This document provides guidance on publishing in top-ranked journals (Q1). It discusses selecting the best target journal, writing strategies, manuscript sections, and the peer review process. The goal is to help researchers understand how to develop high-quality manuscripts that stand the best chance of being accepted in top journals.

1. How to publish in
Q1 journals
King Saud University
22.10.2018
Dr. Dina Mahmoud
Ahmed

2. Rules

4. Objectives
Find the best idea for your next
scientific article
write a good research paper
Submit in a high ranked journal
Get acceptance for your paper
Get citations for your work
dhasanin@ksu.edu.sa 0580066073
By the end of this session the audience should
know how to:

5. ISI web of
knowledge
Clarivate
Analytics
USA
12500
Scopus
Elsevier
Germany
20000
450 8500
11500
Scientific Databases
dhasanin@ksu.edu.sa 0580066073

6. ISI web of
knowledge
Master Journal
List
Journal Citation
Report
Scopus
SJR
Scientific Databases
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10. • Requirement for graduation (PhD)
• Requirement for promotion (Faculty Members)
• To be recognized in the field/subfield of research
• To disseminate knowledge
• To get higher accreditation level (College and
university)
Why publishing in ISI-Indexed journals? dhasanin@ksu.edu.sa 0580066073

11. Quartile rankings are derived for each journal in each of its
subject categories according to which quartile of the IF
distribution the journal occupies for that subject category.
What is meant by Quartile?
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Q1 denotes the top 25% of the
IF distribution
Q2 for middle-high position
(between top 50% and top 25%),
Q3 middle-low position (top 75%
to top 50%),
Q4 the lowest position (bottom
25% of the IF distribution)

12. • Prestige of journal and your own
institution
Why Q1?
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13. Strategy 1: Understand the chemistry of the
“scholarly search.”
Strategy 2: Realize the importance of theory and
literature
Strategy 3: Start writing during the initial stages
(For doctoral program)
Strategy 4: Master the core concepts of impact
factor, peer review, contribution to knowledge,
and scientific knowledge
Strategy 5: Build networks and collaborations
Strategies dhasanin@ksu.edu.sa 0580066073

14. How to know the
Quartile for a Journal?
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26. Great findings need
to be reported in
the best possible
way to the world .
From Good Research to
Good Writing
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27. Delivery
Dream
DesignDiscovery
“ Creativity is an important characteristic of science,
which is driven by novelty.“
Publication
Research Outlines
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28. Decide the target
journal before
writing the article.
First tier journals, those
journals which publish
similar work
Or the journal
articles you are
citing for your work.
If your competitor is ahead
of you, go for second tier
rapid publication journal.
Time
Temperate
Deciding the Journal
for Publishing
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29. • Targeted audience
Points to be Considered
before Publishing
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30. Open Access Subscribed
Availability free of charge on
the world wide web
On payment
Author pays Reader pays
Points to be Considered
before Publishing
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31. Extent to which research is:
• Read
• Discussed
• Used
….And
• Disseminated Inside and outside academe
What are we talking about
when we talk about impact?
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32. • Impact factor of the journal
No. of citations (last 2 years)
No. of publications (last 2 years)
Points to be Considered
before Publishing
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33. • Eigen factor more robust
No. of citations from
more significant journals
No. of publications
(last 5 years)
(last 5 years)
Points to be Considered
before Publishing
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34. • Probability of acceptance
• Publication time
Points to be Considered
before Publishing
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35. Submission
Authors
Reviewing
Reviewers
Decision
Editors
Revision
Authors
Acceptance/
Rejection
Editors
Proof
Authors
What is Peer Review
Process?
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36. • Writing is a critical step
science although scientists
are not trained to write.
• Even very creative
experiments and novel
results will have dull
impact if the manuscript
is not written well.
Details of Manuscript
Writing
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37. Read excellent articles.
Write…….and write…and write.
“Free write” your thoughts.
Don’t worry about structure
initially.
Use the best paper in your field
as a template.
Keep writing concise, dynamic
and simple in construction.
Convey enthusiasm in your
writing so it attract the
audience.
Skills of Writing
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38. Prepare the figures and write
the draft as the experiment is
progressing
Write the first draft at a
meeting where work is first
presented. The experiment will
be fresh in mind and free time
in the evenings may be
sufficient to write a draft.
Alternatively, the script of a
seminar can often be used as a
starting draft.
The worst practice- to write a
paper after you have left the
place (lab.) where the work
was performed.
When to Write a
Draft of Manuscript?
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39. • The easiest first and the
most difficult latter.
• If you get stuck on a
particular section, just
skip to a different
section that is easiest to
write.
Divide and work on
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40. • Title
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgements
• References
Manuscript parts
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41. The Backbone of an
Article
• It determines whether article is worth reading or not.
• Attractive and Catchy
Title
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42. • Most published articles are not cited- the title play a
vital role (article title has a significant impact on
citation frequency).
How Article Title Affects
on Citation
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43. Gives the quick idea of the contents (Stand alone).
• What and How was done ?
• Provide a brief conclusions
• The detailed information must be present in the
body text, not in abstract.
• I generally write abstract at the end.
The Most Serious Part of
the Article
Abstract dhasanin@ksu.edu.sa 0580066073

44. • Brief information of the study
• Integrated review of related work
• Updated literature citation
• Should not be too long
Importance of current study.
Introduction dhasanin@ksu.edu.sa 0580066073
Setting the Scene

45. • Study design-new methods must be described in detail
• Supplies, manufacturer, country needs to added.
• Animal, human, protections details
• Measurements/ instruments
• Statistical analysis and data collection
Write the
methods
section first
Materials and
Methods
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46. • Use descriptive headings that concisely state
the results.
• Data representation-concise and accurate.
• Consistent with the abstract and introduction
• Give tables and figures where needed
Results dhasanin@ksu.edu.sa 0580066073

47. •Answer the question posed in
introduction.
•Correlation of your finding
with the existing knowledge
•Differences between new
results and previously reported
results.
•Research limitations and need
for future research.
•Theoretical implications and
possible practical applications.
Discussion dhasanin@ksu.edu.sa 0580066073

48. • Identify key findings and application
• Should not be a summary of the work done-
abstract is doing fine with that.
• Consistent with experimental and introduction.
Conclusion dhasanin@ksu.edu.sa 0580066073

49. Use correct style for journal
dhasanin@ksu.edu.sa 0580066073References dhasanin@ksu.edu.sa 0580066073

50. • Funding sources
• Intellectual contributions
• Dedications
• Notes
Acknowledgments
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51. Final step is revision and proofreading
Revision, Revision, Revision
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52. • Originality
Novel or creative research
methodology
New and important
research findings
• Scientific Quality
• Research data
representation
• Depth of the investigation
• Detailed and logical
discussion of results
Criteria for Acceptance
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53. • Not novel
• Poor experimental design
• Targeted journal is not suitable
• Weakly written/presentation and language
Causes for Rejection
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54. 1. Plagiarism(palg.scan,
turnitin,----)
2. Animal use concerns
3. Human use concerns
Ethics in Scientific Writings
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