SYSBS Professional Development Workshop: Writing for Academic Journals

Time: 9:00 – 11:30 A.M., March 17th, 2012

Location: M202, Shansi Hall, SYSBS

Speaker: Deborah Craig Nester, Ph.D.

Session A.   Strategizing the Process: Matching a Journal to the Research / Matching Writing

       to the Journal

       This session focuses on the overall process of publishing for academic journals:

·       Clarify objectives of research project (before or after completion of research)   

·       Identify appropriate journal/s as target for publication

·       Analyze the journal style: “Reading beneath the lines” to discover how to best present the  research to that journal

[Additional tips for following a specific journal’s style will be covered in other sessions]

·       Develop an effective cover letter

Time: 2:30 – 5:00 P.M., March 17th, 2012

Location: M202, Shansi Hall, SYSBS

Speaker: Deborah Craig Nester, Ph.D.

Session B.   Differences in Chinese-Language and English-Language Academic Writing

       The differences fall into the two major categories:

               1.   Organization of idea flow/structure of an article

                            At the macro level [overall article and sections]

                            At the micro level [paragraphs and sentences]

               2.   Sentence-level concerns

                           Specifics of grammar, syntax, and style

                                [This session addresses these matters in a theoretical sense. 

                                Sessions E and F will address specific issues.]

Time: 9:00 – 11:30 A.M., March 18th, 2012

Location: M202, Shansi Hall, SYSBS

Speaker: Deborah Craig Nester, Ph.D.

Session C.   Writing the “Parts”

·       Abstract

·       Literature review section

·       Discussion sections:

·              Research limitations

·              Application of findings

·              Ideas for future research

·       Conclusion section

Time: 2:30 – 5:00 P.M., March 18th, 2012

Location: M202, Shansi Hall, SYSBS

Speaker: Deborah Craig Nester, Ph.D.

Session D.   Evidence 

·       Effective selection of source material

            a.   What best supports your argument

            b.   What the journal editors are considering

·       How to effectively include source material

            a.   Quotations

                      Setting them up in the text of the article

                      Considerations of where, when, and how many to use

            b.   Citations and Documentation

                      General strategies of in-text citations

                      Major documentation formats and adaptations by individual journals

                      The References list—general thoughts

            c.   Plagiarism: Insights into appropriate use of source material

                  [English-language publications take a very rigid stance on the way that research

                  materials are represented in articles, primarily because of responsibilities they bear 

                  regarding protection of copyrighted material, and secondarily due to the rise in

                  improperly documented source materials resulting from the increased availability of

                  digital resources. 

                  With the move toward use of anti-plagiarism database services such as iParadigms and

                  TurnItIn to search for inappropriately cited material (including indirect      

                  quotations/paraphrasing), it is more critical than ever to understand the expectations,

                  if you are to receive a positive response to your submission.]    

Time: 9:00 – 11:30 A.M., March 19th,  2012

Location: M202, Shansi Hall, SYSBS

Speaker: Deborah Craig Nester, Ph.D.

Session E.   Revision Techniques: Tricks of the Trade

               Methods and sources of information that will help you proofread and revise your writing

Time: 2:30 – 5:00 P.M., March 19th, 2012

Location: M202, Shansi Hall, SYSBS

Speaker: Deborah Craig Nester, Ph.D.

Session F.   Common Writing Errors: Find Them and ‘Fix’ Them

·       An assortment of errors and writing issues that commonly appear in writing in general, and in the

            writing of academic writers from China in particular

·       Strategies and sources for finding the answers on your own

Time: 9:00 – 11:30 A.M., 2:30 – 5:00 P.M., March 20th, 2012

Location: M202, Shansi Hall, SYSBS

Individual Instruction

      If you have specific questions, or if you would like to have individual instruction, send your questions or a clean, double-spaced draft of your manuscript to mnszyf@163.com. 

      Indicate whether you would like a morning or afternoon conference; we will make every effort to accommodate your preference.

      Please submit your request before 12:00 P.M., March 13th, so that we can arrange the schedule of conferences. 

If you have questions or suggestions, you can contact Mrs. Zhang by Email (mnszyf@163.com)

or by phone (020-84110377).