Instructor: Dr. Paul M. Rogers

English 489 Assignment #1
 
Publication Assessment:

Part I

Choose two possible venues to which you might submit an article.  Ways to get help with this:

• What do you consistently read? 
• Ask your advisor, or other colleagues who know your work well.
• Talk to the reference librarian who specializes in your area.

Bring 3 copies of the publication if you can.

Answer these 5 questions in writing, and be prepared to discuss them:

• Who is the audience for this publication? (Be as specific as possible.)
• What are the conventions for articles in this publication? (Departments, length, citation format, sections, organization, etc.)
• What is the stated editorial policy?
• What is the review policy?  Who are the reviewers?  What are the reviewer’s guidelines?
• Tell us about one article in one of the journals that you found interesting or useful to you in thinking about publishing your own work. (We will be analyzing this work in depth.)

Part II

Select an article or articles that you think are representative in some way of the content, form, and style of the major manuscript you want to begin working on. Bring two copies of the article to class on September 3rd. Write answers to and be prepared to discuss the following questions:

• In what ways and to what extent does the author establish credibility for herself?
• In what ways and to what extent does the author identify the topic area as urgent and non-trivial?
• What means of development does the author employ?
• What knowledge is privileged in the article? That is, to what community of practice does the article belong? What special language is at work? What, if any, prior knowledge does the author expect the reader to have?
• What is the major purpose of the article? To inform, persuade, entertain?
• What means of persuasion does the author use?