Monday, December 31, 2012

Blogging is to Talking, as APA Style is to ????

I've found a danger to blogging a lot----someone might like what I've chatted about casually and then want me to turn it into an APA style manuscript.    Yep!!!  That's happened!   My little ramblings about Google forms have been converted to a formal paper, and are about ready to be submitted electronically to the scholarly folds of ASHA for a peer review and heavy edit.

I've learned quite a bit from this:

1.  What is APA style?    The last time I wrote a research paper, I used a typewriter--it was at least an electric typewriter. (Hey, I'm not THAT old!)  Regardless, writing a paper and submitting it so it looks similar to what I see in my professional journals is a bit of a learning curve.  Fonts didn't really exist in my world back then.   I've never written an 'abstract' or worried about including 'table titles' or website references.  I've spent more than a few hours over the holidays learning about fonts, double spacing, and citations.  (I feel I'm a more than competent speech pathologist---but my job descriptions since graduation in 1984 haven't really included this.)


2.  What is a SIG---otherwise known as 'Special Interest Group' in the ASHA world?   I've never fronted the money but apparently each SIG has scholarly publications that the members (who pay $35 a year) can read and get C.E.Us.   I'm hopefully going to be published in one of those, although I may not be able to read my own published article since I'm not a member of this group.    Maybe I'm not as poor as I think I am.  Perhaps, I'll turn over a new leaf now, and join a SIG---the one focusing on school-based issues now has me intrigued!   I'll keep you posted about this.

3.  What is peer review?  I actually already knew about this, but it's a bit intimidating to submit something I've written to be edited and reviewed by people I don't know.  Right now, I'm using my 22-year-old daughter as my editor, but we think alike and readily critique each other all time about lots of things.  The part about complete strangers reviewing my paper (that I don't know how to write) is daunting to even consider.  I'm sure that the reality is there will only be a couple of people on a computer that will edit my masterpiece, but my fantasy is that a large group will be earnestly talking about what I wrote. Ha Ha!

PCS credit


 So, writing a formal paper is outside of my comfort zone.  Why did I agree to this?  Possibly, I was flattered that anyone even asked.  Possibly, I never say 'no' to anything. I need a ready-made script or a social story in this area. 



What's done is done---I said 'yes' and this has been great, albeit painful practice, and I'm sure that I'll have a bit more editing to do.  I'll let my readers know on how this challenge turns out.

I hope all of you are having a good start to the year!  







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5 comments:

  1. Ruth,

    This is so awesome ! Congrats !! I look forward to viewing the peer reviewed product : - ) Kristen

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    1. Thanks for commenting! It's SIG 16 (School based issues) if it makes it past the peer review stage.

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  2. Congrats on writing for ASHA! Thats awesome! I saw you posted on my blog about my "road to diagnosis"! I was actually coming on here to see if you wanted to guest blog on my blog about something pertaining to "gluten free" something. I don't care what it is or how long. I just thought it would be nice to learn from someone else who is a GF eater too! majorspeechminorgirl @ hotmail. com

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    1. Sure I can guest blog---and maybe you can return the favor. Being gluten free has totally transformed my life, and in turn, made me a better speech pathologist. (It's hard to do a good job if you're exhausted!) Thanks for the comment, and let me think of a topic.

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    2. ok! Awesome! I am so excited! I would LOVE to return the favor! just email me at majorspeechminorgirl@hotmail.com when you think of a topic! I will in turn be thinking of something I have enough knowledge about to write on- I am still fairly new at the GF eating. You are exactly right though- GF eating has made me a different person in society, speech pathologist and wife!

      Maybe that would be a good topic- where I am finding my information as a new person diagnosed =) I'll keep thinking and let you know!

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