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