For Writers
The Proposal Process for Fall 2023
For the Fall 2023 semester, the Eagleton Political Journal will be accepting completed articles and article proposals.
Completed Articles
Completed articles can be original works created just for the journal, or they can be class papers and academic research that have been revised to meet our publication requirements which you can find below. To be considered for publication, articles must be submitted by February 9th, 2024 at 11:59PM EST. This is a rolling deadline and students should submit their work as soon as possible using our application portal below to be considered for publication.
Submit Your Completed Article Here!
Article Proposals
Writers can also submit an article proposal to the journal by February 9th, 2024 at 11:59PM, which writers will develop into an article with a student editor.
For article proposals, please include in your application:
- A concise one-page outline of your article that answers the following questions:
- What event, issue, person, or phenomena will your article discuss?
- How will your article discuss this topic? What sources or research will you use?
- What makes this topic so urgent now more than ever? What are the recent developments on this topic?
- Who does this topic affect the most?
- Why does this topic need to be discussed?
- At least three reputable sources related to your article proposal
- Keep in mind that the more sources you are able to provide, the easier it will be for the editorial board to consider the feasibility of your proposal and article for publication.
Please submit completed articles and article proposals to our application portal below and reach out with questions at eagletonpoliticaljournal@gmail.com.
Submit Your Article Proposal Here!
We look forward to working with you!
Publication Requirements
EPJ considers a variety of factors when selecting articles for publication. The following are guidelines for writers to refer to when drafting and editing their work. EPJ does not evaluate writers’ skills and the editing staff anticipates a competitive selection process. Meeting the following criteria is a near-definitive way for writers to elevate their work above others and make their work more likely to be selected.
Please note that articles must be between 1500-2500 words.
- Minimal syntax and grammar errors
The EPJ team values work that demonstrates care and attentiveness to detail. Authors should review their work thoroughly and deliberately for mistakes, especially if they have not committed to working with our editors; because these articles will be submitted in their entirety, and our staff will have minimal time to edit and review them, selection will be limited to those articles that our staff deems to be closest to completion.
- Use of Chicago Style
EPJ articles must follow the Notes-Bibliography (NB) System of the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition. This includes Chicago Style guidelines for quotations, font, spacing, tables, images, citations, and more, with particular emphasis on footnote citations and bibliography. Students who are unfamiliar with Chicago Style should refer to the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL).
- Good source selection
All sources used in EPJ articles must be varied and reliable. Articles must be based on extensive research spanning many authors and sources, which must be credible and substantiated by evidence and their own research. Do not be afraid to fact check the information you find! In particular, if a source is identified as having a particular bias, extra effort must be made to confirm how truthful the content of the source is. For more information on selecting good sources for your article, see this guide created by librarians at the University of Georgia.
- Correct utilization of sources
All claims made in EPJ articles must be supported by research. Editing staff will check all information sourced, to ensure that information is accurate and that sources genuinely support anything stated as fact. EPJ staff will also be looking for articles that use the best sources available to support a claim.
- A balance of opinion and academic research
Authors may have put forward opinions in their work. In fact, EPJ prefers those articles that demonstrate a high level of engagement with research through the use of opinions, as well as articles that demonstrate a strong author voice. However, all opinions must be based on research and built on evidence. Opinions that seem unsubstantiated, as well as those that seem contrary to the research the author presents, will be less likely to be selected for review, editing, and submission.
- Creativity and provocativeness of articles
Articles should be creative and spark necessary discourse. An article that takes a unique perspective, or is creative in its approach, will be more likely to be selected by the editorial staff. The work submitted to the journal should demonstrate that writers are familiar with the viewpoints, opinions, and attitudes on a specific subject that are available out there already.
Further Research
For further resources on research, check out these research guides:
Research Guide: Scholarly Works
Research Guide: Political Science
Research Guide: Federal Government Publications at Rutgers
Research Guide: Urban Politics and Policy Research Guide
Research Guides: New Jersey State and Local Governments