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. (198 6 ) Inventing the university. Journal of basic writing. 5, 4-23.

“ ... even in one’s native language, academic writing can be a formidable undertaking .”

Bartholomae, D. (198 6 ) 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?

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.

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.

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

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?

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) .

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

The Writing Process

Questionnaire: Other Using correct grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation Presenting research results Using references and quotes in your written work Structuring your written work Writing in an academic style Paraphrasing from reading materials Searching for relevant information using academic databases or journals Aspect of writing most challenging (choose 3)

THE WRITING PROCESS (for me) PREWRITING DRAFTING REVISING

PREWRITING

DRAFTING

REVISING

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

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?

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.

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) C reate A R esearch S pace 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 /

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 /

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.

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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

DEALING WITH REJECTION

REVISE & RESUBMIT This is not rejection!!! Articles are very rarely accepted for publication without revision.

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.

“ ... 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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http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/13/4b/dd.pdf

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.

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 is defined as presenting someone else’s work, from any source whatsoever, as your own.

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 ”.

Knowledge of the discipline and its literature.

Changes in writing style, inappropriate writing style.

Electronically using “ Turnitin ”.

Electronically using: “ Google ”.

WRITING TIPS The Art of Writing by Robert Louis Stevenson http:// www . mckinley .k12.hi. us / ebooks / pdf /artow10 “ Still the less they understand, The more they admire the sleight-of-hand ...”

The Art of Writing by Robert Louis Stevenson http:// www . mckinley .k12.hi. us / ebooks / pdf /artow10

“ Still the less they understand,

The more they admire the sleight-of-hand ...”

Advice from Ray Bradbury Zen In The Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury “ Not to write, for many of us, is to die.” “ You must stay drunk on writing...” “ Zest. Gusto.” http:// raybradbury . ru / stuff / zen _in_ the _ art _ of _ writing . pdf

Zen In The Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

“ Not to write, for many of us, is to die.”

“ You must stay drunk on writing...”

“ Zest. Gusto.”

http:// raybradbury . ru / stuff / zen _in_ the _ art _ of _ writing . pdf

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

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....

Successful Writing... is not easy, but....

You Can Do It!