11th Annual Southwest Graduate Literature Symposium: (Con)Textual Identities: Formation and Reformation

FAQ

Graduate FAQ

Does the Southwest Graduate Literature Symposium accept submissions from faculty members?

No. Because the symposium functions as a forum for students to present and exchange ideas, it only accepts proposals from students.

Undergraduate FAQ

What is an abstract?
An abstract tells a committee what you plan to write about. It gives you a chance to sell your idea for a paper.

How do I write an abstract?
An abstract is simply a description of your paper. It includes your topic, your argument, and your approach. It should be short and precise—less than a page.

How closely must it relate to the theme of the symposium?
The theme is not meant to limit your proposal; rather, it should help you to start thinking. The theme, "(Con)textual Identities: Formation and Reformation," does not have to be central to your paper, but it should be touched upon. In your proposal, be sure to delineate the ways in which you will be dealing with the theme.

Do I have to have the paper already written?
No, you do not have to have the paper already written, nor do you have to write a paper specifically for the symposium. Good proposals often come from papers you have already written or will be writing for a class this semester.

How long should the paper be?
You will have 20 minutes to present your paper, so it should only be eight to 10 pages. It will take you at least two minutes to read each page, and you should practice reading before the conference.

What happens in a conference panel?
There will usually be three or four presenters on a panel. Each student will have 20 minutes to read his or her paper. Then the audience will be allowed to ask questions for an additional 10 minutes.

Will I be presenting on a graduate panel?
No, you will be presenting with two or three other undergraduates. Graduate and undergraduate students will be listening to your presentations and asking questions. After all of the undergraduates have presented, there will be a debriefing session in which the graduate students will give the undergraduate students feedback about their papers. From there, undergraduates can continue to refine their work, possibly using the paper as a writing sample for graduate school applications.

How long does the conference last?
The conference will be two days, Saturday and Sunday, April 3-4. Undergraduate presenters are welcome to attend all events associated with the conference, including: an optional dinner at the Holiday Inn (Rural and Apache) with a keynote lecturer, social activities, and, of course, you are highly encouraged to attend graduate student panels. Remember that the experience of a conference is as important the paper you'll present. Take advantage of social activities as well as the learning opportunities you'll receive by working with graduate students and your advisor.

When will I be presenting?
You will be presenting either Saturday, April 3, or Sunday, April 4.

Can I use visual aids?
Visual aids are strongly encouraged, if appropriate. You will have access to a VCR, DVD player, Proxima, PC, PowerPoint, CD, and cassette player, or you may wish to bring handouts. Remember to bring a backup of your presentation in a different format in case we experience technical difficulties. Please email us at swgls@asu.edu to let us know if you will be requiring any of the above equipment.

Can anyone help me?
Yes. Professors and teaching associates will be more than willing to read your proposal and make sure you are on the right track…just ask! In fact, the Undergraduate Committee will be working with your advisor as well as you to insure that the conference experience goes as smoothly as possible. Please make sure that you include your advisor's name and e-mail on your registration form, if you know it.

What is an advisor and what is her/his role?
An advisor is a professor or T.A. who will help you to understand the steps necessary to presenting at a conference and help you to revise your paper.

What if I don't have an advisor?
The first place to look is to the instructor for whom you wrote or are writing your paper (if you've written it for a class). However, any T.A. or professor will probably be glad to help, especially if your topic is of interest to them. Remember that this is a great way to foster good relations with your professors in a one-on-one mentoring relationship. If you cannot find anyone to advise you, let us know and we will put you in contact with an advisor.

Are there any additional resources for learning how to present?
Yes, we will be holding a "mock conference" where you will be able to hear graduate students present papers they've submitted for a conference. There, you'll be able to ask questions in an educational forum designed to alleviate tension about presenting. We will notify you by e-mail of the time and date of the mock conference.