•  
  •  

ScholarWorks > Graduate College > Hilltop Review

 

The Hilltop Review

Instructions for Submissions

Due to the impact of COVID-19 on scholarly activity, Spring 2020 submissions are currently being reviewed for the 2020 - 2021 edition of the journal. Additionally, the journal has also re-opened its call for submissions. Please submit any papers, creative work, or artwork to the journal by clicking the "Submit Article" link on the left sidebar of this page by March 15th, 2021.

Papers

The Hilltop Review: A Journal of Western Michigan University Graduate Student Research accepts submissions from any current Western Michigan University (WMU) graduate student. Every paper received will be submitted for a peer review by a representative faculty member and a graduate student. Those papers recommended by the peer review process will then be reviewed for publication by an editorial board composed of WMU graduate students.

All submitted papers should meet the following guidelines:

  • Please double space your papers and use Times New Roman with 12-point font. Papers should be between 12 and 20 pages (not including references).
  • The main body document should have the title of your article centered at the top of the page. Do not put your name on this document.
  • Although your paper should be written using language that is accessible to those outside your field, do write in a style that is appropriate to your field, using standard conventions regarding figures and references. Be sure to explain technical terms and abbreviations where necessary.
  • Papers should be submitted electronically, in Microsoft Word or rich text format (RTF). Authors should submit by clicking the "Submit Article" link in the left navigation.
  • Any questions regarding submissions for the 2020-2021 issue may be directed to the editor, .

Please note: Submissions to The Hilltop Review should not have been published elsewhere. However, students who wish to submit research for publication elsewhere (e.g., to another journal) should check the guidelines of the relevant publication. In some cases, publishing your work in The Hilltop Review may be against the policies of other publications.

Creative Work

The Hilltop Review also accepts submissions of creative writing from any current Western Michigan University (WMU) graduate student. Every piece of writing received will be submitted for a peer review by a representative faculty member and a graduate student. Those pieces recommended by the peer review process will then be reviewed for publication by an editorial board composed of WMU graduate students.

All submitted creative pieces should meet the following guidelines:

  • Please double space your papers and use Times New Roman with 12-point font. Creative works should not exceed 20 pages.
  • Submit two separate files – a title page and the main body – when you submit your piece. The title page should contain your name, department, graduate school, and contact information (phone and email address). To facilitate blind review please do not put your name anywhere else on the document.
  • The main body document should have the title of your piece centered at the top of the page. Do not put your name on this document. This page should be numbered “1” and every page through the references should be consecutively numbered. Place the number in the center position on the bottom of the page.
  • Pieces should be submitted electronically, in Microsoft Word or rich text format (RTF). Authors should submit by clicking the "Submit Article" link in the left navigation.
  • Any questions regarding submissions for the 2020-2021 issue may be directed to the editor, .

Please note: Submissions to The Hilltop Review should not have been published elsewhere. However, students who wish to submit creative works for publication elsewhere (e.g., to another journal) should check the guidelines of the relevant publication. In some cases, publishing your work in The Hilltop Review may be against the policies of other publications.

Artwork

Any WMU student may submit images for consideration, regardless of whether or not they submit an article for publication in The Hilltop Review.

All submitted artwork should meet the following guidelines:

  • Electronic images are preferred. Standard formats that are accepted are TIFF, JPG, PNG, GIF, and PSD. Artists should submit by clicking the "Submit Article" link in the left navigation and following the steps as if you are uploading an article or document.
  • If an electronic copy of your image or artwork is unavailable, a high-quality scannable print copy is also acceptable. Please send the print copy via intracampus mail to the GSA Office in the Graduate College at mailstop 5242. Your original will be returned to you via intracampus mail or, if you prefer, you may pick it up from the GSA Office in the Graduate College located on the second floor of Walwood Hall.
  • Please provide a brief description of what your submission depicts and how it relates to your graduate work at WMU, as well as the title of your submission.
  • Any questions regarding submissions for the 2020-2021 issue may be directed to the editor, .

Please note: By submitting artwork or photography to The Hilltop Review, you agree that there are no copyright restrictions on the image that you submit and that it may be published in the hard-copy edition of The Hilltop Review as well as on The Hilltop Review's website in any form.

Book Reviews

The Hilltop Review accepts book reviews from any current Western Michigan University (WMU) faculty member or graduate student in any of the university’s programs. Reviewers should avoid prejudice for or against the author, the subject, or the methodology of the work they are reviewing. Personal conflicts should certainly be avoided.

All submitted book reviews should meet the following guidelines:

  • Collections of essays, digital works, monographs, and books may be reviewed.
  • Reviewers should be fair to the author and to the work, and the peer reviewers and Editor of The Hilltop Review reserve the right to reject reviews that do not meet standards of competence and fairness to the author or work.
  • Reviews should provide a clear description of the content of the book, the author’s method, and the author’s purpose; fair and honest critical judgment of the book’s strengths and weaknesses; and an evaluation of the book’s importance to the field.
  • Please double space your review and use Times New Roman with 12-point font. Reviews should not exceed 2 pages.
  • Although your review should be written using language that is accessible to those outside your field, do write in a style that is appropriate to your field, using standard conventions regarding figures and references. Be sure to explain technical terms and abbreviations where necessary.
  • Reviews should be submitted electronically, in Microsoft Word or rich text format (RTF). Authors should submit by clicking the "Submit Article" link in the left navigation.
  • Any questions regarding submissions for the 2020-2021 issue may be directed to the editor, .

Please note: Submissions to The Hilltop Review should not have been published elsewhere. However, students who wish to submit book reviews for publication elsewhere (e.g., to another journal) should check the guidelines of the relevant publication. In some cases, publishing your work in The Hilltop Review may be against the policies of other publications.

Letters to the Editor

The Hilltop Review: A Journal of Western Michigan University Graduate Student Research accepts letters to the editor from any current Western Michigan University (WMU) faculty member or graduate student in any of the university’s programs. Letters should be composed as thoughtful responses to articles published in the previous issue. Letters will be evaluated by the editorial board.

All submitted letters should meet the following guidelines:

  • Letters should not exceed 500 words in length.
  • A cover page containing your name, department and graduate college, and contact information (phone and email address) should be included with your submission.
  • Submission should be made online. Writers should submit here by clicking the "Submit Article" in the left navigation.
  • Any questions regarding submissions for the 2020-2021 issue may be directed to the Editor at

Are you enthusiastic about graduate research and writing?
Are you considering a career in writing, publishing, or academia?
Do you have experience in editing or reviewing scholarly articles?
Are you interested in gaining editing experience?

If so, we are pleased to inform you that The Hilltop Review: A Journal of Western Michigan University Graduate Student Research is looking for additional individuals to serve as reviewers of future submissions. Please send any questions about our editing process to serve as a reviewer to . To apply for the reviewer position, please fill out our Reviewer Application Form.