Topic outline
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The 2025 Workshop Series will be advertised and open for registration end November 2024
*The Journal Article Writing Series workshop information and resources on this site are tailored to continuing research degree students working within science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medical sciences/health sciences (STEMM) disciplines and methodologies.
Each workshop in the Journal Article Writing Series includes an expert guest speaker from the Academic Units of STEM, ALH or CHS.
The schedule of presenters in 2024 include: Prof Saravana Kumar - ALH (Workshop 1), Academic Librarians Ms Adrianna Ciccone & Ms Stephanie Simon speaking about publication planning and impact factor/metrics (Workshop 2), Assoc. Prof Caroline Tiddy - FII STEM (Workshop 3), Assoc. Prof Michael Weise - CHS & Assoc. Prof Bronwyn Hajeck -STEM (Workshop 4), Prof Saravana Kumar - ALH (Workshop 5) and Prof Kurt Lushington -JUS Psychology (Workshop 6).
Journal Article Writing Workshop Series 9.30am-12.00pm C3-22 City East 2024
Workshop number
Activity Title
Tutorial room C3-22, City East campus (see map)
September and October
1
Targeting a paper and writing title, abstract and keywords Friday 13 September 2
Working with literature in a paper and planning for publication
RESCHEDULED to Friday 25 October
3
Friday 27 September
4
Friday 4 October
5
Friday 11 October
6
Refining your paper for journal submission and responding to reviewer feedback Friday 18 October The Journal Article Writing Workshop Series is offered across 6 x 2.5 hour workshops in tutorial room C3-22 (Centenary Building Level 3) at City East campus from 9.30am to 12pm. Research degree students attending this series will need to have an idea of a journal or journals in their specific research area they would like to publish in and bring some articles from their targeted journals along to the workshop, including the journal manuscript submission guidelines. Journal article writing workshops involve facilitator-led presentations and activities, and small group discussion of your research writing. Please ensure you register for each of the six workshops on EDGE. Students are encouraged to bring along their laptops to each workshop in the series for note-taking and web-searching purposes.
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ONLINE WORKSHOP RESOURCES
This section includes additional references and video links to presentations from each of the workshops in the journal article workshop writing series. Please note that the references and video presentations support the workshop content and are not to be considered as replacements for the workshops themselves.
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Targeting a paper and writing title, abstract and keywords
Workshop 1 examines expectations in papers regarding the structure and language of a paper in your discipline. Attendees are asked to bring along one or two journal articles with high impact and citations from their own disciplinary area. The session focuses on planning your paper by identifying the contribution of your paper, writing a title and an abstract. The workshop also considers how to get your paper recognised and cited.
Included in this online resource for Workshop 1 is video footage of a presentation by Dr Rick Fabretto from the Future Industries Institute who discusses issues and strategies around publishing with impact. Video 1 is divided into 6 sections according to significant elements to consider when preparing a paper. Elements addressed include the journal article writing process, what constitutes a good impact factor, authorship, writing effective titles and abstracts, choosing the 'right' journal and some factors to think about when submitting journal article manuscripts and the manuscript review process.
A video of Professor Saravana Kumar, Professor of Physiotherapy in UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance is the second video presented in the Workshop 1 resource. Saravana addresses issues and strategies for publishing during your HDR candidature, the importance of publishing, where to publish, creating a publication and career plan, and tips for structuring in time to write articles. The second half of his presentation is focused specifically on the process of scientific writing, including the what, why and how of writing for publication, considerations for constructing a full paper and key elements of the sections that can constitute a paper, and practices for writing well. Saravana's talk is presented in Video 2.
Video 1: Dr Rick Fabretto, Future Industries Institute
The first section of the presentation focuses on considerations of what makes for a great manuscript and designing your paper. Rick also discusses impact factors and strategies for identifying journals with a good impact factor.
VIDEO HERE (duration 6:59)
The second section of the presentation focuses on the four considerations of authorship of an article.
VIDEO HERE (duration 2:53)
In this section, Rick talks about strategies for writing journal article titles and abstracts.
