This document outlines a workshop on writing for academic publication. It discusses 5 key points: 1) why publish in journals to enter the profession and join scholarly conversations, 2) building an intellectual project from seminar papers to journal articles, 3) "reverse engineering" key articles in your field to understand expected structure and style, 4) elements of a successful journal article including a theoretical framework and compelling conclusions, and 5) the peer review process of writing, revising, submitting and receiving feedback and a decision. Resources for publishing as a graduate student or junior professor are also listed.

1. Writing for Publication
Craig Willse
Cultural Studies
George Mason University
cwillse@gmu.edu
February 2015

2. Outline of Workshop
1. Why publish in an academic journal?
2. Building an intellectual project
3. “Reverse engineering” a publication
4. Elements of a journal article
5. The peer review process

3. 1. Why publish?
● Enter the profession
● Join and contribute to on-going scholarly
conversations

4. 2. Building an intellectual project
seminar paper conference presentation
journal article dissertation chapter
book chapter

5. 3. “Reverse engineering”
● What articles are key for your work?
● Where have they been published?
● What conversations are taking place in those
journals that you want to join? What theoretical
frameworks and literatures are circulating
there?
● Study the structure, style, uses of evidence -
what makes it an effective article for you?

6. 4. Elements of a journal article
● A clear and compelling object or case
● A theoretical framework that you are hopefully
adding to, not just using
● A method of analysis or interpretation
● An engagement with existing literature which
situates your contribution
● Compelling conclusions or results
● Implications for other scholars in your field

7. 5. The peer review process
● Write, get feedback from faculty and peers,
revise
● Submit
● Editorial review
● Peer review
● Decision

8. Resources
● Stacey Patton, “How Grad Students and Junior Professors Can Publish,
Not Perish”
● Donna Lee Van Cott, “A Graduate Student’s Guide to Publishing Scholarly
Journal Articles”
From Fabio Rojas (Grad Skool Rulz):
● Publishing in Grad School
● The Publishing Process
● Co-authoring