University of the Visayas

Converting your
Thesis to Journal
Article

CETA Writeshop
Dr. Victorina H. Zosa
October 25, 2023
OUTLINE
• How to turn your thesis into
an article. Source:
https://researcheracademy.elsevier.co
m/writing-research/writing-skills/turn-
thesis-article?check_logged_in=1

• Scientic Method and

IMRaD
• How to get published:
structuring your article. Source:

https://researcheracademy.elsevier.co
m/interactive-course/display/825/393
Source: https://researcheracademy.elsevier.com/writing-research/writing-skills/turn-thesis-article?check_logged_in=1
Differences: Thesis and Article
Thesis
• Meets academic requirements
• Reviewed by select committee members
• Chapters
• Lengthy, no word limits
• Table of contents
• Lengthy research of literature
• IRB approval described in detail
• All findings presented
• Verb tenses vary
Article
• Meets journalistic standards
• Reviewed by a panel of blind reviewers
• Sections
• Word limits
• Manuscript format
• Succinct research of literature
• IRB described in 1 to 3 sentences
• Essential and succinct tool information
• Selected findings presented
TIP 1: Shorten length of thesis
• Journal articles are much shorter than theses/capstones
Require tighter framework and more compact style
It is not a matter of copying and pasting
Treat your article as a separate work
Paraphrase and express the same ideas in a different way
Select and repurpose
Highlight the key points you want the reader to understand
TIP 2: Modify the Introduction
• BE CONCISE!
Keep the introduction simple and straight to the point
Use previously published papers (3) as templates
Your thesis may have  1 research question or
hypotheses
 Combine research questions or focus on one for the
article
TIP 3: Tighten the Methods Section
• No extensive discussion is needed about your research
approach
• Keep the method section clear, concise, and brief
• Use previously published papers (at least three) as
templates
Formatting may differ
Some sections are emphasized more than others
TIP 4: Report the main findings in the
results
• Present the main findings relevant to the research
question/s
• Provide concise statements about the findings
TIP 5: Ensure discussion is clear and
concise
• Begin by providing an interpretation of your results
What is it that we have learned from your research?

• Do not repeat results

Situate the findings to the literature
How does your finding expand our perspective
Briefly present ways in which future studies can build
upon your work and address limitations in your study
TIP 6: Limit the number of references
• Journals limit the number of citations
Choose the most relevant and recent citations

• Make sure the citations are formatted correctly

• Consider using a reference management system (e.g.,

Mendeley)
TIP 6: Limit the number of references
• Journals limit the number of citations
Choose the most relevant and recent citations

• Make sure the citations are formatted correctly

• Consider using a reference management system (e.g.,

Mendeley)
Issues to be clarified with student authors

• Authorship
Students are the main authors; co-authors include adviser,
panel chair, panel members
• Copyright.
The students hold the copyright to the thesis or capstone.
However, they should assign the copyright to the publisher.
• Publishing model
Traditional: authors publish free of charge
Open access: article is freely available online
RESEARCH: Scientific Method
The scientific method is an investigative process to explore
observations and answer questions.

Goal: To discover cause-and-effect relationships by

• asking questions
• carefully gathering and examining the evidence
• discerning if all the available information can be combined into a logical answer.

Do all scientists follow the scientific method strictly? NO. Modify.

Source: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-fair/steps-of-the-scientific-method
 SCIENTIFIC METHOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxm_beTs2LU&t=12s

Source: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-
fair/steps-of-the-scientific-method
STEPS: Scientific Method
INTRODUCTION METHOD (Data and Method)
• Ask a question. 6W – How, What, When, • Test your hypothesis by
Who, Where, What gathering data (experiment).
• Do background research. Standing on the
shoulders of giants. Use the library,
internet, AI tools, mentors, and peers.
• Construct a hypothesis. A tentative
answer to your question

RESULTS and DISCUSSION DISSEMINATION. Final

• Analyze your data and conclude. report, Oral Presentation, Journals,
etc.
• Communicate your results.
https://researcheracademy.elsevier.com/interactive-course/display/825/393
 • Title
• Abstract
• Keywords
General
structure of a • Introduction
research • Methods
article • Results and Discussion

