All of the papers we receive in the Pent competition are written on a computer, unlike the old typewriter/cut and paste days of yore. This year I am asking all contestants to use digital research paper submissions where feasible. There are some papers that simply have too many images for this to work well, but for the most part, scanned images are a doable thing.
CHECKLIST for submitting your paper by email to the
Pentocrat:
Once you have your files assembled (see below) and ready to send to me as your submission, email me with the following information:
The PentocratÕs email is: LAS52 at cornell.edu. You will receive a confirming email.
I must receive your paper by midnight (postmarked or emailed) by February 9th, 2007.
Research Paper Text and File format:
The main part of your paper will be text. While most SCAdians may have access to MS Word, not all do. Last year we encountered older versions of Applewrite and other non-Microsoft software. Most software programs can save to Òrich text formatÓ with an extension of .rtf. This is usually found under the Ôsave asÕ choices as you go to save your file. I advise saving twice-once in the default for your word processor (your usual format) and once to send to me in rtf.
NOTE 1. Paginate your paper. In other words, make sure each page is numbered.
NOTE 2. On embedding images in MS Word: while MS Word has an Ôinsert a pictureÕ feature, the wise author selects Ôtext boxÕ first and THEN inserts a picture into that text box. It may look a bit funny (pull the corners of the text box out until the image fits), but that text box will navigate thru your text far more easily that a ÔnakedÕ inserted image, saving a lot of frustration. Embedded images of this sort are acceptable and should make it thru the rtf Ôsave asÕ process. You wonÕt have to include the images as separate jpgs, unless they are very large.
NOTE 3. Do not embed images in other word processing programs. They give us trouble in conversions.
NOTE 4. If you are on a PC, and donÕt have MS Office, you might want to consider using OpenOffice freeware found at http://www.openoffice.org. Very similar and compatible to MS Office.
Images of Photos, Painting, Objects, Processes, Etc.
Images work best NOT imbedded in the text. (However, please see note above about putting them in MS Word.) Be sure to follow ÒOrdering your ImageÓ directions (next page).
Ordering your Images and Tables:
If you donÕt imbed images in the text, then the following system of ordering them and referring to them in the text is highly recommended:
Label each image in the order it appears in the text. Figure 1 for your first pix; Figure 2 for your second pix, etc. If you have tables, follow the same procedure, but label them, in order of appearance as Table 1, Table 2 etc.
The Figure Legend Page:
At the end of your paper text and after your Bibliography, have a separate page titled ÔFigure LegendsÕ. This will contain the information that you would like to have with each of your images, including a title, source of image, and anything else youÕd like to note about it. Provide these in order.
Example: Figure 1. Painting of the Virgin, accession no. xxxxx, Metropolitan Museum, NYC. Note the pillow the Child is sitting on and its tassels. Figure 2. Photo of a tasseled pillow held in the Gardner Museum, Boston MA, accession no. xxxxx. Blah blah blah.
Scanning and saving your images as jpg files:
You will have to turn your images into jpg files. These are best sized to be LESS than 1000 kb or 1 megabyte in size each (contact me for exceptions). Name them Fig1. Fig2. Table1 etc. Images that you have that are Ôhard copyÕ will have to be scanned or photographed to digitize them. If you have more than 20 images to attach, you might have to send them to me as hard copies. Please email me in that case. I prefer no other formats.
WHY:
Last year we tried out a test program where Research Paper submitters and the judges were asked to submit and to accept electronic versions of papers. It went well for both contestants, judges and Pentocrat. The judges will be able to comment on the actual document you submit (they will use RED or BOLD in parentheses. After the judging we will be able to send your document back to you with comments included. This is much easier for contestants and seems to result in more feedback. Also, it saves the contestants, judges and the Pentocrat time and money. Some of the larger notebook-like entries were quite expensive to to say nothing of the time-in-the-mail factor.