The ins and outs of academic publishing

Course Description and Objectives

There are many barriers in order to get an academic article published in a prestigious journal. Paradoxically, often the authors themselves do not realize the ultimate goal of their scientific product, who their audience is and what contribution they want to make to the scientific community. With intensive workloads in teaching, a constant lack of time and the absence of specialized trainings on research methods and styles of writing scientific articles, a large number of publications are demanded from academics in the post-Soviet space (and not only), unfortunately, not concentrating on the quality of the material they publish. The so-called "predatory" journals take advantage of this state of affairs and offer their services to desperate or not always knowledgeable scientists, which ultimately causes irreparable damage to both the author of the article and the whole science in general. Many of the problems voiced can be easily overcome with the right tools and information.

This course will help participants identify the goals of their scientific discoveries and use best practices in the process of writing and publishing scientific papers. Authors will be able to critically study those “bad habits” of academic writing that are developed in us at school, and sometimes at university, and will acquire modern and proven skills in writing scientific articles.

The course is designed for aspiring academics and researchers from Central Asia. It aims to inform participants about the process of writing and publishing an academic article in a prestigious journal. Participants will be introduced to all stages of academic writing - from the birth of the initial research idea to the publication of the work.

By the completion of the course participants will be able to:

  • master the skill of choosing the correct publication format for specific purposes;
  • avoid the career-destructive experience of publishing in predatory journals;
  • find your voice of the author and your target audience;
  • develop the right habits of the publishing author.

Course format

The course includes 5 modules and is designed for 8 weeks of study. The weekly workload of students in the course is 8-10 hours (depending on the complexity of the section and independent work).

The modules consist of video lectures from 8 to 15 minutes with transcript of texts, useful links, verification tests (up to 10 questions for each module of the course), as well as assignments for self-completion.

To proceed to the materials of the next module, it is necessary to pass the test of each module by at least 80%. There are 10 attempts to pass the test. If the limit of attempts is exhausted, the system is blocked and you need to register for the course again. In this regard, we strongly advise participants to re-familiarize themselves with the provided course materials in case of the first unsuccessful attempts to pass the test tasks. If you wish, you can repeat the course four times. Upon completion of the entire course, an electronic certificate will be issued.

The course was developed as part of IWPR's three-year regional project Giving Voices - Driving Change: from the Borderland to Steppes, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project aims to build the capacity of a new generation of analysts and journalists who can provide high-quality and accessible analytics to government agencies and the general public in the Central Asia region. The views expressed in the course do not reflect the official position of the Norwegian government.

 
8 weeks
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What will you learn?

Different types of written academic papers, their goals and objectives
New tools for shaping the author's voice
Different magazine styles and standards
Best practices for overcoming writer's block
The difference between authoritative magazines from "predatory"
Possible scenarios for the development of events after submitting an article in journal and practical advice on how to act in a specific situation

Program

  • Module 1

    The module starts with the most important question for the author of any work - why am I writing academic papers? Despite its apparent simplicity, it may seem unusual and even inconvenient for most novice scientists. Course participants will learn about the different types of academic written work, their goals and objectives. The video lecture will tell you in detail how to choose the format that best suits the specific goals and capabilities of the author. Participants will critically reflect on their writing practice and gain new tools to shape the author's voice.

  • Module 2

    There are certain types of general academic writing standards called academic style. Sometimes these styles are associated with a specific university, in other cases they are created and constantly updated by associations of scholars in a particular field. Styles help create consistency and shape. Academic journals adhere to a certain style, and formatting the article to fit the specific criteria of the publisher is of fundamental importance. In this module, participants will get an overview of the different styles and learn how to format their work to follow the specific guidelines of a particular magazine.

  • Module 3

    The daunting phenomenon of the “writing block” is familiar to most novice and experienced writers, and often has nothing to do with laziness, procrastination, or the capabilities of a scientist. Difficulties also arise when the inability to tame the irrepressible stream of the writer's thought and bring the work to a logical conclusion. Participants will be introduced to the best practices for overcoming the writing block and effective methods for completing scientific work, realistically defining its boundaries and content.

  • Module 4

    Unfortunately, the post-Soviet space in general and the countries of Central Asia in particular are a region where predatory magazines flourish. Under pressure from productivity, academics desperately or unknowingly submit their articles to questionable publishers, many of whom charge fees for fast and guaranteed publication of articles. At the same time, such journals do not provide authors with a full range of publishing and editorial services, and also do not have the status of a scientific journal and the corresponding impact factor. This module will teach participants to successfully distinguish authoritative journals from “predatory” ones. Authors will learn how to find the best journal to submit their work to an editor for review and anonymous peer review by experts, as well as learn tips and secrets of successful publication in the selected journal.

  • Module 5

    You have submitted your article for review. Congratulations! There are several potential outcomes, the most likely of which is anxiously waiting for reviewers to respond. In this module, most of the possible scenarios for the development of events will be considered after you have sent an article to a reputable scientific journal. Participants will receive practical advice on how to act in specific situations. This module will also focus on developing a productive strategy for your daily writing routine that will help you overcome stress, prioritize research and enjoy your unique academic pursuits.

Instructors

Frequently asked questions

How to register for the course?
First you need to register on the site itself, then select the course that suits you from the “Courses” section and register for the course itself.
Will I receive a certificate after completing the course?
The certificate is received by those who have passed all the lessons within the course and passed the final test successfully (at least 80%).
What if I don’t pass the test?
After each module in the course there is an intermediate test and a general test at the end of the course. You are given 10 attempts to pass the test. If it fails from the first attempts, you can review the lesson and take the test again. After exhausting 10 attempts, the system will be blocked. You will need to register for the course again to complete it.
What to do if the site is down?
Write to us at the indicated contacts in the “Contacts” section or in social networks.
What should I do if my name on the certificate is different from the name in the passport?
When registering, initially enter your data correctly. If you have indicated other details, write to us. We will correct and send the certificate with the correct data.
Can I take several courses?
Yes. You can take several courses at once or in sequence.
How often are courses updated?
Courses that already exist are not updated. We add new courses after they are crated.
How to participate in your other events?
We conduct various training events for journalists and journalism students from Central Asian countries. You can track new events on our website or on pages on social networks and take part. Often you need to register or pass a competitive selection.
Can only residents of Central Asia take courses?
Online courses are available to absolutely everyone regardless of place of residence. Offline events take place in one of the CA countries.
I am not from the media sector, but I want to enroll in the course. Is it possible?
Yes, everyone can take online courses.
How long is the course?
The duration of each course is determined individually, depending on the content and complexity of the course. The average duration is from 6 to 8 weeks. During this period, you must complete all the lessons and pass the tests. If you didn’t finish on time, the system will be blocked. But you can overwrite and go through again.