Guides For Authors
Articles should be typed, double-spaced, and should fall between 5,000 and 10,000 words.
Articles should be submitted in Microsoft Word.
Articles should be submitted electronically to Alif’s e-mail: alifecl@aucegypt.edu
Along with the article, submit a 100-word abstract of the article in English and Arabic (either language will suffice if you do not know the other language).
Also submit a brief 50-word contributor's note in English and Arabic (either language will suffice if you do not know the other language).
Citation Instructions
Please consult MLA Handbook 8th edition. Examples below are from this edition.
I. In-text citations:
For references inside the article, use parenthetical citations:
Work by less than three authors:
(Dorris and Erdrich 23)
Work by three or more authors:
(Burdick et al. 45)
Author with more than one work:
(Jacobs, The Pleasures [short title] 23)
Work published online:
(Chan [author])
II. Works Cited:
Be sure to include full bibliographic information for each Works Cited entry, paying special attention to punctuation:
Book by less than 3 authors:
Jacobs, Alan. The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction. Oxford UP, 2011.
Book by 3 or more authors:
Burdick, Anne, et al. Digital Humanities. MIT P, 2012.
Edited book by less than 3 editors:
Holland, Merlin, and Rupert Hart-Davis, editors. The Complete Letters of Oscar Wilde. Henry Holt, 2000.
Edited book by 3 or more editors:
Baron, Sabrina Alcorn, et al., editors. Agent of Change: Print Culture Studies after Elizabeth L. Eisenstein. U of Massachusetts P/Center for the Book, Library of Congress, 2007.
Translated book:
Neruda, Pablo. Canto General. Translated by Jack Schmitt, U of California P, 1991.
Dissertation:
Njus, Jesse. Performing the Passion: A Study on the Nature of Medieval Acting. 2010. Northwestern U, PhD dissertation.
Chapter in a book:
Dewar, James A., and Peng Hwa Ang. "The Cultural Consequences of Printing and the Internet." Agent of Change: Print Culture Studies after Elizabeth L. Eisenstein, edited by Sabrina Alcorn Baron et al., U of Massachusetts P/Center for the Book, Library of Congress, 2007, pp. 365-77.
Article published in a journal/periodical:
Baron, Naomi S. "Redefining Reading: The Impact of Digital Communication Media." PMLA, vol. 128, no. l, Jan. 2013, pp. 193-200.
Lecture address, conference talk, or presentation:
Atwood, Margaret. “Silencing the Scream.” Boundaries of the Imagination Forum. MLA Annual Convention, 29 Dec. 1993, Royal York Hotel, Toronto.
Electronic/online sources:
When using an electronic source form the internet, copy the URL in full from your web browser and omit http:// or https://. Try to provide the DOI or Permalink if possible.
Article published on an online journal/periodical:
Chan, Evans. "Postmodernism and Hong Kong Cinema." Postmodern Culture, vol. 10, no. 3, May 2000. Project Muse, doi:10.1353/pmc.2000.0021.
Article posted on a website:
Hollmichel, Stefanie. "The Reading Brain: Differences between Digital and Print." So Many Books, 25 Apr. 2013, somanybooksblog.com/2013/04/25/the-readingbrain-differences-between-digital-and-print/.
Audio/visual sources:
If a source such as a film, television episode, or performance has many contributors, include the ones most relevant to your project, stating their role after their name(s).
Film:
Kuzui, Fran Rubel, director. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Twentieth Century Fox, 1992.
Live performance:
Lefevre, Robin, director. Heartbreak House. By George Bernard Shaw, performances by Philip Bosco and Swoosie Kurtz, Roundabout Theatre Company, 1 Oct. 2006, American Airlines Theatre, New York.
TV episode:
“Hush.” Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whendon, performance by Sarah Michelle Gellar, season 4, episode 10, Mutant Enemy, 1999.
Radio program:
Chang, Ailsa, host. “Why Scientists Can’t Explain All the Appeal of an Eclipse.” Morning Edition, NPR, 11 Aug. 2017. NPR, www.npr.org/2017/08/11/542753070/scientists-can-t-explain-all-the-appeal-of-an-eclipse.
Video on a website:
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Unaired Pilot 1996." YouTube, uploaded by Brian Stowe, 28 Jan. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR3J-v7QXXw.
III. Endnotes:
should be restricted to additional non-bibliographic information only and should be typed as text (that is, do NOT use automatic computer electronic footnote facilities).
Inquiries should be addressed by email to alifecl@aucegypt.edu.