SLW News is soliciting articles on second language writing theory, research, and pedagogy in all ESL/EFL settings.

SLW News welcomes articles that focus on L2 writers’ characteristics and features of L2 texts, classroom materials and practices, placement and assessment issues, writing program administration, teacher development, and other areas. SLW News encourages submissions related to any educational setting, especially traditionally underrepresented contexts (pre-K through 12, 2-year colleges, community programs, international K-12 schools, etc.). In light of the newsletter’s electronic format, authors are encouraged to include hyperlinks.

Deadlines

30 June for the August/September issue and 31 December for the February issue.

General Submission Guidelines

Articles should

• be no longer than 1,500 words
• include a 50-word (maximum 500 characters) abstract and a two- to three-sentence author biography
• contain no more than five citations
• follow the style guidelines in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition (APA style)
• be in MS Word (.doc (x)) or rich text (.rtf) format

All tables, graphs, and other images should be submitted as separate jpg files. Please direct your submissions and questions to

Margi Wald, SLW News Managing Editor

Please use “SLW News Submission” in the subject line of your email. See below for more information concerning book reviews and submissions related to specific topics and contexts.

Book Review Policy

SLW News welcomes reviews of teacher resource books and student textbooks dealing with second language writing, teaching, research, and administration. Anyone interested in writing a review for SLW News may choose a recently published book in the field and contact Book Reviews Editor Steven Bookman for approval and review copies. Reviews will be chosen based on the quality of the reviewer’s evaluation and description of the book, and the book’s relevance and importance to the field.

Reviews should

• be in APA format
• be 600-900 words in length
• include a 50-word (maximum 500 characters) abstract and a two- to three-sentence author biography

Further information and book review suggestions are available from Steven Bookman, book reviews editor.

CALL Submissions

SLW News welcomes CALL-related articles, announcements, reports, and reviews in the following categories:

• Software/hardware (e.g., organizing systems or integrating software/hardware in learning environments to enhance writing instruction, assessment, or program evaluation)
• Materials design (e.g., using software such as Flash or MonoConc to design language-learning activities or materials that address specific language-learning goals, including discovery activities, practice exercises, storybooks, quizzes, or games)
• Curriculum design (e.g., using course management software such as Blackboard or eCollege to design e-courses, e-programs, or hybrids for second language writing)
• Applied writing research (e.g., writing computer programs to identify lexicogrammatical features, discourse patterns, or errors/learner variation in writing, i.e., corpus linguistics).

Submissions should follow the general guidelines listed above. Further information is available from Catherine Smith, associate editor.

EFL Submissions

SLW News welcomes both short and long submissions focusing on EFL contexts.

Topics for short submissions (under 500 words) include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Statements of instructional problems
• Classroom tips that worked
• Resources and how to integrate them in classroom instruction
• A recent article review

Topics for longer submissions (up to 1,200 words) include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Summary of research
• Literature review with pedagogical implications
• Book review
• Lesson plans
• Handouts and activity sheets
• Proposed joint research projects

In order to ensure diversity of interest and coverage of as many areas as possible of instruction in the field of EFL writing, SLW News encourages submissions on the following themes:

• University writing classrooms
• PreK-12 writing instruction
• Learner communities in the writing classroom
• Computers and the Internet in the writing classroom
• Writing for tests (TOEFL and IELTS)
• Technical writing as a booming genre in the EFL context
• EFL writing instructors’ professional development

Submissions should follow the general guidelines listed above. Please direct questions to Lilian W. Mina, associate editor.

Submissions Focusing on 4-Year, Private Liberal-Arts Colleges and Universities

SLW News welcomes articles, brief reports, and information of interest to those working in 4-year, private liberal-arts university settings. Possible topics include research, pertinent teaching experiences, lesson plans, and observations on relevant issues and trends.

Submissions should follow the general guidelines listed above. Please direct questions to Marian Woyciehowicz Gonsior, associate editor.