Academic Writing

Publications are considered by many the primary method for a researcher to demonstrate academic talent, not only to peers but also to meet the criteria set by the educational institutions. But getting published is getting more difficult as an increasing number of researchers are competing for access to the same journals. The ‘publish or perish’ maxim originally presented by Coolidge in 1932 is still true today where academic promotions and tenure are tied to scholarly output.

This course is for researchers who want to develop, write, and publish a paper. The course will touch upon:

Identifying the most appropriate target audience and purpose for your paper
Formulating a clear research question or thesis statement and ensuring it offers a meaningful contribution
Conducting thorough literature reviews and synthesizing existing knowledge
Crafting a well-defined introduction, body, and conclusion
Ensuring clear narrative or ‘story’ behind the research
Developing strong arguments and supporting them with evidence
Navigating the publication process from finding the right home for your journal through to engaging with the editor and reviewers.

During the course we will reflect on the challenges with publishing.

We cannot guarantee that your paper will be published but what we can guarantee is that you will leave this course with a better understanding of what makes a paper publishable, of use not just for your current project but valuable for your entire publication trajectory.

The course is taught with a very good colleague of mine Dr. Andreas Walmsley. Andreas and I have been writing papers together for the last five years. We both know the ups and downs of writing and publishing papers.

A little about Andreas: he has many years’ experience in writing and in supporting writing for publication. As an Associate Editor for a major US journal, he is intimately familiar with the ‘rules of the game’ of publishing. Andreas also has a coaching and mentoring qualification and has supported colleagues more generally in achieving their academic goals, including PhD completions and journal publications. Andreas has a very warm and approachable manner and above all else loves writing and supporting others in their academic writing goals. Read more about Andreas here

This course can be done online with an option to get special feedback on the paper you are currently working on. The course can be customized for chapter and book writing as well.

Please contact me for more information and prices.

References:

Coolidge HJ, editor. United States: Books for Libraries; 1932. Archibald Cary Coolidge: Life and Letters; p. 308.