VIDEO HERE (duration 11:38)
Section 4 focuses on the content of a journal article and addresses the 3 major parts that make up a manuscript: the beginning part of a paper (Introduction, Review of the Literature, Methods/Methodology); the middle part (Results and Discussion) and the end part (conclusion(s), implications of your research, recommendations [and sometimes limitations]).
VIDEO HERE (duration 10:51)
Section 5 looks at tips and tricks when submitting your article for review.
VIDEO HERE (duration 8:10)
In the sixth and final section of the presentation, Rick identifies some additional things authors should consider when designing and writing a journal manuscript and the revision and approval for publication process. Issues discussed include the significance of: developing a rapport with the journal editors; attending to reviewer feedback; referencing; networking and advertising your research. He concludes with the point that journal impact factor is important for broadcasting your results to a wide audience.
VIDEO HERE (duration 15:32)
Video 2: Professor Saravana Kumar, UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance
Section one of Saravana's presentation considers the broader issues and strategies around publishing during candidature, where to publish, creating a publication plan and a career plan, and presents a modified version of the Donabedian model for writing.
VIDEO HERE (duration 32:10)
In the second section of the presentation, Saravana discusses the process of scientific writing and the primary and secondary aims for writing a scientific paper.
VIDEO HERE (duration 3:16)
Section three identifies the what, why and how of writing for publication. Savana talks about how the motivation for writing, the message conveyed in writing and the means by which you get your writing into print publication are each inter-related.
VIDEO HERE (duration 8:11)
Section four focuses on considerations and strategies for constructing your paper. He attends to the development, design and writing of journal article:
- titles
- keywords
- the abstract
- introduction
- methods
- results
- discussion, and
- conclusion.
Saravana discusses strategies for writing well in the fifth and final section of his presentation. He identifies the significance of practicing research writing, making every sentence and paragraph in your paper purposeful and relevant to the article focus, writing for clarity and being concise, nominalisation (which is making a long sentence into a shorter and more concise one), setting writing goals and timelines, knowing the audience you are writing to and the journal guidelines, and reinforcing your key ideas in a paper without repeating yourself in the same way.
VIDEO HERE (duration 4:50) -
Introducing the paper and the literature review
This workshop focuses on the beginning of the paper, the key elements and function of an Introduction, and the identification of the research gap. It also compares different types of review papers, particularly scoping reviews and systematic reviews. Workshop 2: Introducing the paper further focuses on considerations and strategies when working with the literature in the thesis/exegesis and attends to the development of skills for summarising and synthesising literature.
Video 1: Associate Professor Caroline Tiddy, MinEX, Future Industries Institute
The first presentation is divided into six sections and delivered by Associate Professor Caroline Tiddy, Associate Professor in Geosciences in the MinEX Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), Future Industries Institute (FII). Caroline discusses the purposes, functions and possible structures of an introduction to a paper with a focus on the typical elements (or moves) within introductions.
In the first section of her presentation, Caroline introduces her work in the Future Industries Institue CRC MinEX to give context to her talk in relation to her disciplinary background and research focus.
VIDEO HERE (duration 2:15)
In the second section Caroline overviews the purpose and key elements of an Introduction.
VIDEO HERE (duration 4:11)
The third section presents tips and tricks for writing an introduction. It asks authors of articles to consider issues such as the audience(s) they are pitching their paper to, the Introduction structure, approximate word-length and writing style.
VIDEO HERE (duration 6:14)
The fourth section focuses on the first key element of writing an introduction which is to make your claim in relation: 1) inciting audiences to read your paper, 2) highlighting the significance of your research, and 3) introducing the broader problem in which the research positions itself. Caroline draws on two examples to illustrate her point. Drawing on the first paragraph from the introductions of two articles in her field of research, Caroline shows how he first paragraph in each of the Introductions embed the three points involved in making your claim, and how each sentence has a particular function.
