• Please use the .docx format if possible (all versions of Word after 2007).
• This document contains pre-set styles that apply to each manuscript element. Please keep these styles when pasting in your text:
  • Title: Times New Roman, size 14, bold
  • Authors: Times New Roman, size 12, bold
  • Affiliation: Times New Roman, size 12
  • Key words: Times New Roman, size 12, bold
  • Key highlights: Times New Roman, size 12, bullet format
  • Abstract: Times New Roman, size 12
  • Text: Times New Roman, size 12
  • Headings (Main): Times New Roman, size 12, bold
  • Headings (Secondary): Times New Roman, size 12
  • References: Times New Roman, size 12
  • Figure or Table Captions: Times New Roman, size 12. Please bold the word Figure and its number, and if panels are incorporated bold the panel letter when referred in the caption.
• If your manuscript has supporting information, please include it at the end of your formatted manuscript under the heading “Supporting information”.

General Formatting notes:

• All text should be in Times New Roman
• References should be formatted according to the CSE Style

Manuscript Composition

Suggested composition for each of the Article types is marked with an “X”, while empty fields are not recommended. Contact us at aar2016@ualberta.ca to request an exception, if necessary. 

Manuscript Composition Description

Title Page – all submissions must contain a title page. The title page contains the title of the article and three key points. 

Title – avoid unnecessary words, and do not exceed 160 characters (including spacing between words) 

Abstract – one paragraph; maximum 250 words. The abstract should state: what was done and why, what was found, and the conclusion. The Editors must be able to discern the purpose of the paper from the abstract alone.

Key words – three to five words relevant to the article are allowed (excluding Law specific Articles).

Key highlights – list the three main findings of your reserach. Each fidning must be less than 190 characters (including spaces). 

Glossary – a glossary may be helpful in equation-laden articles, in which case the glossary specifies the units as well as each definition.

Introduction – a brief overview of the scope and relevance of the study, especially with regard to previous advancements in related fields.

Materials and Methods – Detailed description of Techniques, Models and/or Statistical methods. May also include supplies (including manufacturers and suppliers), conformity and guidelines of the study.

Results – Explicit experimental data and results. Explains any particular statistical significance of the data. (Attention: Do not compare samples from different set of experiments).

Discussion – Interpretation of the data, especially compared with previous published material cited in the ‘References’.

Appendix – an appendix may be included (and is often helpful) in mathematical modeling or computations papers (e.g. to provide details of a solution or strategy).

Acknowledgements & Grants – the authors may wish to thank people indirectly involved with the research (e.g. lab assistant), and financial supporting agencies (e.g. list the grants, fellowships and donations that funded (partially or completely) the research). Industry-sponsored grants should be listed under ‘Disclosures’.

Disclosures –Disclose to AAR any potential conflict of interest, financial or otherwise (e.g. list of industry-sponsored grants).

Article Types

*number of words includes all words within the main text (e.g. Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion). Word count do not include figure captions, tables, Acknowledgement or References.

Submissions must

1. Meet ethical requirements: e.g. all animal or human studies must contain an explicit statement that the protocols were approved by board or governing office.
2. Be original, and be respectful to additional scholarship. The Alberta Academic Review is strict against plagiarism. 
3. Be approved by the Editor in Chief and assigned Editors.

Ensuring a Double Blind Review

• The authors of the document have deleted their names from the text, with "Author" and year used in the references and footnotes, instead of the authors' name, article title, etc
• Author identification should also be removed from the properties for the file (see under File in Word).

Note on uploading files: While this platform gives authors the ability to upload multiple files, we prefer that you that you upload one complete manuscript file containing text, figures, and any tables that are part of the main text. Further supplementary information can be added as separate documents, if necessary.