• Preparing your manuscript
• Literature Review
• Tools in the Library

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Preparing your manuscript

A. Articles

Approach to Manuscript Preparation and Submission:
How to Get Your Paper Accepted
Kern, Morton J., Bonneau, Heidi N. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions 2003, 58(3): 391-396.
Outlines the steps involved in manuscript preparation and submission with a brief description of each step.

Destroying Myth and Wonder
Anonymous. Journal of Cell Science 2003, 116: 2817-2819.
This humorous article gives an insiders advice on how to make a story of your research process-in order to make it publishable. This involves some fiction about the plot, but not the data.

Follow the yellow brick road: preparing a manuscript
for submission to a scientific journal
Rogers, Lee F. American Journal of Roentgenology 2002, 179(5): 1099-1100.
This short editorial has advice from an editor on how to prepare manuscripts for submission, with emphasis on following the instructions for authors.

How to Avoid the Reviewer"s Axe: One Editor"s View
IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 2004, 51(1): 127-130.
An experienced editor offers advice to authors.

How to Review a Manuscript: A "Down-to-Earth" Approach
Weis Roberts, Laura, Coverdale, John, Edenharder, Kristin, Louie, Alan. Academic Psychiatry 2004, 28(2): 81-87.
As an expert, especially if you are a published expert, you may be invited to review a manuscript. This practical guide describes the process of reviewing a manuscript, ranging from whether to accept the invitation to review a manuscript, to writing the review and potential problems in review.

Preparing Manuscript for Submission to Medical Journals: The Paper Trail
Welch, H. Gilbert. Effective Clinical Practice 1999, 2:131-137.
This very practical article gives a framework for a new author to follow in the various stages of preparing a manuscript.

Responding to Reviewers' Comments on Submitted Articles
Cummings, Peter and Rivara, Frederick P. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2002, 156(2): 105-107.
Covers topics such as dealing with rejection of manuscripts, detailed advice on how to respond when major revisions are requested and suggestions for cutting text, when necessary.

B. Web Sites

Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication
The "Uniform Requirements" produced by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (formerly known as the Vancouver Group) have been adopted by many biomedical journals. Sections of the "Uniform Requirements" include "Ethical Considerations in the Conduct and Reporting of Research" and "Manuscript Preparation and Submission"

International Committee of Medical Journal Editors: Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Sample References

Links to Instructions to Authors
Find links to the instructions for authors for an extensive list of biomedical journals. This site is maintained by the Mulford Library at the Medical College of Ohio.

C. Books in the Biomedical Libraries

How to Report Statistics in Medicine: Annotated Guidelines for Authors, Editors, and Reviewers
Thomas A. Lang and Michelle Secic (1997)
[Dana and Matthews-Fuller RA409 .L357 1997]

How to Write a Paper, 3rd edition.
George Hall, ed (2003) [Dana R119 .H69 2003]

Medical Writing: a Prescription for Clarity, 2nd edition.
Neville W. Goodman and Martin B. Edwards (1997)
[Dana R119 .G67 1997]

Peer Review in Health Sciences
Fiona Godlee and Tom Jefferson, eds. (1999)
[Dana R118.6 .P43 1999]

Publishing Your Medical Research Paper:
What They Don"t Teach In Medical School
Daniel W. Byrne (1998) [Dana R119 .B97 1998]

Studying a Study & Testing a Test:
How to Read the Medical Evidence, 5th edition.
Richard K. Reigelman (2005)
[Matthews-Fuller and Dana R118.6 .R54 2005]

Successful Scientific Writing: A Step-by-Step
Guide for the Biological and Medical Sciences
Second Edition Janice R. Matthews, John M. Bowen,
and Robert W. Matthews (2000) [Dana R119 .M28 2000]

Writing for publication in nursing
Marilyn H. Oermann (2002) [Matthews-Fuller RT24 .O37 2002]

Writing, speaking, & communication skills
for health professionals
The Health Care Communication Group (2001)
[Matthews-Fuller R118 .W758 2001]

Writer's guide to nursing periodicals
Jeanette M. Daly (2000) [Matthews-Fuller RT24 D35 2000]

Literature Review

Database Search Request Form
Use this form to request literature search by a librarian from the Biomedical Libraries.

Librarian Liaison Program: Dartmouth Biomedical Libraries
This table lists departments and their librarian. Contact your Liaison Librarian for help with literature searches.

Tools in the Library

A. EndNote

Information about EndNote and RefWorks
Use either EndNote or RefWorks to help you manage references to published literature and create bibliographies in your papers.

B. Journal Citation Reports

Journal Citation Reports
Use the journal Citation Reports to determine impact factors of journals.

Understanding the limitations of the journal impact factor
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American volume 2003, 85-A(12): 2449-2454.

C. Ulrich's Periodicals Directory"
Use this searchable directory to find information about journals (is it refereed? who is the publisher?). Also use it to identify journals that publish in particular subject areas. Use the Advanced Search feature to customize your search.