Module 7: Drafting Your Manuscript

Essential Questions 

• What are some of the types of practitioner articles commonly found in education journals? 
• What elements comprise a typical practitioner manuscript? 

Getting Started 

After selecting the right journal to submit the manuscript to, it is time to start writing. In some ways, this step can be the most intimidating of all because it involves committing to ideas and solidifying the outcomes of the research project. By following the research plan described in Module 3 and by having a strong sense of the publication process described in this module and in modules to come, drafting the manuscript does not have to be intimidating and can be rewarding in many ways. Practitioners enjoy articulating the findings and the practical implications of the research project.

Types of Practitioner Manuscripts

There are many types of practitioner-based articles published in education journals. These might include brief reflections on lessons learned from teacher research, or they might include full articles outlining the empirical research process from beginning to end (see American Educational Research Association, 2019 for examples of each manuscript type). Four of the most popular types are outlined below. 

1. Empirical Research Article

An empirical research article is an evidence-based text that describes the results of a study. The study may use qualitative (descriptive), quantitative (numerical), or a variation of those methods to report what occurred through the course of the research. Most practitioner journals welcome and, in some cases, prioritize empirical research articles that describe a teacher or action research project in detail. These articles usually follow a prescribed format set forth by the journal itself or the conventions of standard empirical research articles. 

1. Innovative Practice Paper

Innovative practice papers, or “best practice” papers, describe the best methods, strategies, and approaches that teachers and administrators utilize in classrooms and schools. These innovative practices are usually ones that a practitioner has uncovered through deep exploration and a concerted effort to improve learning and instruction. Although this type of manuscript is not published in every practitioner journal, its looser, less prescribed format and generally shorter length is a suitable alternative for practitioners who wish to publish and may not feel comfortable or interested in the empirical research article format. 

1. Perspective Paper

A perspective paper is usually shorter in length than an empirical research article and does not follow a specific structure, unless outlined by the specific journal. There is typically a persuasive element to these articles, which seek to highlight new or progressive points of view that challenge the field’s status quo or attempt to give voice to a less discussed area of education. These types of articles may foster debate about the implementation of curriculum and instruction in a specific content area or with a particular age group. 

This type of article may be appropriate for a practitioner if, after analyzing and reflecting on the research project’s findings, a significant issue or question emerges that seems to be systemic in nature. For instance, if a social studies teacher conducted an action research project with students using social justice imagery from the Civil Rights Era to elicit greater dialogue between students and then realized that the dialogue between students is stunted further, this might be an opportunity for this teacher to write a perspective paper on how teachers can help students interrogate their comfort levels with social justice.  

1. Conceptual Paper

A concept paper typically takes a more abstract approach to the practitioner research process and might include major approaches, models, or even theories that emerge out of the research. Again, this type of paper is usually shorter than an empirical article and seeks to offer a new framework from which to understand a concept. For instance, if a kindergarten teacher decided to include more opportunities for play in the classroom after rigorous academic learning and, as a result, noticed better classroom management every time after play occurred, he or she might outline a useful schedule or model for early childhood teachers to balance academics with play in the classroom. 

Typical Structure of a Practitioner Manuscript 

The typical structure of a practitioner-based empirical manuscript is not unlike the structure of a more traditional research article, except with greater focus on practical conclusions and implications that other teachers and administrators can use in their classrooms or schools. Usually, these articles are around 3,000 to 6,000 words in length and include all the usual features like an abstract, manuscript, references, and any figures or tables. Generally, the format includes the following, or a similar variation of this structure (Borja, 2014; National Association for the Education of Young Children, n.d.): 

• Introduction
• Setting and Participants 
• Literature Review
• Methodology
• Findings
• Conclusions and Implications
• References
• Appendices

This structure is commonly used but can vary from journal to journal, so it is important to read several articles published by the journal in past issues before beginning the drafting process to understand how the article should be composed. 

Drafting Tips

Drafting can be a fulfilling step of the research and publication process, but some of the following tips can make drafting a bit smoother. 

1. Make a good impression with the title and abstract. Consider the title and abstract to be advertisements for the research project. They should be memorable yet professional, concise yet specific.  
2. Ensure the research questions, the “whys,” are clear. These questions hold the key to the manuscript and are the foundation on which the project stands. Asking these questions in a clear, concise manner matters. 
3. Describe how the research process and the methods used unfolded. Do this in a way that someone else could easily make sense of and even replicate in their own classroom or school if given a similar population of students or setting. 
4. Craft a clearly written and effective literature review. Consider that a journal article should add to an already ongoing academic conversation. Ask: what important work has already been done in this area? What specific niche might this manuscript help to fill or add to in the field of education? 
5. Select an appropriate means of analysis based on the “whys.” The way the data is analyzed must be valid and reliable within the contexts of the research topic and setting.
6. Be transparent and share the role the practitioner played in the scope of the research process. Drawing on Module 4, which focused on IRB and ethical research, it is important to explain the role of the practitioner in the research study.  
7. Reflect deeply. Ensure the findings and implications of the study have meaning for other practitioners and contribute to the ongoing academic conversation in the field of education. 
8. Follow the required citation style from the beginning. Begin collecting references and citing sources in the correct citation style from the outset, rather than attempting to change the citation style and/or identify the references during the editing stages. 
9. Use timely and relevant citations. Citations that are not current typically are not used unless they are considered seminal or groundbreaking to the field. 
10. Proofread carefully. Although manuscripts go through a longer editing process after being accepted for publication, reviewers are often turned off by poor editing, so paying attention to grammar and spelling concerns while drafting is beneficial.  

Suggested Readings

https://www.elsevier.com/connect/11-steps-to-structuring-a-science-paper-editors-will-take-seriously

https://www.apa.org/pubs/authors/new-author-guide.pdf 

http://www.aera.net/SIG126/Research-Connections