Writing History in the Digital Age (archived site)

instructions to expert reviewers (Sept 2011)

Jack Dougherty

¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 Recommended text for the Press to send to expert reviewers (July 2011; revised September 14, 2011)

¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 Dear expert reviewer:

¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 Thank you for agreeing to serve as an expert reviewer for our born-digital, open-review volume, Writing History in the Digital Age, under advance contract with the University of Michigan Press. Based on our call for contributions this spring and summer, we have received 28 digital essays (ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 words each), which we have uploaded to our website (http://WritingHistory.trincoll.edu) in anticipation of our six-week open review period from October 4th to November 14th, 2011 (note: later extended to November 28th)

¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0 During the open review period, as an expert reviewer appointed by the Press, you will be asked to read the essays, write an evaluation of the book manuscript as a whole, and publicly post your assessment online, under your full name. At the same time, other visitors to the website will publicly post their own remarks under their full names. Both groups have the option to share broad assessments or comment on individual paragraphs, but no anonymous feedback is permitted. The objective is to encourage all readers — both invited experts and general audiences, senior scholars and novice students — to openly participate in the process of evaluating the quality of historical writing, and make the behind-the-scenes work of peer reviewing more visible and transparent to the profession. As expert reviewers, the Press will rely primarily on your assessments in making its final recommendation for publication, and will offer you its standard compensation for your services.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 Our expectation is that expert reviewers will use the online open review process to publicly share candid evaluations of the work, including both positive and negative comments. If necessary, expert reviewers also have the option to send additional comments in a confidential email directly to the Press editor, Tom Dwyer, who will share them anonymously with the book editors.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on paragraph 6 0 Thank you for evaluating our book project, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on paragraph 7 0 Jack Dougherty and Kristen Nawrotzki, co-editors