VIDEO HERE (duration 5:34)
Section five focuses on the second key element of writing an Introduction. This element, which Caroline names 'Review', is to provide the reader with broad background knowledge in order to understand what research has already been done in the area and what gap in the literature exists that the project seeks to address. Drawing on the second paragraph from the introductions of two articles in her field of research, Caroline shows how each of the sentences in the second paragraph strategically function to highlight a gap in knowledge which is a problem that needs to be addressed through further research.
VIDEO HERE (duration 2:49)
Section six looks at the final key element of an Introduction which is outlining the agenda or structure of your paper. Caroline recommends breaking the agenda into three parts. The first part states what the paper is going to do which is directly related to the gap in knowledge you identify in paragraph two 'Review'. The second part identifies how you do this in the form of a very brief methodology which you elaborate on in the main body of your article. The third part outlines key points you will discuss in the paper (in chronological order) which has wider implications for future research, practice, etc.
VIDEO HERE (duration 2:57)
Video 2: Professor Susan Hiller, UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance
The second video presented by Professor Susan Hiller, Professorial Lead: UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance, considers different types of review papers with a particular focus on scoping reviews and systematic reviews and writing introductions for review papers. Susan's presentation is divided into five sections.
In the first section of her presentation, Susan overviews the key elements of a journal manuscript in relation to the questions of Why?, What?, How? and So What? to which quality research articles respond. The significance of the wording of the title of a journal article is addressed.
VIDEO HERE (duration 4:48)
In the second section, Susan discusses the significance of clearly stating your research problem in your manuscript and convincing the reader that your research question is worth asking. She goes on to illustrate this process simplistically and in visual format and in so doing. represents three key elements of an Introduction to a paper. Susan first shows an image of a baby which represents the research focus or research issue/population/object you care about; secondly there is an image of a werewolf which represents the threat or problem which the research project seeks to address; and finally there is a solution to the problem which is represented in an image of a silver bullet.
VIDEO HERE (duration 3:52)
Section three of the video goes into a more depth discussion of how a paper needs to convince the reader that your research is worthwhile through a clear identification of the background to the problem based on the literature and the address of a series of questions that she lists in a PowerPoint slide.
VIDEO HERE (duration 4:49)
In the fourth section of her presentation, Susan identifies the importance of undertaking a wide and inclusive review of the relevant literature directly related to your research question/problem. She discusses how the literature review is crucial for justifying your research focus and ensuring that you do not replicate a research project or paper already undertaken by another individual or group. Susan also briefly overviews the difference between systematic reviews and scoping reviews and poses the question of how the potential impacts of your research are justified.
VIDEO HERE (5:07)
Section five discusses the process of creating measurable questions for your research in the context of the research aims and objectives, the research questions and research hypotheses.
VIDEO HERE (duration 2.51)
Articles referred to in Video 2 by Professor Susan Hillier
Nagpal, Anjali ; Milte, Rachel ; Kim, Susan W. ; Hillier, Susan ; Hamilton-Bruce, Monica A. ; Ratcliffe, Julie ; Koblar, Simon A. (2019) 'Economic Evaluation of Stem Cell Therapies in Neurological Diseases: A Systematic Review', Value in Health, vol.22 (2), pp.254-262.
Fryer, Caroline E ; Luker, Julie A ; McDonnell, Michelle N ; Hillier, Susan L. ( 2016), 'Self-Management Programs for Quality of Life in People with Stroke', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, vol.47 (12), p.e266-e267Hillier, Susan ; Immink, Maarten ; Thewlis, Dominic (2015) 'Assessing Proprioception: A Systematic Review of Possibilities', Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, vol.29 (10), pp.933-949 -
Writing results, presenting data and the effective use of visual images
Workshop 3 identifies effective and concise ways to present results, including the sophisticated use of visuals. It also examines different ways of explaining and commenting on the results.
The first video is a presentation by Associate Professor Michael Wiese, Associate Professor of Pharmacotherapeutics, UniSA Clinical & Health Sciences. Michael talks about key steps involved when introducing your results, presenting results and explaining results, as well as identifying the importance of clear explanations of tables/figures/diagrams/models and legends.
