1. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Navigating Graduate School and Beyond: Sow Well Now To Reap Big Later Writing Papers

2. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Writing as a student Write high-quality, peer-reviewed papers. Write 2-3 papers in broad areas regarding your research. Write an additional 2-3 papers in the area of your dissertation research.

3. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Writing after graduation Continue to write high-quality, peer-reviewed papers. Quantity and quality of papers may be factors in promotion and tenure. Talk to your supervisor and peers to find out what is expected in your field. Try to publish one more paper per year than a successful person in your department.

4. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Generic journal format 1.Abstract – Discuss the major focus areas, results, and implications 2.Introduction – Provide relevant literature surveys and explain why the research matters 3.Data and tools – Explain what was used to conduct the research 4.Methods – Provide enough research so that the reader can duplicate the study if needed

5. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Generic journal format (con’t) 5.Results and discussions – Include figures 6.Summary and conclusions – Put the results, discussion, and analysis in context with some guidelines for future work 7.Acknowledgements 8.References

6. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Writing a paper Choose a reputable journal that is appropriate for your paper Familiarize yourself with their requirements Ask your advisor for assistance Follow the format required by the journal you chose

7. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Tips for writing a paper Avoid including too much information or figures. Add page numbers and line numbers. Double space with 12-pitch font. Check spelling, grammar, and citations. Check and double check that you meet the submission guidelines (limits for pages and figures; number of words in abstract).

8. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Review process Include a cover with the title, authors, and your opinion of why this paper is important. Specify at least five potential reviewers. Include their email addresses. Submit the paper and wait for the reviews to be returned.

9. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Choices for the reviewer Reject the paper outright Accept with no revisions Accept the paper with major revisions Accept the paper with minor revisions Final decision rests with the editor…not the reviewer

10. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Scenario 1 – Paper rejected Read the reviews carefully Rework the manuscript according to the reviewers’ comments Talk to the editor and discuss your options Resubmit to the journal but only AFTER revisions have been made

11. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Scenario 2 – Paper accepted without revisions This is very uncommon Paper will be sent from the journal to the production office for typesetting and publishing

12. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Scenario 3 – Accept with minor revisions Address each reviewer’s comments point by point. Be polite when responding to comments. Don’t use harsh or critical language. Keep your responses concise. Write a short cover letter stating how you corrected the issues.

13. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Scenario 4 – Accept with major revisions May mean redoing analysis, analyzing more data, or providing more input. Address the issues brought up by the reviewers. Respect the comments of the reviewers and use them as a learning experience. After revisions, the paper will be reviewed again.

14. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu After the paper is accepted Publisher contacts you to request graphics and text in the correct format and resolution. You will receive an email when your article is available online. Send the paper to your program manager (if applicable). Send the paper to your colleagues. Present the paper at conferences.

15. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Food for thought What are some stumbling blocks to writing your first paper? Do you know how to compartmentalize research? Who can you talk to about this? What should you consider when selecting reviewers? List three journals you could submit to and three possible reviewers.