Assessment procedure

The Advisors and the Referees of the Atlantis Editorial Board are the vital core of the journal, since both the scientific quality of published contributions and the pace at which the Editor can make publication decisions largely rest on their good judgement and zeal. This entails a significant responsibility for all those who agree to become members of the Atlantis Editorial Board.

Please note the following points:
1	The number of contributions the Editor will ask each referee to read is restricted to four per year, and in normal circumstances s/he will only have to read three at the most. In each case, the report will have to be sent to the Editor within thirty days of receipt. Please consider whether this amount of work is acceptable to you. If exceptionally you cannot meet the deadline, you should let the Editor know immediately.
2	Both the Editor and the authors whose work is under scrutiny will be grateful if, besides ticking the boxes and giving a general yes/no opinion, you write a detailed report revealing the strengths and weaknesses of the contribution. This detailed report is mandatory when a contribution is rejected, or accepted on condition of its being revised and improved. Do not be vague; be precise and economical in listing the necessary modifications and the questions to be revised.
3	Do not be offensive. If a contribution seems poor, state your opinion and give reasons to support it, but do not indulge in witty or ironic remarks that contribute nothing to the academic debate.
4	Try to avoid hand-written reports whenever possible. You may, of course, use as many additional pages as necessary to state your opinion.
5	Annotate the ms. in as much detail as possible, especially when a contribution is rejected or when you recommend revision. If you find instances of defective grammar or expression, please point them out and offer alternatives if you wish, though offering alternatives is not part of your duty.
6	An e-mail message informing the Editor of your opinion on a contribution is not a valid substitute for the written report. Authors generally like to see a photocopy of the actual report, especially if their work has been rejected. Even if you e-mail an advance summary of your report, do not fail to send the report itself by ordinary post.
7	Last but not least, remember that Atlantis is a scholarly journal devoted to Anglo-American studies in general. As a specialist in a particular field, ask yourself whether the contribution you have to referee is truly original and measures up to international standards.