Writing to Publish

8/3/2019 Writing to Publish

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Writing for Publication

James Munro

University of Sheffield


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Why write? Fame and fortune

Bolster the CV Pressure from above

dissemination


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So whats the problem? No ideas

Ideas but no writing Writing but nothing sent off

Writing sent off but notaccepted


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The other problem Time

Writing is a lot of work Even academics dont have time


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What well talk about Writing an academic paper

10 ways to be rejected Magazines and books are a bit

different


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Any ideas? Experience

Everyday working Problems

Costly activities


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More ideas Questions from clinicians

especially those you cantanswer

Things that go wrong

Things you disagree with


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You already have something But is it publishable?

Is it interesting? Could it affect practice or policy?

Is it generalisable?

Almost everything is publishablesomewhere


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Dont start writing yet!


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Dont write yet! Whats the context?

Whats the story?


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The context Everybody needs a context


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Context for a research paper Whats already known?

Whats unknown? Whats controversial?


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The need to know Providing a context and a

question creates the readersneed to know


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Whats the story? If this was a news report, what

would the headline be? What is the central idea?


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BMJ approach What is already known on this

topic? What does this study add?


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Outline your story: 1 Context

Once upon a time Methods

there were 3 bears


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Outline your story: 2 Results

and she ran home. Conclusions

never go into the woods alone.


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Dont start writing yet!


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Who is the story for? Whod like to know?

Who needsto know?


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Reasons for rejection The commonest reason editors

give is that the subject matter

wasnt suitable for their journal


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So find the right journal Get to know the journals in

your area What are their interests?

What are their styles?


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So find the right journal Where were other papers on

this topic published?


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Journalology Refereed or not?

Listed in bibliographicdatabases?

Impact factor?


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Write for a journal Select one of the journals which

might be interested in yourstory

Write for thatjournal


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Writing for that journal Instructions for authors

Usually on the web But you need to see a copy

Headings, weighting, referencing,

interests


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Develop your outline Introduction

Methods Results

Discussion


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Introduction What is the issue?

What is already known about it? Set up a question in the

readers mind

Explain why your study isneeded


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Methods What did you do?

How did you do it? Have a logical order

Dont report results here bymistake!


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Results Follow the order of the methods

Who? When? What?


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Discussion Summarise the findings

Draw out the lessonsAcknowledge the limitations

What should happen now?


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BMJs suggested structure Statement of principal findings

Strengths and weaknesses of the study

Strengths and weaknesses in relation to otherstudies, discussing particularly anydifferences in results

Meaning of the study: possible mechanismsand implications for clinicians or policymakers

Unanswered questions and future research


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Structuring Subheadings are essential

For RCTs, use CONSORT For MA of RCTs, QUOROM

For MA of observational studies,MOOSE


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Macro-editing Highlight the key sentence in

each paragraph Does the story flow?

Ask others to read the draft

Give them a specific task


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The little things Spelling

Grammar Tense, voice, singulars and plurals

Consistent layout

Page numbers References

See bmj.com


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When your paper is rejected Dont be discouraged!


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When your paper is rejected Try to find out why

Does it need revising? Send it off to another journal

after checking for style


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Referees comments Dont be defensive

You dont have to do everythingthey suggest

But you do have to address

each point


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Dont!

10 ways to get your paper

rejected


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1: Choose a journal which hasnever shown an interest inthis subject


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2: Write well over thespecified word length to showthe importance of the topic


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3: Try to include at least 10key messages and some extradata from other studies


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4: See if you can improve onthe journals standardheadings


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5: Dont bother with anystatistical advice, sincenobody understands it


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6: Dont worry too muchabout spelling or grammar


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7: Ignore the journals ownreferencing style

f


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8: Add a few new results inthe abstract which you didnthave space for in the maintext


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9: Use different terms for thesame thing interchangeably


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10: For a more personaltouch, send a handwrittenmanuscript


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Good luck!


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Q & A Mas Candra : Apa yang harus dilakukan

apabila ingin melanjutkan ke PTN?

Tika Rostika: Dalam membuat CV halapa saja yang perlu dihindari?Pengalaman relevan dengan CV?Sejauh

mana kita boleh mengeksplore CV? Tika: Bagaimana kita FOKUS dalam

menulis?

Afit: menulis pake outline atau tidak?


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Answer Ibu Julie : Tidak usah disebutkan

Curriculum Vitae,

Bapak Syafiq: Boleh menulismenggunakan outline, dan jangan

takut menulis melebar (barusetelah itu dipilah-pilah), itu lebihbaik daripada tidak menulis sama

sekali.


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Chalida: Apakah faktor budayamempengaruhipenerimaanmotivation letter?


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Answer:Ada limitasi karakter

Jelaskan tentanginterest/cocern kita

Gunakan kata-kata positif yang

memperkuat posisi kita

Jelaskan apa yang akan mereka

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