FAQ

The following are questions the editor at the research journal is commonly asked.

• Why submit to the Journal?
• Who can submit to the Journal?
• How do I submit my work?
• Can I have a co-author for my work?
• When is the deadline for Volume II Issue 1?
• May I request an extension for submitting my paper?
• What are the selection criteria?
• How will I know if my work has been accepted?
• I don't know how to cite a source. Where can I get information about citing sources?
• Can I make revisions to my work after it has been submitted?
• My mentor would like to submit our paper to a professional journal. May I still publish in the URJ-NCSU?
• In general may I submit to the URJ-NCSU and to any other journal?
• I would like to serve as an editor. How do I join the Student Editorial Board?
• Where do the hard copies of the Journal get distributed?

Why submit to the Journal?

The presence of an undergraduate research journal on campus reinforces NC State's status as a major research university. Students who go through the process of research—from drafting ideas to publication—prepare themselves for more advanced research at the graduate and professoriate level. The Journal is student-run, so while undergraduate authors get a chance to publish, the staff gets the opportunity to compile and to create each issue.

Who can submit to the Journal?

Any student who has completed mentored undergraduate research can submit to the URJ-NCSU. The work must be approved by the faculty mentor prior to submission. Any student is eligible to write a science news report for his or her discipline or submit creative works such as fiction.

How do I submit my work?

Submissions are best made via email. The text should be in a word document containing the title page and manuscript body. All graphics and should be high reslution to ensure quality printing and should either appear in the document or contain instructions as to where in the document they should be placed.

Can I have a co-author for my work?

Yes. In fact, most papers do. The co-authors may be fellow undergraduates, graduate students, or the faculty mentor.

When is the deadline for Volume II?

The deadline for the next volume is October 1, 2009.

May I request an extension for submitting my paper?

Accomodations can be made for late submissions. If you would like to submit your paper after the deadline, please contact the editor in advance so that a schedule for editing your paper may be set up.

What are the selection criteria?

The URJ-NCSU aims to publish the best of undergraduate research in each issue. We bring different standards to bear on each of the sections of the Journal.

• Science News Reports: These reports are intended to provide updates on new ideas and technologies in science departments. We look for reports that illuminate the current directions of research in a particular department. This section is new, so the authors considering to write for this section are encouraged to consult with the editor(s) about an idea for a draft as soon as possible. Please consult the Submission Guidelines.
• Feature Stories: This section is particularly aimed at an interdisciplinary audience, and accordingly, it is expected that the article should convey the subject matter as clearly as possible and keep terminology to a minimum. Moreover, the author is not constrained by the traditional structure of a research paper, i.e. abstract, introduction, materials and methods, etc. Editors also look for feature stories that discuss topics pertinent to the student body or to the public at large. If you would like to see your paper printed as a feature story but are unsure how to change the format from a research paper to a feature story, please contact the editor(s), and they will be happy to provide assistance in turning the paper into a feature story.
• Research Papers: These, of course, vary in both content and form across disciplines. Nevertheless, the editors read each submission first for both substance and clarity. We ask if the paper poses a research question that is investigated with both data and argument. We see if the author arrives at valid conclusions given the data and evidence presented. For a statement of expectations on each piece of a research paper, see the suggestions for the structure of a research paper page. Research papers are evaluated specifically according these criteria.

How will I know if my work has been accepted?

You will be notified via email that your paper has been accepted for publication.

I don't know how to cite a source. Where can I get information about citing sources?

Information on the two style guides (APA and CBE) the Journal follows can be found on the submissions page. Examples of common types of citations are provided in a link on that page.

Can I make revisions to my work after it has been submitted?

Since research is an ongoing process, revisions to the work can certainly be made after submission. Substantial revisions, though, may turn out not to be possible if there is insufficient time to make the change.

My mentor would like to submit our paper to a professional journal. May I still publish in the URJ-NCSU?

Yes. The author retains full copyright over the work, so there will be no problem in publishing in another journal. If you think there may be a conflict between publishing your article in a professional journal and our Journal, we encourage you to summarize your work in a feature story. This allows you to publish the more detailed paper in the professional Journal.

In general may I submit to the URJ-NCSU and to any other journal?

Yes. The author retains full copyright over the work.

I would like to serve as an editor. How do I join the Student Editorial Board?

URJ-NCSU would be pleased for you to edit any article of your choosing. Please contact the editor-in-chief to see what submissions have been made. An editor is responsible for providing commentary and review on an article. All editing is done in conjunction with other editors and the editor-in-chief. On and off-campus faculty may need be consulted for verification of facts or validation of reasoning.

Where do the hard copies of the Journal get distributed?

The Journal is distributed to the student body, faculty, and administrators.