you didn't submit a research paper

Should I Report an Unpublished Research Paper?

As an international high school student, should I report in the Common App Activities section that I wrote and sent a Philosophy paper to a local university, even if it is still being evaluated and probably won’t have been published until most universities’ deadlines ? I didn’t receive any help by my Philosophy professor, I worked on it entirely by myself. It consists of an analysis of the concept of duty and the effects of meta-ethical views, such as moral nihilism, on the public sphere of discourse.

I thought it would add a lot to my applicant profile - Philosophy is my major spike - but I am a little worried about it not having been published (yet) in any major academic journal. What do you guys think ?

I think you can say it was submitted. That is all you really can say.

You have to be realistic to the amount of value that this will add. This is equivalent to saying I applied to vs I was accepted at . Anyone can do the first with paying the application fee.

Don’t worry about not being published. Very few high school students are. Most students don’t even try to publish as a 1st author until the end of their PhD program. If you are lucky, you may get a chance as a 3rd+ author as an upper level undergrad. Writing for an academic journal is an artform unto itself. Without the guidance of someone who is has been at least a reviewer, it is very difficult.

Yes report it. What do you have to lose? Even though its not accepted, sounds good that you submitted.

I disagree. Everyone here is saying that you submitted it so you should add it to your application. You sent it to a professor to review, you didn’t send it to a peer-reviewed journal. Peer-reviewed journals do a cursory evaluation to see if your manuscript is a decent fit for their journal, then it is sent to peer-reviewers who further evaluate it. Saying you submitted it to a peer-reviewed journal and it is under review is VERY different from just sending it to some professor to read. Additionally, I would see it as a weakness that you didn’t work with a professor rather than a strength - what does a high school student know about philosophy and writing manuscript for a journal? Even the most successful professors work with someone and get input from others. Personally, I don’t necessarily think it would hurt your application to mention it, but I definitely don’t think it adds much.

I don’t mean to discourage you, but working with a professor the whole way through in the future would be the best.

I think others were saying that the OP can say he/she submitted the paper to a professor at a local university for review. Of course he/she should not say the paper was submitted to a peer reviewed journal when that is clearly not the case. That said I don’t think that saying a research paper was submitted to a professor will carry much (if any) weight in the admission process.

Actually, I did send it to a peer-reviewed journal and now is under review for publishing. The journal is published by a Brazilian university named Unisinos; probably this information wasn’t so clear in my original post, I sent it to a university’s academic journal, not just to the university. In this case, you think I should report it ? Yeah, I know it is really difficult for a high school student to write a research paper without any help, but that’s (unfortunately) how things usually work in my country. This culture of high school extracurricular research is very uncommon here and professors don’t instruct their students in doing so (it is something really alien to them).

You could say that you submitted “” to XYZ University Journal and Unisinos journal.

Not sure if this would be “Hey, s/he shows intellectual curiosity and proactiveness” or “this kid has no idea how journals work.” I wonder if including a link would be helpful.

Agree that you can say that you submitted the title of paper to the University Journal and the Unisinos journal if that is what you did do. I would not submit a link – admissions officers are swamped and are not looking for more to read.

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• Submission Process

Q: What will happen if I can't submit an article to a journal that has already accepted my abstract?

How bad can it be for my reputation or what is expected of me after failing to submit? I’m not facing a technical problem. Actually, I have not been able to finish the article and submit it on time.

Asked on 14 Apr, 2021

We deeply relate to your concern. As we understand it, you’re still working on the full paper and will not be able to complete and submit it by the given deadline. This is not an uncommon occurrence, and there may be several reasons for requiring more time to complete a submission. Ideally, you should contact the journal editor you’ve been corresponding with soon after you receive the deadline and let them know that you will need an extension on the submission deadline, clarifying the reason for the delay. You should also propose a new deadline that you’re sure you can meet.

The response to such a request varies from journal to journal. Some are okay with a delayed submission, while others may require that you submit the manuscript as a new submission.

Here are a couple of other questions which you might find helpful:

• Could the paper be rejected if the due date for submitting revisions is over?
• Can I extend the journal submission deadline for my revised paper?

For help with writing to the journal, you may find this handbook useful: 

• How to communicate with the journal? Peer review comments, cover letter and mor e

The handbook is available on the R Upskill platform which is a sister brand and hosts learning courses created exclusively for researchers. 

We have not addressed the part about reputation, since we can't be sure about that. If you are concerned about the delay affecting your chances of publishing with the journal in the future, we would say proper clarification and timely communication with the journal may help.

Hope this helped. All the very best for your research!

Answered by Editage Insights on 21 Apr, 2021

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How to Revise and Resubmit Rejected Manuscripts: A Step-by-Step Guide

Manuscript rejection can be hard, but it’s almost expected when you’re competing with thousands of other researchers trying to get their work published. While there are multiple options for researchers after manuscript rejection , most usually choose to prepare a revised manuscript and work to submit it either in the same or different journal. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and dejected, it’s essential to approach the revision and resubmission process with a constructive mindset. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you revise and resubmit a rejected manuscript.