• Conclusion
• Acknowledgments
• References
• Supporting Materials
 Attract reader’s Contain fewest Adequately
Effective attention possible words describe content

manuscript
titles
Are informative but Identify the Do not use technical
concise main issue jargon and rarely-
used abbreviations
 Good listing principle

• First author
• Corresponding author
Authorship
Poor listing principle

• Ghost authorship
• Gift authorship
Keywords
Article Title Keywords
• Are the labels of the manuscript
“An experimental Solar collector;
• Are used by indexing and abstracting study on evacuated supercritical CO2;
tube solar collector
services using supercritical
solar energy; solar
thermal utilization
CO2”
• Should be specific enough to give
someone a very quick idea about
your paper’s content
• Avoid words with broad meaning
• Should use only established
abbreviations (e.g., DNA)
 Abstract
Summarize the problem, methods, results and conclusions in a single
paragraph

Make it interesting and understandable

Make it accurate and specific

• A clear abstract will strongly influence whether or not your work is considered

Keep it as brief as possible

The process of writing – building the article
Title, Abstract, and Keywords

Conclusion Introduction

Methods Results Discussion

Figures / Tables (Your Data)

 Introduction
Provide a brief Identify the
Address the
context to the solutions and
problem
readers limitations

Identify what Provide a

the work is perspective with
trying to achieve the nature of the
journal
Method • Describe how the problem was studied
• Include detailed information
• Do not describe previously published
procedures
• Identify the equipment and materials used
• Ethics Committee Approval
Experiments on humans and animals must
follow applicable ethics standards
Approval of the local ethics committee is
required and should be specified in the
manuscript, cover letter, or the online
submission system
Editors can make their own decisions on
ethics
 Results
Include only data of primary importance

Use sub-headings to keep results of the same type together

Be clear and easy to understand

Highlight the main findings

Feature unexpected results

Provide statistical analysis, whenever applicable

Include illustrations and figures

 • Interpretation
• Most important section
• Make the discussion correspond to the results
and complement them
• Compare published results with your own

Be careful not to use the following

Discussion • Statements that go beyond what the results can
support
• Non-specific expressions
• New terms not already defined or mentioned in
your paper
• Speculations on possible interpretations based on
imagination
Conclusion
Provide justification
Be clear
for the work

Explain how your work

Suggest future
advances the present
state of knowledge experiments
Acknowledgments

Advisers Financial Proof-readers Suppliers who

supporters and and typists may have
funders donated
materials
 References

1 2 3 4 5
Do not use too Always ensure Avoid excessive Avoid excessive Conform strictly
many references that you have self-citations citations of to the style given
fully absorbed the publications that in the Guide for
material you are come from same Authors
referencing region or institute
Help with your article
• Writing your article is hard work – finding and sorting research,
preparing references, sourcing feedback
• You can get help from Mendeley (www.mendeley.com), a free
reference manager and academic social network
• The Mendeley Reference Manager generates citations and
bibliographies in World, OpenOffice, and LaTex
• You can also use Mendeley
To connect with colleagues and securely share papers, notes, and
annotations
As a social network to identify potential collaborators
Recap: Structuring your article
properly
Title Abstract

Main Text
Keywords
(IMRAD)
Recap: Structuring your
article properly (2)

Conclusion Acknowledgments

Supporting
References
Materials
Elsevier Academy
Certificates

https://researcheracademy.elsevier.com/writing-research/writing-skills/turn-thesis-article?
check_logged_in=1
https://researcheracademy.elsevier.com/interactive-course/display/825/393
ELSEVIER RESEARCHER ACADEMY
CONTENT MODULES TOPICS
Research Preparation 18 5
Writing for Research 25 4
Publication Process 31 7
Navigating Peer Review 24 4
Communicating your Research 15 3
TOTAL 113 23
Research Process
Research
Preparation

Communicating Writing for

your Research Research

Navigating Publication
Peer Review Process
• Research Preparation: 18 modules, 5 topics
• Writing for Research: 28 Modules, 4 topics
• Publication Process: 31 Modules, 7 topics
• Navigating Peer Review: 24 modules; 4 topics
• Communicating your Research: 15 modules; 3 topics