52. What type of style is used? Are sentences short or long? What length typically are paragraphs? How many headings/sub-headings are there per article?
77. This article explores the benefits of a writing support programme in developing the skills and motivation of librarians to write for academic publication.
79. A brief review of the literature is presented. The model developed and implemented by this author is outlined. Findings from a survey of participants are discussed.
81. The formal programme commenced in 2007. The publication process takes time, particularly in the case of peer-reviewed journals. This is exploratory work. It will take time to build up a body of information and a community of librarians writing for publication. Initial evidence indicates there is significant value to the programme.
83. The model is transferable and could help in building skills and confidence in academic writing. In addition academic writing could serve as a bridge between lecturing and library staff, addressing issues of common concern across the academy.
85. This is the first formal writing support programme for librarians in Irish universities. Models exist in the US. A similar model is used in the UK and Ireland to support lecturing staff writing for publication.
Read – learn a lot from looking closely at what works for others. Could model articles on other articles that work well. The kinds of stories that you want to tell about your work will have similarities in form, if not in content, to others that are already in print. Learn to analyse articles that you consider to be clear and well written, working out how it is constructed, and what it is about its structure that is helpful in conveying its meaning. Can use structure from another article as a template. (basic underlying structure/won’t be an exact match) - storyboard conceptNumber of different structures that could achieve the same ends in different ways.The structure of a thesis or conference paper will not be the same as the structure for a journal articleIn planning structure need to considerThe needs of your audience. Be aware that they do not know what you want to tell them; that is why you are writing, and why they are reading what you have written.Sometimes writers are so close to their subject matter that they write as if they expect their readers are already familiar with their ideas.
Headings & subheadings break up text and make a manuscript visually more attractive. They allow the reader to see at a glance the themes and structure of the paper. It is helpful to have at least one heading per page, however the best guide is your target journalSentence Length – writing in short sentences is easier. Gradually, as you become more confident, you could develop a more flowing style – using a range of sentence length and punctuation.Punctuation and paragraphingButcher (2002)Have at least three sentences and be no longer than a page (generally)New paragraph should indication a chance of direction in your thinking, or a new idea. Ideally, new paragraphs begin each time you move from one clear idea to another. Each paragraph should have one major theme or idea. The first sentence usually carries the idea in any paragraph. Paragraphs should have a logical sequence, each new one advancing ideas in previous paragraphs. .