Writing for Agora gives you a chance to share your expertise and ideas with history teachers and contribute to the history teaching community. Agora invites submissions that relate to history teaching in any way, from classroom-ready activities to deep curriculum discussions and insights into history teaching as a discipline.

Read more about the editorial process, copyright and our style guide.

Download author guidelines
Download author agreement

Themes

Each issue of Agora focuses on a specific theme. Articles that don’t relate to the theme are also welcome, although they may be held over for an appropriate issue.

Please submit book reviews and Sungraphô articles at any time.

2019 (volume 54)

1 Objects and Artefacts

Distribution date: April 2019

2 Differentiation and Inclusion

Closing date for submissions: 9 July 2019
Distribution date: August 2019

3 Excursions

Closing date for submissions: 2 October 2019
Distribution date: November 2019

Future themes

Historical Skills and Storytelling

Australian Histories

Agora structure

Agora features four sections that accommodate different styles and interests. Consider which section best suits your intended contribution.

Thema Perspectives on the theme
2000­–5000 words

Praktikos Teaching ideas
1500–3000 words

Sungraphô Peer-reviewed research articles
4000­–6000 words

Sungraphô articles are subject to a double-blind peer-review process coordinated by the Sungraphô section editor, Dr Heather Sharp of the University of Newcastle. Because the review process is of uncertain length, Sungraphô articles are not necessarily linked to the issue theme.

Kritikos Reviews (online)
500–1000 words

General information

Agora content is aimed at practising history teachers and educators. Articles range in tone from formal and academic style to conversational. Writers are expected to demonstrate a fair-minded approach when discussing the work of others, and submissions should be both courteous and academically rigorous.

Please send submissions to the Agora editor, Dr Katrina Burge. By submitting a contribution to Agora, you agree to the terms of the author agreement. Please include a signed copy of the author agreement with your submission.

Read more about the editorial process, copyright and our style guide.

Style Guide and Editorial Process

Editorial process

Your article or review will be edited to correct spelling or syntax errors, apply house style and, where necessary, enhance expressions and clarify meaning. The editor(s) will endeavour to consult you before making substantial changes.

The editor’s decision on whether HTAV will publish your submission is final. If your article is published, you will receive a complimentary print copy of the issue in which it appears. Review authors receive a high-quality digital offprint of their review and are welcome to keep any materials sent to them for review.

Planning to write

At least 6-8 weeks before the closing date for submissions, please contact Agora editor Katrina Burge to pitch your ideas. You’re encouraged to submit an outline or extract of your work.

Please note that the submission dates refer to the final handover of a completed article, not a draft.

Content and tone

Material needs to be broadly appropriate for practising history teachers and educators.

Tone may vary from a formal, academic style to a more conversational style, depending on the nature of your contribution. Writers are expected to demonstrate a fair-minded approach when discussing the work of others, and submissions should be both courteous and academically rigorous.

Originality and copyright

Articles submitted must be the original work of the author(s). Note that third-party material used in Agora contributions is subject to the ‘fair dealing’ provisions of Australian copyright law, not the more generous ‘10% approach’ often used in school.

If it is essential for you to use copyright material beyond the scope of fair dealing (e.g. long quotations, images), please contact the editor as soon as possible to discuss getting appropriate permissions. Unless otherwise agreed, HTAV will seek permissions and pay related costs.

If you article is accepted, you assign copyright to HTAV but reserve your right to use your contribution in your teaching activities and other specified uses. Please see the author agreement for more information on copyright.

Formatting and style guide

Format

Please submit your item as a Word document with structural formatting (headings, bold, italics).

Images

Images should be submitted as individual jpeg, tiff or pdf files, minimum resolution 300dpi.

You’re encouraged to supply or suggest suitable images to accompany your article, and HTAV will also carry out image research as required. For copyright reasons, it’s essential that you provide the source of all images you supply. If it is not your original work, please advise the editor as early as possible so we can start the process of getting permission to reproduce the item.

If school students or their work feature in your photographs, you'll need to provide written permission from the parent or guardian specifically releasing the image for publication in Agora. (Standard school permissions are generally not adequate.) If you wish, you can use this permission form.

Spelling

Spelling follows the Macquarie Dictionary. Please use –ise (not ize) and -our ( not –or) spellings.

Style guide

If you use the work of others directly or indirectly in your submission, it must be acknowledged. Agora follows the Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition). Please use the Word footnote feature and include full footnotes, not Harvard-style author date references. A bibliography is not required.

More information can be found at the Chicago Manual of Style website.

Download Author Guidelines (pdf)

Author Agreement (pdf)

Student Permission Form (doc)