Creating an article from your thesis means more than just copying and pasting. The audience for the thesis is your committee whereas for an article it may be fellow researchers, professionals working in the field, policy makers, educators, or the general audience. Your article manuscript will need to be modified accordingly. This section is based on Extracting a journal article from your thesis from Taylor & Francis publishing tips for authors.

1. Plan the article

   Identify the central message that you want to get across. This could be a new theory, novel methodology or original findings. Make sure that your article follows a coherent argument and targets the journal audience.

   Decide on the kind of article you want to write - will it be a report, position paper, critique or review? What makes your argument or research interesting? How might it add value to the field?

2. Select a journal

   Selecting the right journal means reaching the audience you intend for your article to speak to. To start identifying potential journals:

   • Look at your own bookshelf / reference list. Where have authors published on similar topics?
   • Search the library catalogue
   • Consult Ulrich’s Web serials database (subscription resource)
   • For open access journals specifically - search the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
   • For student journals - see the Directory of Student Journals at UofT
   • Talk to your advisor, colleagues or liaison librarians

    

   Automatic journal finders can recommend a journal based on your manuscript title/abstract:

   • Jane: the Journal/Author Name Estimator
   • Enago Open Access Journal Finder
   • Elsevier journal finder 

    

   To further narrow down the list:

   • Study the “Aim and Scope” or similar section on editorial policies on the website to evaluate the fit and any specific content requirements;
   • Skim through past issues, abstracts, table of contents - are there similar papers that have been published?
   • How will your paper be reviewed? The journal’s website should mention the details of peer review process;
   • Check details of copyright / license agreements and whether publication before or after your thesis submission is allowed.

    

   Is it a trusted journal or publisher?

   How to identify a deceptive publisher? See the Deceptive Publishing Checklist created by U of T.

   

    

3. Write the article

   You may choose to approach writing your thesis with an aim to publish it as an article or several articles, known as an integrated/publication-based/sandwich thesis. Alternatively, you can reformat and convert your completed thesis into an article to fit the scope and style of a journal article. In both cases it will be helpful to:

   • Carefully read and follow “Author Guidelines” for instructions on on preferred layout, word limits, reference style
   • Use the criteria the reviewers will use and make sure your article addresses them
   • Request and consider the input of your supervisor, colleagues, or other contributors to the research on which your thesis is based
   • Reach out to friends or colleagues to prood-read your manuscript prior to submission

Additional resources on converting your thesis into an article:

• Adapting a Dissertation or Thesis Into a Journal Article by APA
• Eight top tips to help you turn your PhD thesis into an article by Elsevier
• Extracting a journal article from your thesis by Taylor & Francis