Please follow the outline below unless discussed with your editor. Also, look closely at the sample articles as a guideline. The sample articles can be viewed at the encyclopedia's home page at http://www.referenceworld.com/sage/socialscience.

Each article will include:
For consistency throughout the encyclopedia, the basic format for each article will consist of the following components: definition (to be placed within the first 250 words of the article), explanation, development of the field (when appropriate), application, example, references (a maximum of three or four per article), and the signature of the contributor.

A and B level articles will include a definition (to be placed within the first 250 words of the article), explanation, an historical account of the development of the field or technique, application, example, references (a maximum of three or four per article), and your name.
C level articles are to include a definition, example, and three or four references.
D level articles will include only a definition.

First paragraph: Describe clearly what the topic is and why it is important.

Body of the article: Explain the concept in more detail. Think of the kinds of information you would expect to find if you looked this concept up in an encyclopedia. The information needed here will vary with the type of article assigned. Please refer to the sample articles (posted on the encyclopedia's website) to get a sense of what should be included by article category.

Subheads: For A level and B level articles, subheads should be used.

Graphics: Place each table, figure, graph, or other illustration on a separate page. Number these to correspond with the in-text reference to the graphic and group all the illustrations together at the end of the article. Show the in-text placement of the graphics by inserting a call-out within the text of the article, e.g., [TABLE 1 ABOUT HERE].

Tables should be submitted electronically along with a hard copy. All tables will be typeset.
Figures should be submitted electronically along with a "camera-ready" hard copy.
When preparing graphics, keep in mind that the art will be reduced to fit within the type area of the page. Typefaces, too, will be reduced, and type smaller than 8-point type like this will become too small to read. Also, avoid type that is unusually large and type that is too heavy -- TYPE LIKE THIS.
Screens and shading do not reproduce well; please avoid using them. To distinguish sections in a pie chart or bars in a graph, use black, white, and black-and-white patterns such as diagonal lines and dots.

Bibliographic References: At the end of your article text, you will need to include three or four references that you feel are key to your article.

Sources: Please compile a list of sources that you consulted while researching your article. Do not send us this source list, but keep copies of it so that if questions arise in the editing process you may consult it.