13 open publishing tools
This is the second of three newsletters about open science tools. Please click here for Part 1 on 10 free tools that help you with your literature search. Part 3…
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10 free tools for your literature search
Do you need some freely accessible tools for searching through scientific research? These resources are passed on from Dr Anna Clemens, who learned about them in a workshop in late…
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Developing your academic argument: how is logic different across cultures?
Have you ever struggled with what is supposed to be a linear argument according to the Western academic tradition? Or have you found understanding your students’ line of thinking a…
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Top writing tips: some simple questions
As we are maintaining more and more connections online, is it time to reach out and get your research in front of a larger audience? Or are you struggling to…
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Some procrastination is useful
Sometimes delays are forced on us. Sometimes we ourselves make delays happen. Is procrastination always a bad thing? Are there any benefits to it? How might we get the most…
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Tips for revising your writing
Do you ever wish there was a simple process you could use to review what you have written and revise it step by step, without all that indecision and doubt? …
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Refine and complete that piece of writing
This time the focus is on motivation and ways you can boost your writing. Fiction (and non-fiction) writers often read good writing as a way of improving their own. Have…
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A grammar point: when passive verbs make sense
This time we are looking at some common errors in writing which have come across my desk more than once. Basically these particular issues all happen for two reasons. First,…
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Five top tips: from starting to finishing writing
Here are some tips to help with that when external factors are dragging you down. This is about dealing with unblocking your writing. I am very grateful to one of…
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The new Australian law on academic cheating services
The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment (Prohibiting Academic Cheating Services) Act became a law on 3 September 2020. Undergraduate and postgraduate students at Australian universities, whether you are located…
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Assessment of research quality for funding decisions
This time we are looking at assessment of research quality for funding decisions and how that is done (the nitty gritty of some value judgements that appear to be made…
Read More Prioritising, time management and motivation
In this multi-connected world of instant feedback and many demands on our time, this time we are going to have a look at ways that might help you prioritise. How…
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Reporting empirical research: the best level of detail
This time the focus is on issues in journal article publication, centring on what to include concerning your methods section so that readers can have enough information for the replication…
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Does the trend in higher grades mean improved learning?
This time the focus is on grades and on teaching content design in academic courses. Has it become easier to get better grades? Is this a good thing? Or not?…
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The stories in your research
You might have heard about storytelling as a way of communicating research. You might wonder what the narrative form has to do with academic writing. Here are some practical suggestions…
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Collaboration in interdisciplinary (and other) teams
This is about collaboration: for interdisciplinary research, for policy development (acknowledging that there may be crossovers here) and for projects among postgraduate students. Hopefully, there will be something for everyone…
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Tips to become published: over 100 of them
Things are moving ahead in these unusual circumstances. This time we will be looking at guidelines for getting your article published, in various ways. Let’s start with publications’ guidelines and…
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How can you turn your thesis into journal articles?
You might already be writing your thesis by publication, with several articles published or in the publishing process. Or you might have completed your thesis and wonder how you can…
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Three main kinds of editing
This is about what I can do for you and what you can do yourself to reduce research editing costs. I explain different kinds of editing, to try to avoid…
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Open access and the Creative Commons: some key facts
This time I am going to take a peek at the Creative Commons. While you may be aiming to pitch for an A1 or A2 journal, there is a wealth…
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Research writing: five top tips
Whether you are an undergraduate, an academic researcher, or a lecturer who is responsible for giving feedback on academic writing, hopefully there is something thought provoking for you in these…
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Titles and abstracts: how to attract interest
This time, the focus is on writing journal articles and some tips for how to get them accepted and cited. While there is no magic formula, you might find the…
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Peer review for journal articles: responding to feedback
The theme here is a closer look at the review process for journal articles, which can be both insightful and challenging. First let’s look at some advice for reviewers which…
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How to keep motivated when writing: six top tips
I have a confession. Rainy days make me sleepy. Sometimes the coffee just does not work. Cathy Mazak has come up with some very practical tips which researchers and writers…
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