Agora Review Submission Guidelines
How Can I Submit My Writing?
You can submit your writing through our online submission form. However, we highly encourage you to read the rest of the submission guidelines below before submitting, as failure to comply will reduce your chances of acceptance.
Who Is Eligible to Submit?
At this time, Agora Review accepts submissions only from authors between the ages of 15 and 18.
What Do We Publish?
Agora Review publishes writing across a wide range of genres and disciplines. We are especially interested in work that reflects strong critical thinking, engages thoughtfully with important societal issues., and supports claims with credible evidence when appropriate. In addition, we expect submissions to be logically organized and use clear, effective language.
We currently accept submissions in the following categories:
Research Article
A research article presents original research, analysis, or argument based on evidence. Research articles may be in STEM fields, the humanities, or the social sciences.
Review Article
Rather than presenting entirely original findings, a review article synthesizes and evaluates existing research on a topic, identifying important perspectives and gaps in the existing literature.
Opinion Article
An opinion article presents a clear argument or perspective on a current issue, idea, policy, or debate. Strong opinion pieces are grounded in evidence and reasoning rather than personal feeling alone.
Creative Writing
We welcome creative writing that explores meaningful themes or societal issues. This may include short stories, poetry, personal essays, flash fiction, scripts, or other original literary forms.
How Does the Submission Process Work?
Step 1: Submit Your Work
Submit your work through the submission form along with a Google Docs link.
Step 2: Initial Screening
Our editorial team reviews the submission for overall quality, fit with the publication, formatting, and academic integrity.
Step 3: Expert Evaluation
If the submission passes the initial screening, it is sent to a subject expert or qualified reviewer for further evaluation.
Step 4: Editorial Decision
There are three possible outcomes:
Accepted: The piece is accepted for publication and proceeds to Step 6.
Accepted Pending Revisions: The piece has strong potential but requires revisions before publication.
Rejected: The piece is not accepted for publication. Rejected submissions may not be resubmitted in the same form.
Step 5: Revisions
If revisions are requested, authors will receive editorial feedback and be asked to submit a revised version. In some cases, multiple rounds of revision may be necessary.
Once the editorial team determines that all concerns have been adequately addressed, the piece proceeds to Step 6.
Step 6: Formatting and Indexing
Accepted pieces are professionally formatted for publication and prepared for indexing.
Step 7: Publication
The final version is published. Congratulations!
How Long Does it Take to Get Published?
In most cases, the full process takes approximately 2-3 months from submission to publication, though it may take longer during busy periods or if multiple rounds of revision are required.
For authors who need a faster decision, we also offer a Fast Track Submission option for $200. Fast Track submissions receive a guaranteed editorial verdict within two weeks. Please note that this fee is nonrefundable and does not guarantee acceptance.
Formatting and Submission Requirements
All submissions must be submitted as a Google Docs link. Sharing settings must be set so that “Anyone with the link” can view the document.
Please use a readable standard font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri in 11-point or 12-point size, and keep formatting simple and consistent. Please use single spacing throughout.
If you use headings, please format them consistently:
Main headings: bold, title case, on their own line
Subheadings: bold, title case, on their own line
Second-level subheadings (if needed): italicized or bold italic, title case, on their own line
If you use citations, please use Vancouver style throughout. In-text citations should appear as bracketed numbers (for example, [1] or [2]), and full references should appear in a numbered References section at the end of the piece in the order of first citation. If possible, please include a DOI or stable URL for each source.
If you include tables or figures, please label them clearly and keep formatting straightforward.
Accepted pieces may be reformatted by the editorial team before publication.
Recommended Structures by Submission Type
At Agora Review, we recognize that strong academic and creative work can take many forms, and we do not expect all submissions to follow a single standardized format. What matters most is clarity of thought, coherence of argument, and the strength of the ideas being communicated. As such, the structures below are intended as flexible guidance rather than strict requirements.
Research Articles may take different shapes depending on the discipline and method of inquiry. In some cases—particularly in STEM fields—authors may choose a more conventional empirical structure that includes an introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. In other cases, especially in the humanities and social sciences, research is more interpretive in nature and may unfold as a sustained analytical essay. These pieces often begin with an introduction that frames a research question or thesis, followed by sections that develop historical, theoretical, or cultural context and proceed through thematic or chronological analysis of evidence. Rather than reporting experimental results, these works build insight through interpretation, synthesis, and argumentation across sources.
Review Articles generally focus on synthesizing and evaluating existing scholarship rather than presenting original empirical findings. They typically begin by establishing the scope and purpose of the review, then organize relevant literature in a way that may be thematic or chronological depending on what best serves the topic. As the discussion develops, authors often compare key debates, highlight areas of consensus or disagreement, and offer a critical evaluation of the strengths, limitations, and gaps within the existing body of work. These articles usually conclude by summarizing the current state of knowledge and suggesting directions for future inquiry.
Opinion Articles are more flexible in form, but they should still present a clear central argument supported by reasoning and evidence. While structure may vary widely depending on style and topic, effective opinion writing typically develops an idea in a logical progression, engages with alternative perspectives where appropriate, and builds toward a concluding reflection that reinforces the author’s position or invites further consideration.
Creative Writing is the most open-ended category in terms of structure. Submissions may take the form of short stories, poetry, personal essays, or hybrid forms, and may follow conventional narrative arcs or experimental structures depending on artistic intent. Regardless of form, creative submissions should feel intentional, polished, and complete.
While these descriptions outline common approaches, we welcome thoughtful departures from them. Submissions that adopt alternative structures will still be considered, especially when the chosen format better serves the content, argument, or artistic purpose of the work.
Is the Author’s Note Required?
Yes. One of the unique features of Agora Review is that, much like the agora in ancient Greece, we are interested in stimulating meaningful public discourse about important issues. For that reason, every submission must include an Author’s Note of 250–500 words. In the Author’s Note, we encourage you to explain what motivated you to create this piece; why you believe the issue, theme, or question explored in the work is important; what you hope readers will think about, question, or discuss after reading it; and any personal, academic, or intellectual background that shaped your perspective. The Author’s Note is not evaluated in the same way as the main submission, but it helps the editorial team better understand the intentions behind the work and how it contributes to broader public conversation, and it will be published along with the work itself.
Word Count Guidelines
Most submissions fall between 2,000 and 8,000 words. Exceptions may be made, especially for creative writing or unusually ambitious research projects. However, submissions that fall within this range are more likely to be accepted for publication.
Academic Integrity and AI Policy
Agora Review takes academic integrity seriously. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. All sources must be properly cited. We recognize that AI can be used responsibly as a support tool, but submissions must reflect the author’s own thoughts and voice. If AI tools were used at any stage of the writing, brainstorming, editing, or research process, this use must be disclosed. Undisclosed AI-generated writing may result in rejection.
How Selective Is Agora Review?
Agora Review is selective in its publication process, with an acceptance rate that is typically around 15–20% of submissions. However, we do not aim for a fixed acceptance rate, and selection is not based on quotas. Instead, our mission is to provide a platform for exceptional student work. As such, we maintain rigorous editorial standards focused on originality, analytical depth, and overall quality of writing. Any submission that meets these standards is considered for publication,