tailieunhanh - Writing for Publication part 9

This book and the other five in the Academic's Support Kit are for all these people, and for their mentors and advisers. We have tried to write in an accessible and friendly style. The books contain the kind of advice that we have frequently proffered our research students and colleagues, often over a cup of coffee or a meal. | Publishing Articles in Academic Journals 71 present their own work and ideas in the best way for them and the journal. When asking for a paper to be revised she will give very clear and precise advice on how to go about it. She may recommend additional literature that would be useful or further analysis work. When she has finished writing her comments she carefully rereads them and tries to imagine herself as the author receiving them asking herself the question How would I feel if these comments were about my work This doesn t mean that she never has negative things to say. Furthermore if she really thinks that a paper is unsalvageable she will say so and explain why. Once the editor has eventually received the reviewers comments they can make a judgement about what should happen to your paper. The editor s job is a crucial one at this stage as they may have to arbitrate between reviewers who disagree or make judgement calls about how much they should encourage you to revise the paper and resubmit it to them. Whatever the decision the editor will write to you explaining it and enclosing any reviewers comments. Opening that envelope email can stimulate emotions from ecstasy to despair and dread terror and or extreme anger. These emotional reactions are never completely attenuated no matter how senior people become. You need to allow yourself to have the reaction but then think about how to move your paper along. A number of different sorts of editor s decisions are possible. Scenario 1 and very unlikely your paper may be accepted as it stands with no revisions or amendments. Let s be frank this is very unusual so don t beat yourself up if it doesn t happen to you. Scenario 2 the editor may accept the paper subject to relatively minor amendments that do not require it to be sent out for review again. The sorts of things you might be asked to do are for example to clarify the use of diagrams or graphs to define your terms better to strengthen the introduction or .