Paideia Submission Evaluations

How Are Submissions Evaluated?

• Book Reviews
  1. Topic: The reviewed work is related to the field of Political Science and of relevant interest.
  2. Thesis: The review clearly identifies and articulates the work’s main thesis, major ideas, intended purpose, and target audience.
  3. Context: The review attempts to place the author’s work into a larger context (i.e. explains how the work compares with other literature on the issue).
  4. Argument Critique: The review critiques the author’s general argument and, when appropriate, points out weaknesses in reasoning and/or valuable insights the work offers in addition to any underlying assumptions.
  5. Structure Critique: The review addresses the critiques the author’s organization of ideas appropriately noting weaknesses as well as any underlying assumptions.
  6. Focus: The review remains on-topic and does not diverge into extraneous issues.
  7. Tone: The review critiques the specified work in a professional manner, focusing on the merits of the argument and avoiding argumentum ad hominem and other inappropriate attacks.
  8. Technical: The review correctly cites all sources and lists the author’s bibliographical information. The review lacks significant errors in grammar and/or sentence structure.
  9. Style: The paper is written in a manner that is engaging to the target audience, using a vocabulary that is sophisticated and accessible.
• All Other Papers
  1. Topic: The subject matter is related to the field of Political Science and is of relevant interest.
  2. Thesis: The paper has a clearly articulated thesis.
  3. Context: The argument is placed into an appropriate context (i.e. the author identifies how their work fits into existing literature/interpretations).
  4. Sources: The argument is appropriately supported by relevant evidence from professionally legitimate sources.
  5. Argument: Analysis of evidence is insightful and connected to the primary argument.
  6. Structure: The argument is structured logically with a clear line of reasoning that is easily followed by the reader and fully develops the paper’s main ideas.
  7. Logic: The reasoning in the argument s sound.
  8. Focus: The paper remains on-topic in supporting the argument.
  9. Tone: The author’s tone is professional and appropriate for the subject matter.
  10. Technical: The paper lacks significant errors in grammar and/or sentence structure and correctly follows the Chicago Manual of Style (Turabian).
  11. Style: The paper is written in a manner that is engaging to the target audience, using a vocabulary that is sophisticated and accessible.