Schedule

Week 1: Introduction

Tuesday, January 14

In this class, we will discuss the course and our plan for the semester. You will sign up for workshop dates. We will discuss why we publish in the first place and answer some of the questions you submitted. We will also read, in class, an excerpt from a journal article and begin a discussion of the conventions of academic journal articles.

Week 2: What is a journal article?

Tuesday, January 21

Due by class:

  • Read Mimi Thi Nguyen, “The Hoodie as Sign, Screen, Expectation, and Force,” Signs, 40.4 (Spring 2015): 791-816 (reading in Box folder)
  • Complete reverse outline of Nguyen’s article and submit to course Box folder

In this class, we will discuss the conventions of a journal article using an example, and discuss how a journal article is different from a dissertation chapter. You will complete a reverse outline of this article before coming to class. In class, we will compare the introduction of Angela Naimou’s article “‘I Need Many Repetitions’: Rehearsing the Haitian Revolution in the Shadows of the Sugar Mill,” and the introduction of chapter 2 from her book Salvage Work, which expands on this article (both readings are in our course Box folder).

RECOMMENDED:

  • Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks, Week 1 for tips about how to decide what piece to work on, making a writing plan you will stick to and setting realistic goals, identifying obstacles to writing.
  • Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks, Week 2 for a discussion of different genres of academic writing, myths about publishing journal articles, a discussion of what does get published and why, ingredients of a good abstract, and tips about how to get started.

Week 3: Audience

Tuesday, January 28

Due by class:

  • A ranked list of the 3 journals to which you think you want to submit your piece, submitted to our course Box folder. For the first journal (and only the first journal!) on this list, you will do the following:
    • Spend some time reading and skimming the journal’s most recent 3 years of issues, and select 3 articles you believe best represent this journal’s current audience(s). For each article, identify:
      • The field(s) or subfield(s) in which the author specializes.
      • The field(s) or subfield(s) addressed by the article, explaining what has lead you to determine this.
    • Based on the information you gather in the step above, write 1-3 paragraphs on who you see as the major audience group(s) for this journal, and why you see your piece as a good fit for this journal.
    • Include information on submission guidelines, including length, citation style, submission format, the submission process, and any other information pertinent to manuscript submission that the journal offers on its website.

In this class, we will discuss the importance of audience in scholarly publishing. Come to class ready to discuss the above assignment.

NOTE: This assignment and next week’s assignment are, obviously, organized around academic publications. However, some of you have indicated that you might be interested in exploring publication opportunities outside of peer-reviewed journals. If you are still considering this, please talk to me in advance of doing this week’s assignment.

RECOMMENDED:

  • Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks, Week 4 on selecting the right journal

Week 4: Citations and notes

Tuesday, February 4

Due by class:

  • Select one of the articles from your top-choice journal identified in last week’s assignment and read it through carefully, paying particular attention to its citations and foot- or endnotes.
  • Then, write ~3-5 paragraphs identifying what you see as the most important conversations with which this article is signaling engagement via its citations and notes. Submit this writing to our Box folder. Your paragraphs should include answers to the following 3 questions:
    • What are the recent/current conversations with which this author is engaging?
    • What are the classic/foundational (for this field or fields, or for a discipline overall) conversations or pieces with which this author is engaging?
    • How does the author signal engagement with these conversations? Discuss 3 specific and different ways in which the author engages with preexisting work (by challenging that work, by building on it, by referring readers interested in more information on x topic to it, etc.)

For this class, we will discuss the role and importance of citations and notes. Come to class ready to discuss the above assignment. We will also discuss what an “ideal outline” is. You should begin writing your ideal outline after this week (due week 6).

RECOMMENDED:

  • Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks, Week 5 on reviewing the related literature

Week 5: Abstracts

Tuesday, February 11

Due by class:

  • Select another article from your top-choice journal identified in week 3’s assignment and read it through carefully. After reading, copy and paste the article’s abstract to a separate document. Then, within that same document, write ~1-2 paragraphs about what you see as the major goal(s) of an article abstract and how this article’s abstract fulfills those goals (be very specific, i.e., point to specific sentences/phrases in the abstract). Submit this writing to our Box folder.

During this class, we will read the example article abstracts you provide and discuss the role and importance of article abstracts more generally. Come to class ready to discuss the above assignment. You should continue working on your ideal outline (due next week).

RECOMMENDED:

  • Belcher, Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks, Week 2 for a discussion of the ingredients of a good abstract

Week 6: Ideal outline

Tuesday, February 18

Due by class:

  • An ideal outline for the piece you will be working with this semester, including a first draft of an article abstract. This outline should be very detailed and specific. Please submit a copy to our course Box folder, and bring 2 print copies to class. You will workshop this outline in class with a partner/in a small group.

We will workshop and discuss your ideal outlines and abstracts in class. You will also create a plan for revision.

Week 7: Write!

Tuesday, February 25: NO CLASS

Due by 12 am Wednesday, Feb 26:

  • Full draft of workshop 1 writing (Tarika)

We will not meet as a group this week. Instead, you will set up an individual meeting with me. We will discuss my feedback on your ideal outline, your revision plan, any challenges or problems you foresee or are facing in writing your piece, and any questions you might have.

Week 8: Workshop 1

Tuesday, March 3

Due by 12 am Wednesday, March 4:

  • Full drafts of workshop 2 and workshop 3 writing (Alex and Suchi)

This week’s workshop: Tarika

Week 9:

Tuesday, March 10: SPRING BREAK NO CLASS

Week 10:

Tuesday, March 17: CLASS CANCELED

Week 9: Workshop 2

Tuesday, March 24: CLASS VIA ZOOM

Due by 12 am Wednesday, March 25:

  • Full draft of workshop 3 writing (Suchi)

This week’s workshop: Alex

Week 10: Workshop 3

Tuesday, March 31: CLASS VIA ZOOM

Due by 12 am Wednesday, April 1:

  • Full draft of workshop 4 writing (Gil)

This week’s workshop: Suchi

Week 11: Workshop 4

Tuesday, April 7: CLASS VIA ZOOM

Due by 12 am Wednesday, April 8:

  • Full draft of workshop 5 writing (Ashley)

This week’s workshop: Gil

Week 12: Workshop 5

Tuesday, April 14: CLASS VIA ZOOM

This week’s workshop: Ashley

Week 13: Submission, peer review, revision, and rejection

Tuesday, April 21: CLASS VIA ZOOM

Due by class:

  • Read an example cover letter for an article submission (reading in Box folder).
  • Read example reader’s reports and an example response letter to an editor (reading in Box folder).

In this class, we will discuss the nuts and bolts of submitting an article to a scholarly journal, the peer review process, the revision process, and what to do if you receive a rejection.

OPTIONAL: Final draft due to me during the last week of the semester, April 29-May 6

If you want more feedback on your draft/another deadline for making revisions, you will submit a final draft of your piece to me by the end of the semester. You will arrange a due date with me that works best for your schedule.