Quality of the writing:

The work is of exceptional quality, demonstrating a high level of conceptual ability and an extremely thorough and conscientious approach to study, it is distinguished by: 

  • A clearly expressed argument used to develop a coherent and logical answer framework leading to a reasoned conclusion that is fully supported by the evidence presented in the text.
  • A clear and consistent focus on the issues raised by the question.
  • An insightful argument showing signs of originality.
  • A very high standard of grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence construction.
  • A capacity to consistently relate the textual material to the conceptual framework.
  • An absence of irrelevant or extraneous material and repetition. 

Marks within this classification may vary due to:

  • A capacity to develop persuasive original sound arguments/valid cases.
  • The depth and sophistication of the conceptual framework.
  • The level of familiarity with the primary and secondary literatures. 

*Elements under general consideration during assessment of student work are:

  • Understanding of issues or problems under discussion.
  • Knowledge and understanding of relevant readings.
  • Critical discussion of relevant readings.
  • Clarity and depth in the analysis of theory, data and issues under discussion.
  • Coherence of argument.
  • Clarity and relevance of introduction and conclusion.
  • Clarity and precision of expression and presentation.
  • Use of appropriate and consistent referencing and citation conventions.
  • Clarity of writing including grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence construction. 

We look for original, outstanding work that is of interest and impact to audience’s in the author’s field but penetrable by interested, educated readers outside of the author’s field.

Accepted work will contribute meaningfully to the undergraduate knowledge base.

Style

English is the language of the journal, but we are open to work in other languages as long as we have readers that can serve as reviewers of academic work in the author’s language.

The expectation is that authors will follow the American Psychological Association (APA) style. Many university libraries will have an online copy, but if not, see the OWL at Purdue.

Submissions Format

  • Submissions must not be a protected file format; submission must be sent in a .doc or .docx format. No .pdf or other formats that do not allow for comment.
  • Tables, figures, and images should be .jpg, .png, .pdf, or .gif formats.
  • Please position tables/figures/images in the document as submitted and attach PDF documents.
  • For each figure there should be a figure number indicating the sequence of the figures, a short title for the figure (15 words max), and a description of the figure or photograph (300 word max) to promote accessibility.
  • Artwork may require higher resolution. Contact writingcentre@ul.ie to discuss.
  • It is the responsibility of the author(s) to obtain permission from the copyright holder to reproduce figures, tables, or photographs that have been previously published. 

Citations and References Format

  • In accordance with APA (as stated above).

Plagiarism and libel

  • Any work containing plagiarized, defamatory, or libelous content will be formally rejected from publication.
  • Submitted material must not infringe existing copyrights or the rights of a third party.
  • Guidelines regarding plagiarism and misrepresentation in reporting the work of others can be found here.

 Other Suggestions

  • Research our journal – spend time reviewing our past publications and be familiar with all of our policies.
  • We encourage you to ask your colleagues, supervisors, and/or peers to read your work before you submit.
  • We encourage you to make an appointment with a peer tutor in UL’s Regional Writing Centre to talk about your paper, its strengths and weaknesses. If you are not a UL student and your institution does not have a writing centre, please contact us at writingcentre@ul.ie to make arrangements if you wish to have an online appointment with one of our peer tutors.
  • Be prepared to respond promptly to emails from your editor and be open to revisions to your work.

Useful Links