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AUTHOR'S GUIDELINES
The Journal of Developmental Education is published as a forum for the scholarly exchange of information and ideas related to the practice, theory, research, and news of the postsecondary developmental and remedial education community. The Journal's content focuses on basic skills education, developmental education activities, learning assistance, and counseling as they relate to at-risk college students. Editorial priority is placed on manuscripts that relate the practical significance of theory/research to teaching, learning and student development, making connections between research and practice and discussing classroom implications.
Writing the Article. Manuscripts should be presented in clear, concise prose, documenting assertions and giving proper credit to other authors. The Publication Manual, Fifth Edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) should be followed for reference style and all other rules of organization, punctuation, and editorial style. Pay particular attention to text citations and reference list entries, making sure all text citations match a reference list entry and visa versa; articles that fail to conform will be returned.
Manuscripts should include an appropriate theoretical base and supporting literature search; these will serve as a framework by which to establish the importance of your thesis. If the manuscript is based on a primary research study, the methodology should be described briefly but thoroughly. Although it is important for readers to be able to use an article as a model, the main emphasis and majority of the text should be used to establish an understanding of the issue under consideration and discuss the implications of findings for practitioners. Include an evaluation component as appropriate
The optimal length of a Journal manuscript is 16 to 25 pages. Use headings and subheadings to divide your paper into manageable sections following APA guidelines. Tables, charts, and figures should also conform to APA requirements and be presented in a high quality format. If the manuscript is accepted for publication, you will be required to submit all elements of the paper on disk, using a PC platform with Microsoft Word as the preferred format. An abstract of about 100 words is required and the manuscript should have a informative title, of no more than eight words, which aids indexing (e.g., the initial word should refer to the subject of the paper).
The Review Process . Articles submitted the Journal are initially examined by the in-house editorial staff. Those considered appropriate are acknowledged and submitted to a blind peer review by three or more members of the Board of Editors. The process is completed by the Editor who relies heavily on the judgement of reviewers but is not bound by it. The basic review process takes 3 to 5 months. Readers from the Board of Editors are asked to address the following criteria in their manuscript evaluations
- Timeliness
- Usefulness
- Organization
- Precise Topic Focus
- Innovation/Challenge
- Clarity
- Research/Theoretical Base
- Writing Style
- Development of Topic
Only manuscripts that have not been published previously and are not scheduled for publication, wholly or in part, in any other publication will be considered. Not accepted for review are book reviews, reviews of educational materials, essays, interviews or dialogues, surveys of literature, or articles that promote a commercial service or product. Low priority is placed on articles dealing broadly with a subject, based on unique situations, or focused very technically in topic or presentation. However, articles that challenge readers to think about the profession as a whole or some vital aspect of the profession will be considered.
Presentation Format. The abstract, body, and reference of the article should be double-spaced with one-inch margins; do not justify the right margin. Pages should be numbered and YOUR NAME SHOULD NOT APPEAR ON ANY OF THESE PAGES to ensure the blind review process. Prepare a single cover sheet that bears the title of the article, author's name(s), title, address, institutional affiliation, telephone number, and email address.
• Make four copies of the abstract, body, and references only (five if statistical data is presented); keep one copy for your files and forward the others.
• If you want your original manuscript returned, prepare a large, self-addressed stamped envelope to include when the manuscript is submitted.
Mailing. Mail the original manuscript, four copies, the cover sheet, and all additional materials to:
Publications Office Manager, Journal of Developmental Education
National Center for Developmental Education
ASU Box 32098
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608
AUTHOR TIPS and CHECKLIST
• Selectively include only recent literature most appropriate to your topic.
• Present "both sides" of the research, especially if the topic is controversial.
• Use tables and figures to supplement rather than duplicate information presented in the text.
• Use transitions, including terse subheadings, to link various research concepts and ideas together, creating a smooth flow of prose and enhancing readability.
• Additional manuscript evaluation criteria for research manuscripts includes: design, methodology, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of statistical data.
MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION
Do homework:
• Read publication
• Examine author's guidelines
• Organize information
Draft Manuscript:
• 1st draft - put away - edit
• Comments, suggestions from colleagues
• Statistical Review
Final draft and submission:
• Incorporate suggestions
• Adhere to all style requirements
• Submit high quality original and copies
• Include cover letter
FINAL CHECKLIST
Before sending, double check your manuscript packet to be certain that:
• Your name is NOT on any of the manuscript pages.
• There are at least three copies and an original of the manuscript included with your submission.
• There is a cover sheet including (a) article title and (b) your name, title, address, institutional affiliation, telephone number, and email address.
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