AERA Open Template
Get your AERA Open paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
4.5
How to Use the AERA Open Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 25 July, 2026
Submitting to AERA Open goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the AERA Open guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the AERA Open Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to AERA Open. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the AERA Open journal page before you draft.
What's actually in an AERA Open submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the AERA Open guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the AERA Open guide for authors before you submit.
What does this AERA Open Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through Editorial Manager.
Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The SciSpace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for AERA Open.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the AERA Open guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through Editorial Manager.
AERA Open Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | AERA Open requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | 100-150 words (structured: Purpose, Methods, Findings) |
| Main text | 8000-10000 words (max 12000) |
| Declarations | COI; Funding |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Per journal guidelines |
| References | APA 7th edition |
| Peer review | Double-blind |
| Open access | Yes (Gold OA, APC on acceptance) |
| Submission | https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/aeraopen |
Quick Tips for Using the AERA Open Template
Read the AERA Open guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to AERA Open in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent AERA Open papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the AERA Open journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the AERA Open guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through Editorial Manager.
