Check list - final

Check list - final

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Check List for final ms

The list below is for your final ms. Use the Draft ms Check List for your draft versions. Make sure that you have cartefully checked every item in your ms.

Check off (in the left-hand column below) each applicable item to indicate that you have included, attached or otherwise attended to the item.
If an item is not included or completed, indicate why.
If items in this Check List are checked, but not in fact dealt with in the manuscript, you will be asked to redo the manuscript and to send a revised version, with another copy of this check list. This will hold up publication of your article.
Pls do not mark as done things that have not been done; that simply lengthens the whole process unnecessarily and wastes valuable time for both author and editor.
Note that the list below is not exhaustive; you will find other items in other parts of the Guide for S&G Authors.

To send your Check List by e-mail, highlight the Check List (below), copy <ctrl c> the Check List from your browser and then paste <ctrl v> it into your e-mail message. Send the Check List inside the email, at the end of your letter, to which your ms Word file is attached. Send to simulation.gaming NOspam gmail DOT com.

On the check list,

For an example ms, see a recent issue of the journal and this web page: http://www.unice.fr/sg/authors/example_ms.htm

>-cut-here-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------cut-here-<

___ No items in this checklist have been marked as done if they have not been done.

In body of email:

___ ms ID at start of subject line and at top of email body

___ This check list filled out (at end of email).

___ Note indicating that the author agreement has been sent directly to Sage.

___ Letter indicating that the article is to appear exclusively in S&G.

___ Indication of permission forms. Where relevant, attach a scan of the signed copyright permission forms for citations needing permission. Send original to Sage Publications (fax, scanned copy attached to email, post) and scanned attached copy to me. Use filename similar to ms. Sometimes a simple email from the copyright owner is sufficient.

___ Filename is of form: 001_f_Yourname_First-words-of-title.doc, e.g., 278_f_Crookall_Debriefing-protocols-for-all.doc.

___ Only use .doc or Word 2003 format; do not use .docx.

___ Do not compress or zip files.

Inside a single Word .doc file, attached to above email:

Reviews

___ Revisions sheet: Reviews and author responses, for last round of reviews (inside, at the start the word file of your ms), before the start of the cover sheet and article) - must be clearly presented - see review_process.htm.

Cover sheet

___ Ms ID in correct form - see http://www.unice.fr/sg/authors/example_ms.htm.

___ Word count indication.

___ Indicate name and contact detail of any professional editing or copy-editing service used. If none used, indicate this.

___ Full author contact details: complete work & home addresses, telephone & fax numbers; e-mail address) for each author. See example in this guide - http://www.unice.fr/sg/authors/example_ms.htm.

The ms itself

Content & clarity

___ Title is accurate, appropriate, short. Use "Title: Subtitle" format whenever this helps.

___ Author(s) and affiliation(s) according to S&G style.

___ abstract is cristal clear, with short sentences; between 150 and 200 words - see example ms & structured abstract. For longer text, use intro paragraphs at the start of the main body, with no heading - see below.

___ Keywords (sufficient, necessary, semi-colon separator, alpha order) - if in doubt include rather than leave out keywords. Up to about 20 keywords is possible.

___ Introductory paragraphs according to Guide (summary of main ideas & findings, with no heading);
main article starts after intro paras.

___ Article has been reshaped according to readership recommendations here:
http://www.sagepub.com/authors/journal/readership.sp

___ Adequate grounding in and reference to the literature (both specialty area and simulation/gaming; both journals and books).

___ All relevant / appropriate S&G articles have been referenced. To find these, go here
http://online.sagepub.com/cgi/search?src=selected&journal_set=spsag or here http://sg.sagepub.com/ and follow the link.

___ Adequate discussion on debriefing, or indication of reason for no discussion if debriefing is relevant to the article. This is essential; do not skimp.

___ Ms length is appropriate to topic and content; no longer than absolutely necessary.

___ Refs in body correspond to refs in refs section at end. Nice formatting is less important than complete refs.
(Detailed formatting will be done by the typesetter.)

___ End matter is done according to specifications: http://www.unice.fr/sg/authors/example_ms.htm

Format

___ Text is left-justified only. (1.2 to 1.5 line spacing as you wish.)

___ Reference style is followed.

___ References for simulation/game and software packages are according to the references section, including complete name and address of publisher or designer/author.

___ Names of simulation/games and software programs in UPPER CASE

___ References at end match citations in text and all citations in text are referenced at end.

___ Acknowledgments to people and organizations (if appropriate) at end of ms.

___Statement of interest conflict and funding at end of ms.

___ Bio-statement & full contact details (address, telephones, fax, e-mail) of each author at end of ms, using format here http://www.unice.fr/sg/authors/example_ms.htm.

___ Plenty of visuals (diagrams, tables, graphics, photographs, etc.).

___ Notes (if any) at the end

Clarity & good writing

___ Ms has been corrected / revised / polished by a professionnel copy editor.

Indicate name and email address of professional copy ed, and
indicate of how satisfactory you found the work done, and if it was good value for money.

___ Clear organization of contents.

___ Appropriate and plentiful use of headings and sub-headings (length, number, level, etc.) for organization of contents.

___ Split long paragraphs into two or more; long sentences into two or more.

___ No (unnecessarily) complicated sentences.

___ article - refer to your piece as article, not paper, which usually means a conference paper

___ Ms has been reviewed for clarity by at least one other person (non-specialist, naive reader, colleague of author).

___ Writing style checked for simplicity, coherence, structure, clarity, readability.

___ Active sentences where at all possible (avoid passives).

___ No split infinitives.

___ Use different from (not than); although (in most cases, instead of though or while or whilst).

___ Correct use of which (non-defining relative clause) and that or who (defining relative clause). See also.

___ Include that in subordinate clauses (we think that it is �).

___ Avoid there is / are if at all possible. Most can be avoided.

___Use However, In addition instead of And or But (at start of sentences).

___ Ms written as if the reader was more important than the writer!

___ All other style elements checked (e.g., abbreviations).

End matter

___ Acknowledgements + interest declaration + author contribution + end notes + refs + bios (with contact details) + appendices

Attached to a second email:

___ High resolution versions of graphics, with filename of form: 001_f_Yourname_First-words-of-title_Fig1.jpg

+++

___ Never send anything in a compressed format (e.g., zip files) or in apple format.

___ All items marked as done in this check list have actually be done in the ms. If items are not done, then you will be asked to do them before your ms is sent to production.

End of check list. (Updated May 2010)