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General GuidelinesGoals of the SeriesThe principal objective of the series Approaches to Teaching World Literature is to collect within each volume different points of view on teaching a literary subject--a work, a tradition (e.g., metaphysical poetry), or a writer--widely taught to undergraduates. The series is intended to serve nonspecialists as well as specialists, inexperienced as well as experienced teachers, graduate students as well as senior professors.The preparation of a series volume begins with a wide-ranging survey of instructors, which enables the book to include the philosophies and approaches, thoughts and methods of numerous teachers. The result is a sourcebook of material, information, and ideas. Survey questionnaires elicit information on such questions as the following: courses in which the subject is taught, editions or translations used, textbooks selected, central issues and typical problems encountered, background readings assigned or recommended to students, critical and reference works used by instructors, and audiovisual and electronic resources employed. Instructors are encouraged to include with their responses copies of syllabi, reading lists, examinations, and handouts. Survey responses are the foundations of series volumes. Editors play an active role in seeking and selecting participants in surveys. Each volume is divided into two parts: "Materials" and "Approaches." In the first part, the volume editor, drawing from personal knowledge and experience as well as from the information and issues that emerge from the survey, presents a guide to the most helpful available materials related to the subject of the volume (e.g., preferred editions and translations; essential reference works, critical studies, background materials; useful teaching resources). Part 2 comprises essays written by instructors, primarily selected on the basis of their survey responses, describing their approaches to teaching the subject of the book. Volumes are broadly representative in the range of their contributors, in the critical orientations presented, and in the types of schools, students, and courses considered. The editor is responsible for addressing all major issues and approaches relevant to the subject. Since the chief purpose of books in the series is to help instructors in their teaching, essays in part 2 should not simply be critical interpretations of the work but should focus on pedagogical practice in the classroom. Contributors should discuss actual classroom experiences, including student contributions and reactions, and consider the implications and consequences of teaching a work or author using a particular methodology or theoretical perspective. Where appropriate, editors should call attention to and comment on the ways in which essays complement or challenge one another. (See the Guidelines for Preparing Introductory Materials). ProposalPersons interested in editing a volume in the series should write to Joseph Gibaldi, the series editor, stating their interest and outlining their qualifications for the task. Letters of inquiry should include a curriculum vitae for each editor.If a title seems appropriate for the series, the series editor invites the prospective editor to submit a formal proposal. The proposal should address such questions as the need for the volume and the scholarly and pedagogical issues involved in teaching the work or works covered. Although the final content of a volume depends to some extent on essay proposals received, the proposal for the volume should indicate projected essay topics and a tentative organizational plan. In preparing the proposal, the prospective editor should consult published series volumes. The series editor normally asks at least two specialists to serve as consultant readers of the proposal. On the basis of their evaluations, the series editor either returns the proposal for revision or presents it to the Publications Committee for preliminary action. By giving a proposal preliminary approval, the committee, in effect, invites submission of a full prospectus for evaluation, including annotated table of contents. ProspectusWhen a proposal has been approved, the volume editor, with the advice and assistance of the series editor and other MLA staff members, prepares a survey questionnaire that is sent to a number of MLA members identified with the study and teaching of the literary work or works involved. In addition, a notice appears in the MLA Newsletter inviting interested MLA members to participate in the survey. The results of the survey assist the volume editor in writing the "Materials" portion of the volume and in preparing a tentative list of contributors to the "Approaches" section. (See the Guidelines on Surveys.)Before contributors are invited to submit essays, the volume editor submits to the series editor a full prospectus, including an annotated table of contents and a rationale for selections. This material is evaluated by a number of consultant readers, is discussed, and is revised until a final table of contents emerges. (See the Guidelines on Selection of Contributors.) ManuscriptThe manuscript should be prepared in accordance with the editorial guidelines in the Directions for Preparing Manuscripts. In preparing the manuscript, the volume editor should follow MLA style as outlined in the latest edition of the MLA Style Manual: parenthetical references in the text refer the reader to a list of works cited at the end of the book. Contributors, therefore, must supply a list of works cited for each essay submitted. From these lists, the volume editor compiles one general, alphabetically arranged list for the entire book. Content notes should be avoided.To avoid confusion over editorial matters, the volume editor should send with each invitation to a projected contributor guidelines specifying the nature of and intended audience for the volume, the length and nature of the essay desired, the style and format to be followed, editorial policy (e.g., the editors reserve the right to reject or request revision of manuscripts that do not conform to the guidelines or that fall below the quality expected from contributors), evaluation procedures, copyright information (the MLA will ask each contributor to assign copyright ownership to the association, with the proviso that contributors may use their essays elsewhere without permission), the deadline for submission of essays, and so forth. The volume editor should also establish and inform contributors about the use of uniform editions of major works cited throughout the volume. Generally, all contributors should use the same edition and, if appropriate, the same translation. If for some reason it is not feasible for individual contributors to use the same edition or translation, the volume editor should make sure that the individual editions and translations used are properly identified. If the volume deals with works in translation, contributors should supply quotations in both the original language and in translation, formatting the quotations according to MLA style. In addition, editors should remind contributors of their responsibility to obtain necessary permissions to use copyrighted as well as unpublished material, including any student writing. Prior to submitting the manuscript, the editor should compile and insert just before the list of works cited a section of "Notes on Contributors" containing brief biographical information on each contributor, followed by a list of survey participants, identified by name and institution. A form will be provided to request biographical information from contributors. The complete manuscript, including all material but the index, should not exceed 280 typescript pages. Following submission, the complete manuscript is sent to at least two consultant readers, and their evaluations determine whether the manuscript is returned for revision or presented, along with the readers' reports, to the Publications Committee for a decision to publish. Production and PublicationAfter committee approval of a manuscript, each contributor receives an author's contract. During production of the volume, contributors receive the relevant parts of the copyedited manuscript and one stage of proof. When page proof is available, the volume editor prepares an index for the book. (See the Guidelines on Preparing the Index.) The editor and contributors receive royalties or honoraria and receive complimentary copies of the book.To maintain unity in the series and to ensure that all volumes are consistent with the philosophy and objectives of the series, the series editor plays an active advisory role in the preparation of each volume. He is routinely kept informed of all progress and is consulted at all significant stages in the planning and writing of the volume. Proposals should be sent to Joseph Gibaldi, Director of Book Acquisitions and Development
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