WRITING GUIDE

Phase 1: Selection of the Text

• The text should be related to the fields included in the scope of Kitabiyat and should have an academic character.
• Although the main goal of Kitabiyat is to critique the works of the modern period, manuscripts, classical texts, etc. are also accepted.
  
• The text should address the critic’s field of study or be written on a subject that the author is interested in.
  
• The author of the critique should not have contributed to the text selected for evaluation at any stage. In the preface/introduction/any footnote of the text, there should be no expression of thanks to the criticizing author.

Phase 2: Reading and Writing Preparation

In the reading and writing process, some questions are expected to be answered and evaluated. It may not be possible to consider all of these questions in every text to be critiqued. After introducing and critiquing the main features of the text, such as its language, style, method, use of sources, main findings and claims, and target audience, authors may focus on a few findings or claims that they deem appropriate.

It is possible to state the questions expected to be answered in the critique text as follows:

• What are the subject organization, sections, titles and physical characteristics of the text?
  
• What are the purpose, main theme, main findings and claims, assumptions and arguments of the text? What is the originality of the main findings and claims and how are they justified?
  
• Is the text a continuation of another research project of the author or the output of a research process such as a doctoral thesis? If so, is this mentioned in the content?
  
• Are there sections such as index, maps, figures, graphs, illustrations, abbreviations, bibliography, etc. that will help to benefit from the text, how are they organized, and is it necessary to use them for the relevant text?
• Who(s) is the target audience of the book?
  
• What are the method(s) determined for the research in the text? Is the method suitable for the subject of the text?
  
• Has the author been able to take objectivity as a basis, or has he/she created his/her work under the shadow of any tradition, ideology or theory?
  
• How are the sources used in the text and what is the status of the sources (primary, secondary…)?
  
• Has the author achieved the goals set out in the text?
  
• What is the contribution of the text to the field? To what extent does the text address current debates in the field? Which problems does it offer solutions to? Is it in continuity with previous studies?
  
• What are the limitations of the research in the text? Is the subject covered in all its aspects?
  
• Are the topics sufficiently covered in line with the objective of the text?
  
• Are there any contradictory judgments or unanswered questions in the text? Which parts of the text-suggestions require further discussion?
  
• Does the author merely confirm existing knowledge or does he/she have a claim to build on?
  
• What is the starting point of the text and the way it deals with the topic?
  
• What is the language and style of the text? Are the terms of the field used appropriately and sufficiently in the text?
  
• Are there any inaccuracies in footnotes, bibliography, date, etc.?
  

The following issues can be taken into consideration in the process of the emergence of the critical text:

• Since the author’s nationality, political views, education, intellectual interests, and the environment and period in which he/she grew up may contain important clues about how the work in question was shaped, it would be appropriate to consider these issues.
  
• Information about the author should contribute to the introduction and evaluation of the text. The academic title of the authors should not be mentioned unless it is very necessary.
  
• In the process of reading the work to be criticized, notes should be taken on all these issues related to the text, as well as the weaknesses and strengths of the text.
  
• One should not only focus on the weak and problematic aspects of the text, but also keep its good and successful aspects on the agenda.
  
• During the writing process, it should be decided what the main thesis-issue of the critique will be.
  
• Authors are expected to refer to other studies when providing information and making evaluations.
  
• Authors should cite the relevant pages in the article when providing information, observations and evaluations from the text that is the subject of the critique. Example: “The author states that the target audience of the book is… (p. 13)”.
  
• The citation system used in the critique should be in accordance with the ISNAD Citation System 2nd edition (with footnotes).

• Click here for ISNAD Citation System in Turkish.
• Click here for ISNAD Citation System in English.
• Click here for ISNAD Citation System in Arabic.
  
  

Bibliography
The works cited in the text for information, determination and evaluation should be added to the end of the text under the title “Bibliography” in accordance with the Isnad Citation System 2nd edition.



Form and Style of Writing

• Authors should not see themselves as “judge/judges” and should avoid a judgmental and targeting attitude.
  
• The articles should consist of title, introduction, development, conclusion and bibliography. Academic language and style should be used in the articles. Sarcastic, insulting, belittling and degrading expressions should not be used. However, excessive praise and unnecessary glorifying expressions should also be avoided. Objective and constructive language should be used and the focus should be on the content of the work rather than the author, avoiding personalization. Descriptions and evaluations should be handled systematically with simpler and clearer expressions. Short sentences should be preferred as much as possible. Attention should be paid to the logic and coherence between sentences and paragraphs. The plan followed while criticizing the text may not be parallel to the order in the text.

• Taking into account that the reader may have little knowledge of the subject, uncommon terminology should be used to a minimum or technical concepts should be briefly explained. Spelling errors in the text can be pointed out by giving only a few examples; other errors should be mentioned in a footnote. The author is expected to quote as little as possible and to construct the text in his own words. It should be taken into account that the author has the right to reply to the criticized work.

Form and Organization

• Articles should be written in Microsoft Office Word program.
  
• There is no word limit for the manuscript (unnecessary and insignificant details and repetitions should be avoided).
  
• For Turkish and English texts, the font should be Book Antiqua, 12 pt, lines should be 1,2 spaced, footnotes should be 10 pt and single spaced. Paragraph spacing should be set as 6 pt. before and 6 pt. after and should be justified. The paragraph indent for the main text (except footnotes and bibliography) should be 1,25 cm on the first line. For Arabic texts, the font should be Traditional Arabic, 15 pt, lines should be single-spaced, footnotes should be 13 pt and single-spaced. Paragraph spacing should be set as 3 pt. before, 3 pt. after and justified.