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Submissions

Inquiry publishes articles by UNH undergraduates and recent graduates only, describing their research findings and experiences in all disciplines. The journal also publishes feature articles and commentaries by UNH students, faculty, staff and alumnae. (See CATEGORIES OF MANUSCRIPTS for details.) Inquiry does not accept works of fiction, poetry or drama. Responses from readers are encouraged, in the form of letters or email messages, and will be posted throughout the year. (See RESPONSES TO INQUIRY.)

Submission Process

In each issue of Inquiry we try to present well written articles on a variety of research topics. These articles should be of interest and accessible to the educated general public as well as to those in the author’s field of research.  The articles describe specific research projects, including the researcher’s experience in carrying out the project.

Step One:
If you have a research paper or report already written, a research project nearing completion, or an idea for a commentary, the first step is to contact the senior editors at editor.inquiry@unh.edu as soon as possible, and by mid-September at the latest.

Step Two:
If your subject is suitable for the next issue, you will be asked to write short, specific responses to the following questions. 

  • What is the exact question or problem your research addressed?  Why should general readers be interested in it? (If you were part of a larger project, describe it and your role in it.)
  • What information, misinformation, and opinions are general readers likely to have about your subject?
  • What is your specific goal in publishing an article on this topic: what do you want readers to learn from your research experience and results? (Keep in mind the word limits: 2500 for an article, 1000 for a commentary.)
  • To accomplish this goal, what background and/or explanatory information needs to be added? What could be omitted?
  • What technical terms and concepts need defining? Which could be omitted?

Note for IROPers: The above questions are modified to take into account your final report deadline. However, complete Step One as described.

This beginning to think about the revision process gives potential authors an idea of what is needed to turn a technical or scholarly paper into an Inquiry article (see EDITORIAL AND REVISION PROCESS). It also helps the editors make final selections for the next issue, which appears in the spring.

Step Three:
Meet with a senior editor to discuss your responses and the revision process, and to outline a revision plan to meet production deadlines.

Final acceptance is by or before mid-October.  Selection of articles is based on having a variety of disciplines represented and on authors’ commitment to the revision process.