Submissions

Author Guidelines

Style

Original Articles

Manuscripts should be prepared following the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style and Río Bravo Editors Style, as outlined below.

Non-traditional Writing Styles:  When applicable, manuscripts should be prepared following the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style and Río Bravo Editors Style, as outlined below (e.g., citations, references, punctuation, etc.).  If the manuscript contains parts that do not fit the traditional essay format, then the author should format according to his or her intended style and clarify this in the cover letter.

Pláticas and Book Reviews

Manuscripts should be prepared following the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style and Río Bravo Editors Style, as outlined below.  Submissions, however, do not need to include an abstract or be anonymous.

Anonymity

To maintain anonymity in the review process, authors should ensure they cannot be identified in the manuscript or abstract.  All biographical information should be included in the Cover Letter as described below. 

If the manuscript includes essential reference to the author (e.g., autobiographical details crucial to the content of the paper), we ask that the author remove as much of this information as possible and in the Cover Letter confirm to the Editor their understanding that it may not be possible to ensure anonymity in the review process. 

Authors should cite their own work as they would cite that of another author (i.e., in the third person) or in a way that does not compromise anonymity.

Abstract

Submissions for articles should include an abstract of no more than 200 words.  It should be located at the top of the document.  The purpose of the abstract is to present the article’s main argument and highlight the new research contributions on the subject matter and/or field of scholarship. 

Pláticas and Book Reviews do not require an abstract.

Permissions

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reprint excerpts from all published or copyrighted works that fall outside "fair use." Fair use is determined by the amount of material that is excerpted and how the material is treated.  For example, reprinting a paragraph, with proper citation, to support an argument would be considered fair use; reprinting several pages from a short chapter taken from an edited work would be harder to defend.

Poetry and song lyrics are considered special cases, and authors should always request permission for either, regardless of the excerpt's length. See The Chicago Manual of Style for more information.

With your emailed submission attach letters of permission for all borrowed illustrations, tables, figures, or other material. It is the author's responsibility to obtain the reprint permission.   

Acknowledgments

If the manuscript is accepted, the author will have the opportunity to submit acknowledgments for inclusion.

References

In text citations

The Journal uses the author-date documentation style as described by latest edition of The Chicago Manuel of Style.  In the text or in notes, citations should have the following form:  (author year, page number; for example (González 1999, 157).  The page number alone is sufficient if it is understood from the context; for example (157).  In the case of multiple citations, these should be listed chronologically, and, if in the same year, alphabetical within the same year. 

Works Cited

A list of the works cited in the manuscript should be included after the notes in a section titled “Works Cited”.  All entries should be alphabetized by last name, chronologically ordered for two or more titles by the same author(s), and double-spaced. Do not include any publication not cited in the text.

Notes

Use endnotes rather than footnotes. Notes are numbered consecutively throughout the text by superscript numerals. Notes should be kept as brief as possible. 

Illustrations, Tables, and Figures

Supply tables, figures, and illustrations on separate pages at the end of the manuscript. Number each consecutively. Indicate their position within the text clearly, inserting TABLE 1 ABOUT HERE (set off by double spacing above and below). Provide a short (10-15 words) descriptive title as well as sources and acknowledgements. Notes for tables appear at the bottom of each table and are marked with lowercase, superscript letters. Illustrations must be submitted in a form suitable for publication without redrawing. If accepted for publication, illustrations, tables, and figures must be submitted in electronic format.

Copyright

Manuscripts are considered with the understanding that they have not been published previously in either print or electronic format and are not under consideration by another publication or electronic medium. A manuscript will be considered previously published if another work has, either singly or in combination: the same title; the same opening paragraph; 25 percent or more of the same content. Manuscripts that are accepted and subsequently found to be previously published will be dropped.

Translations of previously published articles or expanded/revised forms of a manuscript may be considered in consultation with the editors.

Once the manuscript has been accepted for publication, Río Bravo will secure its copyright. Río Bravo grants the author personal use of the article and the freedom to reprint the article in any book where s/he is the author or editor. The Journal requires full acknowledgement of the original source of publication.