Getting Published in the Life Sciences (eBook)

Dr. Richard Gladon, PhD (Ohio State University) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University. A former Fulbright scholar, Dr. Gladon has over 30 years of teaching and research experience, and holds several patents. Dr. J. Michael Kelley,?PhD (University of Tennessee) is a Professor and Dean of the College of Natural Resources at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. With over 100 published articles to his credit, Dr. Kelly has also served as a reviewer for various granting agencies, including the National Science Foundation. Dr. William Graves, PhD (Purdue University) is a Professor in the Department of Horticulture as well as the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Iowa State University. Dr. Graves has published dozens of articles in the biological sciences.

Preface 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

"The book covers each step throughout the submission
process, from organizing and outlining the manuscript, 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." (Landtechnik, 20 February 2012)
"Despite using the word 'ensure' here and there, and allowing
the jacket to carry a line containing 'unique guide to...' I
like this book and learned a lot from reading it." (Australasian
Systematic Botany Society, 1 December 2011)

"I highly recommend the very practical and results oriented book
Getting Published in the Life Sciences by Richard J. Gladon,
William R. Graves, and J. Michael Kelly to anyone in any life,
natural, or biological science who seeks to write a clear and
concise manuscript for publication in any peer reviewed journal.
This book takes the guesswork out of the planning, writing, and
publishing process and is certain to boost the publication success
rate of any practicing scientist." (Blog Business World, 23
November 2011)