Research to Publication: Materials to Guide the Manuscript-Writing Process

I am teaching a new course this semester (Fall 2018) called Research to Publication. Hopefully, the students in the course will all write a manuscript by the end of the semester and submit it to either their co-authors or a journal! Stay tuned…I have promised a party if the course works…

I would like to share the materials I create for this course since writing academic manuscripts is honestly not something we are taught very well. I didn’t learn until well into my postdoc, and mostly by accident.

I am a big fan of open collaboration. If you have any suggestions for additions/changes, let me know! I have pasted the course outline below and will add materials as I teach them.

TOPIC	MATERIALS *Assignments are completed before the course meets that week.
The role of publishing; academic “currency” – who decides?	READ (in general): Klingner et al., 2005 PRESENTATION/ACTIVITY: WEEK1_RoleofPublishing_Public ASSIGNMENT: Try answering the following questions now, and revisit this discussion multiple times over the course of the semester. Why are you interested in learning how to write an academic manuscript? What do you feel like you still need to learn? Where else can you turn for assistance with your writing?
Identifying an appropriate journal	READ: Where to Publish; Beall’s list PRESENTATION/ACTIVITY: WEEK2_Choosing Journals_PUBLIC ASSIGNMENT 1: Take time to review the Where To Publish and Beall’s List websites. Consider what you have learned in the context of your own research. What, if anything, surprised you about Where to Publish and/or Beall’s List? Describe your area of research for your classmates. What will be important for you to consider as you choose a journal for your work? What questions do you have about publishing that your course colleagues might be able to help you answer? ASSIGNMENT 2: Preparing to write… What is your manuscript topic? Be as specific as you can. Identify THREE journals that would be appropriate venues for your work. Explain why you have chosen these journals. Using Beall’s list, identify ONE journal that seems like it would be a good fit. DO NOT PUBLISH in these journals. I need this information for the WEEK 2 in-class activity!
Basic structure of an article	DUE: Deconstruction of THREE articles in your target journal READ/DISCUSS: Turbek et al., 2016; Perneger and Hudelson, 2004
Visualizing your manuscript!	DUE: 12 VISUAL slides of your manuscript READ: Rougier et al., 2014; Durbin, 2004
Writing research questions and methods	DUE: Your research question(s) and methods READ/DISCUSS: Kallet, 2004
Ethics and bias in the publication process	DUE: Write up of THREE cases from https://retractionwatch.com/ READ/DISCUSS: Gastel and Ray, 2016
Writing and visualizing results	DUE: Your results in BOTH text and tables/figures aligned with questions, methods READ/DISCUSS: Monash University guide
Authorship	DUE: Authorship agreement and discussion with your advisor/collaborators READ/DISCUSS: Shewan and Coats, 2010
Writing discussions and background	DUE: Your discussion and background in parallel READ/DISCUSS: TBA
Data Management and Publication	DUE: Your Data Management Plan READ/DISCUSS: NSF guide to data management plans; Gil et al., 2016; Costello, 2009
Editor Q&A (Janice Beecher)	DUE: THREE questions for the Editor Q&A; Draft manuscript! READ/DISCUSS: Kostic, 2016
Reviewing manuscripts	DUE: Review of TWO manuscripts from classmates READ/DISCUSS: Wiley guide; Scrimgeour and Prus, 2016
NO CLASS	THANKSGIVING
Preparing manuscripts for publication	DUE: Revised and formatted manuscript READ/DISCUSS: None
Reflecting on the process	DUE: Submit that paper (to journal or your co-authors)! READ/DISCUSS: None

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