Winds Of Change: Writing For Publication
-
Upload
baker-publishing-company -
Category
Education
-
view
98 -
download
3
Transcript of Winds Of Change: Writing For Publication
WRITING FOR PUBLICATION
Thomas Baker
Writing for Publication
Thomas Baker
Colegio del Verbo Divino
“...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.
_________________
_______________
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!