MANUSCRIPT  STRUCTURE  AND  CITING

The essential requirements concerning manuscript structure, formal preparation, citation style, and reference formatting are provided in the official Seminare manuscript template. For clarity and ease of reference, these requirements are also presented in greater detail below.

Article Structure and Formatting

Authors are required to prepare their manuscripts in accordance with the structure and formatting rules set out below. Compliance with these requirements facilitates an efficient editorial process and ensures consistency across articles published in Seminare.

Authors are expected to submit manuscripts fully compliant with the official Seminare template and the requirements set out below. The Editorial Board cannot undertake extensive formatting or restructuring on behalf of authors.

The journal accepts original manuscripts in English only. Manuscripts must not have been formally published previously in any language and must not be under consideration by another journal. The prior posting of a manuscript on a recognised preprint server is not regarded as previous publication, provided that the preprint is disclosed at the time of submission in accordance with the journal’s Preprint Policy.

Authors are required to use the official Seminare Word template when preparing their manuscripts:

Download the Seminare manuscript template (Word): TEMPLATE

Please read this page together with the template before preparing and submitting your manuscript.

1. Text Formatting

File format: Microsoft Word (.docx), prepared using the official Seminare manuscript template.

Page size, margins, fonts, paragraph spacing, line spacing, indentation, and other layout settings are predefined in the template and must not be changed manually.

Authors should apply the styles provided in the template, including:

• the dedicated article-title style for the title;
• the main-text paragraph style provided in the template;
• Heading 1 for main sections;
• Heading 2 for subsections;
• Heading 3 for sub-subsections, where necessary.

Do not create headings by manually changing the font size, applying bold, or otherwise imitating the appearance of a heading style.

Use bold sparingly for emphasis in the main text. Do not apply bold manually to section or subsection headings.

Use italics for titles of cited works, foreign terms, scientific names, and other elements where italics are required by the conventions of the relevant discipline. Avoid using italics solely for decorative emphasis.

Do not use:

• manual tabs to align text;
• non-breaking spaces to shape lines;
• manual line breaks or additional paragraph breaks to control the layout;
• manual editing of letter spacing;
• spaces or deleted characters to force text into a particular position;
• manual formatting to reproduce the appearance of styles already provided in the template.

2. Manuscript Length and Structure

Maximum length

The standard length of a manuscript, including the abstract, main text, references, and all Statements, should not exceed 35,000 characters with spaces, approximately 5,500–6,000 words.

Longer manuscripts may be considered in justified cases only after prior consultation with the Editorial Board.

Research articles

Authors must follow the structure provided in the official template. A typical research article should contain:

1. Title;
2. Author(s), institutional affiliation(s), e-mail address(es), and a valid authenticated ORCID identifier for each author;
3. Abstract, 150–250 words, presented as a single paragraph;
4. Keywords, 5–10;
5. Introduction;
6. Main sections and subsections appropriate to the subject and methodology of the article;
7. Results and/or discussion, where applicable;
8. Conclusions;
9. Statements;
10. References;
11. Appendix, where needed.

Extensive datasets, very large tables, detailed methodological materials, and other supplementary content that is not essential to the main argument should be placed in an Appendix cited in the main text or submitted as a separate supplementary file, where appropriate.

Figures and tables that are necessary for understanding the article should remain in the main text close to their first citation.

Review articles

Review articles may follow a more flexible internal structure than research articles. They must nevertheless include:

• an abstract;
• 5–10 keywords;
• a clearly organised main text;
• a References section citing no fewer than four scholarly publications;
• all applicable Statements required by the manuscript template.

Review articles should synthesise and critically assess the state of research on a clearly defined topic and must comply with the academic, ethical, formal, accessibility, and transparency standards of Seminare.

Reports

Reports may follow a less formal internal structure than research articles. They must nevertheless include:

• a title;
• author information;
• an abstract;
• 5–10 keywords;
• a clearly organised main text;
• all applicable Statements required by the manuscript template.

References are welcome but are not obligatory where the nature of the report does not require them.

3. Abstract and Keywords

Abstract

The abstract must contain 150–250 words and be presented as a single paragraph.