Table of Contents

Analyze and understand the feedback received, develop a manuscript revision plan, revise the content in your manuscript, enhance writing for clarity and coherence, address any ethical or technical concerns, do a final reformat and proofread, provide a comprehensive response letter, highlight changes in the manuscript, create a compelling cover letter, submit your revised manuscript, be prepared for possible reiteration.

Carefully review feedback and critique shared by peer reviewers and journal editors explaining why your manuscript didn’t make the cut . Be sure to keep your emotions in check and view the feedback objectively to identify constructive suggestions for improvement. Understanding the exact reasons for manuscript rejection will help you take the appropriate remedial measures.

The second step is to organize the feedback into priority levels, categorizing them into major concerns, medium-level issues, and minor problems. This will give you a clear picture of the amount of changes needed and allow you to address major concerns first before moving on to the minor issues. It helps to create a checklist based on the feedback so you don’t miss out on anything and can ensure that each point of concern is systematically addressed.

This is an opportunity for you to enhance your work, so pay special attention to areas that need improvement. Refine your introduction and research questions to clearly convey the significance of your work. Clarify your research methods, enhance data presentation, and address any statistical concerns. Strengthen the discussion section by addressing reviewer questions and incorporating additional relevant literature.

Once you’ve incorporated all the changes in the content, review the text and make edits to correct language and grammar, spelling, punctuation, and any wordy or complex sentences. Ensure the manuscript is well organized and written in a consistent style to improve overall clarity, coherence and readability.

If the feedback from the reviewers and editors raised any ethical or technical concerns, ensure that you take that into account. Resolve any technical problems such as formatting, referencing, or citation errors and do a check to ensure your revised manuscript complies with all the required ethical guidelines. Experts suggest seeking feedback from colleagues or mentors before finalizing the revised manuscript; this can help identify any issues that need to be addressed before resubmission.

One of the most important points is to ensure that your revised manuscript adheres to journal guidelines. If you plan to submit revised manuscripts to a new journal, your work may require substantial changes to align with the new journal’s formatting and submission guidelines. Do a final proofread to eliminate any grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistencies you may have overlooked.

It’s important to respond to feedback shared, so create a detailed response letter by acknowledging the suggestions for improvement received. Clearly outline how you have addressed each comment or concern raised by the reviewers or journal editors. If you choose not to implement a suggested change, provide a well-justified explanation in your response letter.

One of the most helpful things when resubmitting revised manuscripts is to highlight the changes made to allow for easy scan and checks by busy editors and reviewers. You can choose to use track changes in your word processing software to highlight revisions made to the manuscript based on the feedback shared and include a summary of major changes made in the response letter.

It’s important to have a cover letter when resubmitting your work after manuscript rejection. In the cover letter, succinctly communicate the significance of your work, mention the major revisions made in response to the feedback shared, and thank the reviewers and journal editors for the constructive suggestions and the opportunity to revise and enhance your work. These details can help convince the journal editor and reviewers that the revised manuscript is worth reconsidering.

Sometimes, journal editors provide you the option to revise and resubmit your manuscript, which means they are willing to re-consider your manuscript if you appropriately revise it based on reviewer comments. However, if the journal editor is not ready to reconsider your manuscript again, your next best option is to move on to submitting it to a new journal. In both cases, you will need to submit the revised manuscript through the journal’s submission system following their specific instructions. Ensure you submit all the required documents, including the revised manuscript, cover and response letters, and any other documents requested by the journal.

Despite submitting a revised manuscript, you need to recognize that there may be additional feedback in the review process. So keep your mind open to the possibility of future iterations and address additional revisions as needed to ensure your work is accepted for publication.

Approaching the revision and resubmission process methodically and professionally increases the likelihood of acceptance, whether you’re submitting to the same journal or a different one. Each round of revision brings your manuscript one step closer to publication. Revising and resubmitting a manuscript takes time and effort; by following these steps above, authors can increase their chances of acceptance and move closer to publication success.

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Related Reads:

What next after manuscript rejection 5 options for researchers.

• 5 Reasons for Rejection After Peer Review
• How to Write a Conclusion for Research Papers (with Examples)
• 7 Ways to Improve Your Academic Writing Process

Paraphrasing in Academic Writing: Answering Top Author Queries

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I have no references to list for the reference section in an APA paper. What do I do?

If you have written a paper and not cited anything from any source:

• You have no direct, word-for-word quotations
• You did not put anyone else's ideas into your own words
• You did not use anyone else's statistics or numbers
• You did not back-up or support anything you said with data or quality sources

then you can simply leave the reference page off of your paper.

However, please be aware, that part of writing like a professional and part of writing academic papers is providing back-up and support for your ideas. Even if you think you already know everything on your topic, part of being a professional is knowing that there is a lot you do not know . You may want to consider providing some support in your paper and then including both citations and references.

• Reading and Writing
• Last Updated Jun 30, 2020
• Views 15018
• Answered By Ashley Librarian

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International Students

Late assignment submission excuses that don’t fail.

