Have two or three people review your paper. At least one should be a non-expert in the major topic — their “outsider’s perspective” can be particularly valuable, as not all reviewers will be experts on your specific topic.
Journal articles in the sciences often follow a specific organizational format, such as: Abstract; Introduction; Methods; Results; Discussion; Conclusion; Acknowledgements/References. Those in the arts and humanities are usually less regimented.
Submit your article to only one journal at a time. Work your way down your list, one at a time, as needed. When submitting online, use your university email account. This connects you with a scholarly institution, which adds credibility to your work.
Accept with Revision — only minor adjustments are needed, based on the provided feedback by the reviewers. Revise and Resubmit — more substantial changes (as described) are needed before publication can be considered, but the journal is still very interested in your work. Reject and Resubmit — the article is not currently viable for consideration, but substantial alterations and refocusing may be able to change this outcome. Reject — the paper isn’t and won’t be suitable for this publication, but that doesn’t mean it might not work for another journal. When you’re trying to publish a research paper, be patient, and be prepared to hear “no” a lot. There’s a lot of vetting before a peer-reviewed article can see the light of day, because they have to be carefully scrutinized. [6] X Expert Source Matthew Snipp, PhDResearch Fellow, U. S. Bureau of the Census Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
Do not get over-attached to your original submission. Instead, remain flexible and rework the paper in light of the feedback you receive. Use your skills as a researcher and a writer to create a superior paper. However, you don’t have to “roll over” and meekly follow reviewer comments that you feel are off the mark. Open a dialogue with the editor and explain your position, respectfully but confidently. Remember, you’re an expert on this specific topic![7] X Research source
Remember, a rejected paper doesn’t necessarily equal a bad paper. Numerous factors, many of them completely out of your control, go into determining which articles are accepted. Move on to your second-choice journal for submission. You might even ask for guidance on finding a better fit from the editor of the first journal.
Read academic journals related to your field of study. Search online for published research papers, conference papers, and journal articles. Ask a colleague or professor for a suggested reading list.
“Fit” is critical here — the most renowned journal in your field might not be the one best suited to your specific work. At the same time, though, don’t sell yourself short by assuming your paper could never be good enough for that top-shelf publication.
However, always prioritize peer-reviewed journals — in which field scholars anonymously review submitted works. This is the basic standard for scholarly publishing. You can increase your readership dramatically by publishing in an open access journal. As such, it will be freely available as part of an online repository of peer-reviewed scholarly papers. [12] X Research source
Make a strong, clear statement of this vision in your thesis statement. Compare the following weak vs. strong statements: “This paper explores how George Washington’s experiences as a young officer may have shaped his views during difficult circumstances as a commanding officer. ” “This paper contends that George Washington’s experiences as a young officer on the 1750s Pennsylvania frontier directly impacted his relationship with his Continental Army troops during the harsh winter at Valley Forge. ”
This is especially true for younger scholars who are breaking into the field. Leave the grand (yet still only 20-30 page) explorations to more established scholars.
Your abstract should make people eager to start reading the article, but never disappointed when they finish the article. Get as many people as you can to read over your abstract and provide feedback before you submit your paper to a journal.