It should briefly present:

• the background and rationale of the study;
• the main aim;
• the method, approach, or conceptual framework;
• the key results or principal argument;
• the main conclusions.

The abstract must accurately reflect the content of the article and must not exaggerate its findings or conclusions.

Avoid references, footnotes, citations, and uncommon abbreviations in the abstract.

Keywords

Provide 5–10 specific keywords that accurately reflect the main subject, concepts, and methodological or theoretical approach of the article.

Keywords should correspond to terms likely to be used in academic search engines and indexing databases. Avoid expressions that are overly broad or unrelated to the central argument of the article.

Avoid unnecessary repetition of words already used in the title unless they are essential indexing terms.

4. Editorial Adjustments to the Title, Abstract, and Keywords

The Editorial Board may propose editorial adjustments to the title, abstract, and keywords in order to improve clarity, indexing quality, discoverability, and compliance with the journal’s profile.

As part of the journal’s editorial SEO policy, particular attention is given to ensuring that the title, abstract, keywords, and article metadata accurately communicate the subject, objectives, and principal findings of the publication and facilitate its discoverability by relevant scholarly audiences.

Such changes do not affect the scholarly content of the article and are presented to the author for approval at the final proof stage.

5. Figures, Tables, and Accessibility Requirements

In accordance with applicable digital-accessibility requirements, Seminare requires that all figures and tables be prepared in an accessible form.

Figures, including photographs, drawings, diagrams, maps, charts, and logos, must be accompanied by appropriate alternative text.

Tables must have a clear structure, meaningful header rows, and a concise textual description placed between the table title and the table itself.

Authors should ensure that colours used in figures, charts, diagrams, and maps are distinguishable for readers with colour-vision deficiencies and provide sufficient visual contrast.

Essential information must not be conveyed solely through colour, shading, position, shape, or other visual styling without an accompanying textual explanation.

5.1. Figures: Content, Files, and Alternative Text

Number figures consecutively:
Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, …

Each figure in the manuscript must have:

• a clear and informative title or caption placed below the figure;
• information about the source, where applicable;
• a corresponding reference in the main text.

Figures should be placed in the main text close to their first citation.

Uploading graphic files

In addition to figures embedded in the manuscript file, authors must:

• upload each figure as a separate high-resolution graphic file;
• use an appropriate standard format, such as JPG or PNG;
• name each file according to its order in the manuscript, for example Figure-1, Figure-2, or Figure-3;
• optionally add a short identifying keyword, for example Figure-1-map.

Editable charts

Where charts or graphs were originally created in Excel, they must be collected in a single editable Excel file and uploaded with the manuscript.

The submission should therefore include, where applicable:

• the manuscript file;
• separate graphic files;
• one editable Excel file containing all charts originally created in Excel;
• a separate Word file containing the alternative text descriptions for all figures.

Alternative text for figures

Each informational figure must have concise alternative text, commonly referred to as alt text, that can be read by screen readers.

Authors should not insert alt text directly into the figure properties in the manuscript file. Instead, alt text must be provided in a separate Word document. After acceptance, the technical editor will add the alternative descriptions to the graphic objects during production.

Prepare a separate Word file titled, for example:
Alt text for figures – [short title of the article]

List all figures in the order in which they appear in the manuscript.

For each figure, provide the full caption and then the alt text in a separate paragraph:

Figure 1. Full title of the figure
Alt text: …

Figure 2. Full title of the figure
Alt text: …

Alt text should:

• usually consist of 1–3 concise sentences;
• explain what the figure shows;
• communicate the substantive information available to a sighted reader;
• describe the main objects, relationships, variables, axes, units, trends, or comparisons;
• for charts and graphs, identify the variables on each axis, units of measurement, time period, and main trend or comparison;
• be factually accurate and consistent with the article;
• not rely exclusively on colours, shapes, or visual styling;
• avoid unnecessary introductory phrases such as “image of” or “picture showing”, unless this information is relevant.

Where a figure is purely decorative and contains no relevant information, state:
Alt text: decorative image – no informational content.

5.2. Tables and Short Descriptions

Number tables consecutively:

Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, …

Each table must have:

• a concise and informative title or caption placed above the table;
• a short textual description placed between the table title and the table itself;
• a clear and meaningful header row;
• an appropriate reference in the main text.

