Journal of American Studies of Turkey

JAST aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue by encouraging contributions that integrate perspectives from multiple disciplines, offering fresh insights into American culture, society, and institutions. Articles that explore the intersections of literature, history, art, music, film, politics, economics, popular culture, institutions, politics, economics, geography and related subjects are welcomed to have a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of American experience. JAST is also interested in comparative studies that place American culture in a broader international context, examining its relations with other cultures. Such comparative work enriches our understanding of cross-cultural exchanges and influences, highlighting the interconnectedness of global societies.

In addition to original research articles, JAST offers a platform for interviews with prominent figures in American studies, critical reviews of books and films that reflect on contemporary cultural and academic debates. By including a variety of content, the journal seeks to engage a wide readership and promote a dynamic exchange of ideas across disciplines and borders.

Writing Rules

Submission Guidelines

Articles should be consistent with the aims and scope of the journal. All accepted submissions are subject to stylistic editing prior to publication.

All manuscripts must adhere to the most recent MLA manual style (9th Edition) guidelines and be double-spaced (including notes and Works Cited), using Calibri font in 11-point size. Articles should be approximately 6,000 to 8,000 words length, and should be prepared in Microsoft Word.

No material will be considered for publication if it is currently under consideration by another journal or press or if it has been published, or is soon to be published, elsewhere. Only revised and developed versions of unpublished theses will be considered for submission. JAST utilizes Turnitin software for plagiarism detection and academic integrity. Submissions with a similarity report exceeding 15% will be returned to the author for revision.

Article manuscripts should be submitted as two separate documents: The first should be a title page with the submission’s title, subtitle (if any), the author’s name, affiliation, full postal address, telephone number, e-mail address, and acknowledgements (if any). The second, the anonymous manuscript, should be arranged in the following order of presentation: Title, an abstract (of approximately 150 words) both in English and in Turkish, keywords (4 to 6 words), the main body of the text, endnotes (if any), works cited, and appendices (if any). The text should be organized under appropriate subheadings whenever possible.

Please use the following DERGİPARK link for submissions: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/jast

The copyright of all material published will be vested in the Journal of American Studies of Turkey unless otherwise specifically agreed. This copyright covers exclusive rights of publication of printed or electronic media. Contributors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any material to which they do not own copyright (see the Ethical Guidelines for Authors Publishing in JAST).

JAST - DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT FORM TO BE SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR(S

In case of technical issues concerning submission, please send a message to the Managing Editor
Dr. Cem Kılıçarslan (cemkilicarslan@yahoo.com).

Standard book and film reviews should be no longer than 1500 words although depending on the work being reviewed. Book reviews should include a brief description of the subjects covered in the book; an evaluation of the book’s strength and weaknesses; and the kind(s) of audience(s) to whom the book might appeal. The heading of the review should include: the book’s title, author(s) or editor(s), publisher, publication date, and number of pages.

Film reviews should provide a concise summary of the film’s plot, themes, and major elements such as direction, cinematography, and performances. The review should also offer a critical evaluation of the film’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as its cultural or artistic significance. Additionally, the review should indicate the type(s) of audience(s) that may find the film particularly appealing or relevant. The heading of the review should include: the film’s title, director, production company, release year, and runtime. Book/film reviewers should discuss the length of the review with the editors before writing.

Ethical Principles and Publication Policy

Ethical Guidelines for Authors Publishing in JAST

1-All submissions must be original and contribute in a significant way to their field(s) of study. Manuscripts should provide new insights or interpretations that could further academic understanding.

2-Authors are required to properly attribute the works and ideas of others, in accordance with the latest MLA style (9th edition), even when paraphrasing. All forms of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism (reusing one’s own published work without citation), are unacceptable and any violation will result in the automatic rejection of the manuscript. Please see the submission guidelines.

3-Authors are responsible for securing permissions for any copyrighted material (including images, figures, tables, or lengthy text excerpts) used in their submission. Evidence of permission must be provided before publication. Please see the submission guidelines to download the “Declaration and Copyrights Form.”

4-Manuscripts submitted to JAST must not be under review by another journal or publisher, nor previously published, in whole or in part. If the manuscript is accepted, the Editorial Board expects that its appearance in JAST will precede publication of the article, or any significant part thereof, in another work.

5-Authors must fully comply with JAST’s double-blind peer review process. All feedback provided by reviewers and editors, including suggested revisions, must be addressed in a thorough and timely manner. Authors are encouraged to view the review process as a collaborative effort to enhance the quality and impact of their work.

