What to Know About Academic Publishing: Highlights from a Workshop

Information for this article is taken from the recent GWC and GPS workshop of the same title.

Whether you’re new to graduate school, or you’ve been in your program a few years, participating in the community of research publishing is something on your horizon. But what does it look like to approach the publishing process? And what are some key components in making sure your research is accepted by a journal? Today’s article is dedicated to engaging with these questions, offering some insights and advice for beginning the journey that is academic publishing.

Be Intentional

One of the most helpful things you can do for yourself when writing something that you might like to publish in the future, is to be intentional. As you consider a given writing or research project, think about the sources you are using or the type of study you are conducting, then use that reflection as a way to begin seeking out journals early in your writing process. As you write, you can then tailor and format your assignment to fit with a journal of your choosing. Even if you ultimately don’t decide to send your work out, this can still be good practice for getting you in the mindset of what the path to publishing looks like, building your skills as a writer and academic. Additionally, be sure to talk to your advisor or professor as you begin considering this topic. Often, they will have insightful recommendations for journals that might be a good fit for your work, or offer feedback tailored to your publication intentions, so make sure to take advantage of the valuable insights they have to offer.

Embrace the Process

When working on a project, it can be tempting to dash off a draft and send it straight to publication or get one rejection from a journal and give up on that piece forever. However, one of the biggest factors in making a piece publication-ready is time: time to polish your work, become familiar with the secondary literature, solidify your findings, and most important of all, revise. The revisions process is a critical part of your journey to publishing, so make sure you spend adequate time there. Getting feedback from faculty and peers, taking breaks as you write so that you can revisit sections with a fresh mind, and maintaining consistency in your revising schedule are all ways to use this time intentionally. Now, you don’t want to fall into the deadly cycle of endless revisions and never submitting your work, so make sure to regularly check in with others (whether colleagues or mentors) about where you are and what the next steps will be. Then, when the time arrives to submit your work, you will not only be confident in the progress your article as made but in the growth and expertise you’ve gained as a writer in this part of your journey.

Celebrate Every Step

Publishing can be a time-consuming and complex process, so be sure to celebrate every step of the journey and recognize your accomplishments. Choosing a paper or project to begin intentionally polishing for submission, meeting with advisors or mentors to discuss the process, and sending your work out are all important milestones that deserve to be celebrated. So whether you go out with friends or grab yourself a special coffee and treat, make sure to recognize and reward the progress you’ve made. Then, when you hear back, celebrate acceptances, rejections, and revisions alike, since all of these responses will ultimately work to make you a better writer and a more competent researcher.

Space

The journey to academic publishing can be an intimidating, but it’s also a journey that can be very rewarding. Joining the written community of your fellow academics, sharing your findings with the world, and the excitement of seeing your own work finally in print are just a few of the benefits it offers. So make sure to give yourself time and grace as you seek to learn the new skill of writing publication material, and embrace the journey not only for the end goal, but for the many wonderful mentors and friends who will support you every step of the way.

Top Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism

Avoiding plagiarism may seem like an overwhelming task, especially when getting into the weeds of proper citations, self-plagiarism, paraphrasing, and other key components of this important task. However, avoiding plagiarism doesn’t have to stay an incomprehensible challenge. There are actually some core concepts which can help you when remedying this issue, and even prevent it. As such, today’s article is on some handy tips that will assist you in understanding, recognizing, and even avoiding plagiarism in your own work.

Know the Definitions

It’s important to be aware of what constitutes plagiarism in order to avoid it, since it may come in different shapes and sizes. Self-plagiarism, for example, happens when you market your own older work as being newly created, while other forms of plagiarism can occur when proper citations or paraphrasing do not occur. Checking discipline parameters, reading course syllabi, looking at Baylor’s plagiarism resources (linked here: https://honorcode.web.baylor.edu/other-policies-and-resources/plagiarism-resources), and talking to your instructor can all be informative in this area. Additionally, make sure you are aware of how to cite properly in your discipline’s chosen format, and if it’s a format you are unfamiliar with, seek out handbooks, tutorials, or other resources to make sure you are aware of how it functions.

Get a Second Set of Eyes

When in doubt over whether you’ve plagiarized, or if you are citing sources properly, it’s always best to get a second pair of eyes before submitting an assignment. Your instructor can be a fantastic resource in this area, since they will be the most familiar with the ins and outs of your discipline. So, take advantage of office hours and don’t hesitate to ask questions when unsure: it may save you some headaches down the line. The Graduate Writing Center is also available for your assistance in this area, so book an appointment with one of our consultants (our page is linked here: https://graduate.baylor.edu/gwc) and we will be more than happy to talk with you about this important topic. Exchanging assignments with your peers in order to check for plagiarism can also be a helpful practice and illuminate areas where you may not have noticed a paraphrase that isn’t different enough from original wording, or perhaps an unfinished citation.

Start Tracking Sources Early

Often, plagiarism because of improper citations happens at the last minute: the assignment deadline is right around the corner and you’re rushing to plug your last citations, sources, and bibliographic information into an otherwise-finished assignment. To help prevent this, begin taking notes on your sources early in the research process. Collect bibliographic information as you go, and write down page numbers, author information, and even quotations from material you are likely to use. Then, when you start writing your assignment, begin making citations and incorporating sources as you go, rather than waiting until the last minute or until after you have written your paper.

Space

Finally, academic writing can be a challenging craft to master, so be sure to give yourself patience and grace on this new learning curve. Take advantage of the tools and assistance that are available to you, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. By doing this, not only will you be better equipped to both prevent and treat instances of plagiarism in your own work, but you will be more confident in the strength and creativity of your own writing.