Tables should be placed in the main text close to their first citation.

The short description should normally consist of 1–3 sentences and should:

• state what type of data or information the table presents;
• identify the main columns, variables, groups, periods, and units, where applicable;
• clarify the structure of the table where necessary;
• indicate the most important pattern, comparison, relationship, or trend;
• avoid reproducing the content of every cell.

Tables must be created as real Word tables rather than images or screenshots.

Authors should define a clear header row containing concise and meaningful column headings. Do not rely on bold formatting alone to identify column headings.

In Word, select the first row and choose:
Table Properties → Row → Repeat as header row at the top of each page

This setting helps screen readers associate each data cell with the appropriate column heading.

Authors should also:

• avoid nested tables;
• avoid heavily merged cells;
• avoid empty rows or columns used for spacing;
• avoid excessively complex structures;
• explain all abbreviations, symbols, and units in the table, caption, or table notes.

Supplementary materials, appendices, datasets, and additional files submitted with the manuscript should be provided in accessible formats wherever possible.

6. Types of Submissions

Seminare accepts the following types of manuscripts:

Research articles

Original studies presenting new research results, theoretical analyses, conceptual investigations, or case studies within the journal’s scope.

Research articles should clearly identify:

• the research problem and aim;
• the theoretical, methodological, or interpretative approach;
• the principal results or arguments;
• the main conclusions;
• the article’s original scholarly contribution.

Review articles

Synthetic works summarising and critically assessing the state of research on a clearly defined topic related to the journal’s profile.

Review articles may follow a more flexible internal structure than research articles, but they must include an abstract, keywords, a References section citing at least four scholarly publications, and all applicable Statements.

Reports

In justified cases, Seminare publishes reports from important conferences, research projects, academic events, or other scholarly initiatives related to the activity of the Francis de Sales Scientific Society (TNFS), the journal itself, or the academic fields represented within the journal’s profile.

All manuscript types must comply with the general formatting rules, accessibility requirements, transparency standards, and ethical principles described on this page and in the official Seminare manuscript template.

Submission of a manuscript does not guarantee qualification for peer review. All submissions undergo an initial editorial assessment of their thematic fit, scholarly contribution, formal preparation, ethical compliance, language, and adherence to the journal’s requirements.

All published manuscript types must be in English and should include a title, author information, abstract, keywords, and all mandatory Statements specified in the Seminare manuscript template, unless expressly exempted by the Editorial Board.

7. Scope and Profile of Submissions

Manuscripts submitted to Seminare must fall within the journal’s thematic scope.

Seminare is a topic-centred interdisciplinary journal addressing an international community of researchers working on children, adolescents and young adults, education, formation, and human development. Education and educational sciences constitute the journal’s principal disciplinary framework.

The journal publishes empirical, theoretical, historical, and normative research on educational and formative processes and on the familial, social, cultural, religious, and digital environments that shape the development of young people.

Contributions from psychology, sociology, theology, philosophy, law, history, anthropology, media studies, and related fields are considered where they make a direct and explicit contribution to this central subject.

National and local case studies are welcome where they are situated within international scholarship and offer findings, concepts, or interpretations relevant beyond their immediate context. The journal particularly encourages comparative research, international and cross-institutional collaboration, and studies representing under-researched educational and cultural settings.

Manuscripts that address a discipline-specific problem without a clear and substantive relationship to young people, education, formation, or human development fall outside the journal’s scope.

A detailed description of the journal’s thematic scope and disciplinary profile is provided in the About the Journal section of the journal website.

Open Science and Research Transparency

Seminare supports the principles of open and transparent research. Authors are encouraged, where appropriate and ethically possible, to share research data, methodological information, and other materials that facilitate the verification, reuse, and dissemination of research results.

Preprint Policy

The prior posting of a manuscript on a recognised preprint server is not regarded as previous publication and does not prevent submission to Seminare.

Authors must disclose the existence of any preprint at the time of submission and provide its URL or persistent identifier.

If the article is subsequently published in Seminare, authors are encouraged to update the preprint record with a reference and DOI link to the published version.