6-Authors must ensure the integrity of the research presented in their manuscripts. Any fabricated or falsified data will result in rejection.

7-Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation, including funding sources, institutional affiliations, or personal relationships.

8-Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the research. All co-authors must approve the final manuscript and be accountable for its content. Any changes in authorship (additions, removals, or order changes) must be approved by all co-authors and explained to the Editorial Board.

9-Authors are expected to promptly inform the Editorial Board of any errors discovered in their published work. JAST will issue corrections, retractions, or other amendments as necessary to maintain academic accuracy and integrity.

Ethical Guidelines for the Peer Reviewers

As the Committee on Publication Ethics noted, peer reviewers are integral to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. The peer review process relies heavily on the trust and voluntary participation, necessitating responsible behavior from all involved. Journals must provide transparent peer review policies, and reviewers must conduct their reviews ethically and accountably. See, Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers, 2017.

Reviewers are kindly asked to follow the ethical guidelines covering such issues as objective evaluation, conflict of interest, confidentiality, constructive feedback, and timely submissions when reviewing for JAST articles. In this context:

1-Reviewers must consider each manuscript on its merits, irrespective of the topics, regions, or social groups covered. They may disagree with the author’s opinions but should allow them to present their case if supported by evidence.

2-Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest before agreeing to review a manuscript, including any previous familiarity with the submitted work.

3-Reviewers must keep the peer review process confidential, refraining from sharing information or correspondence about a manuscript with anyone outside the review process. They must not use information obtained during the peer review for personal or others’ advantage or to discredit others.

4-Reviewers should provide a constructive, comprehensive, and evidence-based peer review report, justifying their final decisions. They should make constructive suggestions, seek clarification on unclear points, and ask for further elaboration where necessary. If recommending shortening, reviewers should specify the areas. Artificial intelligence tools to generate a “general” review report with no specific mentions would not be helpful. Reviewers should distinguish between essential additional investigations to support the manuscript’s claims and the ones which will just extend the work.

5-Reviewers must avoid making statements that could be interpreted as questioning anyone’s reputation. Confidential comments to the editor should not include denigration or false accusations, even if the authors will not see these comments.

6-Reviewers should make every effort to submit their report and recommendation on time. If unable to meet the deadline, they should inform the editor. If they cannot review, it is helpful to make suggestions for alternative reviewers if relevant, based on their expertise and without any influence of personal considerations or any intention of the manuscript receiving a specific outcome (either positive or negative).

7-While it is not the reviewer’s job to edit for spelling and grammar, noting specific points where the technical meaning is unclear is helpful. Reviewers should be sensitive to language issues, particularly when authors write in a non-native language, and provide respectful and appropriate feedback.

Steps in the JAST Peer Review Process

The author(s) submits the paper to the journal through DERGİPARK.

In the initial editorial check, the editors first ensure that the manuscript adheres to the journal’s instructions for authors, verifying the inclusion of all required sections and proper formatting and style. JAST utilizes Turnitin to check the originality of manuscripts. Editors then assess whether the paper aligns with the journal’s aims and scope and determine if it is sufficiently original and interesting for the journal’s audience. Papers that do not meet these criteria may be rejected without further review.

If the manuscript fits within the journal’s scope and is deemed original and interesting, invitations along with the abstract are sent to potential reviewers identified as appropriate for the paper. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two reviewers from different institutions. Upon receiving the invitation, reviewers are responsible for understanding and following the ethical guidelines for peer review. Once the invitation is accepted, the manuscript is sent to the reviewer for assessment.

During the review process, the reviewers allocate time to read the manuscript multiple times to develop a detailed, point-by-point review. The review is then submitted to the journal, including a recommendation to accept or reject the manuscript, or a request for revision. Revisions are classified as major or minor, depending on the extent of work required on the manuscript. Editors consider all returned reviews before making an overall decision. If the reviews are significantly divergent, the editor may invite an additional reviewer to provide another opinion before making a decision.

At the editorial decision stage, the editors communicate the decision to the author(s), which may be to accept, reject, or request revisions. This communication includes the reviewer reports and additional editorial guidance if revisions are requested. If the manuscript is sent back for revision, reviewers should expect to receive a revised version unless they have opted out of further participation. In cases where only minor changes are requested, the follow-up review may be conducted by the editor.

At every stage, it is crucial for the editors, authors and reviewers to adhere to the time allocations specified in the Dergipark system to ensure a smooth production process.