helps to establish the trustworthiness of your research.

Common error: write a vague and too-brief methods section

WRITING THE MANUSCRIPT

Tell them what you found DON’T need to report all things in the result

section Good result section will flow logically and

make all the important results memorable Be parsimonious, don’t bore your reader ( 吝

啬的） for theoretical piece, just include the core steps, and the rest can be put in appendix

WRITING THE MANUSCRIPT

Discuss what you found Don’t go too broad or too far Don’t draw implication from findings not

sufficiently supported by data Don’t claim the findings are relevant to

issues beyond those that the study was designed to inform

* Don’t report new data in the discussion

WRITING THE MANUSCRIPT

Don’t forget about style Different style books to follow MLA or APA Stylish pointers: -- make sure transitions are succinct ( 简明的） -- Spell out the acronyms 缩写， first time

appearance needs to spell out -- Avoid passive voice -- Don’t anthropomorphize 人格化 , your study

did not conclude anything, you did -- Stay away from wordiness and jargon 术语 -- Avoid using “this” as a stand-alone pronoun.

代词

WRITING THE MANUSCRIPT

Get help Proof read many times Friends, colleagues Copy editors (pay $) The better the manuscript you submit, the

better the odds for success in the review process

* some reviewer will be upset by poor spelling or grammar mistakes

WRITING THE MANUSCRIPT

SUBMITTING THE MANUSCRIPT

Create a good first impression Send in your manuscript

SUBMITTING THE MANUSCRIPT

Create a good first impression --format: 12 size font, double space, left

alignment, number pages, use 1 inch on all margin, match reference and the citations in the paper, proofread, be fastidious ( 挑剔的）

Send in your manuscript -- carefully follow submission guidelines -- the guidelines can be found on the journal’s

Website -- if the journal asking for masking the submission,

carefully to do so, remove all information that might reveal your identity

THE REVIEW PROCESS

The Process Summary Editor’s Decision “Revise and Resubmit” “Accept Pending Decisions” Overcoming Rejection

NEW WORDS (VOC)

List new words in the article, start to build your Vocabulary

REVIEW THE SUMMARY HOMEWORK (1 CLASS)

Handouts will be distributed in class Try to be supportive to your classmates Be active in thinking ways to improve the

summary We will discuss the common usage problem

in writing through the discussion of your classmates’ homework.

IN CLASS EXERCISE

Please “re-develop” the outline for the article we have written a summary for.

Learn how to write an article using a formal structure

After the initial level’s of headings (outlines), list all the next level sub-headings for the paper

Then, pick one of the level 2 headings, start to write an extended outline for it.

That heading need to have at least 2 paragraphs

Here is an example of this exercise

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING:

I. Consider your reason for publishingII. Determine the scope of your manuscriptIII. Connect your research to the fieldIV. Decide early on the target journalV. Consider whether to co-author your manuscript

PLANNING BEFORE WRITING:I. Consider your reason for publishing

a. main reason is having something (sth)to say

1.scholar contribute to profession dialogue by publishing

2. that sth: timely contribution, add new ideas

3. Two types of research:

i: groundbreaking work is not for new scholars

ii: expectation for new scholar, good steady work

4. publication be part of a coherent, sustained research program

b. a more practical reason is for opportunity

1. academic job seekers’ advantage of having a publication

i: advantage

2. the benefit towards tenure decision, based on

i: number of publications

ii: research theme, demonstrate clear programmatic focus

iii: quality of journals