JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies is a peer-reviewed publication that welcomes manuscripts addressing a yearly theme broadly conceived. Articles should demonstrate an interest in interdisciplinary concerns, where substance guides appropriate methodology(ies), with interdisciplinary engagement sought not for its own sake but rather for shedding new light or offering new insight.

Please follow these style and format guidelines:

  • Articles should be 15-25 pages (ca. 5,000-7,500 words), double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt. font preferred.
  • JIS aspires to synergy, synthesis, and cumulative knowledge, and wisdom. Hence, we encourage authors to build on, and connect with, relevant ideas and articles in previous JIS issues.
  • The title of the essay and descriptive section titles should be in CAPITAL LETTERS, centered on the page (No Bold).
  • Use TAB key at the beginning of each paragraph; NOT soft spaces. Within a paragraph, insert 2 soft spaces (not 1) before starting a new sentence.
  • As a rule, use DOUBLE-QUOTATION marks. SINGLE-QUOTATION marks should only occur within DOUBLE-QUOTATION marks.
  • No bold or underline; use italics to highlight books, journal titles, foreign words, or to add emphasis to words (the latter should be used sparingly: if everything is emphasized, nothing is).
  • Spell out all authors’ first and last names at first mention; last name suffices thereafter.
  • Book titles mentioned in the essay should be followed by year of publication in parentheses.
  • Foreign expressions or sentences should be followed by English translation in parentheses.
  • No colloquialisms (isn’t, don’t, etc.) in a scholarly essay.
  • No overlong quotations; paraphrasing preferred.
  • JIS uses a brief in-text citation format (modified APA): author (year: page), with the citation, as a rule, at the end of the sentence to facilitate reading and comprehension.
  • JIS prefers published print sources, but if a source is only available online, it can be cited in-text and listed in the References; instead of page numbers, indicate: online.
  • All direct quotations require a specific page reference. Specific points are also more persuasive with a specific page reference (but avoid stringing multiple sources in passing).
  • For a scholarly article, we expect on the order of 2-3 dozen sources (books & journal articles), not just ornamentally, appended to a bibliography, but rather integral to, that is, in support of, arguments pro and con the thesis. Ideally, every paragraph should have 1-2 citations. Apart from max. 3 explanatory Endnotes, all footnotes should be merged into the main text, if important, or deleted (but keep all citations).
  • REFERENCES at the end of the essay should list all sources cited in-text, arranged alphabetically (and chronologically) by author, and include complete bibliographic information. For all authors, editors, translators, provide last name, first name and middle initial. For books, provide City, State, and Publisher. For chapters in edited volumes, provide inclusive page numbers. Foreign-language titles should have English translation in parentheses. For journal articles, indicate Volume Number, Issue Number and inclusive page numbers (from-to). For magazine or newspaper articles, indicate dates (day, month, and year), and pages.
  • Number all manuscript pages.
  • Submit 1 electronic file (in MS Word or RTF) via e-mail attachment + 1 paper copy of manuscript (both-sided print), each with ca. 150-175 word abstract, via First Class mail.  Author information on a separate sheet: name, title, institutional affiliation, contact information.
  • For style and substance, consult articles in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. Cf. Free Sample Article.
  • Manuscript deadline: January 15 of the year of publication for a respective theme/volume.  JIS policy is not to consider materials that have been published or that are being considered for publication.

Send materials to: Dr. O. Gruenwald, JIS Editor, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, 1065 Pine Bluff Drive, Pasadena, CA 91107, USA. E-mail inquiry: info at jis3.org