Dissemination and publication Archives - Enhancing Postgraduate Environments

Predatory publishing: spotters guide

PostGrad — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 05:35:32 +0000

Predatory publishing is a worldwide phenomenon, which is increasing its presence in South Africa, according to research recently completed at Stellenbosch University.

This resource touches on important factors to help students and academics decide where to publish their research. Making the right choices can increase readership and citations, diminish publication lag and ensures their publications are eligible for government subsidy.

Predatory publishing has increased in output over the last few years. Unaware academics are vulnerable to their pitfalls. This can be costly and impact negatively on an academic’s reputation.

It is not the intention of the predatory journal resource to answer all questions regarding predatory publishers and its journals, but it should create awareness amongst academics.

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Developed by Pieter du Plessis, Stellenbosch University.

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Who might find this useful?

This resource is directed at any researcher that is unsure about where to publish research. This resource can be used whenever a researcher is contacted by a journal publisher and their publishing credentials are suspect. It can be used as part of a larger workshop where general academic publishing tips are suggested.

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Thesis Statement

PostGrad — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 10:12:08 +0000

Every thesis has to make a contribution – it has to have a central argument that it offers to the field of study. It is often difficult to figure out what your exact thesis statement is but once you do so, you can get a clear sense of what smaller arguments will need to be built up through chains of evidence in order for the reader to be convinced of the thesis statement. This video uses an example from Education and so it will probably be of use to students from across the Humanities and Social Sciences. For those in the Natural Sciences, the building of an argument is generally (but not always) in a more linear fashion. But regardless of your field, you will have to make some contribution to the field and it is worth trying to sum this up in just one clearly constructed sentence.

Developed by Sioux McKenna, Director of Postgraduate Studies at Rhodes University.

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Who might find this useful?

This video would make a useful resource for a writing workshop. It is primarily aimed at the kinds of argument building and thesis statement construction found in the Humanities and Social Sciences – but it might help those in the Natural Sciences too to construct in just one clearly crafted sentence what it is that their study offers the field.

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2 minute tip #3: Direct and Indirect Quotes

PostGrad — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 09:56:49 +0000

Two-minute tips provide short suggestions on how to improve your research. This two-minute tip looks at when it is appropriate to use a direct quote from the literature or when it is better to paraphrase and share the literature in your own words.

Developed by Sioux McKenna, Director of Postgraduate Studies at Rhodes University, ably supported by the wonderful graphics of Leo Baasch, leobaasch@gmail.com.

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Who might find this useful?

The two-minute tips might be useful for any supervisors or students who would like a bit of inspiration. They also make quick additions to a workshop.

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2-minute tip #2: Relationship to texts

PostGrad — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 09:44:14 +0000

Two-minute tips provide short suggestions on how to improve your research. This two-minute tip looks at how there is a shift in relationship to texts from undergraduate to postgraduate level. At undergraduate level, students are often expected to be ‘knowledge tellers’ who have to demonstrate that they have read and understood the literature. Many novice researchers continue to engage with the literature in this way at postgraduate level and this is problematic. What we need is a more authorative stance where the researcher sees herself as a (novice) member of the field. In this way she draws on literature to make her own contribution.

Developed by Sioux McKenna, Director of Postgraduate Studies at Rhodes University, ably supported by the wonderful graphics of Leo Baasch, leobaasch@gmail.com.

Explore these additional resources

Who might find this useful?

The two-minute tips might be useful for any supervisors or students who would like a bit of inspiration. They also make quick additions to a workshop.

The post 2-minute tip #2: Relationship to texts appeared first on Enhancing Postgraduate Environments.

2-minute tip #1: Joining the conversation

PostGrad — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 09:19:38 +0000

Two-minute tips provide short suggestions on how to improve your research. This two-minute tip looks at how writing is about contributing to a field. The tip argues that because academic knowledge is a contribution to an existing conversation, we need to have read widely and deeply to find out what has come before us. Rushing to collect data or to comment on our views without first engaging in the deliberations in the field is problematic.

Developed by Sioux McKenna, Director of Postgraduate Studies at Rhodes University, ably supported by the wonderful graphics of Leo Baasch, leobaasch@gmail.com.

Explore these additional resources

Who might find this useful?

The two-minute tips might be useful for any supervisors or students who would like a bit of inspiration. They also make quick additions to a workshop.

The post 2-minute tip #1: Joining the conversation appeared first on Enhancing Postgraduate Environments.

Predatory Journals: How to identify and avoid them

PostGrad — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 11:34:02 +0000

This brief tutorial defines “predatory journals” and their major characteristics. It provides information to help novice academics to avoid this trap.

Developed by Mark P Snyders, Digital Scholarship Librarian, University of the Western Cape. Thanks to Jessica van der Hoek and Duane Bowers.

Who might find this useful?

Novice academics may find this useful as they begin publishing their research. This video might add a useful contribution to any workshop on academic publishing and knowledge dissemination

Explore these additional resources

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Reading a journal article: techniques and skills

PostGrad — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 08:00:34 +0000

This brief PowerPoint presentation with voice over describes how to read journal articles and collating information using the rhetorical moves approach. The presentation explains the benefit of the rhetorical moves to enhance academic writing ensuring coherence, logic and flow of information. Lastly, the presentation shows how information can be consolidated from various authors using the rhetorical move approach.

Developed by Olushola Rotimi Adeniyi (PhD), Division of Post Gradute Studies (DPGS), University of the Western Cape (UWC). Thanks to UWC, DPGS.

Who might find this useful?

