DPLS 714 - Writing for Publication
Spring 2007                    1 credit

Edward F. Vacha
Office: AD 309, ext. 6393
Office Hours: Tu & Th, 2:00–3:00
Friday, 9:30–11:30
Email: Vacha@Gonzaga.edu

Class logistics
Saturday February 10, 8:30–2:30
Saturday, February 24 8:30–2:30
Rosauer 216

Overview
The goal of this course is to help students to prepare publishable works, identify outlets for their writing, and to prepare unpublished works for employers, clients, and grant providers.
The objectives of the course include the following:
1. Students will be able devise a plan for increasing their writing output.
2. Students will be able to identify potential publishing outlets for their work and identify the style and formatting requirements of those outlets.
3. Students will develop a marketing plan for submitting their work for publication.
4. Students will work collaboratively to improve the organization and style of their writing.

Text
Henson, Kenneth T. 2005. Writing for Publication: Road to Academic Advancement. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Assignments

1. For Saturday, February 10: After reading Chapter 1, make a list of the three to five impediments to writing that you have found reduce your productivity and bring that list to the first day of class. You may include impediments identified in the reading or you may list others not mentioned. The important thing is to identify the factors that are most troublesome for you. Students’ lists will provide the basis for a class discussion on improving writing productivity.

2. For Saturday, February 24: Select 3 to 5 pages from a sample of your work that you might be interested in publishing, and bring three double spaced, typed copies to class. Do not worry about whether the work is actually publishable, but select a work on a topic of personal interest. This manuscript may be from a chapter of a thesis or dissertation, a paper you prepared for another class, a book review, or a report you prepared for an employer or client.  Please do not write a new paper, but make whatever revisions you would like. Be sure that you bring something you are willing to let other students read.

A written plan for publishing the above work that includes a list of potential outlets and a
description of their style requirements will be due March 10.

Reading
To get the most out of the class, you should complete the readings before the class
covering the material. All assigned readings are from your text:Henson, Kenneth T. 2005. Writing for Publication: Road to Academic Advancement. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

ASSIGNED READINGS BY COURSE TOPIC
For Saturday, February 10 :
Introduction & Improving Productivity: Henson, Chs. 1 & 2.
Writing and Publishing Books: Chs. 10 & 11.
For Saturday, February 24:
Publishing in Scholarly Journals: Chs. 7-9.
Using the Library And Journals To Identify Outlets: Ch. 6
Improving The Quality Of Your Writing: Henson, Chs. 3-5

Tentative Description of Class Activities
The class will consist of a combination of brief lectures, discussions, and presentations.
Class activities may be changed to better meet the needs of the students enrolled in the course.

Tentative Schedule
Please note: The following schedule may be subject to change to meet the scheduling needs of outside speakers and the needs of the students enrolled in the course.

Saturday, February 10
8:30–9:00
Introduction to the course and identification of student needs.
9:00-10:00
Discussion: Identifying Impediments to Writing.
10:00-10:15
Break
10:15–11:15
Presentation: Myths and Realities of Writing. Improving productivity; finding and working with collaborators; making writing projects manageable.
11:15–12:15
Discussion: Strategies for increasing scholarly productivity
12:15–1:15
Lunch Break
1:15–2:15
Presentation: Strategies for publishing books. Doing market research, developing a prospectus, contacting editors, and submitting your manuscript.
2:15–2:30
Instructions for the writing assignment

Saturday, February 24
8:30–9:15
Introduction
9:15-9:45
Discussion: Modifying dissertations & papers for publication in journals.
9:45-10:45
Presentation: Publishing in Journals and Other Periodicals. Identifying outlets, identifying the needs of journals and editing your manuscript to match those needs, preparing manuscripts for submission, and dealing with editors.
10:45–12:00
Guest Speaker: Using the library to identify publishing outlets.
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00–1:30
Presentation: Improving the quality of your writing.
1:30–2:30
Collaborative Editing Project