Criterion: A Journal of Literary Criticism seeks original, well-researched, and intellectually rigorous essays written from diverse critical perspectives and about texts from any time period or literary tradition. We are now accepting submissions for our Winter 2024 issue.

We invite submissions that address texts from different times and places that could help us navigate current issues. Humans have been adapting their environments to suit their needs for millennia, but over the past three centuries, the relationship between humans and their environments has changed drastically. Technological advances have changed the way humans live, work, and interact with each other. As technology advances at an ever-increasing rate, the relationship between humans and technology has become more complex. While in many ways technological advances benefit humans, some advances may be detrimental.

Submissions should be between 3,000 and 6,000 words (not including the bibliography). While not every submission need respond or even relate directly to the prompt, we will prioritize submissions concerning the topic of the intersection between humanity and technology. All submissions should be double-spaced, written in English, and formatted according to the most recent MLA guidelines. Submissions should be uploaded through our online submission system. (https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/criterion/).

We prioritize undergraduate submissions, but will consider submissions from those who have recently graduated and students pursuing a master's degree. Because we want to help undergraduates publish their work, we do not publish essays by PhD candidates or research scholars.