Submission Guide

Journal Submissions – The Scope

The Scope is the student-run science and research journal of BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. We welcome original, well-researched work from middle and high school students across a wide range of disciplines. Our goal is to provide a platform for students to engage in academic-style writing and share their ideas with a broader audience.

Manuscript Types

We accept manuscripts from all academic disciplines, including but not limited to:

  • STEM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics)
  • Social Sciences (Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science)
  • Humanities (History, Philosophy, Literature, Ethics)
  • Interdisciplinary Research (e.g., science + policy, technology + ethics)

Accepted formats include:

  • Original research papers
  • Literature reviews
  • Data-driven analyses
  • Theoretical or conceptual papers
  • Case studies
  • Extended research essays

Papers submitted to The Scope may also be submitted to or published in other journals. Please disclose prior or concurrent submissions at the time of submission.

Authorship Eligibility

  • At least one author must be a current high school student.
  • Collaborative papers are encouraged.
  • Mentors (teachers, professors, researchers) may be acknowledged but should not be listed as authors unless they made a substantial intellectual contribution.

Formatting Guidelines

Please submit manuscripts in Google Docs or PDF format.

General Formatting

  • Font: Times New Roman or similar serif font
  • Font size: 12 pt
  • Spacing: Double-spaced
  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides
  • Page numbers included

Structure

Manuscripts should generally follow this structure (where applicable):

  1. Title
  2. Author(s) and affiliation(s)
  3. Abstract
  4. Introduction
  5. Methods / Approach (if applicable)
  6. Results / Findings (if applicable)
  7. Discussion
  8. Conclusion
  9. References

Citations and References

Proper citation is required for all sources.

Accepted citation styles:

  • APA
  • MLA
  • Chicago

Choose one style and use it consistently throughout the paper.

Figures, Tables, and Data

  • Figures and tables should be clearly labeled and referenced in the text.
  • Include captions for all visuals.
  • If original data is used, briefly describe how it was collected.
  • Any reused figures or datasets must be properly cited.

Originality and Academic Integrity

  • All submissions must be original work.
  • Plagiarism, including improper paraphrasing or uncited AI-generated text, will result in rejection.
  • AI tools may be used for brainstorming or editing assistance, but the intellectual work must be the author’s own.

Review Process

  1. Initial Screening – Editors check for scope, clarity, and formatting.
  2. Editorial Review – Manuscripts are reviewed by student editors with subject familiarity.
  3. Revisions – Authors may be asked to revise and resubmit.
  4. Final Decision – Accepted papers are scheduled for publication.

The review process is designed to be constructive and educational.

Submission Requirements

When submitting, please include:

  • The manuscript file
  • A short author bio (2–3 sentences)
  • Disclosure of any prior or concurrent submissions
  • Contact email for the corresponding author

Publication

  • All accepted papers will be published on The Scope website.
  • Authors retain full rights to their work.
  • Publication is free; there are no submission or publication fees.

Questions

For questions regarding submissions, formatting, or suitability of a topic, please contact the editorial team through the The Scope website.

We look forward to reading your work and supporting student-led research.