Appeals Do you really want to publish in this journal? You can’t fix reviews– you can only fix your paper Did the reviewer misunderstand your paper? How can you stop that happening? Is the review factually incorrect? Can you show it? Do you really want to publish in this journal? Is appealing the decision worth your time? britishecologicalsociety.org @BritishEcolSoc

Appeals The editor has more information about the review than you do. Seen many other submissions to compare yours with Seen confidential comments from the reviewers (often much more blunt!) A successful appeal does not mean your paper will be accepted– only that it has another chance to go through review. britishecologicalsociety.org @BritishEcolSoc

Appeals You can’t fix reviews– you can only fix your paper Be polite. Keep your appeal letter fairly short (<1 page). Show evidence, not emotion. Don’t play reviewers off against each other. Say that you want them to reconsider their decision. “We are sure we can deal with the reviewer comments to your satisfaction.” So? Say how! “I have never had a paper rejected without review!” Really? Really? “I am just writing to say that the handling editor was wrong about…” Okay. And? britishecologicalsociety.org @BritishEcolSoc

Appeals You can’t fix reviews– you can only fix your paper “We acknowledge” “We can clarify” “We can” “We cannot [do X], but we can…” “Reviewer 2 disagrees with our use of [method], but we have [reason].” britishecologicalsociety.org @BritishEcolSoc

Appeals Successful appeal? Revise your paper (as if resubmission) Write a response to decision Re-submit your paper…. …and wait. Paper will generally be re-reviewed by previous reviewers Paper may be reviewed by new reviewers as well Remember, a successful appeal is only a second chance – not a guarantee of acceptance britishecologicalsociety.org @BritishEcolSoc