Book Series Studies in Anti-Intellectualism and Academic Disengagement Matthew Lynch, Ed.D., Series Editor, Chair and Associate Professor, Langston University
Abstract Matthew Lynch and Rowman & Littlefield are proud to announce the creation of a new book series entitled Studies in Anti-Intellectualism and Academic Disengagement. This book series seeks to situate anti-intellectualism and academic disengagement in the twenty-first century. Books in this series will explore how anti-intellectualism and academic disengagement manifest themselves in American society, and how they are expressed in various cultures. As a general rule of thumb, the series will primarily focus on the intersection of anti-intellectualism/academic disengagement & education. The series also seeks to pay homage to the late-great Richard Hofstadter, who was a noted intellectual and author of the seminal, Anti-Intellectualism in American Life. Fifty years after its publication, there is a need for scholarship that situates anti-intellectualism and academic disengagement in the here and now and also anticipates its future. This series will fill that void. It also pays homage to the late-great anthropologist/professor John Ogbu, who was known for his theories on academic disengagement and "acting white." His 2003 book Black American Students in an Affluent Suburb: A Study of Academic Disengagement is considered essential reading in the educational research community. The books in this series will be single-authored or co-authored, and edited volumes will not be considered. I envision each volume having a target length of 80,000 to 85,000 words.
Responsibilities of the Editorial Board Essentially, members of the editorial board will be charged with reviewing book proposals as they are submitted to the series. They will rate each proposal on a scale from 1-10 and list its strengths and weaknesses. The series editor will use this information to select the first project in the series and work with its author to refine the proposal and 1-2 sample chapters, which will then be submitted to the publisher, Rowman & Littlefield with an endorsement from the series editor and editorial board. If the proposal is accepted by Rowman & Littlefield, a contract will be issued at that point. Completed book manuscripts will be reviewed by the series editor and editorial board, who will essentially serve as peer reviewers. After the manuscript has gone through the peer review process, and is given our stamp of approval, it will be submitted to Rowman & Littlefield, for a final decision.
Editorial Board Recruitment An announcement regarding the recruitment of editorial board members for the book series will be disseminated via websites and listservs such as H-Net, TC Record, cfp.english.upenn.edu, etc. and also via the professional networks of myself and existing editorial board members. Also, prominent researchers and well known experts in the field will be invited to sit on the editorial board, since their established reputations will give instant legitimacy to the series. If you are interested in serving on the editorial board, please email a 300-500 word summary of your expertise in the areas of anti-intellectualism/academic disengagement and a vita to anti.intellectualism.series@gmail.com.
Author Recruitment A general call for book proposals for the series will be disseminated via websites and listservs such as H-Net, TC Record, cfp.english.upenn.edu, etc. and also via my professional networks. Also, prominent researchers and well known experts in the field will be invited to submit book proposals, since their established reputations in the field will give instant legitimacy to the series. Proposals from invited authors will be subject to the peer review process, however the series editor does reserve to right to commission titles without one.
Formatting Guidelines and Proposal Submission Instructions Scholars interested in writing a manuscript for the series should prepare a proposal, which should be sent to the series editor; see the proposal guidelines below. Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis by an editorial board comprised of experts who have written extensively about anti-intellectualism and academic disengagement. Proposal submissions must include eleven components, sequenced in this order: 1. Provide a tentative descriptive title. Remember that titles/subtitles should include key words that will aid potential readers to find your book when searching online 2. List author(s)/editor(s) names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses 3. Tell us the topic, scope and intended purpose of your manuscript, including: (a) anticipated manuscript length (assuming 12-point Times New Roman double-spaced pages); (b) intended readership; (c) and a detailed Table of Contents, including brief chapter summaries. 4. If your proposal is chosen, when would you submit the manuscript? 5. Will the book require photographs, illustrations, maps, appendix, index, etc.? Provide detail Has any part of your book been published previously and if so, where 6. Do you have written permissions to use material that may be copyrighted (illustrations, lengthy quotations, or any quotations from fiction, poetry, or song lyrics) 7. Describe any competition for this book and how your book differs from them. List academic or professional associations or groups whose members may have a special interest in your book. 8. If your book can be used in a college course (possibly as a supplementary reading), please list course titles and levels for which your book would be appropriate. 9. Send us your vita. Please e-mail complete proposals and direct all inquiries to the series editor, Matthew Lynch at anti.intellectualism.series@gmail.com.
Next Steps for Potential Authors If your proposal is deemed to be a good fit by the editorial board, the series editor will work with you to refine the proposal and 1-2 sample chapters, which will then be submitted to the publisher, Rowman & Littlefield with an endorsement from the series editor and editorial board. If the proposal is accepted by Rowman & Littlefield, a contract will be issued at that point. Completed book manuscripts will be reviewed by the series editor and editorial board, who will essentially serve as peer reviewers. After the manuscript has gone through the peer review process, and is given our stamp of approval, it will be submitted to Rowman & Littlefield, for a final decision. As a word of caution, the submission of a completed manuscript does not guarantee acceptance/publication. However, I had my book It's Time For a Change: School Reform For the Next Decade published by Rowman & Littlefield and I didn't have a problem getting it accepted.
