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Preparing for Submission or. Avoiding the desk reject ! Allan Macpherson. Anne Huff ‘ Writing for Scholarly Publication ’ Sage, 1999. Scholarship depends on interaction with other scholars Academic writing is conversation, with ground rules and etiquette
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Preparing for Submission or Avoiding the desk reject! Allan Macpherson
Anne Huff ‘Writing for Scholarly Publication’ Sage, 1999 • Scholarship depends on interaction with other scholars • Academic writing is conversation, with ground rules and etiquette • Following the rules of good conversation results in a greater likelihood of successful outcome . • Four Questions to ask yourself n preparing your paper: • Who do I want to talk to? • What are they talking about as I arrive? • What do I have to add to the conversation? • How do I introduce myself?
Who do I want to talk to? • Is this the right Journal? • What are the journal aims and objectives? • Have I read and understood the author guidelines? • Can I frame the paper to fit the journal? • Would I be better off targeting a different journal? • Take advice from a trusted colleague in the field prior to journal submission - and act on the feedback you are given.
What are they talking about? • What debates in this journal and the field in general am I engaging with? • Select the written works to examine that fit your project. • What are the emerging questions within this discipline? • Does my paper help to develop the conversation and move it on? • Cite articles already published in the journal on the topic – this demonstrates the conversation to which your paper contributes
What do I have to add? Should be able to do this in the Introduction • What is the paper about? • Why is it important? • What are my research questions? • How am I going to accomplish them? • What is my contribution?
How do I Introduce myself? • The covering letter: • Write a convincing case for paper – show where it fits and why it is of interest, how it has come about. • Tell the editor who has already read and commented on your paper • This shows effort in development and allows editor to chose compatible (and different) reviewers • Show the editor how you have studied the debates/conversation in the journal and that you have something worthwhile to say
Summary • A good paper targeted at the right journal: • Engages in the journal’s conversation • Is explicit about the papers contribution (i.e. make it interesting and relevant) • Is formatted and presented iaw the journal guidelines.