Guide to Academic and Scientific Publication

Linda Olson
D.Phil., English and Related Literature

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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all the scholars (students, professors and fellow academics) whose writing I’ve marked, edited and proofread over the years. Without them and their work, I could never have gained the knowledge and experience required to write this Guide. I am also grateful to René and Judith for their helpful comments while the Guide was in progress.

Part I: What To Publish and Where To Publish It - Chapter 1

1. Essential Ingredients for a Successful Academic or Scientific Article
1.1 Research: Methods, Practices and Sources

Part I: What To Publish and Where To Publish It - Chapter 1

1.2 Evidence: Discoveries, Results and Data

Part I: What To Publish and Where To Publish It - Chapter 1

1.3 Argument: What Does It Mean and Why Is It Important?

Part I: What To Publish and Where To Publish It - Chapter 1

1.4 Minimum Publishable Units

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Part I: What To Publish and Where To Publish It - Chapter 2

2. Targeting an Academic or Scientific Journal: The Right Paper in the Right Place
2.1 Choosing the Journal that Fits and Benefits Your Work
2.1.1 Range and Specialisation: Is It the Right Fit?

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Part I: What To Publish and Where To Publish It - Chapter 2

2.1.2 Journal Importance, Citation Reports and Impact Factor: Will It Have the Right Effect?

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Part I: What To Publish and Where To Publish It - Chapter 2

2.2 Shaping Your Work To Fit the Journal

Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 3

3. Deciphering Journal Guidelines and Designing an Effective Presentation

Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 3

3.1 Titles, Headings and Subheadings: Not Just Fancy Words

Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 3

3.2 Paragraphs and Lists: Effective Presentation and Transition
3.2.1 Structured and Fully Developed Paragraphs

Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 3

3.2.2 Using Lists Effectively

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Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 4

4. Journal Guidelines and Formal Scholarly English
4.1 British versus American English
4.2 Understanding Abbreviations

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Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 4

4.3 Punctuating Appropriately

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Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 4

4.4 Finding Your Scholarly Voice
4.4.1 Vocabulary: Formality, Precision and Variety

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Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 4

4.4.2 English Verbs: Tensing Up and Splitting Hairs

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Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 4

4.4.3 Using Pronouns Professionally and Clearly

Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 5

5. Presenting Data and Sources Accurately and Effectively
5.1 Tables, Figures and Other Research Data: Guidelines and Good Practice

Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 5

5.2 Last but Not Least: References, Citations and Quotations
5.2.1 In-Text Citations and Quotations: Where and How To Acknowledge Sources

Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 5

5.2.2 Footnotes and Endnotes: Do You Need Them?

Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 5

5.2.3 Reference Lists and Bibliographies: Niggling Details

Part II: Preparing, Presenting and Polishing Your Work - Chapter 5

5.3 Automatic Formatting: To Use or Not To Use

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Part III: Communicating with Journal Editors: Submission, Acceptance, Revision and Rejection - Chapter 6

6. First Things First: Earning the Interest and Respect of an Academic or Scientific Editor
6.1 Covering Letters: First Impressions

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Part III: Communicating with Journal Editors: Submission, Acceptance, Revision and Rejection - Chapter 6

6.2 Titles, Abstracts and Keywords: Sound Connections
6.2.1 The Very Beginning: The Title

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Part III: Communicating with Journal Editors: Submission, Acceptance, Revision and Rejection - Chapter 6

6.2.2 Summing It All Up: The Abstract

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Part III: Communicating with Journal Editors: Submission, Acceptance, Revision and Rejection - Chapter 6

6.2.3 Searching for the Right Terms: The Keywords

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Part III: Communicating with Journal Editors: Submission, Acceptance, Revision and Rejection - Chapter 6

6.3 Ready and Willing: Submission Procedures

Part III: Communicating with Journal Editors: Submission, Acceptance, Revision and Rejection - Chapter 7

7. After Submission: Acceptance, Rejection and Revision
7.1 ‘Just What We’re Looking For’: The Successful Publishing Relationship

Part III: Communicating with Journal Editors: Submission, Acceptance, Revision and Rejection - Chapter 7

7.2 When ‘No’ Means No: Professional Departures and New Beginnings

Part III: Communicating with Journal Editors: Submission, Acceptance, Revision and Rejection - Chapter 7

7.3 ‘We’re Interested but…’: The Revision Process
7.3.1 Formatting, Structure and Referencing Style

Part III: Communicating with Journal Editors: Submission, Acceptance, Revision and Rejection - Chapter 7

7.3.2 Language and Clarity

Part III: Communicating with Journal Editors: Submission, Acceptance, Revision and Rejection - Chapter 7

7.3.3 Content: Methods, Data and Argument

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Appendix: Sample Responses to Letters from Academic and Scientific Editors

Letter A.1: Earning or Confirming Serious Reconsideration or Conditional Acceptance
Letter A.2: Resubmitting a Paper after Necessary Revisions Have Been Made