The Ideal Manuscript Professor Michael J. Reiss Collaborative Social Science Domain 3 May 2018

Before you identify where the publication might go What contribution to the literature are you hoping to make? E.g. empirical finding, review, new way of looking at an issue Are you writing it on your own or with others? If with others, who is going to do what? Order of authors.

Where might the publication go? Journal Chapter Report Others (e.g. book, blog) Is there urgency in getting it published? Are there funder requirements? E.g. open access.

Let’s presume you are going for a journal Type of manuscript (some journals have ‘sections’) Approx. length Impact factors / reputation / your own knowledge of the field Advice from senior colleague(s) – e.g. re acceptance rate and, perhaps more importantly, time for review Different journals at different stages of your career Open access issues

Ideal from the editor and reviewers point of view Relevant to the journal Perfect in respect of quality of language, organisation of text and formatting (including Abstract, any Figures/Tables and References); ‘Information for authors’ Purpose is clear Up-to-date literature review For some journals, not too many references Not many references to blogs, Wikipedia, etc.

Other issues Feedback on pres-submission draft Suggesting possible reviewers Care re not publishing in advance of journal submission Extent of self citation Responding to reviewers’ comments Online publication and DOIs

Thank you! Questions and discussion UCL Institute of Education University College London 20 Bedford Way London WC1H 0AL Tel +44 (0)20 7612 6000 Fax +44 (0)20 7612 6126 Email info@ioe.ac.uk Web www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe