Feb/March 2010 Edition

Infinity Journal

Search & Connect

Submission Guidelines

Important Notices | Guidelines for Specific Article Types | Guidance

Important Notices

When it comes to publishing your papers, we're a stickler for following guidelines. So, be sure to read the instructions before you submit to us.

To all IJ writers: please note that due to new donor regulations, we have removed all photos/images from past papers, as they will not be part of past or new IJ essays. Rather, IJ will be adding a 'header image' to all pieces.

1. Who's eligible?

*We view young professionals as:

a. Anyone younger than 40

b. Earned a PhD less than 3 years ago

*Any university student (undergrad, grad, and post-grad, including doctoral candidates) are welcome to submit. There is no age limit on current students.

2. We welcome papers submitted by those holding an undergraduate degree. However, the process is highly competitive and rigorous. So, if you're an undergrad . . . prepare yourself for a challenge.

3. We may or may not offer explanations if a paper is not accepted.

4. While an abstract may be initially approved (for "featured" articles), we can turn down the actual paper when submitted if we don't think it will fit the IJ framework.

5. A note on history papers: Though we are looking for papers on contemporary, global issues, this by no means excludes historical papers. In fact, we welcome historical pieces. However, if your topic will be written from an historical perspective, you must make sure to link it to contemporary events and/or issues. This is what our audience is looking for. If you have any questions about this, please contact Adam at adam@infinityjournal.com.

6. Copyright: Ok, this one is important - Once IJ has decided to publish your piece, the article may not be published in another publication without our express consent. Once articles are submitted, the rights belong to IJ.

7. If Infinity has agreed to publish your paper, you must submit your work by the given deadline. Remember, we also have deadlines

8. Peer-reviewed articles are to be featured periodically. Opinion pieces will be uploaded to the site more frequently.

Guidelines for Specific Article Types

Opinion Pieces

Got an opinion on an issue in global affairs? Go on and hit us with it. But, be sure to keep reading before hitting us with anything

Opinion-Analyses (OA)

An opinion-analysis (OA) is exactly as the title holds – a piece containing both a your opinion and your analysis on a specific subject. An OA is not an ‘opinion editorial’ (Op-Ed). In other words, don’t submit a piece to IJ that only offers how you feel or perceive a specific subject – your readership is likely not to be impressed or influenced since they probably don’t know you as a writer. This is where your analysis comes into play. If you want them to get to know you, if you want to build your reputation, then your analysis is crucial. Provoke people, be witty, sarcastic, and of course, question the conventional. But, but, but, your analysis must be rooted in fact (e.g. sources). No sources = no submission. Please note: Wikipedia, among other web sources, will not be accepted. If we have an issue with a source that you've used, we will let you know.

The ‘do’s’: Be creative, bold, provocative, intelligent, and clear . . . original is always good, too.

The ‘don’ts’: Definitely do not write “In my opinion . . . “. We’re likely to not read your piece. Be more original than that. We all know it’s your opinion already.

Your simple guidelines:

1. Got an idea? Hit us with it and we’ll let you know if it fits the IJ framework

2. Or, just send the paper. Be sure to include:

a. A cover sheet containing your name, university and/or place of employment, email address, and the date

b. The opinion piece - don't forget to send this part

4. Be sure to:

a. Use 1.5 line spacing

b. Use Times New Roman 12 pt

c. Not exceed the 1,200 word max (endnotes not included)

d. Reference your work with reliable sources

e. Follow the above OA description

5. Send your piece to Adam at adam@infinityjournal.com

6. Do not submit to another journal while being under review at IJ

7. Please don't ask us about your paper – we’ve got it, we’re reviewing it and we’ll contact you as soon as possible

Lastly, be intelligent yet casual in your writing. When needed, be witty, provocative, sarcastic, push your ideas beyond the norms, question the conventional - but most of all, write in the people's language. This is a place for intelligent yet casual and clever opinion pieces, not academic rigidity.

Research Essays

Note: This is for 'IJ articles". Peer-reviewed featured articles are to be published periodically. It is a competitive section. Opinion pieces, the most popular on the site, are uploaded frequently.

Worthy of having your piece reviewed by experts? The guidelines may seem a bit strict but we assure you, they are there to make sure that your work is published in the highest possible form. If you have any questions or comments, email us at any time.

If you can handle the challenge, keep reading. . .

Important Note to Writers:

1. Please ensure to include your contact details on your cover sheet that will be sent to Adam Stahl.

2. IJ is highly competitive; please make sure that you do not submit any material before reading and complying with the submission guidelines. Referees won't review your piece if you don't follow the instructions.

3. Papers must be emailed - no hardcopies.

4. We may or may not accept your paper. All writers will be informed if an essay has been accepted or rejected. Resubmission is allowed, we even encourage it, but only after amendments to the paper have been made.

5. Maximum word count is 5,000. No need to go on and on and on and on and on and on and on..5,000 is plenty.

6. Style is key – be sure to closely read the section on “IJ style”

Note about referees: Please don't ask us about our referees. If we don't tell them who you are, we're definitely not going to tell you who they are. Thankfully we have the double blind review process.

Style: Ok, so this one is important - - - Style refers the language of your paper. IJ, while being an "academic" journal, is also offering readers a more casual feeling of a magazine – hence the use of the word journalzine. It is a way for students and young professionals to bring forward their ideas on global affairs to a very large and varied readership.

1. Write clearly, succinctly, and be comprehensible to all readers interested in global affairs. Rigid research style writing should be kept to a minimum – allow your readership to fully understand what you are arguing. The result will be a wider audience...something you definitely want.

2. If you feel it is proper, be witty, provoking, and sarcastic. You will be surprised how popular your paper can become when you speak in the language that most people are used to.

Submission of Articles

1. You should try and avoid using first person language in submitted manuscripts. Your personal opinion can easily be made without the use of “I’. You can use it but try to avoid it.

2. All writers must submit their articles via email to adam@infinityjournal.com - in Microsoft Word format or Apple’s Pages, or Text Edit. Hard copies will not be accepted.

3. Each submission must be accompanied by a declaration (on your cover sheet) that ensures IJ that the submission has not been published in any other publication. The statement must also include that writers agree that papers cannot be submitted simultaneously for publication in any other book, journal, magazine, newspaper, or any type of publication without the explicit consent of Infinity Journal.

4. Should a paper be accepted to IJ, all accepted manuscripts, as well as tables and graphs become the property of IJ and cannot be reproduced without the express consent from IJ.

Formatting

We ask that all essays be typewritten with 1.5 spacing. Make sure to number pages consecutively throughout the paper (bottom-right of page). Writers must also supply an abbreviated form of the article’s title, which will be used appropriately for the running head; be short and succinct. Each article should be summarized in an abstract of not more than 100 words. In the abstract, do not use abbreviations, charts/diagrams, and references cited within the text.

Affiliation

On the cover page (separate from the submitted article), the writer must include their full name, academic and/or other professional affiliations, and all relevant contact details. Only IJ’s staff will see your information – no information will be made public.

References

IJ will accept just about any Style Manual and Citation Guides to use for sourcing, so long as they are official styles. If we have a problem with your way of sourcing, we'll let you know. You can always send us an email if you're not sure.

Illustrations/Photos/Images

This one is important: Only Infinity Journal has permission to add an image to any essays (it will be placed at the beginning of each piece). Do not submit any illustrations/photos/images.

Tables and Figures

Tables and figures should be embedded in the text. Be sure to add a short descriptive title that will appear above each table with a clear legend and any footnotes suitably identified below. All units must be included. Figures must be labelled, taking into account necessary size reduction. Captions should be typed and 1.5 spaced.

Proofs

All proofs must be corrected and returned to the publisher as quickly as possible. Only correction of typographical errors is permitted. The author cannot alter the thesis, arguments, etc, after the peer-review stage is complete unless he or she has clear, written consent from IJ. Updates on specific dates, times, etc will be viewed as accepted changes only after IJ has agreed to such amendments.

Inquiries regarding a writer’s essay

Inquiries about a writer’s work should be kept to a minimum. The process can, and usually does, take time. IJ will contact the writers once the peer-review process is complete. During this unstated period of process review, writers are prohibited from submitting the essay under review to other publications.

Contact

If you have any questions or concerns, we strongly encourage you to contact us, without hesitation.

Guidance

Lastly, if you need any assistance or guidance, we're here to help.

You may also connect with other members using Search and Connect. If you have questions about your topic, it is likely that other members have written on similar issues. So, simply run a search in Search and Connect and then send a private message to a member who is familiar with your topic. Ask him/her for advice on perspectives and even good sources.

Disclaimer: Any publication included in Infinity Journal and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of Infinity Journal. Such publications and all information within the publications (e.g. titles, dates, statistics, conclusions, sources, opinions, etc) are solely the responsibility of the author of the article, not Infinity Journal. Moreover, please note that any Infinity Journal member may download articles from the Infinity Journal website but no one may post, upload, copy-paste, etc, articles from Infinity Journal to any another website without the explicit consent of Infinity Journal.