Taking the terror out of writing for publication
Nancy Brooks, Program Specialist,
Family Living Programs
Patti Herman, Family Living Educator
ScholarshipWhere does writing for publication fit into the Four
Elements of Scholarship (UW-Cooperative Extension)?
Creative, intellectual workReviewed by the scholar’s peers who affirm its
valueAdded to our intellectual history through its
communicationValued by those for whom it was intended
What kind of writing do you do?
What distinguishes writing for professional publication?Purpose
Audience
Authors
Content
Purpose
Report results of original research or analysis
Communicate/disseminate knowledge
Create a new framework for knowledge
Audience
Scholars
Researchers
Students in a particular field of study
Authors
Researchers and experts in their field
Always named
ContentUsually contains the following:Describe the research methodologyBibliography or works citedTechnical or specialized languageUsually peer reviewed
What’s your biggest challenge in writing for publication?
Author panelWill Andresen – CRD, Iron County
Paula Huff -4-H/YD, Oconto County
Faye Malek – Family Living Educator, Manitowoc County
Aerica Opatik – Ag Agent, Kewaunee County
Extension Writing for Publication SurveyDepartment of Family Development Research
& Studies Committee and Family Living Programs
Carried out in May/June 2010Sent to 300+ people on the Family Living
Programs email list via ZoomerangPurpose: To assess current level of knowledge
and needs for continuing education
Demographics74 responses
Untenured faculty 15%
Tenured faculty 36%
WNEP Coordinator 19%
WNEP Educator 23%
Other 7%
(Academic Staff/Youth and Family Coordinator, Interim FLE, WNEP Specialist, Waiting for Board of Regents approval on tenure)
DemographicsYears of employment by UW-Extension
Less than 1 year 8%
1-4 years 26%
5-10 years 28%
11-15 years 14%
More than 15 years 24%
Where they’ve been published38 % National Extension Association of
Family and Consumer Sciences
25% Journal of Extension
58% Department of Family Development website
29% Other (listed on next slide)
Publications listed under “Other”Newspapers/news releasesJournal of Family and Consumer SciencesWorld Cultures EncyclopediaBook with LFB Scholarly Publishers, Inc.Book chapterJournal of Nutrition Education and BehaviorJournal of the American Dietetic AssociationNot sure if local newsletters to partner agencies would
fit this questionFYI – Staff of the week/month
Most knowledgeable about….(ratings of Good or Excellent)
Accessing library resources for your literature review - 50%
Maintaining fidelity to original sources – 42%
Copyright issues – 40%
Least knowledgeable about…(ratings of Poor or Fair)Use of appropriate citations – 69%
American Psychological Association (APA) Writing Guidelines – 68%
Professional practices for publishing in multiple journals – 68%
Least knowledgeable about….(continued)
Informal writing compared to writing for publication – 62%
Sharing evaluation results – 62%
Establishing the purpose of your writing (e.g., persuasive, review of literature, etc.) – 61%
Other topics of interestChoosing appropriate topics for publicationEstablishing timelines for writingCiting technology sourcesProcess of submitting for publicationSuggestions for appropriate journalsFinding people to review draftsWhen to write during your Extension career?
Writing for PublicationProfessional Development SeriesSession One
Writing for publication: What does it mean?Session Two
The process of writingSession Three
Writing styleSession Four
Writing for publication case study
Writing ResourcesSteenboch Library
Writing Lab
Your local university
Purdue Online Writing Lab (O.W.L.)http://www.owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02
“Writing is easy. All you have to do
is cross out the wrong words.”
Mark Twain
“For a long time now I have tried simply to write the best that I can. Sometimes I have
good luck and write better than I can.”
Ernest Hemingway