PLANNING YOUR ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRY

Mary Bosworth and SAGE Publications want to let you know we are excited about this project and remind you of some of the steps to preparing entries for the encyclopedia. These guidelines should answer many of your questions about how to write and submit your entry.

1.       Readership.  This encyclopedia is written for the educated social science reader and will be marketed to academic and public libraries as well as business and government entities. Each entry will be intelligently written and comprehensive. The entry you write should be as interdisciplinary and jargon-free as possible, with explanations provided for any specialized terminology. When in doubt, define a term or identify a person. Explain concepts in uncomplicated terms as if you were explaining them to an undergraduate class in a lecture.  Use examples to clarify concepts and definitions.  Be sure to integrate race, gender and class fully into your entry.  Please also use comparative examples from other countries where possible, while staying focused on the US overall.

2. Structure of the encyclopedia.  This is a straightforward, alphabetically organized encyclopedia. Entries are organized by length, using the following guidelines:

A entries about 3000 – 4000 words

B entries about 2000 – 3000 words

C entries about 1,000 – 2000 words

D entries about 750 – 1000 words

3. General organization.  The organization of each entry depends on its length. We recommend a pyramid structure in which an overview to the subject is followed by greater detail. Each encyclopedia entry should cover its topic with enough detail to provide the reader with an initial understanding. See “Writing Your Entry” for specifics.

4. Word count.  The text of each entry should conform to the lengths specified above. When you are assigned your entry, you will be told into which length category it fits. Word counts include the “further readings” list and cross-references.

5. Style and usage. Please study the sample entries. Your entry should have a similar style and organization. Authors should write in a manner that is descriptive and explanatory. Avoid editorializing. For more on style, see the “Style Sheet.”

6. Use of previously published material. To enhance the freshness of the writing, avoid quotations from copyrighted works. If you do need to use quotations of more than a few words, you may need to secure a written permission for use. This is your responsibility; we cannot do it for you. Never present another author’s work as your own by incorporating someone else’s material without using quotation marks and fully citing the source you used.