References and Citation Style

8. Chicago Author-Date Citation Style

Seminare uses the Chicago author–date citation style, based on the 18th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style and adapted to the journal’s specific requirements. Bibliographic references must be provided as in-text citations and corresponding entries in the reference list. Footnotes may be used only for additional explanatory remarks and must not replace in-text bibliographic citations.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that every cited source exists, that all bibliographic information is accurate, and that every in-text citation has a corresponding reference-list entry.

Detailed requirements concerning in-text citations, reference-list entries, DOI and URL presentation, legal acts, institutional documents, and other source types are provided in the journal’s citation guidelines. Authors should also follow the examples and instructions included in the official Seminare manuscript template.

Authors are encouraged to engage with relevant international scholarship and ensure that the literature cited reflects the current state of research in the field.

General Rules for In-Text Citations

In-text citations must:

1. include the author’s surname and the year of publication;
2. include a page number or page range for direct quotations;
3. include a page number or other stable locator when referring to a specific argument, passage, section, paragraph, chapter, or article, where available;
4. use both authors’ surnames for works by two authors;
5. use the first author’s surname followed by et al. for works by three or more authors;
6. separate multiple sources cited together with semicolons;
7. distinguish works by the same author published in the same year by adding the letters a, b, c, and so on;
8. use the name of the institution where the author is an organisation or public body;
9. correspond exactly to an entry in the reference list.

General Rules for the Reference List

The reference list must:

1. include every source cited in the manuscript;
2. include only sources cited in the manuscript;
3. be arranged alphabetically by the surname of the first author;
4. provide authors’ full first names rather than initials, where available;
5. present the first author as surname followed by first name;
6. present subsequent authors as first name followed by surname;
7. list all authors for works by up to six authors; for works by more than six authors, list the first three authors followed by et al.;
8. use consistent punctuation, capitalisation, and italics;
9. include a DOI in URL format wherever available;
10. include a stable URL where no DOI is available and online access is relevant;
11. distinguish works by the same author published in the same year by adding the letters a, b, c, and so on.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that every in-text citation corresponds to a reference-list entry and that every reference-list entry is cited in the manuscript.

Selected Examples

Journal article

Reference list
Biesta, Gert. 2009. “Good Education in an Age of Measurement: On the Need to Reconnect with the Question of Purpose in Education.” Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability 21 (1): 33–46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11092-008-9064-9.

In-text citation
(Biesta 2009, 40)

Book

Reference list
Sawyer, Keith R. 2014. The Cambridge Handbook of the Learning Sciences. Cambridge University Press.

In-text citation
(Sawyer 2014, 25)

Chapter in an edited volume

Reference list
Sawyer, R. Keith. 2014. “The New Science of Learning.” In The Cambridge Handbook of the Learning Sciences, edited by R. Keith Sawyer, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139519526.002.

In-text citation
(Sawyer 2014, 7)

9. Statements

The Statements section is mandatory and must be prepared in accordance with the official Seminare manuscript template.

Authors must retain all required headings and complete each applicable statement. Where a required statement does not apply, authors should use the wording provided in the template.

The Statements section includes, where applicable:

• Author Contributions;
• Funding;
• Institutional Review Board / Ethics Statement;
• Informed Consent Statement;
• Data Availability Statement;
• Acknowledgments;
• AI Tools Declaration, where disclosure is required under the journal’s AI Policy;
• Conflicts of Interest;

The Author Contributions statement is required only for manuscripts with more than one author.

Acknowledgments are optional.

The official wording, examples, and instructions for each statement are provided in the Seminare manuscript template and should be followed exactly.

10. Publishing Agreement

When submitting a manuscript, the authors are required to provide a completed and signed Publishing Agreement.

The Publishing Agreement form is available for download from the journal’s website:
https://czasopisma.uksw.edu.pl/pliki/s/agreement.docx

The authors must complete and sign the Publishing Agreement and upload it through the journal’s online submission system together with the manuscript and the required accompanying files. Detailed information on the accepted methods of signing and submitting the Agreement is provided in the Publishing Agreement section of the journal website.

The publication process cannot be completed without a correctly completed and signed Publishing Agreement.