Submission and Paper Formatting Checklist

SUBMISSION CHECK-LIST 
(Abridged – Please reference the full handbook for complete rules and procedures.) 

  • All papers must be on the Reviewr platform by February 21.  
  • An application fee is required for each paper submitted by a student or team and is due with the paper.  The paper submission deadline for the current year is February 21.  Invoices are available upon request from the VJAS Office (associate-directorvjas@gmail.com); requests must be made in time to meet the deadline.  March 24 
  • Members (students from Member Schools and Home School Members). Each Member School submit a single check (single payment) for all of the application fees received from the students from its school. Payment is to be made (or payment method indicated) online via the Reviewr platform. 
  • The parent/guardian of a Home School  Member may submit a check for their child’s application fee. Payment may also be made online via the Reviewr platform. Contact associate-director@vjas.org.
  • Submit VJAS Special Interest Award Applications, paper, and any other requested material using the Reviewr platform by February 21. Follow instructions exactly. 

PAPER FORMATTING CHECKLIST
Rules for formatting the paper.

  • The abstract and body of the paper (including all parts of the paper) have been typed/word-processed with line spacing set to no less than 1.5 and not greater than 2.0 (Exception: long quotes, figures, legends, within literature citations). 
  • All margins – top, bottom, and sides are not less than one inch (1″) on ALL pages, including appendices.
  • Number the pages, beginning with the abstract which is page 1.  Put page numbers in the footer, which can be within the margin and the only exception to the one-inch margin
  • The paper font is no smaller than 12 pt. type size using Times New Roman as recommended by APA.
  • Do not use footnotes.  Use parenthetical citations (Author, Year).

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​Text.  The abstract begins the fourteen (14) pages of text allowed in the body of the paper (all pages are formatted with line spacing set at 1.5-2.0 on 8½” by 11” paper). The paper consists of the following sections which should be labeled, with the labels bolded, underlined, or both.

  • Abstract (1 page only):  This is the first page of the 14 pages of text.
  • Introduction.
  • Methods and Materials.  Do not list materials – use paragraph format. For projects involving human subjects, informed consent/assent/permission forms and/or parental permission were obtained and will be stated in the Materials and Methods. A copy of the informed consent form has been included as an image in the Materials and Methods section. The image need not take up an entire page.
  • Results.  Includes a written summary of the results, graphs, tables, figures, and/or photographs of the summarized data, and an analysis of the data.
  • Discussion and Conclusions
  • Literature Cited:  This is not a bibliography or a work cited.  It is a list of the literature cited in the text.
    • There must be a minimum of three peer-reviewed/scholarly sources for middle school papers and a minimum of five peer-reviewed/scholarly sources for high school papers.
    • Each must be cited at least once in the body of the paper.
    • List peer-reviewed/scholarly and non-peer-reviewed sources in separate sections.  
    • Students in grades 9-12 must use APA format, the standard format of the Virginia Journal of Science. 
    • Students in grades 7-8 may use either MLA or APA format.
  • Appendix (optional)  

This ends the total paper with a maximum of 14 pages.  Papers exceeding this will be disqualified. Do not include acknowledgments.

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