BEYOND PWR AND WIM:

PUBLICATION AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED PWR1, PWR 2, AND WRITING IN THE MAJOR AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY

UNDERGRADUATE JOURNALS AND LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

Journals Emphasizing Humanities Research, Investigations in Social Issues, or Creative Writing

Agora: An Online Undergraduate Journal of Humanities. This journal is refereed by Texas A & M professors and supported by the Texas A & M College of Liberal Arts. The name “Agora” is taken from the Greek word for “marketplace,” and the journal’s goal is to provide a “forum for lively discussion on scholarly topics.” All undergraduates at four-year college institutions in the United States or Canada are welcome to submit papers. Submission rules are available at: http://www.tamu.edu/chr/agora/papers.html. They are also looking for student copy editors, particularly undergraduates with work experience in a newspaper, magazine, or scholarly publication, or English/Journalism majors. Information is available at the web site.

Allegheny Review: A National Journal of Undergraduate Literature. This annual journal is dedicated to exclusively publishing undergraduate works of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and art. Deadline is usually the December 1st of every year. Submissions require a $5 entry fee. Other restrictions apply. Materials are reviewed by professional writers. For submission guidelines see: http://webpub.alleg.edu/group/review/.

The Dualist: Stanford’s Undergraduate Journal of Philosophy. The journal “accepts papers on all topics of philosophical interests. Essays written for classes, honors theses, independent work are welcome.” The essays should be geared toward a general philosophical audience. For submission rules refer to the following online guidelines: http://www.stanford.edu/group/dualist/submit.html. The website also provides archived essays. Just as you would study the Boothe Prize Essays, you should consider reading some of their selected essays before you submit a piece.

Free Thought Online. A web publication maintained by college students, FTO accepts submissions from people of any political persuasion. Submit argumentative articles (500-1500 words) and research papers (2000-8000 words). For more information, contact Peter Robinett, the head of submissions (peterr@uchicago.edu), Amarnath Santhanam, the webmaster (fto@amarnath.us), or Max Etchemendy, the writing/editing guru (maxe@stanford.edu). The publication can be accessed at: http://fto.int8.com.

Mother Jones. This bimonthly magazine has a circulation of 180,000 and focuses on publishing investigative reports, exposes in social issues and public affairs. Think Michael Moore. They invite “thoughtful, provocative articles which challenge the conventional wisdom (on the right or the left) concerning issues of national importance such as the environment, the media, health care, consumer protection, and cultural trends. You must submit a query letter pitching your story/article idea before you submit the manuscript. Please refer to the guidelines at http://www.motherjones.com/about/admin/mag_guidelines.html.

Six Degrees: A Stanford Journal of Human Rights. Six Degrees is a publication based on research papers, though this particular publication focuses on human rights based articles. Submissions should be 500-2000 words in length, and their submission guidelines explicitly state that articles written from in depth studies or taken directly from personal experiences will be preferred. All submissions are judged anonymously and objectively. Articles or inquiries should be emailed to stanfordsixdegrees@hotmail.com.

The Stanford Journal for Undergraduate Research. A journal dedicated to undergraduate research, SURJ accepts submissions between 1500 and 2500 words in length. Essays should be written for an educated general audience. SURG welcomes technical papers. No mention is made of specific topics or biases preferred by the editorial staff, suggesting that articles covering any academic subject will be considered. Online guidelines are available at http://surj.stanford.edu.

STOA: The International Undergraduate Journal of Philosophy. Hosted by Santa Barbara City College, the journal is biannual and is the “only undergraduate international journal of philosophy . . . on this planet.” The journal is interested in both philosophical papers or philosophically relevant papers. For guidelines see: http://www.cpesbcc.net/stoahome.htm.

Whitewater Review: An Undergraduate Journal. A biannual “e-zine” founded by editors Phil Bickel and T. J. Rivard. It is a forum for undergraduate and graduate students from “any higher learning educational institution around the world” who wish to publish poetry, short stories, and nonfiction writing. For guidelines see: http://www.iue.edu/whitewater/.

Young Scholars in Writing: Undergraduate Research in Writing and Rhetoric. This is an Undergraduate Research journal edited by Laurie Grobman and Candace Spigelman. They seek theory-driven and/or research-based submissions on the following topics: writing, rhetoric, composition, professional writing, peer tutoring, writing process, writing technologies, or writing in the disciplines. Send queries to Laurie (leg8@psu.edu) or Candace (cxs11@psu.edu).

Undergraduate Journals in the Sciences, Mathematics, Economics, and Engineering.

Caltech University Research Journal (CURJ). CURJ is a biannual journal that welcomes submissions from undergraduates at all educational institutions. They accept letters, reviews, research articles, and “artistic” submissions (there are guidelines for each category). The artistic pieces must relate to the “art and aesthetics of science or engineering.” The “letter” is a 1000-word essay, which addresses a social, ethical, or scientific issue of present concern (a science version of a Newsweek “My Turn” essay). The 3000-word “review” should provide an overview of a current research field (“insight into the significance, current state, and future prospects of the field”). The 2000-word research article must “center on your own work” related to the sciences. CURJ is looking articles that read like “Scientific American”: audience should be imagined to be intelligent, science-minded readers who are not necessarily experts in the field. All submissions must come with a publication approval form which you can download at http://www.curj.caltech.edu/submissions.php. All issues are archived and available at: http://www.curj.caltech.edu/archives/vol2/1.php.

