Writing Analytics in the Classrom

Analytics accepts manuscripts highlighting advances in analytics that hold the potential to strengthen research in the field by supporting teaching and learning. These manuscripts will focus on the integration of tools, data, and insights into instructional design and classroom practice. Of special interest are manuscripts that translate analytic findings into actionable strategies for educators and students.

Pedagogical articles focus on classroom or workplace implementation of writing analytics and its impact on students and learners in non-academic settings. As such, these articles, written by teacher-researchers, employ all forms case study methods and welcome small samples. While writing analytics focused on learners can surely be Research Articles, this genre emphasizes the need for new instructional applications for learners. Emphasis on instructional design, teaching strategies, and student experiences are hallmarks of this genre, consistent with traditions of teacher research.

This genre is intended to provide flexibility as we encourage writing analytics innovations in classrooms. While a distinct pedagogy for writing analytics does not yet exist, it is our hope that this new genre will lead, in time, to that.

Analytics publishes research notes of up to 10,000 words (approximately 40 double spaced manuscript pages, including references).

Formatting References

References should be formatted using APA style. For instructions on formatting references, see the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition.

Formatting Text

Please adhere to the following guidelines for formatting article text.

  • Upload article submissions in the Microsoft Word document file format.
  • Provide URLs for the references where available.
  • Double space text and use a 12-point Times New Roman font.
  • Use italics instead of underlining (except for URL addresses).
  • Place figures and tables at the end of the document. Use the phrase “Insert Table (or Figure) X here.” to indicate their placement in the document.
  • Follow the instructions in Ensuring Anonymous Review for submissions to a peer-reviewed section of the journal.

The following titles may be used for the main section headings, and the issues below should be addressed for the corresponding sections. However, other organizational structures, when approproiate to the case at hand, are welcome.

Scopus Abstract

The Journal of Writing Analytics is indexed by Scopus. We therefore require an abstract of no more than 250 words.

Structured Abstract

The structured abstract (between 500 and 750 words) is categorized by subheadings. The structured abstract should present a comprehensive overview of the innovation in terms of identification of new methods, their exposition, their application, and directions for further research.

Introduction

The introduction section establishes the writing analytics instructional case to be examined.

Literature Review

The literature positions the reported teaching application in the context of work by other researchers, identifies needed pedagogies, and establishes justification for the present study.

Case Study Design

The case study design positions the teaching application within a range of designs (e.g., explorative, descriptive, explanatory, or mixed methods. (For more on case study design, see the Institute of Education Studies Single-Case Design Technical Documentation.) As well, this section establishes the following: institutional description (e.g., for US post-secondary intuitions, information from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System; for US industries, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics). In addition, a theoretical framework may be added to sets the teaching case within a range of pedagogical theories (e.g., process, post-process, sociocognitive, sociocultural, genre, action theory). If your study includes methods and research questions, these may be added in their own sections.

Classroom Implementation and Outcomes

The classroom implementation section provides a process-oriented guide to the teaching application, with special attention the ability to replicate the instructional plan across learning groups, learner responses, and outcomes.

Generalization Inferences and Further Research

The generalization inferences describe the possibility of classroom implementation beyond the present study, with special attention paid to the limits of generalization and the advancements needed to overcome barriers.  Authors should conclude the manuscript with directions for further research intended to advance the pedagogical application reported in the study.