June 27, 2023 • 10 min read

Academic success depends on completing assignments on time, but occasionally unexpected obstacles arise in life. Although it's always best to plan ahead and manage your time well, late submission excuses have become a common part of student life. In these situations, we need to be resourceful. In this article, we examine a few original and creative justifications for late assignment submissions. 

But before you do anything, take a deep breath and think about your options. There are some good excuses for turning in an assignment late, and there are some that are just plain bad.

Good Excuses for Late Assignment Submission:

Although it is typically not advisable to give justifications for late assignment submissions because it is crucial to prioritize responsibility and time management, there might be occasions when unavoidable circumstances arise. Here are a few valid justifications for submitting an assignment after the deadline:

• Personal Illness or Injury: If you had a sudden illness or injury that made it difficult for you to finish the assignment on time, that is a good reason to ask for a deadline extension. To prove your claim, offer the necessary proof, such as a medical certificate.
• Family Emergency: It might be necessary to ask for an extension for your assignment if there is a serious family emergency, such as the hospitalization of a close relative or the occurrence of a natural disaster.
• Technical Problems: There may occasionally be technical issues that are beyond your control, such as a computer crash, an internet outage, or a software malfunction. These problems may make it difficult for you to finish and turn in the assignment on time. Inform your professor right away, and if you can, include proof like screenshots or error messages.
• Unforeseen Events: Unexpected situations, like a last-minute work commitment, transportation problems, or a personal crisis, may make it difficult for you to finish an assignment on time. If such circumstances occur, be open and honest with your professor about them.
• Academic Overload: It can occasionally be difficult to meet all the deadlines if you find yourself overwhelmed with numerous assignments and coursework. In these circumstances, proactive communication with your professor is preferable.

Bad Excuses for Late Assignment Submission:

While it's critical to be open and truthful about legitimate justifications for late assignment submissions, it's equally crucial to identify and refrain from offering lame justifications that lack veracity or show a lack of accountability. Examples of justifications that are typically viewed as inappropriate or unconvincing include the following:

• Procrastination: Blaming procrastination or poor time management for the delay will have a negative impact on your ability to prioritize your obligations. Taking responsibility for your actions is always preferable to using procrastination as a justification.
• Social Events or Partying: Saying that you were unable to finish the assignment because you were out having fun or attending social events, parties, or other entertainment-related activities suggests that you value your leisure time more than your academic responsibilities.
• Internet or Power Outage: Although technical difficulties can occasionally happen, using an internet or power outage as a justification without supporting evidence or documentation may be considered a weak defense. It is a good idea to have backup plans, like local power or alternative internet sources.
• Forgetting the Due Date: Forgetting the due date for an assignment is not a good justification because it shows a lack of planning and focus. It's critical to remember due dates and use calendars, reminders, and other organizational tools to stay on top of things.
• Personal Relationship Problems: It may come across as unprofessional and unconvincing to blame a late submission on relationship issues or disagreements with friends, family, or romantic partners. It is best to keep personal matters separate from academic obligations and seek assistance or support if needed.
• Lack of Resources: It may not be acceptable to claim that you were unable to complete the assignment because you lacked the necessary books or materials. Planning ahead and making prompt use of the resources at hand are crucial.

How to Write an Excuse for a Late Assignment:

If you do have a legitimate reason for turning in an assignment late, it's important to write a clear and concise excuse. Here are some tips:

• Be honest. Don't try to lie or make up excuses. Your professor will be able to tell if you're not being truthful.
• Be specific. Explain exactly what happened and why it prevented you from turning in your assignment on time.
• Be apologetic. Express your sincere apologies for turning in your assignment late.
• Be respectful. Address your professor by their title and last name.

How to ask a professor to accept a late assignment by mail:  

You can use the following example of an email to ask your professor to accept a late assignment:

Dear Professor [Name of the Professor],

I'm writing to ask for a delay in the due date for my [course name and number] assignment, [name of assignment]. The assignment was supposed to be turned in on [original due date], but I need it by [new due date].

I apologize for the submission's tardiness. I am aware that this is not an excuse, but a few unforeseen events kept me from finishing the assignment on time.

I had a family emergency that needed to be attended to first. I had to travel to be with my [relationship to family member] because they were in the hospital. This consumed a substantial amount of time.

Second, my computer was having some technical issues. My files were completely lost when my hard drive crashed. I lost a few days as a result of having to start the assignment from scratch.

Even though I am aware that the circumstances are not ideal, I am determined to do my very best to complete the task. The finished assignment is attached to this email.

I would appreciate it if you would give my request for a delay some thought. I am sure I can finish the assignment by the new due date.

I appreciate your consideration and time.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Final Thoughts:

While excuses for late assignment submissions can be amusing and humorous, it's important to keep in mind that accountability and time management should always come first. These ingenious justifications ought to be used sparingly and shouldn't serve to reinforce dishonesty or procrastination as bad habits. It's best to be open with your professors, ask for extra time when you need it, and make an effort to turn in assignments on time. Always keep in mind that education is a journey towards growth and development on both a personal and academic level. If you follow these tips, you will increase your chances of having your request granted.

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