Journal of College Reading and Learning  

The Journal of College Reading and Learning (JCRL), published in fall and spring, is a national, peer reviewed forum for the theory, research, and policy related to reading improvement and learning assistance at the two-and four-year college level. It publishes reports of original research and articles linking theory, research, or policy to practice.

Sample JCRL Table of Contents

Invitation to Authors

In addition to publishing investigations of the reading, writing, thinking, and studying of college learners, JCRL will give primary consideration to scholarship that:

• Investigates effective teaching strategies and instructional models;
• Explores learning support for culturally and linguistically diverse student populations;
• Evaluates or analyzes developmental and learning assistance programs;
• Examines the integration of new media and technology with teaching and learning.

Manuscript Preparation: Feature Articles

Feature articles include theoretical analyses and reports of original research. All articles should connect theory, research, and practice.

Submissions are evaluated along the following criteria:

• Relevance and importance to JCRL readers

• Adequacy of conceptual framework

• Appropriateness and competence of method

• Reasonableness of interpretations and conclusions

• Links between theory, research, or policy and practice

• Clarity of organization and vigor of style

• Originality of contribution

A manuscript must follow the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, (APA) 6th edition. It should be about 2,500 to 6,000 words in length, including references and an abstract of 100 to 125 words. Authors should check all references for accuracy and obtain written permission to use copyrighted material or to quote over 100 words.

Manuscript Preparation: JCRL Forum

This new section features shorter articles less than 2,500 words in length. Appropriate topics are specific examples of theoretically based, research-supported practice, action research, critical reviews of recent scholarly publications in the field, cultural analysis and policy analysis. The manuscript submitted for this section must follow APA style as well, but need not include an abstract.

Writing Style

JCRL follows the writing style recommendations of Chapters 2 and 3 in the APA 6^th edition. Manuscripts should be written for clarity, so that implications are comprehensible to practitioners as well as to researchers.

Manuscript Submission

Two copies of the manuscript should be submitted as file attachments to an email message. One copy should include the cover page and author information and one copy (for review) should have no cover page or author information. If the reviewer functions have been used in manuscript preparation, all tracked changes should be accepted before the file is submitted electronically.

The email message serves the function of a cover letter. It should include all author names and positions, as well as contact information for the first author.  Please submit in Microsoft Word, with all figures, tables, and graphs sent as text and included in the back of the manuscript, after the Works Cited page.

Inquiries and submissions should be directed to: Eric Paulson, Editor, JCRL@CRLA.net  

If email submission is not possible, the files may be saved to a labeled disk or CDRom and mailed with a cover letter to:
 

Eric J. Paulson

Texas State University-San Marcos

601 University Drive

San Marcos, TX  78666

Review Process

An email message or letter will acknowledge manuscript receipt. If accepted for blind review, the manuscript will be sent to least two readers; typically, one has broad general knowledge of the field and one has expertise in the particular topic or methodology. Within three months, authors can expect to receive one of four decisions: (a) manuscript acceptance, (b) acceptance with revision, (c) non-acceptance with an invitation for revision and resubmission for another round of review, or (d) non-acceptance and recommendation for submission to a different publication. Reviewers aim to provide authors with helpful feedback for manuscript revision and future manuscript preparation. Manuscripts that fail to follow submission guidelines will not be reviewed. Manuscripts should not have been submitted to another journal or published.

Subscriptions

Individuals receive JCRL as part of CRLA membership ($60 US). Institutions may obtain the journal by joining CRLA ($60 US) or by purchasing a subscription ($30 US). Checks should be payable to College Reading and Learning Association. If you are interested in being a member, click on this link to download the membership application.

Back Issues

Back issues of JCRL (1985 to present) are available for US $15.00 each. To order, please use the order form.

Editorial Team:

Eric J. Paulson, Editor

Texas State University - San Marcos

601 University Drive

San Marcos, TX  78666

512.245.2048 (w)

512.245.7911 (fax)

JCRL@CRLA.net  

Sonya L. Armstrong, Associate Editor

Northern Illinois University

DeKalb, IL  60115

815.753.8486 (w)

815.753.8563 (fax)

JCRL@CRLA.net

Arun John, Managing Editor

The University of Texas - Austin

Jester A 332A

201 E. 21st St.

Austin, TX  78705

512.475.8721 (w)

512.475.6838 (fax)

arun@austin.utexas.edu