Scholarly Communication (MGT 692)

This site includes the MGT 692 syllabus and schedule for the spring 2016 semester. This 3-credit hour course is offered by the Culverhouse College of Commerce at the University of Alabama. It provides doctoral students with individualized instruction and feedback on conference presentations, job talks, journal articles, and other genres of scholarly communication.Capstone A Logo

Course Objectives

  1. To become familiar with the argument structure, organization, style, and mechanics of scholarly genres like journal papers, conference proposals, job talks, peer reviews, responses to reviewers, etc.
  2. To improve skills in communicating with peers about research.

Instructor Information:

Dr. Kim Sydow Campbell, Professor
Office Address: Alston 165
Telephone Number: 205-348-8921
Email: kcampbel(at)cba.ua.edu
Office Hours: By appointment

 Readings & Other Materials

  • Trees, Maps, and Theorems by Jean-luc Doumont (supplied by Dr. Kim)
  • Articles on scholarly communication as shown in links on the schedule below
  • Sample documents and presentation videos in UA Box folder as shown on the schedule below (login info)

Evaluation

  •  Peer Reviews (45%): Each student must demonstrate his/her understanding of the principles of effective scholarly communication by completing detailed reviews of peer documents/presentations as assigned.
  •  Conference Presentations (25%): Each student will perform a 5-minute and a 10-minute research talk.
  •  Journal Paper (30%): Each student will submit a research article destined for submission to a peer-reviewed journal, as well as a response to reviewers with a specific plan for revising.

Non-native English speakers with fundamental language challenges will be assigned additional work and will receive additional instruction.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is not recorded, being the responsibility of each individual student. Active participation is crucial to success in the course. Assignments are due as shown on the schedule. The instructor will review class discussions for a student who misses class or accept late assignments only in extraordinary circumstances.

Schedule (updated 3/1/16)

Week Class Date Topics Assignments
Due at Thursday Meetings		 Assignments
Due on Following Sundays
1  1/14 Intro to the course; role of written and oral communication in scholarly success; intro to peer review.
  1. Present research informally to peers.
 Upload draft visual for 1/28 presentation to UA Box. Read & watch Pros right visuals for presentations.
2  1/21 The research presentation: conferences vs job talks; argument structure, organization, style & delivery; and visual support: organization, layout, tone, etc.Workshop on visual support for presentations.
  1. Background Readings:
  2. Share link to TED Talk you want to emulate. Explain why.
  3. Discuss strengths & weaknesses in video of initial presentation (see UA Box).
  4. Bring peer review feedback, using PowerPoint Evaluation Rubric.
 Upload sample article from target journal for 1/28 to UA Box. Also upload instructions for authors of target journal.
3  1/28 Workshop on 5-minute presentations.
  1. Background readings:
  2. Perform presentation & provide feedback to peers, using Presentation Evaluation Rubric.
4  2/4 Empirical journal papers; selection, argument structure, organization, style, and mechanics in methods sections.
  1. Background readings:
  2. Analyze methods sections of 5 sample papers in UA Box.
 Upload your draft methods section for 2/11 to UA Box.
5  2/11 Workshop on methods section of empirical papers.
  1. Complete peer review of draft methods sections, incorporating Research Document Rubric.
6  2/18 The frame: introduction sections of papers
  1. Background reading:
  2. Analyze intros of 5 sample papers in UA Box.
 Upload your draft intro section for 2/25 to UA Box.
7  2/25 Workshop on intro sections of papers.
  1. Complete peer review of draft intro sections in UA Box.
8  3/3 The territory & niche: lit review sections of papers
  1. Background reading:
  2. Analyze lit reviews of 5 sample papers in UA Box.
 Upload your draft lit review section for 3/10 to UA Box
9  3/10 Workshop on lit review sections of papers.
  1. Complete peer review of draft lit review sections.
 Upload sample R&R reviews for 3/24 to UA Box.
10   The contribution: results, discussion, and conclusion sections.
  1. Background reading:
Upload your draft complete papers for 4/7 peer review to UA Box.
11  3/24 Writing reviews of journal papers: organization, style, and mechanics.
  1. Background reading:
  2. Analyze 2 sample referee comments in UA Box.
 Upload your draft referee comments  on peer papers for 4/7 to UA Box.
12  4/7 Workshop on peer reviews.
  1. Complete peer review of draft referee comments.
 Upload your final referee comments on peer papers to UA Box.
13  4/14 Responding to reviewers; argument structure, organization, style, and mechanics.
  1. Background reading:
  2. Analyze sample responses in UA Box.
 Upload your draft response to peer reviews of your paper for 4/21 to UA Box.
14  4/21 Workshop on responding to reviews.
  1. Complete peer review of draft response to reviews.
15  4/28 10-minute presentations with invited guests. (Individual schedule to be announced)
  1. Perform presentation & provide feedback to others.
  2. Final paper and response to reviewers due to UA Box.