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Call for Contributors:
_Introduction to American Studies_
Summary and Purpose of Book
The purpose of the book is to promote understanding of various aspects of American society in a book that would fit into three book categories roughly corresponding to gGeneral Education,h gGeneral Knowledge,h and gGeneral Introduction.h The writers will be specialists from their respective fields, and will have at least five years of research and teaching experience, an excellent publication record, experience in teaching introductory courses, or will have comparable qualifications. However, depending on the topic, we will also honor practical experience in some cases. In that case, persons with more than five years of experience or possessing similar qualifications may be candidates. In summary, persons familiar with cutting-edge research in their respective areas will use simple, jargon-free language to write an introductory book concerning research on America designed for the non-specialist reader.
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_Introduction to American Studies_
Edited by Yoneyuki Sugita
Publisher: University Education Press (http://www.kyoiku.co.jp/)
Number of Manuscript Pages: Under 550 pages (Approximately 220,000 characters in Japanese)
Readership: For Non-American University Students and the General Public
Publishing Format:
A5 page size; length set at 240 pages
First Edition 2000 copies with bound-in supplement (CD included)
Proposed Price 2000-2500 yen
Terms and Conditions
Completed Manuscript (FD{copies) must be submitted.
Royalties: 10%
Schedule:,br>
Manuscript to be completed by end of January, 2005
First Proofreading: End of February
Proposed Publication: End of April
Summary and Purpose of Book
The purpose of the book is to promote understanding of various aspects of American society in a book that would fit into three book categories roughly corresponding to gGeneral Education,h gGeneral Knowledge,h and gGeneral Introduction.h The writers will be specialists from their respective fields, and will have at least five years of research and teaching experience, an excellent publication record, experience in teaching introductory courses, or will have comparable qualifications. However, depending on the topic, we will also honor practical experience in some cases. In that case, persons with more than five years of experience or possessing similar qualifications may be candidates. In summary, persons familiar with cutting-edge research in their respective areas will use simple, jargon-free language to write an introductory book concerning research on America designed for the non-specialist reader.
Taking advantage of the proliferation of the Internet, one book will yield the same benefit as two books. Statistics, maps, graphs, photographs, famous speeches, and other primary sources, along with video, detailed commentaries, and a bibliography of important related works will all be published on a related website. In this way, the contents of the web page will supplement explanations contained in the book, which will be restricted to the written word. While the book will have length limitations, the web page will be almost limitless in its capacity. Thus, we plan to include a rich array of online materials, and update those materials as much as possible. In the past, most introductory texts on America-related research were written on a piecemeal basis by Japanese researchers; the number of researchers really able to create an introductory text on American research was extremely limited. (This may have something to do with the education provided in graduate departments in Japanese universities.) Most introductory texts on America have tended to be written by the same few authors. For our proposed book, we will invite participation from Americanists who are not only Americans, but who come from all over the world.
In the process of research publication in Japan, researchers have until now generally decided the content of their contributions. As a result, the subsequent manuscripts have been difficult to refuse even if they were not necessarily considered ideal. However, we will first make clear the chapter structure of the book along with the nature of the manuscript desired by the editor, and will choose manuscripts based on these editorial principles. In other words, we will employ a system that incorporates both public solicitation of manuscripts as well as a committee review. Then, keeping our editorial principles in mind, we will carefully select only manuscripts with superior content. Beginning from the manuscript solicitation stage, we will make very clear to prospective authors our editorial policy along with what is expected in each chapter. Thus, rather than a ggrab-bagh introductory text, we will create something with a high level of consistency.
The submitted manuscripts will be written in either English or Japanese. In the case where an English manuscript is submitted, the English version will be posted on the website and the Japanese version published. Translations will be arranged by the editor.
Chapter Structure
Introduction
Basic knowledge about America: holidays, distinguishing features of various states, the American flag, the National anthem, etc. 10 pages
- Basic knowledge about American Geography (20 pages)
- Basic knowledge about American Politics (40 pages)
- Basic knowledge about the American Economy (40 pages)
- Basic knowledge about Finance in America (20 pages)
- Basic knowledge about American Diplomacy (40 pages)
- Basic knowledge about American Education (25 pages)
- Basic knowledge about American History (40 pages)
- Basic knowledge about American Literature (30 pages)
- Basic knowledge about Religion in America (35 pages)
- Basic knowledge about Gender, Class, and Ethnicity in America (40 pages)
- Basic knowledge about American Health Care (35 pages)
- Basic knowledge about the History of American Political Parties (30 pages)
- Basic knowledge about the American Judicial System (30 pages)
- Basic knowledge about American Popular Culture (20 pages)
- Basic knowledge about American Nationalism (20 pages)
- Basic knowledge about the IT Revolution in America (25 pages)
- Basic knowledge about Japan-America Relations (30 pages)
(Other possible subjects)
- American holidays, flags, national anthem, etc.
- If you have any other suggested topic, please let us know.
Editorial Principles
Please take as a basic premise the fact that the bookfs target readers will be Japanese or non-American. The book will include some information that might be considered common knowledge to Americans.
Readers will be Japanese (non-Americans). Please take it into consideration that gcommon senseh or ggeneral knowledgeh for Americans may not necessarily be so for Japanese readers.
Please provide an overview of the topic given rather than focusing on a small sub-topic.
As a rule of thumb, please think of yourself as writing something part encyclopedia entry, and part introduction to cutting edge research. Like an encyclopedia entry, please cover in an encompassing way all important points concerning your topic. Introduce recent research trends concerning the topic, and further develop the discussion from your own angle.
Please discuss in detail different interpretations about a given point or different views concerning problems of historiography. (The explanatory notes will be posted on the web page and will not be subject to the same length restrictions applied to the main document.)
In principle, the main document will contain only text. However, explanatory notes, images, graphs, statistical materials, web page materials, historiographical notes, and related bibliography are all welcomed, and will not be subject to length restrictions.
Please provide related links, giving the URL and two or three lines of explanation. For each chapter, a gSelected 50 Linksh is necessary.
Please think of your mandate as gintroducing the most advanced research in the simplest possible language.h Please avoid jargon.
Writers will first create a summary of their manuscript and discuss it with the editor. Further detailed instructions concerning editorial policy as it concerns each chapter will be given. Please write your manuscript after receiving approval from the editor.
After candidate authors submit their manuscripts, the manuscripts will all be peer-reviewed several times. After reading the peer review report, the publisher and editor will confer to make the final selection of authors.
Conditions for Author Candidacy
The writers will be specialists from their respective fields, and will have at least five years of research and teaching experience, an excellent publication record, experience in teaching introductory courses, or will have comparable qualifications.
Depending on the topic, in some instances we will also honor practical experience. In that case, persons with more than five years of experience or possessing similar qualifications may be candidates.
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