In the second video, Associate Professor Bronwyn Hajek, Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics in UniSA STEM. She focuses explicitly on the purpose and function of visual images in papers, and considerations and strategies for presenting visual images that reflect complex data clearly and effectively.Video 1: Associate Professor Michael Wiese, UniSA Clinical & Health Sciences (to be filmed in 2024)
In the first section of the presentation, ...Video 2: Associate Professor Bronwyn Hajek, UniSA STEM
In the first section of the presentation, Bronwyn discusses the purposes and functions of figures and tables in the results section of a paper, or a combined results/discussion section.
VIDEO HERE (duration 5:22)
Section two identifies how concise and effective visual images function to tell a story about the data in a paper through the presentation of complex data in a clear and simple way. Bronwyn talks about the significance of visual cues in data presentation and the creation and utilisation of figures to compare your results with previous predictions or results.
VIDEO HERE (duration 5:27)
In section three Bronwyn discusses the use of insets to provide extra information in a visual image, strategies for writing effective legends and the use of arrows and caption explanations to indication progression in a table, graph or diagram.
VIDEO HERE (duration 5:45)
The significance of scales in a visual image and the value of empty space is elaborated in section four.
VIDEO HERE (duration 4:32)
The fifth and final section of the presentation focuses on details to consider when designing and presenting visual images in a paper, including:
- journal requirements
- discussing all figures in the text of your article
- the purpose/function of visual images in your paper
- captions,
- software for creating visual images, and
- the importance of consistency.
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Discussing findings and writing conclusions
Workshop 4 focuses on a range of possibilities to interpret findings and reinforce the argument of the paper. leading into the conclusion to reinforce the contribution of the paper.
In the first video Professor Saravana Kumar from UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance discusses the context of results and discussion sections in a paper. He talks about 'do's and don'ts' when preparing and writing discussions and then elaborates on the function and key elements of a conclusion to a paper.
The second video by Professor Claudine Bonder, Research Professor in the Centre for Cancer Biology, expands on her talk in Workshop 3 (the previous workshop) which was focused on issues and strategies for presenting data/results. As part of her talk, she referred to a co-authored journal article published in her research field of cancer research. In her presentation for Workshop 4, Claudine concentrates on strategies for writing the discussion section of a paper with direct reference to the same co-authored article example. She identifies the crucial significance and function of the discussion section and its key elements. How the purpose and function of a discussion section differs from the results section, and how the discussion works to develop the argument of a paper with reference to the literature, is identified.
Professor Saravana Kumar, UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance
In the first section of the presentation, Saravana looks at the context of a paper and where the results and discussion sections fit in relation to their purpose. He pays particular attention to the key function of a discussion section which answers the 'So What?' question about a research paper - that is, what do your results/findings say and mean and why are they significant for your field of study? What is the contribution that your findings make for your area of research, and what are the wider implication of your research for future research/practice that your targeted audience should take notice of?
VIDEO HERE (duration 1:53)
The second section of the paper considers the writing of your discussion as a challenging activity, involving the interpretation, analysis and theoretical and conceptual contextualisation of your results that both answers your research question and highlights the main conclusions/key findings that emerge from your research.
VIDEO HERE (duration 2:59)
Section three identifies what not to do when writing a discussion, and the difference between the purpose and function of a results section and the purpose and functions of a discussion section.
VIDEO HERE (duration 3:48)
In section four Saravana talks about considerations and strategies when writing a conclusion to a paper and key elements of a conclusion.
VIDEO HERE (duration 3:23)
In the fifth and final section of the presentation, Saravana draws on an article example published by one of his PhD students to showcase how the student structured both their discussion and conclusion and the key elements embedded in each of these sections. In so doing, Saravana identifies how each of the paragraphs (and in some cases, sentences) in the discussion and conclusion sections of the article serve a particular purpose/function.
