This article discusses the principles used for evaluating and classifying the journals that constitute the Qualis data bank established by Capes (National Council for the Improvement of Higher Education). More specifically, the article examines how this evaluative and classificatory process is taking place in the field of Letters/Linguistics. To do so, the article seeks to establish an ideal model of a scientific journal by considering the the problems faced by those who deal with scientific editing in Brazil. It then uses the model as a starting point for analyzing the Qualis classification process for Letters/Linguistics and for proposing an alternative approach to journal evaluation and classification.