Furman University Electronic Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics. This journal is also open to all undergraduates across the country. For more information see: http://math.furman.edu/~mwoodard/fuejum/content/toc.html.

The Journal of Undergraduate Chemistry Research. This is a reviewed quarterly journal which publishes original research performed by undergraduates. Authors must primary be an undergraduate but may be co-authored with a professor. For submission guidelines see: http://academics.vmi.edu/chemistry/Jucr/authorguide.htm.

JURP: The Online Journal of Undergraduate Research on Physics. The annual refereed journal (appears every summer) accepts undergraduate papers that researched any area of pure physics, applied physics, or physics-related fields. Each paper must be sponsored by a full-time faculty member at the student’s college institution. For guidelines see: http://www.jurp.org/aboutjurp.htm. Online archived essays are available at their website.

The Journal of Undergraduate Sciences (JUS). Sponsored by Harvard University’s Science Center, the multidisciplinary journal publishes articles that range from “Astronomy to Zoology.” The journal accepts submissions from “any student at the undergraduate level who is engaged in research in any scientific or science related discipline.” They also welcome collaboration amongst undergraduates, graduate students, and professors. Submission guidelines are available in Acrobat reader format and can be downloaded from http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~jus/submissions.html.

Journal of Young Investigators: Undergraduate, Peer-Reviewed Science Journal. This web journal focuses primarily on publishing undergraduate research in science, mathematics, and engineering. This could include research in the fields of astronomy, biology, geology, computer science, and psychology. The journal is reviewed by undergraduates. Senior theses are accepted although they must be shortened and formatted to JYI publication requirements. Students interested in submitting a research or review article or becoming a staff member should visit: http://www.jyi.org/submissions/faq.html.

Psi Chi: Journal of Undergraduate Research. Sponsored by the National Honor Society in Psychology (Psi Chi), the quarterly, reviewed journal publishes primarily the work of undergraduate students. Only an undergraduate student who is a member of Psi Chi may submit a manuscript. Manuscripts from graduate students will be accepted only if the work was completed as an undergraduate student. While the primary author must be an undergraduate, additional authors may include non-Psi Chi students as well as a faculty mentor or supervisor. For details see: http://www.psichi.org/pubs/journal/submissions.asp.

Reviews in Undergraduate Research: International Journal of Excellence in Undergraduate Research. This international undergraduate journal publishes research and reviews related to natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics). Details for submission can be found at the following URL: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~rur/submit.htm.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Undergraduate Math Journal. This is a refereed journal open to all undergraduates. The journal is sponsored by the Math Department of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The paper should be accessible to a “wide range of readers.” According to the website, “Readers of the journal should expect to see new results, new and interesting proofs of old results, historical developments of a theorem or area of mathematics, relationships between areas of mathematics and/or other fields of study, or interesting applications of mathematics.” The journal has strict requirements about submission (it requires, for instance, that you have a letter of support from a mathematician). For guidelines see: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/mathjournal/.

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics. All journal articles are peer evaluated by undergraduates at Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University. It is one of only two online journals entirely run by undergraduates in the U.S. According to the website, “For those who plan to pursue advanced degrees in economics, this on-line journal offers the opportunity to become familiar with the submissions and publication process. For those who do not pursue advanced degrees, the UAUJE presents a unique chance to have an article published.” For submission guidelines and articles see: http://www.econ.ilstu.edu/uauje/editorial_board/index.shtml.

UCLA Undergraduate Psychology Journal. The journal accepts submissions from all undergraduates who do outstanding research in psychology. For archived papers and submission guidelines see: http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/upj/.

Journals publishing Multimedia, Hypertext, and Audio

The Blue Moon Review. Originally called The Blue Penny Quarterly, BMR considers itself one of the oldest online literary magazines with a strong international following. Some of its writers were winners of Best American Short Story and have received awards and fellowships from the NEA and Guggenheim. The BMR accepts submissions for fiction, hypermedia, audio, and literary blogs. For submission guides see: http://www.thebluemoon.com/editorspage.shtml.

The Courtland Review: An Online Literary Magazine in Real Audio. Founded in 1997, the quarterly review is based in Cortland, New York. Full and audio is available for all issues. Its international audience includes Anglophone readers from the United States, Australia, Great Britain, Canada, France, and Japan. It had recently been awarded “Best of the Web” by Forbes.com. The Courtland Review considers poetry, prose, essays, translations, book reviews. For submission guidelines, see http://www.cortlandreview.com/submission_guidelines.php.