This checklist should be used in consultation with the screencast video “Solution lies in the problem”. The liberal use of free clipart from https://openclipart.org/ in the video is acknowledged with thanks.

The video can be found at https://postgradenvironments.com/

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https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/1808/18514/GenrePerformancesAccepted.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y

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Responding to reviewers

PostGrad — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:48:22 +0000

Publishing is hard work: it takes a long time, and a lot of effort. Even once a paper is finally submitted to a journal for consideration, the process is far from over. There is still peer review to receive and respond to, and a paper may go through more than one round of revisions before it can be accepted for publication. This process can be confusing, and overwhelming for novice authors who have not yet published their work in peer reviewed journals or books. This Prezi thus explains what peer review is for in academic publishing, and how publishers and authors can benefit from it. It offers a few illustrative examples of how an author could respond to journals editors, when resubmitting a revised manuscript. Further, it includes tips on how to manage feedback, and general advice on communicating with journal editors especially. The links and extra reading beneath the video are added for further reading, and advice.

Developed by Sherran Clarence, Independent higher education consultant. Thanks to Cherrel Africa for the narration.

Who might find this useful?

This material is primarily for postgraduate and postdoctoral scholars, to assist them with managing peer review and preparing a revised paper for a journal or edited book. This can also be used in writing for publication workshops, along with the suggested extra readings and resources.

Explore these additional resources

Choosing the right journal (internal link)
Doing revisions: http://wp.me/p3VNfn-8m ; https://patthomson.net/2015/04/16/revision-its-not-just-about-cutting-words-out/ ; https://patthomson.net/2014/02/24/good-academic-writing-its-about-revision-not-editing/
Peer review: https://patthomson.net/2017/06/19/when-peer-review-is-scent-marking/
Responding to peer review: http://matt.might.net/articles/peer-review-rebuttals/; https://www.editage.com/insights/how-to-respond-to-comments-by-peer-reviewers ; https://patthomson.net/2011/08/19/journal-etiquette-2-what-to-do-with-a-poor-review/
Getting support in the review process: https://patthomson.net/2014/10/20/3610/

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Plotting a paper from your thesis

PostGrad — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 07:45:06 +0000

Publishing out of a thesis, or a research project, can be a significant challenge for many early career researchers and postgraduate students. This prezi takes viewers through one possible process for ‘plotting’ or outlining a paper out of a thesis, or research project, from the development of the idea, purpose and audience, to the argument, and a ‘holding structure’ for the text. Through trying and adapting this process, it is hoped that viewers can make progress in choosing and developing ideas into papers, either on their own or with co-authors. Additional blog-posts and materials are suggested beneath the video.

Developed by Sherran Clarence, Independent higher education consultant.

Who might find this useful?

This material is primarily for postgraduate students and early career researchers to work through, with the worksheet and additional suggested reading. It could, however, be used in a practical paper-writing workshop run by postgraduate and/or writing support practitioners.

Explore these additional resources

Worksheet

Blogposts that may be helpful for further reading:

Plotting a paper from your PhD (http://wp.me/p3VNfn-7N)
Publishing during or after your PhD (http://wp.me/p3VNfn-7M)
Practices for getting published (https://patthomson.net/2015/01/12/writerly-readerly-and-strategic-some-tips-for-getting-published/)
Getting published in English language journals (https://patthomson.net/2014/02/27/getting-published-in-english-language-journals/)
Writing from the thesis (https://patthomson.net/2012/09/07/writing-from-the-phd-the-publishing-plan/, https://patthomson.net/2012/09/03/writing-from-the-phd-thesis-letting-go/)

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Choosing the right journal

PostGrad — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 07:33:52 +0000

Choosing the right journal for your paper is all about targeting the right audience for your research – your readers. It is recommended that you always start here: with your readers, and what it is you want to write about. From here, you can then make a wise choice about where to find these readers, i.e. where to publish your paper. This screencast takes you through a basic, initial process of screening a prospective journal you may be considering for a paper you are writing. From considering how many journals to put onto your list, and where to start finding them, through clicking around an exemplar to find basic information to inform your choice, this video helps you begin the process. This video should be viewed after ‘Plotting a paper from your thesis’, and the supplementary materials will take the conversation further.

Developed by Sherran Clarence, Independent higher education consultant. Thanks to Laurence Piper for the narration.

Who might find this useful?

This material is primarily for postgraduate and postdoctoral scholars, to assist them with the process of choosing a journal in which to publish their work. It could be effectively used as a lead in to a practical exercise, with the worksheet included, in a writing-for-publication workshop in which students could browse the Internet and create their own shortlist.

Explore these additional resources

Plotting a paper from your PhD (internal hyperlink within the site)

Blogposts:

Choosing the right journal for your paper (http://wp.me/p3VNfn-ps)
Predatory publishers: what to look for (http://wp.me/p3VNfn-on)
Practices for getting published (https://patthomson.net/2015/01/12/writerly-readerly-and-strategic-some-tips-for-getting-published/)
Creating a publishing plan: https://www.editage.com/insights/how-to-create-a-publication-schedule-and-why

Creating a shortlist (Worksheet link)

Questions for users:

For supervisors/PG support staff: how do you find journals for the papers you write? What are your top tips for getting published? Share these with your students, and encourage them to watch this video.
For students: Why do you want to publish your work? Think beyond doing it just because you have to: think about how you can build or add to knowledge and practice in your field. What can your voice (your research) add to the ‘conversation’? Start here, and create a plan for publishing that starts with your thesis, but looks forward to postdoctoral and future research. The blogs and other posts listed here may help with this. The worksheet can also be downloaded and used as a guide for creating your own journal shortlist.

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