Guidelines for Preparing Manuscripts for Discussion Papers and Special Reports

To facilitate our publication of papers in printed form and on the Internet, we are asking that authors (who must be an IRP affiliate) adhere to the following guidelines when preparing and submitting manuscripts for the IRP Discussion Paper or Special Report series.

Manuscripts are most easily processed if they arrive as electronic files, one each for text, tables, and figures. We would prefer that the text be in Word or WordPerfect format, although we can also handle other common word processing files. Tables, also, can be generated in Word or WordPerfect, or in popular spreadsheet formats such as Excel. Figures should be produced with a commonly used spreadsheet program (Excel or Quattro Pro) or presentation application (PowerPoint or Presentations) so that the IRP technical typist can modify the figure files if necessary. Please do not embed tables or figures in the text file of your manuscript. Also, please generate equations directly in the text file. Using the "equation" feature in WordPerfect or Word is fine, but do not import equations into your text from totally separate word processing or graphics applications.

The text file should begin with a page that includes the title, authors and their institutional affiliations, acknowledgments, and an appropriate recognition of funding sources (including specific language and grant numbers if requested by the funding agency). If your funding agency requires a review before publication, please send a copy of the manuscript to the agency's contact person for approval before submitting the manuscript as a potential IRP discussion paper.

Also on the title page, please list e-mail addresses for all the authors who may be contacted regarding the research. Although published discussion papers include only institutional affiliations and e-mail addresses for the authors, we do need complete mailing addresses for all authors; please include mailing addresses on the title page or in a cover letter to the editor.

The text file should also include an abstract, 150 to 200 words, describing the study and summarizing the results.

If you would like your references to be kept in the style used in your manuscript, please let the editor know; otherwise they will appear in the standard style for discussion papers.

Please supply up to 5 key words, so that we may appropriately index your paper in the IRP database.

The easiest way to submit a discussion paper is to attach text file, table file, and figure file to an e-mail message to Deborah Johnson (djohnson@ssc.wisc.edu). If there is a problem with the transmitted files, the author(s) will be notified by e-mail. Alternatively, manuscripts may be sent on an IBM-formatted disk containing the appropriate files, along with a printed version of the manuscript and a cover letter, to:

Deborah Johnson
Discussion Paper Editor
Institute for Research on Poverty
3442 Social Science Bldg.
1180 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706.

A revised version of the manuscript will be sent to the author(s) for response to any queries and for final approval.

Once the text, figures, and tables of your paper have been formatted and edited, you are welcome to the final version of the electronic files. Please send an e-mail request to Dawn Duren (duren@ssc.wisc.edu).

Finally, because discussion papers are often later submitted for publication, we would like to know if and when your discussion paper is published in a journal or a book. Please send the citation by e-mail to Deborah Johnson (djohnson@ssc.wisc.edu).

Please note: Authors have three options for the level of editing of their discussion paper and special report manuscripts.

1. No editing

1. The paper is accepted or rejected for the DP series on the basis of a quick editorial reading. Any recommendation for rejection will be reviewed by the Director (rejection is extremely rare, and usually on the ground that the paper is not really poverty-related).
2. Author provides a usable PDF file of text, tables, and figures, and also provides an abstract, preferably in electronic form. Steps a and b can be combined if authors provide a version for review that is also suitable for paper reproduction.
3. The manuscript is printed and posted on the IRP Web site directly from the PDF file, with a cover and abstract prepared by IRP's technical typist.

This option provides for the quickest possible production of a DP manuscript.

2. Light edit, at author's request

Editor will read for the following:

1. consistency in spelling, capitalization, use of numbers;
2. correct text references to figures and tables;
3. consistency between the text citations and the reference list;
4. grammar.

In the light edit, either the author or IRP's technical typist prepares the final version (this is the author's choice).

3. A thorough edit, at author's request

A thorough edit includes everything done in a light edit, plus:

1. stylistic suggestions, suggestions regarding logical organization and structure, and the use, placement, and uniform treatment of headings;
2. spot-check of figures and tables, and careful comparison with text discussions;
3. careful check of references for consistency and correct styling, in whatever format the author requests;
4. reformatting and production of the final camera-ready copy by Dawn, if requested.

A thorough edit is the most time-consuming option.