VIDEO HERE (duration 3:50)
Professor Claudine Bonder, Centre for Cancer Biology
In the first section of the presentation, Claudine talks about the function of a discussion and its inter-relation with the key elements and structure of the introduction section of a paper.
VIDEO HERE (duration 5:15)
The second section reiterates the content function of the introduction of her article. In so doing, she highlights how her introduction links to the purpose of her discussion being the analysis and interpretation of the results and their significance in relation to the literature.
VIDEO HERE (duration 2:31)
The third section identifies and elaborates on the key elements of a discussion. In so doing, it addresses how the structure of a discussion functions to tell in chronological order a story about what the results say in relation to the research question/problem that the paper is addressing.
VIDEO HERE (duration 5:38)
In the fourth section, Claudine talks about how the discussion can include an identification of what future research studies should address as based on the results and their limitations. Your results, and what they don't say, work to reveal continuing gaps in knowledge.
VIDEO HERE (duration 3:26) -
Refining your paper for submission to a journal
This section explores strategies to refine your paper for submission to your selected journal. The process includes: naming key words, attending to author guidelines, deciding who needs to be an author or include in the acknowledgements, and the significance of clarity of expression and presentation of visual images within the manuscript. Writing cover letters for papers is also discussed.
Professor Drew Evans, Professorial Lead: Future Industries Institute
In the first section of the presentation, Drew identifies why all authors must spend focused time proofreading and refining their papers before submission to a journal to ensure clarity of expression and results, and the presentation and flow of argument. Checking the paper for correct spelling, grammar and syntax and ensuring compliance to the journal's author guidelines are essential to this process.
VIDEO HERE (duration 3:51)
The second section of the presentation addresses strategies for refining your paper by way of:
- seeking input/comments from all co-authors of the paper, trusted colleagues and other students who can act as a 'critical reader'
- ensuring your article complies with all of the journal's formatting, spelling, referencing and presentation requirements
- refining and revising the text and any visual images in your paper.
VIDEO HERE (duration 5:02)
The third section of the video looks at issues and considerations surrounding who qualifies to be an author with reference to the Australian Code for the Conduct of Responsible Research and UniSA's Authorship Policy.
VIDEO HERE (duration 6:57)
In the fourth section, Drew discusses the significance of anticipating what your reviewers might say about your article. He recommends that authors take up the position of being the most critical reviewer of your own work and identifying any problems with the language, expression and presentation of your paper. He also recommends that authors review the paper in the context of whether the writing, results and visual images are expressed in the most concise way possible, and to rely on your co-authors to provide feedback and comments on this.
VIDEO HERE (duration 4:08)
The fifth section expands on ensuring article compliance to the journal's author guidelines so that your paper goes out for review. Drew then addresses the importance of identifying and using effective keywords that reflect the key concepts/focus of your paper, and considerations when writing cover letters to accompany your paper on submission.
VIDEO HERE (duration 7:40)
In the sixth and final section of the presentation, Drew summaries the key take-home points of his presentation for revising an article.
VIDEO HERE (duration 2:58)
Professor Claudine Bonder, Research Professor in the Centre for Cancer Biology
Claudine's presentation opens with a focus on:
- the crucial importance of publishing your research,
- knowing and targeting a journal and the importance of impact factor, and
- ensuring the scope and focus of your targeted journal is for an audience that you want to read your work.
VIDEO HERE (duration 8:09)
The second section identifies the importance of reading and complying with the journal article requirements and knowing costs involved in open access publishing. Claudine also discusses the UniSA library's existing agreements with certain publishing houses for covering most or all of the costs involved in open access publishing and that you should ask the library about these agreements and with which journals if you are not sure.
VIDEO HERE (duration 7:28)
The third section of the video looks at Claudine's example of a cover letter template that she uses for submitting her papers and authorship considerations.
VIDEO HERE (duration 12:03)
In the fourth and final section of the presentation, Claudine talks about final issues that need to be addressed before sending the article to your selected journal. She concludes with a discussion about ensuring all co-authors in the article have read the paper in full before submission (and resubmission if the paper is not accepted by the first journal), and ensuring that you have identified more than one journal to target in the instance of non-acceptance (that has been agreed upon by your co-authors).
