Journaling has been a part of human history since ancient times when records were stored and written on dried leaves and cloth. However, modern-day journaling is not more than 500 years old.
This article discusses everything you need to know about Academic Journals and how to successfully write and publish them. But before anything, let us look at what is a journal and what is an Academic Journal.
1. What Is A Journal?
A journal is a form of document that is used to keep day-to-day records of your thoughts, feelings, whereabouts, and routine in a form of a diary or a bundle.
There are various types of journals. Most of them are informal and unprofessional. But Academic Journals are the formal and professional journals, peer-reviewed articles, qualitative social sciences, quantitative social sciences,
It includes research articles, book reviews, supplemental articles medical essays, review articles, scholarly journals etcetera.
1.1. History Of Journals
The very first academic journal to get published was des sçavans. Written by Denis de Sallo, the journal specifically dealt with the death records of famous men and aristocracy and other reports.
Des scavans is among the best leading French humanities journal.
The second one to follow was the history of philosophical transactions by the Royal Society. One of the oldest scientific journals includes the wide range of natural philosophical arts and activities of the royal society.
The philosophical transactions were written shortly after the first academic journal. It was written by Henry Oldenburg in 1665.
2. What Is An Academic Journal?
The term Academic Journal applies to all the scholarly articles or research articles written for periodical publications which are mostly peer-reviewed.
In simple terms, Academic Journals are research journal articles that are published in magazines, newsletters, and books. These research articles are written in our understanding of subjects and other articles.
A topic is taken and separately discussed by the expert. The language preferred in the Academic journals is sophisticated and simple as well.
2.1. What Is A Periodical?
A periodical refers to the publication under which the journal is published. It can be a magazine, a blog, a book published, or an academic newsletter.
2.2. What Do You Mean By Research?
Research in academic terms is an in-depth study or analysis of a topic or a subject. Research is specific to a particular academic discipline or a particular field of study. It usually involves problem-solving in engaging with it on the ground level.
2.3. What is a Peer-Reviewed Article?
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A peer-reviewed article is an article that is reviewed by other scholars who are equally competent in the subject of the academic journal.
The term ‘peer‘ here, means the scholars who re-evaluate the articles, suggest changes and give their personal opinions.
2.4. Structure Of An Academic Journal
Every Academic journal is a professional journal as it is written for professional publications. It has a proper structure, unlike other informal journals.
The general structure of an Academic Journal is –
2.4.1. Title –
The title of the Academic Journal is usually the subject of research. The title should be precise and clear to understand. A title should not be more than 15 words. This is a standard word limit.
2.4.2. Author –
The author is the one who does all the research work on the subject and writes the journal. The Author is the owner of the academic journal. Write about the author’s educational background, achievements and hobbies.
2.4.3. Abstract-
An abstract is a short paragraph describing your research and findings. It should be written in Points crisply. It should summarize the issues you would be dealing with and that you would be trying to solve.
2.4.4. Keywords-
Keywords are the important words that describe the core of your writings. Keywords are mainly based on popular topics demanded by the readers.
Keywords are ranked in search engines for the intended audience to find the articles as per their need.
2.4.5. Acknowledgment –
Acknowledgment is a paragraph of appreciation to all those who helped the Author with research physically, emotionally, and mentally.
This includes close family members, mentors, and other experts who peer-reviewed the academic journal.
2.4.6. Introduction-
The introduction includes the opening paragraph of the topic you have chosen for the Academic Journal.
The introduction includes the background and details about the subject. It also includes all the original research articles done on the topic in past by other researchers.
2.4.7. Methods
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This is the main body of your Academic Journal. It consists of your research done on the subject.
After your research notes, you can incorporate the methods, strategies, techniques, and analysis in dealing with the issues.
Methods and techniques need to have proper empirical research before adding them to your article.
2.4.8. Results
Record the results of the methods and strategies adopted and put them into research. Also, include all the findings and results of your study and analysis.
Results are proof of your successful research. So, it should follow your experiments and research conducted.
2.4.9. Discussions
Discussions Include your personal views. Describe the significance of the studies. Also explain the ways your studies, methods, and research would be valuable for future use.
2.4.10. Conclusion
This is the summary of the Article. Include all the main points of the article line by line. Mention all the keywords relevant.
2.4.11. Reference
On the last page, you write the reference that includes the citations and references of the sources that helped you to write your academic journal. Citation is usually written in basic APA style.
2.5. How To Prepare Your Academic Journal?
A lot of effort and time goes into preparing and publishing the Academic Journals. A systematic analysis is important to understand and properly prepare an Academic Journal.
2.5.1. Find The Topic Of Research
The first step to prepare any research article is searching for the topic.
Choose a topic that provides the solution to some problem. You can also choose a topic that is unexplored or less explored by other researchers.
2.5.2. Complete Knowledge
Learn everything about your research subject. Read Pre-researched Articles by other scholars.
Having complete knowledge of your subject and reading other articles would make your research refined and detailed.
2.5.3. Field Knowledge
Field knowledge in research is essential in all areas including quantitative social science as well as qualitative social sciences.
Improving natural knowledge is building strategies and techniques to bring innovation through your research in academics.
2.5.4. Analyze And Prepare Your Strategies
After gaining the required knowledge, you must analyze and provide suggestions for the issues that you have decided to take up in your research.
Note down the ways you will try to solve them. Undertake empirical research and prove the results. For academic journals and scientific journals, this step is the very essence of the Journal Articles.
2.5.5. Create a Draft
Create an academic draft. Write abstract, methods, and results of the experiments. A draft would provide an idea of the original article.
The order of the draft has to be in the standard format of writing academic journals (given above).
2.5.6. Peer Review Process
The draft would be proofread and peer-reviewed by the experts and scholars or those who have advanced degrees, already done searches, and published articles on the related topic.
Peer-reviewed articles have better chances to get published in some popular magazines or professional organizations. The peer-review process is the first editor of the Journal writing.
2.5.7. Editing And Proof Reading
The examination of the article involves proofreading and editing by some professional editors. It will refine your language in the article and improve grammatical mistakes.
2.5.8. Final Draft
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The final draft includes compilation and submission of the Academic Journal to the publishing house. You can send your final draft to all the well-known publication houses and magazines.
2.5.9. Publish the Article
This is the last stage. If your draft is accepted, then it will be finally published by the publishing house and the final thesis will be given.
These academic journals are published in Scholarly society, academic magazines, books, and other scholarly publications. Some famous publications are suggested in the article.
2.6. Famous Digital Publications
The Academic Journals serve as the pillar of academic development. Academic field Journals are now published in a digital format with a heavy viewership of readers.
Scholars usually prefer digital publications because of their specific aspects that are beneficial and convenient.
- Digital Publications are transparent forums, where there is no scope for plagiarism.
- It provides heavy viewership worldwide.
- Cost-Effective
- Recognition among the people
Some of the best digital publishing is-
- Google Scholar
- Science Open
- Education Resource of Information Center
- Social Science Research network
2.7. Best Offline Publication
The best way to publish any academic Journal is to publish in a reputed university. Preferably central university of any country as it adds more value to new research. Some of the well-known universities are
- Oxford University press
- Harvard University press Cambridge University press
- Yale University press
- University of Chicago press
- MIT press
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Last Updated on by ritukhare
