The Publication & Review Process - ensc.sfu.cawhitmore/courses/ensc803/materials/Writing... · Publication Processes 5 of 30 Informal Publication Self-Publishing: Authors may choose

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The Publication & Review Process

© Steve Whitmore

May 2016


Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to do the

following:

Recognize the process you must follow when publishing

in conference proceedings, professional journals, and in

textbooks

Outline the purpose for blind reviews and a method for

providing constructive feedback to colleagues

Assess the positive and negative values associated with

publishing


Two Famous Publication Hoaxes

Google “Academic Publication Hoaxes” for some

interesting reading:

Alan D. Sokal. 1995. “Transgressing the Boundaries: Towards a

Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity.” Social Text.

(A satire of post-modernist language, logic, and the journal’s

review processes).

Jeremy Stribling, Daniel Aguayo, Maxwell Krohn. 2005. “Rooter:

A Methodology for the Typical Unification of Access Points and

Redundancy.” Accepted to Conference on Systematics,

Cybernetics, and Informatics. (A computer-generated spoof of

the conference’s paper acceptance processes).


An Exercise What are the reasons why people choose either to

publish their work or to not publish it?

Work in pairs.

Brainstorm positive and negative reasons for publishing in relation to the individual, the organization (company, university, and department), and society.

Example: For an individual, a positive reason to publish might be to make money; a negative reason might be that it is a lot of work.


Informal Publication

Self-Publishing: Authors may choose to publish their

own work on-line (websites, blogs, maillists) or as hard

copies (handbooks, handouts, CDs). Often used for

producing course materials and initial work on a

textbook. Blogs and maillists good for generating

feedback.

On-line Journals: Authors may choose to submit

articles to dedicated on-line journals. Sometimes used to

publish initial results of studies. Can generate some peer

review. Becoming increasingly prestigious.


Self-Publishing

Advantages:

Control over product – Authors maintain complete

control over their materials and how the material is

presented.

Relatively easy and inexpensive – All that is needed is

a computer, a printer (or DVD burner) and appropriate

software.

Fast – Turn-around can be as fast or slow as desired.

Profitability – Any profits return to author.


Self-Publishing (cont’d)

Disadvantages:

Lack of Expertise – Authors must become proficient

with basic principles of design and layout, typography,

etc. Also need to learn to use a range of software

(graphics, desktop publishing, and html software).

Quality Control – Authors may not have access to other

specialists in the field (content experts, design

specialists, and copy editors).

Risk of Theft – Authors may discover that others have

taken their materials without permission.

Expenses – All costs are responsibility of author

(including potential legal costs for copyright violation).


On-line Journals

Advantages:

Fast turn around

Increasingly recognized

Better on-line journals are peer-reviewed


On-line Journals (cont’d)

Disadvantages:

Recognition limited (is this changing?)

Quality of graphics sometimes limited

Theft?


Semi-Formal Publishing

Poster Presentations: Some conferences offer the

opportunity to do poster presentations. Originally

intended for grad students (but are increasing in

prestige). A subset of conference presentations.

Conference Presentation: Conference presentations

offer a more formal opportunity to gain publication

experience. Conference presentations are considered

nearly as prestigious as journal publications (especially if

reviewed).


Poster Presentations

Advantages:

Gain initial recognition

Avoid presentation

Peer feedback

Good for very detailed research

Allows you to check out the lay of the land

Good opportunity for networking

Best poster competition/awards ($$)


Poster Presentations (cont’d)

Disadvantages:

Lead time is 4-6 months

Recognition is limited

But paper is still published in proceedings!

Cost ($100-$300, but supervisor may pay)

Design and layout is critical (limited space)

Stand in front of poster for 5 hours

Judges sometimes grill presenters


Poster Presentations (cont’d)

Process:

Find a conference location that is good ;-)

Submit application and extended abstract. In some

cases, you might be given an opportunity to choose

between a formal presentation and a poster

presentation, but this is often assigned.

Wait for approval

Write paper following specific guidelines (revise on own)

Design, assemble, and transport poster

Attend poster session


Conference Presentations

Advantages:

Gain recognition

Considered somewhat more prestigious than poster

Over in 15-20 minutes

More opportunity to show material with slides

Special effects can be used


Conference Presentations

Disadvantages:

Lead time is 4-6 months

Requires practice

Must speak in front of people (and audience could be

huge or miniscule)

Parallel conference sessions may prevent some from

attending


Conference Presentations (cont’d)

Process:

Find conference

Submit application and extended abstract

Wait for approval

Write paper following specific guidelines (revise on own)

Submit paper

Prepare presentation

Practice, practice, practice

Deliver presentation


Formal Publishing

Journal Publication: One of the most prestigious

publication opportunities. Essential for gaining tenure

and promotions.

