GUIDE TO WRITING A JOURNAL ARTICLE

Malaysia, October 2012

SAGE - A different kind of publisher

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The leading social science and research

methods publisher
Content from the worlds top authors, editors and societies 690+ journals including IMechE; 300+ reference works

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JCR 2011
-53% growth in number of ranked titles

- 431 journals or 64% ranked

- 13 journals ranked for the first time. Memory Studies achieved # 3 ranking in both History & Cultural Studies - 100 SAGE Journals ranked in Top 10 category

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SAGE Product Offering

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SAGE Offerings to Researchers: Free Community Sites

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It is a publishing option -> to support authors who wish to post an open access archive copy of their published work It provides a mechanism by which authors can comply with global funding body requirements eg NIH, Wellcome Trust, Option open only to authors of primary research articles in the field of biomedical only Fee US$3,000/1,600 (excluding other fees) Posted to PubMed Central (PMC) or UKPMC or PMCI Peer-reviewed Once accepted and fee paid made freely available
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Worlds premier open access publication Quick review and decision times for authors Speedy, continuous-publication online format Professional copyediting and typesetting of your article will ensure quality $395 special author acceptance fee (discounted from the regular price of $695) Now has 885 submission; 62 manuscripts has been accepted and 49 articles published to date
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Keys to Positive Writing Experiences

Successful Academic Writers - Write - Make Writing Social - Persist Despite Rejection - Pursue their Passion

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Common Myths

Articles that are

- Heavy on theory with sweeping implications - Loads of interesting ideas - Entirely original

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What Gets Published and Why

Approaches new evidence in an old way

Approached old evidence in a new way Pairs old evidence with old approaches in a new way

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Abstract as a Tool for Success

Dont Just Introduce your Topic Dont have an abstract that reads like a plan Dont give a barrage of data Dont include footnotes/citations Dont include quotations; paraphrase instead Dont include abbreviations, symbols or acronyms

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Eg of a Good Social Science Abstract

State why you embarked on the project (often

because of a gap or debate or persistent social problem)

State what your project/study is about State how you did the project; your methodology State your findings State what you conclude from these findings; your arguments Optional - Recommendations
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Common Reasons Why Articles are Rejected

Too narrow or Too broad

Poor Structure Insignificant Theoretically/ Methodogically Flawed Too many spelling and grammatical errors
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Not Relevant
Not scholarly Too defensive Not really original

Making a Good Argument

Main Reason Why Article is Rejected:

Test if you have an argument Avoid being dogmatic

NO ARGUMENT

Avoid making topics rather than arguments Avoid a data driven article

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Importance of Selecting the Right Journal

Relevance
Ranking on JCR Reputation of journal and its editors Research the references

Rejection Rate
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Writing to Query Letter to Editors

Email to editors of your 3 top choices for journals Questions to Ask:

How many submissions a year does your journal received? What is your journals turnaround time? What is your journal backlog?
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Elements of a Query Letter

Address the editor by name Mention any human connection (recommendation to write) State briefly why the editor and journal readers should be interested in your article Display a knowledge of the journal Give the title of your article/abstract Follow the journal specifications State that you have not published nor submitted to another journal Name grants/awards received for the research Always include a question that will tease out your articles chances of rejection Thank the editor
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Guidelines: Manuscript Preparation Stage

Comply with the manuscript submission guidelines

http://online.sagepub.com/site/misc/ifora.xhtml

Check language/grammar, spelling, format

Create an abstract Candid and objective approach towards work
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Guidelines: Manuscript Preparation Stage

Are the right references being used? Have you complied with the word limit? Is it single/double blind review?

Have the guidelines for academic writing been complied?

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Structuring Your Article Quantitative Social Science

Section 1: pyramid structure, general to specific 1. Introduction general subject of investigation 2. Review of the literature lacks and gaps 3. Statement of the hypothesis your arguments Section 2: description of study, all information needed to replicate study 1. Methods, 2. Procedures, 3. Materials & Instruments, 4. Experiment, 5. Context & Setting 6. Population Section 3: inverse pyramid structure, specific to general 1. Results 2. Discussion comment on validity of methods/findings 3. Conclusions Works Cited
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Common Mistakes in Citing References

Cite one source too much Cite irrelevant literature Overcite definitions Misattribute Cite the citation Cite asides Cite the derivatives Quote too much Omit citations
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Writing Up Evidence Social Science: Methods

Identify your methodology Describe your sample/sampling procedure Describe your measurement instrument Describe your research context Describe your variables Write in the Past Tense Match methods subheads to results subhead

Dont give statistics tutorial Dont mix in your results Watch repetition Check your journal for instructions Watch passive voice and dangling phrases Keep in short

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Writing Up Evidence Social Science: Results

Be choosy Use tables and graphs Design tables and graphs properly Title tables properly Identify respondents Write in the past tense

Dont repeat the tables Dont organise your results by discovery Organise your results around your argument Dont mix in your methods Keep it short

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Writing Up Evidence: Social Science: Discussion

State whether you have confirmed your hypothesis Link results Relate results to previous research List some implications

Claim significance Question the findings Note the limitations Suggest future research Discuss the results, dont repeat them Focus

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Structuring Your Article

Why Publish with SAGE

The world's leading independent academic and professional publisher

Online manuscript submission viz SAGE Track http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com Expert peer review
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Why Publish with SAGE

Targeted international marketing Extensive global readership and online visibility Toll-free linking to full-text articles referenced

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Useful General Information

Editor in chief makes all decisions (70%) and in some cases Associate Editors. Exceptions for large society journals 2 4 reviewers selected by the Editor or the Associate Editor. Preference -> Editorial Board member (40%). Others -> PubMed (15%), personal contacts 15% double blind review Only 5% of unsolicited manuscripts are accepted
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Famous Quotes on Research

Research is to see what everybody else has seen and to think what nobody else has thought Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known

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Find out more

www.sagepublications.com rosalia.garcia@sagepub.co.uk

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