VIDEO HERE (duration 8:08)
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Revising your paper and responding to reviewer feedback
This section discusses how to become a peer reviewer for journals and the opportunities provided by this for understanding the manuscript review process. It also focuses on strategies for reading and responding to reviewers feedback on a paper. There are two videos in this resource related to the workshop content of undertaking revisions to a paper and the process of resubmission.
Associate Professor Caroline Tiddy's presentation in Video 1 focuses on strategies for revising and editing your paper and tips and tricks for undertaking revisions. She also talks about writing cover letters for re-submitting revised manuscripts and, once your paper is accepted and published, strategies for promoting your paper.
Associate Professor Caroline Tiddy, MinEX, Future Industries Institute
In the first section of the video, Caroline discusses strategies when first receiving reviewer feedback on your paper.
ViDEO HERE (duration 5:48)
The second section identifies 'tips and tricks' for revising your paper in relation to the reviewers comments.
ViDEO HERE (duration 5:20)
In section three, Caroline provides an example of a letter to the journal editor outlining the structure of response to the reviewers comments that she and her co-author received in regard to the paper they submitted to that journal. She then provides examples of the actual reviewer responses/feedback and how she and her co-author addressed the comments.
ViDEO HERE (duration 7:58)
In the fourth and final section of the video, Caroline outlines considerations and strategies for writing cover letters for journal articles (if a cover letter is required) and promoting your article widely once published.
ViDEO HERE (duration 4:13)
Professor Kurt Lushington, UniSA Justice & Society
Professor Kurt Lushington is Professor of Psychology in UniSA Justice & Society. His presentation focuses on the issue of paper rejection and how to deal with this in the instance it occurs to a paper you have authored. Kurt's presentation normalises the occurrence of paper rejection and provides context and strategies for persisting with the revise and resubmission process of an initially rejected paper.
In the first section of the video Kurt discusses some of the pathways by which a paper can be rejected. He then provides examples of famous authors who experienced rejection of their manuscripts before finally being published in order to identify that some experience of rejection in the publishing world is normal. Kurt then expands on his own experience of publishing over his long career and emphasises the ways that feedback from rejection of articles can be used to revise your paper and thus strengthen it.
VIDEO HERE (duration 11:59)
In the second part of the presentation, Kurt discusses the topic of handling rejection from a psychologist's viewpoint and brings to the fore the diverse number of factors that can lead to a paper being rejected, which can differ across journals. However, he does recognise some common grounds for paper rejection and emphasises the significance of journal checklists and guidelines for paper submission that authors may use to evaluate their paper content before submission.
VIDEO HERE (duration 13:58)
In the third and final section of the video, Kurt draws attention to a recent instance in some journals of rejection of papers based on insufficient theoretical contribution to the field. Attention is then drawn to considerations and strategies for handling and responding to reviewers comments and writing cover letters of resubmission. The final part of the presentation is devoted to strategies for dealing with conflicting reviewer feedback, the importance of respecting editor feedback on your paper, and Beall's list of predatory journals to avoid.
VIDEO HERE (duration 9:02)
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WRITING THE PHD AND JOURNAL ARTICLES AT THE SAME TIME
In a previous seminar run for HDR students at UniSA, early career researcher Dr Adam Drogemuller (UniSA STEM) did a presentation on how he wrote his PhD thesis while writing journal articles for publication. His presentation draws on his personal experience of thesis and publication writing during his doctoral candidature, and some of the issues, considerations and strategies he implemented to successfully publish multiple articles and manage his time to complete the thesis.
VIDEO HERE (duration 17:17)
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Video 1: Dr Rick Fabretto, Future Industries Institute
Video 1: Associate Professor Caroline Tiddy, MinEX, Future Industries Institute
Video 1: Associate Professor Michael Wiese, UniSA Clinical & Health Sciences (to be filmed in 2024)
Professor Saravana Kumar, UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance