Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and Steps

Australian Journal of Botany
Address………………..
Dear Dr Brown,
Please find attached the manuscript “Arbuscular mycorrhizal 
associations of the southern Simpson Desert”. This manuscript examines
the mycorrhizal status of plants growing on the different soils of the
dune-swale systems of the Simpson Desert. There have been few studies
of the ecology of the plants in this desert and little is known about how
mycorrhizal associations are distributed amongst the desert plants of 
Australia. We report the arbuscular mycorrhizal status of 47 plant species
for the first time. The manuscript has been prepared according to the
journal’s Instructions for Authors. We believe that this new work is 
within the scope of your journal and hope that you will consider this 
manuscript for publication in the Australian Journal of Botany.
We await your response and the comments of reviewers.
Yours sincerely,
Fig. 13.1 An example covering letter from a manuscript author.
Task 13.1 The contributor’s letter as sales pitch
Examine the example covering letter in Figure 13.1 and draw a box around the
words which sell the manuscript to the editor most strongly. Check your
answers with our suggestions in the Answer pages.
75
Submitting
a
manuscript
Ch
13
Submitting
a
manusc
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Cargill / Writing Scientific Research Articles 9781405186193_4_c13 Final Proof page 75 12.1.2009 6:43pm Compositor Name: KKavitha

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13.5 Understanding the reviewer’s role
Editors enlist the help of two or more independent researchers to peer review
each manuscript and check the quality, novelty, and significance of the work and
the presentation of the manuscript. This work is usually unpaid and is undertaken
as part of the professional contribution of researchers to the development of their
field of science. Reviewers will
.
usually be expert in the general field of the paper (not necessary expert in the
exact subject of the paper to be reviewed);
.
almost always have published work in the general field themselves (possibly
work that has been cited in your paper);
.
be busy with their own research, writing, teaching, administration, family, etc.;
.
be willing to review manuscripts but have limited time and patience; and
.
have their own preferences and biases about scientific research and writing.
The journal may have asked you to nominate potential reviewers, or the editor
may have chosen them from a database or using professional networks. You will
not know who the reviewers are. In many but not all cases, depending on the