Textbooks: Also a prestigious opportunity. Typically

used by both teaching faculty and senior tenured faculty.


Journal PublicationsAdvantages:

Very prestigious

Essential for tenure and promotion

Can raise one’s profile dramatically

The right article can result in $$

Templates save time

High quality feedback

Journal is responsible for dealing with copyright

violations


Journal Publications (cont’d)

Disadvantages:

Long lead time (8-12 months)

Requires good writing skills

Must generally report positive results (although reporting

negative results is gaining in acceptance)

Controversial topics difficult to get accepted

Decisions are sometimes political

Limited space to present material

Patent issues


Journal Publications (cont’d)

Process:

Submit paper to journal

Associate editor sends to reviewers

Reviewer comments, accepts, accepts with revisions, or

rejects

Back to author for revisions

Back to society

Copy editor proofs article

Reviewed by author (sometimes)

Transfer copyright to journal

Published


Textbook Publishing

Advantages:

Very prestigious

Provides an opportunity to treat a topic broadly

Popular titles can make $$ (rare)

Publishing house is responsible for dealing with

copyright violations


Textbook Publishing

Disadvantages:

Huge lead time (3-5 years)

Difficulty finding a publisher

Requires hundreds to thousands of hours

Rarely make money


Textbook Publishing (cont’d)

Process:

Review available texts to determine need

Find a niche or new approach

Find a publisher

Write preliminary chapters and chapter outlines

Sign contract (royalties, deadlines, copyright transfer)

Develop appropriate template/determine style

Write draft of text

1st peer reviews

Make revisions

2nd peer review


Textbook Publishing Process (cont’d)Process:

More revisions

Obtain copyright permissions

Write exercises and preface

Review 3rd party figures

Make changes as suggested by copy editor

Provide information to marketing department

Decide upon cover design and layout issues

Make minor edits for compositor

Develop resources (web, CD, etc.) for teachers

Publish

Make corrections for 2nd printing


Blind Reviews

To determine if the papers submitted are of sufficient

quality, relevance, and currency to merit publication

To minimize any biases that might be caused by the

author’s gender, culture, or stature

To ensure that articles are factually accurate and employ

standard methods accepted within the community

To provide authors with feedback that will assist them

with making changes in content, organization, and style


Blind Reviews You volunteer or are asked to review a manuscript

You receive a manuscript to review (rarely paid for

reviewing articles; sometimes paid a small stipend for

reviewing textbooks)

Comment text of document; provide a written summary

Approve, Approve with changes, Reject (on the basis of

novelty and appropriateness)

NB. You can’t use the material you read, and you are not

allowed to contact the author directly


Submitting Your Paper for Review Download the IEEE “Information for Authors,” “Guidelines for

Author Supplied Electronic Text and Graphics,” and template (links to these documents are supplied on the course website).

Read instructions carefully.

Modify the template so that a single column per page is displayed (instructions are included in the template).

Do not include list of authors, biography, or photograph.

Include a title page with your name, date, and paper title.

Submit one hard copy of paper in the ENSC 803 dropboxoutside the ENSC General Office (use paperclips, not staples) Submit one .pdf version of paper to [email protected].

Due Wednesday, June 22.


Reviewing the Paper

Read through the paper and note your initial reactions to content, organization, and format. Do not record these on the paper.

Read through the paper a second time and examine it for flaws in style, punctuation, and grammar.

Circle a few examples of these flaws and show how to correct some of them. DO NOT correct all the flaws; simply point out patterns. Use a black pen (not a pencil).

Refer to the textbook for definitions (pp. 188-244) or use the supplied Style Cribsheet.

Also include any of your earlier observations about content, organization, and format.


Reviewing the Paper

Using the supplied Blind Review Form, summarize any problems you discovered and recommend appropriate changes.

Provide both positive as well as negative feedback.

Note that some stylistic flaws may not need to be addressed as they are part of engineering discourse (i.e., passive voice, noun strings, and nominalizations). But point out where these patterns are excessive or used unnecessarily.

Submit 2 hard copies of the marked-up paper and the completed Blind Review Form in the ENSC 803 dropbox.

Due Wednesday, July 13


Conclusion

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The Publication & Review Process - ensc.sfu.cawhitmore/courses/ensc803/materials/Writing... · Publication Processes 5 of 30 Informal Publication Self-Publishing: Authors may choose