Transcript How to write successfully for IATEFL Conference Selections

How to write successfully
for IATEFL
Conference Selections
Tania Pattison
Conference Selections Editor
IATEFL, Harrogate 2014
What is Conference Selections?
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IATEFL publication containing papers based on
conference presentations: plenaries, signature
events, individual talks.
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Refereed by Editorial
Committee (3 members).
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Print publication, sent to
4000+ IATEFL members
in 100+ countries.
From presentation to publication
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April 2014: IATEFL Conference.
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June 13, 2014: submission deadline.
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Summer 2014: papers sent ‘blind’ to Editorial
Committee.
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Autumn 2014: decisions made and authors
informed (usually November); minor queries to
authors; editorial/design process.
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January 2015: Selections printed and shipped.
Your role as writer
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Change your information from bullet points (your
slides) to coherent text (an article).
Create an effective organisational structure; think
about sections, subheadings, use of lists, etc.
Stay within the word limit (750 words for
individual reports).
Check grammar, spelling, etc. (esp. names).
Make sure your references are accurate (dates,
page numbers, publication details).
Submit on time.
What are we looking for?
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Papers that describe your talk in <750 words.
 Papers that are interesting and/or relevant to
readers outside your immediate context.
 Papers that are clear and well written.
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The sample paper was given at IATEFL 2013 in
Liverpool and was well received by the Editorial
Committee. Thanks to Simon Williams for
permission to use this paper.
Why was this paper successful?
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Mobile learning is a hot topic; many people are
interested in it and want practical ideas.
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The writer combines theory and practice quite
nicely. He outlines the broader context, then he
shows what his own students did.
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The writer describes what happened in his own
context, but his ideas are applicable elsewhere.
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Readers can take something away; they may be
encouraged to try these ideas themselves.
Cont. …
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The writing is clear and easy to follow.
Subheadings are used effectively. The paper is
more than a series of lists.
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Nothing is obscure; readers who did not attend
this talk can grasp what happened.
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The writer follows the guidelines (word count,
references, etc.).
On the other hand ...
Your paper will not be accepted if any of the
following apply:
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Your paper is essentially an advertisement for a
book, product, organisation, etc.
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Your paper is excessively long. A few extra words
can be edited down; 500 extra words cannot.
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Your paper is submitted late without checking in
advance.
Other potential problems
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Your paper is simply a summary of well-known
information.
You tried to cover too much ground for the word
limit; some presentations are best written as
longer articles for other journals.
Your paper relies on visual material not available
to Selections readers.
Your paper is inaccessible to readers who did not
attend your talk (e.g. obscure terminology).
Your paper is little more than a copy-and-paste
version of your slides (too many bullet points).
Two things that make NO
difference
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This is your first submission. Selections always
contains papers by first-time writers/presenters,
as well as by well-known writers. First-time
authors are very welcome!
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You got the font slightly wrong, or the margins
were too wide, etc. This won’t disqualify you!
To improve your chances ...
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Read Selections 2013 to get a sense of what
we’re looking for.
Start with a strong, clear intro.
Make sure you explain your context and any
context-specific terminology.
Have someone read your paper who has not
seen your talk. Can your reader follow it?
Check the guidelines, especially the word limit
and the deadline.
Make sure references are full and accurate.
Submit on time.
Please…
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Don’t use tracking (or if you do, please ‘accept all
changes’). Tracked comments tend to reappear.
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Don’t add page numbers, your school’s logo, or
anything else at the top or bottom of your paper.
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Make sure the version you send is the final one.
It gets confusing if people send revised
submissions.
If your paper is turned down ...
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In many cases, there were simply too many
papers submitted (and too many on the same
topic).
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Maybe your article is best suited to a more
specialised publication.
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Consider a SIG publication, IATEFL Voices, or
another journal.
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Don’t be put off next year!
FAQs
I couldn’t make it to the conference; can I still
submit?
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No; only those papers actually presented can be
published.
My talk was in the Interactive Language Fair, or I
had a poster. Can I still write it up?
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Yes. Every issue has papers that started out as
poster presentations or ILF contributions.
Cont. …
I presented my paper alone, but I would like my
colleague / thesis supervisor / friend to write up the
paper with me. Is that acceptable?
 Unfortunately, only speakers at the conference
can be included as authors. Sometimes people
say the research was carried out with a
colleague, etc.
Cont. …
Can I include charts, diagrams, etc.?
 Yes, as long as they don’t take up too much
space. Photos are unlikely to be published.
What is included in the word count?
 Just the main text; not your title, name, affiliation
or references.
Thank you!
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I am looking forward to receiving your paper.
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Good luck with your writing! Feel free to email
me if you have any questions.
Tania
[email protected]
[email protected]