The objective of this seminar is to provide both new and experienced authors of journal papers into an insight ito all aspects of writing and submitting papers. The seminar will concentrate on providing key insights into the journal publication process from drafting papers, submission, review and many of the key issues that result in the rejection of paper submissions.

The speaker Professor Barry Topping has edited the journals: "Computers and Structures", "Advances in Engineering Software", "Computing Systems in Engineering" and "Structural Engineering Review". He edited his first special issue of "Computers and Structures" in 1987. It is conservatively estimated that over 30,000 draft paper submissions have passed across his Editor's Desk. So this Seminar will provide potential journal authors with an unique view of key aspects of journal publication.

Structure of the Seminar

• 1 Introduction
  1.1 Why do we write Journal Papers?
  1.2 How the system of Journal Publicaion works
  1.3 How to make a Submission leading to Successful Publication
  1.4 The Relationship between Research and Paper Publication
  1.4.1 PhD Research and Management
  1.5 Research Contribution
  1.6 My Co-Authors
  1.7 Which Journal should I select?
  1.7.1 Setting Realistic Time Scales
  1.7.2 DOIs, ISSNs and ISBNs
  1.7.3 Journal Impact Factors
  1.7.4 H Factors
  1.8 Archiving Papers, Data and Computer Programmes
  1.9 Ethics, Co-Authors, Content and Universities
  
• 2 Publishers, Editors, Editorial Boards, Authors, Reviewers, Copyright and Intellectual Property Issues, Ethics and Universities
  2.1 Publishers
  2.1.1 Types of Publisher
  2.1.2 What do Publishers Offer the Authors?
  2.1.3 Scopus and Science Direct
  2.2 Authors
  2.3 Editors
  2.4 Editorial Boards
  2.4.1 How do I become an Editorial Board Member?
  2.5 Reviewers
  2.5.1 Ethical Behaviour of Reviewers
  2.6 Copyright and Intellectual Property - Differences
  2.7 Copyright Models
  
• 3 Writing a Technical Paper for Journal Publication
  3.1 Introduction
  3.2 A Checklist before you start
  3.2.1 How do we write and submit Journal Papers Ethically?
  3.3 Key Issues in Writing Papers
  3.3.1 The Claim
  3.4 Author Names
  3.5 Structure
  3.6 Title
  3.7 Abstract
  3.8 Keywords
  3.9 Key Sections of Your Paper
  3.9.1 Introduction
  3.9.2 Body of the Paper
  3.9.3 Results
  3.9.4 Conclusions
  3.9.5 Acknowledgements
  3.10 Figures
  3.11 Tables
  3.12 References
  3.13 Elsevier Highlights
  3.14 Page and Line Numbering
  3.15 Style
  3.16 Key Language Issues
  3.17 What is Plagiarism?
  3.18 Writing Aids: Grammarly, AI Tools, Copy Editing
  3.19 How to avoid Desk Rejects by the Editor
  
• 4 Submitting a Technical Paper for Journal Publication
  4.1 Introduction
  4.2 Submission Letter
  4.3 Conflict of Issue Statement
  4.4 Reviewer Suggestions
  4.5 How to keep the Reviewers on your side
  4.6 How to avoid Desk Rejects by the Editor
  
• 5 Reviewing Procedures
  5.1 Types of Review
  5.2 Reviewing Procedures
  5.3 How the Reviewing Procedures Work - Behind the Scenes
  5.4 Outcomes of the Review Process
  5.5 Dealing with Revisions
  5.6 The Re-review Process
  5.7 Final Rejection
  5.8 Submitting to another Journal elsewhere
  
• 6 Postscript
  6.1 What happens next?
  6.2 Handling Author and Reader Disputes
  6.3 Reviewing Research Progress
  6.4 What if I am Plaigarised?