Graduate Students as Journal Editors: Role, Benefits, and Impact

Rabail Qayyum & Andrew Yim

Graduate Co-Editors, The Peer Review Journal

IWCA Annual Fall Conference 2023

• Opening Activity

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• Background

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• Mission of Our Journal-The Peer Review

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• Our Collective Role

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• Our Background and Motivations For Applying

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• Benefits of the Role

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• Takeaways/Conclusion

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• References and QR codes for TPR

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• Closing Activity

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• What has your experience with journal publication looked like?
• Did you feel like you received the necessary mentorship when completing this process (e.g. submitting an article, revising it, turning it into a conference presentation, etc.)? If so, what did this look like?

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• What opportunities are currently available for consultants at your writing center regarding the process of developing a journal manuscript (e.g. research, revising, copy editing, etc.)?

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https://tinyurl.com/38x7d65h

• Recent scholarship on editors in writing studies (e.g., Spooner et al., 2022), unveils “the often behind-­ the-­ scenes work of editors in the field of writing studies to help both new and seasoned scholars, as well as the field’s future editors, to understand this important role in shaping the discipline and how to successfully enter into publishing in the discipline”

• Lack of scholarship on graduate student editors (Johnson & Fankhauser, 2018), especially within writing center studies (Banville, 2020; Hashlamon, 2020)

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• Multiplicity
• Voice: Varied backgrounds and expertise
• Role: mentor, editor, and reviewer

• Mentorship model

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• Dual levels of mentorship: reviewer feedback + graduate co editors

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• Specialized Genre to Allow Mentorship: Conversation Shapers

• Exercise autonomy in carrying out decisions made with editorial team

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• Correspond with authors and reviewers throughout the publication process

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• Meet with authors to offer feedback and coaching as necessary

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• Ensure both internal and external blind peer review--with the exception of the co-editors’ participation in the internal review process--to uphold the integrity of the journal

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• Submitted a cover letter, CV, and writing sample (preferably related to Writing Center Studies)

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• PHD Candidate in Second Language Studies (SLS) and PHD Candidate in Composition and Applied Linguistics

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• More Experience of Being an Editorial Board Member

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• Understand young scholars’ experiences in the field

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• Speak from our unique peer position

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• Scaffold the revision process

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• Have employed skills in own publication process and peer review work

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• Mentored a writer over a period of six months and helped them developed their first academic article (Conversation Shaper)

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• Presentation Opportunities at both International Writing Center Association (IWCA) and National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing (NCPTW) 2023 only

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• Made audio instructions for “Guidelines for Reviewers” and “Revision Guide” pages for TPR

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• Opportunities for TPR Grad Co-Editors: Taking on more roles as Special Issues editor

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• Challenges for Co-Editors: Moderating reviewer expectations

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In what ways can writing centers help consultants become more involved with the overall journal publication process (e.g., research meetings)?

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https://tinyurl.com/38x7d65h

Banville, M. (2020). Reflection: Morgan Banville, graduate co-editor. The Peer Review, 4(4). https://thepeerreview-iwca.org/issues/issue-4-0/reflection-morgan-banville-graduate-co-editor/

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Hashlamon, Y. (2020). Reflection: Yanar Hashlamon, graduate co-editor. The Peer Review, 4(4). https://thepeerreview-iwca.org/issues/issue-4-0/reflection-yanar-hashlamon-graduate-co-editor/

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Johnson, E. A., & Fankhauser, S. C. (2018). Engaging in the publication process improves perceptions of scientific communication, critique, and career skills among graduate students. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.v19i1.1429

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Spooner, M., Weisser, C., Schoen, M., & Giberson, G. (2022). Behind the Curtain of Scholarly Publishing: Editors in Writing Studies. Logan: Utah State University Press.

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Thank you!

bhmcc@iup.edu

rqayyum@hawaii.edu