Ejournal. This peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary academic journal is interested in submissions that address either the theory or practice of the “creation, transmission, storage, interpretation, alteration, and implication of electronic ‘text’—including ‘display’ broadly defined.” The journal is “also interested in the broader social, psychological, literary, economic and pedagogical implications of computer-mediated networks.” For guidelines and archived articles refer to http://www.ucalgary.ca/ejournal/.

Local Newspapers

Stanford Daily. Story Ideas should be submitted for potential Daily articles to the appropriate department. For news, news@daily.stanford.edu, for sports, sports@daily.stanford.edu, for columns and editorials, opinions@daily.stanford.edu, for arts and entertainment, intermission@daily.stanford.edu, and for science and technology, innovation@daily.stanford.edu.

San Francisco Chronicle. Online submission guidelines for “Op-Ed” pieces, Letters to the Editor, First Person Essays for Living, and Commentary Pieces for Insight are available at: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/. For best results, study the style of these pieces beforehand.

Local Radio and Public Access Television

KQED “Perspective” radio essay series. San Francisco’s Public Radio (88.5 FM) broadcasts commentaries written and voiced by Bay Area residents. Perspectives air weekdays after local newscasts at 6:07 and 7:37 am. It is repeated at 11:33 pm. They are rebroadcast on Saturdays and Sundays at 7:37am and 8:37am. Perspectives cover issues that concern Northern Californians in particular. They are interested in essays that touch upon state, or local concerns. At their website, they noted the following: “Observations on everyday life are also considered, if they make a broader point about who we are and how we live. . . . There are exceptions, but most Perspectives are opinion pieces that say what is wrong or right with something, offer a better idea, an insight or an unusual angle on a matter of common concern to our listeners. They are strongest if they draw from your personal experience.” Most Perspective essays are 300 to 350 words long (time limit is 2 minutes). KQED pays an honorarium of $65 per Perspective commentary. For the full description of Perspectives and guideline for submissions see: http://www.kqed.org/programs/radio/perspectives/submissions-perspectives.jsp. Audio archives are available at: http://www.kqed.org/programs/program-landing-local.jsp?progID=RD62. If you have questions about submitting a “perspective” radio essay, contact Perspectives editor Mark Trautwein at mtrautwein@kqed.org or call (415) 553-2108. You may fax the draft of your script to Mark Trautwein at (415) 553-2241 or email him.

RELATED WEBSITE: The Music Technology Program at New York University has a webpage that explains the use of audio content on the web (role of audio, audio as an interface to the computer, techniques, future audio). Instructors and students who are interested in the topic might want to visit this site: http://www.noisebetweenstations.com/personal/essays/audio_on_the_internet/. Sample student radio essays. Professor Jeff Porter of University of Iowa has a syllabus online focusing of teaching multimedia writing called “Radio Essays.” He teaches the composition and editing of audio essays in the following genres: monologues, narratives, interviews, and documentaries. His syllabus is available at http://twist.lib.uiowa.edu/radio/syllabus.html. His student radio essays in all four genres are also available at: http://twist.lib.uiowa.edu/radio/radio.html. Advice on writing a personal essay. See Lois J. Peterson “Having Your Say—Writing Personal Essays.” Peterson provides prospective writers with practical advice in writing the personal essay in radio and in print. http://www.poewar.com/articles/essaywriting.htm.

Access SF Open Mic. Access San Francisco is San Francisco’s public access television airing on Cable Channel 29. It is operated by a nonprofit group, San Francisco Community Television Corporation. Its “Open Mic” series airs on the 1st & 3rd Thursday of every month at 5:30pm.
Just about anyone can have a few minutes to do or say just about anything LIVE from the Access SF studio. For those interested in television broadcast, this series offers students an opportunity to read personal essays or opinion pieces. For more information or to appear in the “Open Mic” series call 415-575-4941 or drop in to the Access SF studio at 1720 Market St., San Francisco. Access SF also offers internships for people who want experience in video production. For information on internships, call: 415-575-4949. Website address for Access SF is http://www.sfctc.org/index.htm.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND GRANTS AT STANFORD

Public Service Scholars Program (PSSP). The Public Service Scholars Program is a way to connect public service with your academic work and research interests through a senior honors thesis. The PSSP is committed to supporting students in the development of a thesis that meets high standards of academic rigor and also wants to support students who will make the results of the thesis useful to a specific community or organization, or available to serve the public interest. Students from all majors are encouraged to consider this opportunity. Questions? Email Sheryl Linsky (slinsky@stanford) or visit on-line at: http://haas.stanford.edu.

Undergraduate Research Programs Office (URP). Contact Brian Thomas or Renee Courey about undergraduate research grants ($500-$3000) and research opportunities available: bthomas@stanford.edu and rcourney@stanford.edu. Contact Hilton Obenzinger if you wish to discuss the Honors Senior Thesis program or apply for the Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships. He can also provide you with information about the type of financial support available (this is particularly useful when you’re deciding upon a major): obenzinger@stanford.edu. Visit the website for more information: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/undergrad/urp/.

If you have suggestions for journals or programs to add to this list or corrections, please contact Sohui Lee (sohui@stanford.edu) or Alyssa O’Brien (aobrien@stanford.edu).