Writing Guidelines

1. Elements of the Entry

Each entry will contain six elements: a) a headword/title, b) the author's name, affiliation, and e-mail address, c) a word count including the main text, the cross-reference list, and the reference section d) the main text, e) a list of cross references (listed as See also), and f) a set of references and suggested readings. These elements will appear in this order:

Metatheory

George Ritzer
University of Maryland
ritzer@socy.umd.edu

Word Count: 2000

Main text

SEE ALSO

REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS

2. Contents of the Entry

Each entry should be designed around a pyramid structure in which an overview of the subject is followed by greater detail. Begin the entry with a clear definition of the concept or introduction to the topic. The reader should be able to assess the significance and importance of the entry within the first two sentences. While not all of the following need necessarily be covered in all entries, the entry could include:

• the topic's intellectual and social context.
• major dimensions of the topic.
• changes over time in the topic and its treatment.
• current emphases in work on the topic in research and theory.
• methodological issues and/or problems associated with the topic.
• future directions in research, theory, and methodology.

If you are writing an entry on a person, we ask that you include the birth and death years of this figure. These can be placed in brackets the first time that the person's name is used. As with entries on sociological concepts and topics, the entries on figures should begin with a one or two sentence description of the significance and importance of the person to the history of sociology. Include both biographical information and information on the contributions that this figure has made to the discipline of sociology. Here is a short list of some materials that the entry could include:

• personal history- birth, death, milestones
• intellectual and social context
• major substantive contributions
• relevance to the history of contemporary sociology

3. Highlighting Material

If you wish to emphasize particular terms or phrases do so in italics . Italics should also be used for highlighting book titles.

4. Headings

For longer entries, include subheadings to help organize the material. We recommend that you use the following examples, but the important thing is to be consistent.

Heading 1:
Centered Uppercase and Lowercase Heading

Heading 2:
Flush Left, Uppercase and Lowercase

Heading 3:
Flush Left, Italicised Uppercase and Lowercase

Heading 4:
      Indented, Uppercase and Lowercase

Avoid using headings in shorter entries.

5. Artwork: Tables, Figures and Equations

Tables
All tables should be set as part of the text. Set them as they should appear in the printed version. Do not style headings, but use italics where you want to emphasize. Use tab (not the space bar) to align columns. For example:

Table 1.2		Money spent on social science research in 000's of $
State		1990	1991	1992	1993
Vermont		12	12	12	12
Washington		15	15	15	15

Source: Smith, W. S., Money Well Spent?

• Use initial caps and lowercase in the table title.
• Place the table source and credit line immediately below the closing rule of the table, above the footnotes. Table footnotes should appear below each table. Use superscript a, b, c rather than 1, 2, 3 or symbols (see the sample table).

Figures
The term figures includes line drawings (sketches, graphs, and flowcharts) and halftones (photographs, radiographs, x-rays and screenshots). Please submit your figures to the website as separate digital files. These files can be uploaded to the Encyclopedia database as "artwork" (see "submitting your entry"). Please supply printouts of ALL electronic artwork on single-sided paper and at the size they are saved electronically. This acts as a recognition copy so Blackwell knows what the file should look like. In addition, if we cannot use the file, we will still be able to scan from the hard copy. Please send this hard copy to the managing editor who has been assigned to your area. Note that Blackwell prefers to receive figures in digital form because, if done properly, working with digital images enables us to produce the book faster and at a lower cost. Blackwell prefers that all electronic picture files be submitted as TIFF files, at 300 dpi. You should always keep high-quality copies of the images you submit regardless of whether they are digital files or originals.

Number figures consecutively within each chapter using the decimal method (Figure 1.1, Figure 1.2, Figure 2.1, Figure 2.2, etc.). Each figure should be cited within the text in parentheses, e.g. (Fig. 2.1). Provide a caption for each figure. Please indicate where each figure should be placed within a chapter by including a note or slug line. For example, type "Fig. 1.1 here" where you want the figure to go in your entry, typically immediately after the paragraph in which the figure is first mentioned.

Captions should go at the end of the submitted entry.

If required, further instructions can be found at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/authors/author.pdf

Equations
Where ever possible equations should be set as part of the text. They should be set as they will appear in the printed version. If equations can be written without the use of specific software please do so. For example:

a + b = c
d + e = f
Where d¹ is equal to t^-1

Number only the math equations that are referred to in the text. The chapter number should come first, followed by a period, and then in sequence from one and placed in parentheses to the right of the formula.

EXAMPLE:
	a + b = c		(1.1)
	d + e = f		(1.2)

6. Cross-references

Each entry should include a list of five to ten cross references to other Encyclopedia of Sociology entries that will complement your entry. These will be placed at the end of your entry before the “references and suggested readings” heading. Cross references can be chosen from the list of headwords on the Encyclopedia of Sociology website. The cross references will be listed alphabetically (in the case of a person, by last name) in the following way:

SEE ALSO: Anomie, Collective Conscience, Durkheim, Émile, Parsons, Talcott, Structural Functionalism

7. References and Suggested Readings

After your list of cross references add a heading "References and Suggested Readings." In this section you will list alphabetically (by author's name) texts that you have referenced (see next section for more specific instructions on what to reference) and those that you recommend as further readings.

For the purposes of the Encyclopedia of Sociology you are only required to include references to those books and essays from which you directly quote. This said, we do request that you avoid especially lengthy quotations. Indeed, it would be best if there were no quotations. Also, it is not necessary to reference all books mentioned in the text, as long as you provide information about the author and publication date in the main body of your text.

For example, if you write: "Anthony Giddens' (1986) develops his theory of structuration in The Constitution of Society" it is not necessary for you to include this as a reference. If, however, you find it absolutely necessary to quote from that book it is necessary to include it in the references section.

The "references and suggested readings" section should also be treated as a place to include the names of books and articles that are not mentioned in your text, but would serve as additional resources on your entry topic.

The total number of references and suggested readings will vary with the length of your text. As a general rule:

Under 2000 word entries should have 5-10 references
Over 2000 word entries should have 5-20 references

For instructions on reference style see the Style Guide

8. Permissions

Avoid use of previously published written material, including especially lengthy quotations. In cases where quotations, poetry, song lyrics are used follow "fair use" doctrine.

For figures, we have two types of requirements, depending on the type of figure:

Previously published line drawings, tables, graphs, charts, and cartoons will need to have their permissions cleared and paid for by contributors themselves (on behalf of the Editor, or under agreement with the Editor), and the permission correspondence must be submitted with the material to Blackwell.

Halftones, however, will have their permissions cleared and paid for by Blackwell. For these Blackwell simply requires the photograph itself (in suitable condition), and full disclosure of the copyright holder of the material so we can process the permission request and grant.

For more information, and for correspondence templates for permissions clearances, visit this website:

http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/authors/permission.asp