Detailansicht

InhaltsangabePreface vii Acknowledgments ix PART I Preliminary Considerations 1 Chapter 1 The Importance of and Need for Publishing 3 Chapter 2 Steps in Manuscript Preparation and Getting Started 11 Chapter 3 Ethical Issues in Publishing 25 Chapter 4 Choosing Your Coauthors 39 Chapter 5 Choosing Your Journal 51 Chapter 6 Principles and Characteristics of Good Scientific Writing 63 PART II Development of the Manuscript 73 Chapter 7 Developing the Take-home Messages and a Provisional Title 75 Chapter 8 Organizing and Outlining Your Manuscript 89 Chapter 9 Results I: Overview 113 Chapter 10 Results II: Presentation 121 Chapter 11 Results III: Options for Presenting Results 133 Chapter 12 Results IV: Guidelines for Preparing Written Text of Results 151 Chapter 13 Revising and Editing 155 Chapter 14 References 175 Chapter 15 Materials and Methods 197 Chapter 16 Introduction: Rationale, Review of Literature, and Statements of Objectives209 Chapter 17 Discussion 223 Chapter 18 Abstract 229 Chapter 19 Title, By-line, Keywords, and Authorship Footnote Items 243 Chapter 20 Polishing Your Manuscript with Good Word Usage 259 PART III Review, Submission, and Postsubmission Issues 277 Chapter 21 In-house Manuscript Review Process 279 Chapter 22 Cover Letter and Submission Form Preparation 293 Chapter 23 Final Checklist and Initial Manuscript Submission 303 Chapter 24 The Peer-Review Process of Your Initial Submission 309 Chapter 25 Response-letter Preparation and Manuscript Resubmission 315 Chapter 26 Proofs, Proofreading, and the Final Steps in the Publication Process 325 Index 347

A unique guide to developing and writing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals This book makes it easier for scientists, particularly those new to professional scientific writing, to write about their results and get their manuscripts accepted by refereed journals in the biological/life/natural sciences. It covers each step throughout the submission process, from organizing and outlining the manuscript and presenting statistical data and results to what happens during the in-house manuscript review process and what to do if an article is initially rejected. The book uses a new "backwards" approach to manuscript development, centered on delivering specific, concise "take-home messages" and teaching the reader to construct the manuscript beginning with conclusions and ending with the abstract. This method represents a major departure from the traditional way of writing a scientific manuscript for submission. It sets bounds on the ideas--the take-home messages--to be relayed to the target audience and keeps the writer centered on the task at hand, leading to a more focused, compact manuscript that has a greater chance of getting published. Divided into three sections, Section I addresses the issues an author must consider before entering the writing stage, and also before entering the thinking and organizing stage. This section also contains a chapter devoted to ethics in publishing. Section II presents the author's new method for developing and writing the manuscript. Section III re-creates the scenario of submission, external peer review, revision, and other miscellaneous events thatoccur after a manuscript has been written, submitted, and accepted. The book emphasizes compliance with the formatting required by refereed journals. There are also a number of exercises throughout for reinforcing skill development. Easily adaptable to writing for diverse audiences and disciplines, Getting Published in the Life Sciences will benefit graduate students in the biological sciences and professional researchers, whether they are new authors looking to build a solid writing foundation or more experienced writers who want to improve their skills.