1. How to publish your research
Jake Blanchard – University of Wisconsin – August 2007

2. Outline Writing the paper Getting it published
What happens after you submit the paper

3. My main reference
“How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper” by Robert Day, 5th Edition, Oryx Press, 1998

4. Why do we publish?
“A scientific experiment…is not completed until the results are published.”
“…only thus can new scientific knowledge be authenticated and then added to the existing database that we call scientific knowledge.”
“…the research scientist…must provide a document showing what he or she did, why it was done, how it was done, and what was learned from it. The key word is reproducibility.”

5. Where do we publish
Archive journals
Conference publications
Reports

6. What’s in the paper?
“A scientific paper is a written and published report describing original research results.”
They usually contain:
Title-fewest possible words that describe content
Abstract-brief summary of main aspects of paper
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
References
Acknowledgements – significant technical contributors and funding agents

7. The Introduction Nature and scope of problem investigated
Literature review
Method of investigation
Principal results
Principal conclusions

8. Discussion
Principles, relationships, and generalizations inherent in Results section
Exceptions or unsettled points
Implications of results

9. What does it look like?
The format of the paper is determined by the journal
Check their web site for information
Some key differences from one journal to another include:
Citations, eg. [15], 15, (Jones, 1981)
Reference list (Use RefWorks or EndNote)
Where to put tables and figures
1-column or 2-column

10. Who is in the author list?
Order varies by discipline: alphabetical, most important first, most important last, etc.
Each author should have made an important contribution to the research being reported

11. Style Tips Be clear and concise Passive voice is OK
Make sure fonts in graphs are large enough
Check spelling and grammar
Avoid jargon

12. How do I submit the paper?
Again, refer to the journal web site
Most are electronic/
Cover letter
Be careful with Word files
Remove metadata (iscrub, MS hidden data removal tool, ezclean, etc.)
Turn off fast saves and track changes

13. What happens next? Journal editor will arrange for reviews
Comments will be returned to you
Make adjustments and attach explanation
Don’t feel obligated to make all recommended changes
Don’t take comments personally
Be polite in all correspondence
Return to editor
Proofs will arrive later – check them carefully

14. What are my rights? Most journals make us sign copyright form
This transfers copyright to journal
Technically, we can’t reproduce article without permission, even though we wrote it
Look for journals with more liberal copyright policies

15. A few useful websites Feel free to contact me with questions
Copyright - municationtoolkit/faculty/facultyauthorcontrol.cfm
Writing and Presentations:
Jake Blanchard