Reviewer Guidelines

Thank you for your willingness to review for Middle Grades Review. Please consider the questions below as guidance as you read through your assigned manuscript. These questions are intended only to stimulate your thinking as you articulate the strengths and weaknesses of the piece; you need not address each question in your review.

When you are ready to complete your review, please log in to the MGR website and follow the instructions provided. You will be prompted to enter your review response and your decision recommendation into a form provided by the system. 

Please see Reviewer Responsibilities (under Ethics) for further information on your role as a reviewer.

Essay Manuscripts

Relevance

  • Is the piece relevant to the Aims and Scope of Middle Grades Review?
  • Is the topic timely in relation to the field?

Contribution

  • Does the essay make a significant contribution to theory and/or practice?
  • Are the ideas, opinions or assertions likely to advance the field?
  • Is the essay likely to stimulate further discourse, future research, or changes in practice? 

Ideas, Opinions, and Assertions

  • Is the content of the piece compelling?
  • Does the piece articulate a clear purpose and rationale?
  • Are the ideas, opinions, and/or assertions solid and robust? 
  • Does the author consider other, perhaps contrary, viewpoints?
  • Do the citations support the author’s perspective appropriately?
  • Are the references adequately rich and timely?

Writing Style and Effectiveness

  • Is the writing concise and clear?
  • Is the piece organized well and logically?  
  • Are the ideas, opinions, and/or assertions well articulated?
  • Is the tone appropriate to the purpose and for an academic audience?

Practitioner Perspectives Manuscripts

Relevance

  • Is the piece relevant to the Aims and Scope of Middle Grades Review?
  • Is the topic timely in relation to the field?
  • Is the topic worthy of investigation or discussion? 

Contribution

  • Does the piece discuss a significant issue in middle grades practice?
  • Do the findings make a significant contribution to middle grades practice?
  • Are the conclusions likely to stimulate further discourse?

Purpose and Praxis

  • Does the piece articulate a clear purpose and rationale?
  • Is the connection of theory to practice (praxis) well articulated?
  • Are the references adequately appropriate and timely?

Inquiry

  • If the piece is a description of a practice, does it adequately describe the practice, share findings of the practice, and discuss relevant implications for such practice.
  • If the piece is a practitioner action research project, is the research design appropriate for the project?
  • Is there adequate elaboration regarding the study’s methods?
  • Have the methods been carried out sufficiently and properly? 
  • Is there a careful evaluation of the study’s strengths and limitations?

Writing Style and Effectiveness

  • Is the writing concise and clear?
  • Is the piece organized well and logically?  
  • Is the tone appropriate to the purpose and for an academic audience?

Research and Inquiry Manuscripts

Relevance

  • Is the piece relevant to the Aims and Scope of Middle Grades Review?
  • Is the topic timely in relation to the field?
  • Is the topic worthy of investigation? 

Contribution

  • Does the piece demonstrate scientific originality?
  • Are the findings strongly supported by the data presented?
  • Do the findings make a significant contribution to research and/or to practice?
  • Are the conclusions likely to stimulate further research, development, or discourse? 

Purpose and Theoretical Context

  • Does the piece articulate a clear purpose, rationale, and research questions?
  • Is the theoretical framework solid and well-articulated?
  • Are the literature review and references adequately rich and timely?

Methodology

  • Is the research design appropriate for the question(s) and of high quality?
  • Is there adequate elaboration regarding the study’s methods?
  • Have the methods been carried out sufficiently and properly? 
  • Is there a careful evaluation of the study’s strengths and limitations?

Writing Style and Effectiveness

  • Is the writing concise and clear?
  • Is the piece organized well and logically?  
  • Is the tone appropriate to the purpose and audience?