How to write an academic paper and get it published (Life Sciences)

Prerequisites

The course takes an evidence-based approach to writing. Participants will learn that publishing is a game and the more they understand the rules of the game the higher their chances of becoming publishing authors. They will learn that writing an academic article and getting it published may help with their careers but it does not make them better researchers, or cleverer than they were before their paper was accepted; it simply means they have played the game well.

Suitable for GSLS postgraduates in any discipline who are keen to learn how to write academic papers and articles efficiently as well as more established researchers who have had papers rejected and are not really sure why.

If you want a better chance of your name on a paper, this is for you!

Trainer

Olivia Timbs is an award-winning editor and journalist with over 30 years' experience gained from working on national newspapers and for a range of specialist health and medical journals.

GSLS Members: PhD Year 2+ and Postdocs

• Most importantly, you must bring an idea for a journal article. During the day you will be working this idea up into a piece that can be submitted to a journal.

• Secondly, you should also bring photocopies or printouts of articles from at least one publication in which you wish to be published.

• Ideally you should have undertaken the research and collected data if appropriate (although you do not need to bring them). If you are not at this stage you will gain most from the course if you have already embarked on preliminary research.

Number of sessions: 1

What is the aim of the course? The course will show you how to prepare, write and submit an original journal article that has a good chance of being accepted for publication. It will also set you well on the way to doing so.

Is this the right course for me? This course is for anyone who is writing – or about to write – an article or for a peer reviewed journal. It is particularly suitable for those who feel intimidated by those who already see their names in print or online.

What will the course cover? The course goes through the process of writing a paper in 10 stages, starting from understanding the game and ending with writing the covering letter and sending off the package. The broad principles that will be discussed are relevant for scientists, economists, social scientists and for students of the humanities. Participants will also learn tips that will help them communicate more effectively with anything they write.

What will the course not cover? It is about the writing process and is not a course on scientific writing, technical editing or critical appraisal.

1 day interactive workshop

One full day session