General Guidelines
Working Papers in Second Language Studies accepts submissions of the following types of papers:
- Research articles
- Literature reviews
- Position papers
- Research proposals
- Research in progress
- Teaching issues in focus (new!)
- Research issues in focus (new!)
- Book, resource, and pedagogical material reviews
- Interviews with scholars
All submissions should:
- be anonymized, with any identifying information removed from the body of the text and the document properties
- not have been previously published nor be under review for consideration in another journal or venue
- be in word processor format (e.g., Microsoft Word document)
- follow APA 7 guidelines
- provide DOI URLs for references wherever possible
- clearly indicate the submission type (i.e., research article, position paper, teaching issue in focus, etc.) in a cover letter or in the email to the co-editors
- include a separate cover sheet with the title of the paper, a 150-word abstract, 4-6 keywords, and the full name, institutional affiliation, email address, ORCID (if applicable), and a 50-word bio statement for all authors
Please email all submissions to the co-editors: Carlo Cinaglia (cinaglia@msu.edu) and Vashti Wai Yu Lee (leevasht@msu.edu).
Specific Guidelines
Research Articles
Research articles report on empirical studies relating to second language studies or applied linguistics that are completed. These papers typically include the following sections: abstract (150 words or less), keywords, introduction, literature review, methodology (including context, participants, materials, data collection and analysis procedures), findings/results, discussion, limitations and future directions, conclusion, references, and appendices (if applicable). Research articles should be approximately 7000-8500 words in length.
Literature reviews
Literature reviews should consist of a comprehensive and current discussion of a particular area of scholarship within second language studies or applied linguistics that identifies important questions and potential gaps upon which future research can be based. These papers should be approximately 3000-6000 words in length.
Position papers
Position papers should include an informed opinion toward an important issue in the field of second language studies or applied linguistics and be based on empirical evidence and a comprehensive review of relevant and current literature. These papers should be approximately 3000-6000 words in length.
Research proposals
Research proposals should articulate a justified approach to empirically investigating a specific research question based on relevant previous scholarship in second language studies or applied linguistics. Proposals should include an introduction, literature review, methodology (including potential context, participants, materials, data collection and analysis procedures), anticipated results/findings, and brief discussion of the proposed project’s contribution to the larger body of scholarship. These papers should be approximately 3000-6000 words in length.
Research in progress
Research in progress papers report on empirical studies that are in progress (i.e., with at least some preliminary results to report). These papers typically include the same sections as research articles (see above) but may be shorter. These papers should be approximately 3000-6000 words in length.
Teaching issues in focus
Teaching issues in focus should address pedagogical implications related to aspects of additional language and multilingual education, including language and language learning, language learner/teacher development, and the interpretation and enactment of language curricula and language (in) education policies. While teaching issues in focus can be based on the results of empirical research and should include a clear theory-practice connection, the main emphasis should be on applications to pedagogy. Authors should articulate the importance of the particular aspect in focus for readers. Teaching issues in focus should be approximately 3000 words in length.
Research issues in focus
Research issues in focus should report on theoretical, analytical, or technical aspects of conducting research in second language studies and applied linguistics. Rather than reporting on the results of an empirical study, research issues in focus should highlight methods, techniques, or instrumentation related to research design, data collection and analysis, and/or reporting practices. Authors should articulate the importance of the particular aspect in focus for readers. Research issues in focus should be approximately 3000 words in length.
Book, resource, and pedagogical material reviews
Reviews should be approximately 1500 words in length and can focus on books, teaching materials, research tools, or software published or created in the last five years that are relevant to the field of second language studies or applied linguistics. Reviews should include both a summary/description of the resource as well as a critique or commentary of the resource’s use. For example, reviews should both (a) describe the objective of the resource or work and its contents and (b) comment on the strengths and potential limitations of the resource or work, including applications of the resource in specific contexts, appropriateness for its intended audiences, success in achieving its objectives, overall clarity and usefulness, etc.
Interviews with scholars
Interviews must be pre-approved by the co-editors before they are conducted and a summary report is submitted for consideration. Authors interested in submitting an interview report should email the current co-editors with a proposed interviewee, a list of potential topics and questions to guide the interview, and a description of their plan for contacting the interviewee and conducting the interview. Potential topics might include the interviewee’s work, how they became involved in second language studies or applied linguistics, issues and challenges facing the field today and in the future, how the field has developed over time, advice on conducting research or teaching, among others. The interview can take place in person or online and can be recorded as long as the interviewee provides consent. Following the interview, authors should write a summary of approximately 1500 words. Rather than include a transcript verbatim, authors should report on key excerpts and quotations from the interview and provide additional commentary where appropriate. All interview summaries should be reviewed and approved by the interviewee before being submitted.