Have you registered yet? Here are the top 11 reasons why you need to attend TAA’s 28th Annual Textbook &…
The most useful textbook & academic writing posts of the week: February 20, 2015
Another chilly week here in Wisconsin, and more snow for the east coast—both great excuses to stay in and write.…
The most useful textbook & academic writing posts of the week: February 13, 2015
“Don’t be afraid to write crap because crap makes great fertilizer.” This quote by Jessica Brody not only put a…
Spotlight on digital technology for textbooks at TAA’s 28th Annual Conference
Are you interested in learning how developments in digital technology provide opportunities as well as continually impact the landscape of…
The most useful textbook & academic writing posts of the week: February 6, 2014
This week’s post is jam-packed full of great articles for academic and textbook writers. So instead of writing some long…
How to publish an article in an academic journal: Avoid rookie mistakes
My article is based on ethnography and interviews, so the methods section is pretty straightforward. I discuss how long the ethnographic research lasted (9 months); how many interviews (83); and the case selection – why I interviewed deportees in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, and why most of my interviewees are men.
Data and Analysis
This is the meat of your paper – where your original contribution lies. The main trick here is to make sure that you deploy your data to answer your research questions.
Many qualitative papers fail to analyze their data. You not only need to tell us what you learned from your interviews and ethnography; you also need to analyze each piece of data you provide. Tell the reader what it means and why it’s important.
Conclusion
I have not thus far rejected an article for not having a good conclusion – although I did receive one that completely lacked a conclusion. And, that did not look good.
In any event, a good conclusion can only strengthen your article and make it more likely that your findings will be understood and disseminated.
In my conclusion, I reiterate my findings, mention any possible limitations, and explore directions for future research.