Academic journals are pivotal for scholars as they provide valuable data, knowledge, information, and opportunities for further research. At the same time, it is essential to ensure the quality and reliability of the source before citing it. In this regard, a publication needs to meet a number of criteria to qualify as a trustworthy scholarly journal. The core characteristics for evaluation include the intended audience, scope, focus, prestige, and usefulness of the source, the general quality of the essays, and the rhetorical, conceptual, and theoretical personalities of the periodical. For this report, English Studies, a peer-reviewed academic journal by Routledge, was selected. This periodical was established in 1919, and currently, eight issues are published annually (“Journal Information”). The journal covers a variety of subjects in the fields of English literature, language, and culture. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and provide a report on English Studies published by Routledge.
The Intended Audience of the Journal
The intended audience of the English Studies journal generally includes scholars, teachers, and students of the Humanities, primarily English language and literature. It is evident that this periodical provides access to studies on various subjects that are of particular value for Anglicists. More specifically, this publication targets such professionals within English Studies as English linguists, sociolinguists, historians, rhetoricians, folklorists, etymologists, literary critics, education specialists, and experts in cultural studies (“Journal Information”). Furthermore, the journal can provide relevant data and research findings for scholars of creative writing, journalism, law, philosophy, communication studies, media studies, and others. The core objective of the selected periodical is to provide access to academic articles on literature and texts produced in English (“Journal Information”). As can be seen, the English Studies periodical targets individuals that study or specialize in the English language, literature, and culture, publishing critical studies related to these fields.
The Scope and Focus of the Journal
The focus of the English Studies Journal by Routledge includes such disciplines as English language, literature, and culture, which provide readers with an opportunity to explore these subjects in detail. The periodical is listed in “Arts & Humanities Citation Index; Humanities Index; Humanities International Index; International Bibliography of Theatre & Dance; Linguistics Abstracts Online; Linguistic Bibliography; Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts; MLA International Bibliography, OCLC; Periodicals Index Online; RILM Abstracts of Music Literature and SCOPUS” (“Journal Information”). Furthermore, the scope of English Studies includes publications “from leading scholars worldwide on the language, literature and culture of the English-speaking world from the Early Medieval period to the present day” (“Journal Information”). Each regular issue of the journal comprises six to seven articles, provided along with five to six reviews of new significant publications (“Journal Information”). Moreover, two special issues are available in each volume, covering more specific topics of interest for English studies specialists.
Quality of the Essays
The quality of publications is of particular importance for scholars and students that obtain data and research findings from English Studies. Overall, the journal ensures a high quality of the published material by establishing a double-blind peer-reviewed policy and an additional review of the articles by two referees (“Journal Information”). Such a strategy aims to increase the educational value of the periodical for the audience and assist authors in improving the quality of their work. In this regard, a review of the essays from the latest issues has revealed that the English Studies journal informs its readers of recent developments, findings, and discoveries in the fields of English literature, language, and culture. Advisory editors ensure the balance between traditional and innovative approaches to English studies (“Journal Information”). As a result, audiences from all over the world can benefit from the high-quality material presented in the periodical.
The Prestige of the Journal
To evaluate the prestige of the selected journal, it is essential to examine its international reputation and explore whether it is enlisted in reputable indexes. In doing so, one can assess the credibility and trustworthiness of the periodical, which are the pivotal components of its prestige. In this regard, the English studies periodical is presented in the Scopus database, which is generally considered a golden standard and a sign of the importance and influence of the journal in the academic context (“Journal Information”). Furthermore, the English studies journal is enlisted in the MLA International Bibliography, which is a crucial research tool for scholars and students interested in modern literature and languages (“Journal Information”). As can be seen, the journal’s prestige and credibility are supported by internationally recognized indexes.
Rhetorical, Conceptual, and Theoretical Personalities of the Journal
The English Studies journal has distinct rhetorical, conceptual, and theoretical personalities, which is evident due to its impact on international readers and its importance in the field of English studies. Namely, rhetoric refers to the art of high-quality expression of thoughts with persuasion and influence on the audience, which can be achieved by taking into account its characteristics and needs. In this regard, the English Studies journal satisfies readers’ interest in relevant subjects and innovations in the fields of language and literature. Furthermore, the conceptual perspective of the journal is supported by publications that focus on various aspects of relevant problems, allowing for a comprehensive approach to English studies. Finally, the theoretical personality of the periodical is versatile, as the authors cover numerous subjects and theories in the fields of the English language, literature, and culture.
The Best and Worst Essay in the Volume
An analysis of the latest volume in the selected journal has revealed the best and worst essays based on their success or failure to embody the periodical’s core qualities. The article “Crossing the Mirror into Maternal Waters: The Ethics and Aesthetics of Becoming-other in Ella Hickson’s The Writer (2018)” by Fakhrkonandeh can be rated as the most successful and read in the recent issue. Such popularity of this publication can be explained by its compatibility with the journal’s focus on quality research and evidence-based data (1). The article is well-structured and supported by relevant citations, which increases its value for English studies scholars and students. At the same time, “The Moral Economy of Sadie Jones’s The Snakes” by Mathews is ranked among the least-read articles in the recent issue (1). This fact can be explained by the lack of critical analysis supported by evidence and other reputable sources, which means that the author mostly provides a personal interpretation of the subject at hand.
Disconnect Between Stated and Actual Qualities
No significant disconnect between the stated and actual qualities of the journal was identified throughout the analysis of English Studies. In general, the articles provided in the journal comply with its peer-review policy and focus on the English language, literature, and culture. The intended audience can benefit from research findings revealed in the periodical. Therefore, the lack of disparities between the intentional and factual qualities of the journal indicates its practical value for professionals and students. The only aspect that can be described as a slight disconnection is the fact that the majority of the articles focus on traditional methods of research, while the journal emphasizes its focus on innovative approaches.
The Usefulness of the Journal
The usefulness of the journal can be assessed after the review of its scope, focus, reputation, core values, essays, and articles presented in the latest issues. The analysis has revealed that English Studies is a peer-reviewed academic periodical that has a long history of providing access to quality research findings related to the English language, culture, and literature. Moreover, individuals can obtain additional knowledge and research findings from special issues that expand beyond the general subject of the English language and literature. The following topics were covered in previous special issues: “A Feminist Renaissance in Early Medieval English Studies, Metamodernism, Ecocriticism and Narrative, Shakespeare and Theory, Stylometry and Authorship Attribution” (“Journal Information”). Furthermore, internationally recognized indexes enlist the journal as a credible source of information, which further supports its usefulness for students and scholars.
To conclude, the English Studies journal publishes critical studies related to the fields of English language, literature, and culture. The intended audience includes scholars and students that study or specialize in the Humanities, such as linguists, sociolinguists, historians, rhetoricians, folklorists, etymologists, literary critics, education specialists, and experts in cultural studies. The analysis of the journal has indicated that the essays comply with the periodical’s policy and focus on quality and evidence-based research. As a result, the English Studies journal can be considered a trustworthy and credible source of research findings for English Studies specialists and students.
Works Cited
“Journal Information.” Tailor & Francis Online, Web.
Fakhrkonandeh, Alireza. “Crossing the Mirror into Maternal Waters: The Ethics and Aesthetics of Becoming-other in Ella Hickson’s The Writer (2018).” English Studies, vol. 103, no. 6, 2022, pp. 1-34. Web.
Mathews, Peter D. “The Moral Economy of Sadie Jones’s The Snakes.” English Studies, vol. 103, no. 6, 2022, pp. 1-21. Web.