Tips for Writing Successful Conference Proposals

7/28/2019 Tips for Writing Successful Conference Proposals

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A special thanks to the late Dr. Lisa Barlow, former Proposals Chair of TESOL Arabia

2012


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What kind of topics are encouraged?

Those focusing on the conference theme TESOL Arabia 2012 theme: Achieving Excellence through

Life Skills Educations

Related to the future of the TESOL profession &professional development

From all settings, but note the audience for whomyou will be writing your proposal

Presentations that: use interactive formats engage the audience

focus on classroom practice


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The process

Read the directions: Follow the Call for Participation form

(http://tesolarabia.org/conference/proposals)

Designate the appropriate content area

Prepare your title, abstract, summary and presentersbiographical information before hand.

Submit your proposal by the deadline.

Proposals are distributed to the adjudicators.

The conference chair and organizing committeeallocate sessions to topic areas taking into accountinterest, need and quality.
http://tesolarabia.org/conference/proposalshttp://tesolarabia.org/conference/proposals


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Content Areas for TESOL Arabia

Applied Linguistics

CALL

Critical Issues in the Profession

Curriculum / MaterialsDevelopment

EAP / Content-Based Instruction

ESP

Grammar Leadership

Young Learners

Learner Independence

Listening / Speaking

Reading

Research

Sociolinguistics / Culture

Teacher Development

Testing / Assessment

Vocabulary

Writing

Content and Language

Integrated Learning (CLIL)


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The Final Steps

The chair/committee discuss borderline proposalsand other critical factors regarding scheduling.

The chair notifies presenters regarding acceptancesand rejections.

Presenters finalize preparations for theirpresentations.

Presenters deliver their presentations at theconference.


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Type of Proposal

Choose the correct type of proposal (typical time)

Paper (45 min.)

Computer Workshop Beginner (45 min.) Computer Workshop Beginner (90 min.)

Computer Workshop Intermediate (45 min.)

Computer Workshop Intermediate (90 min.)

Poster Session (45 min.)

Discussion Group (45 min.)


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Follow the Proposal Guidelines!

Most accepted proposals have one

important component in common:

they conform to the guidelines!

Many proposals are rejected because

they DONT conform to the guidelines.


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Follow the Proposal Guidelines!

The following sections are oftenproblematic:

Abstract (50 words/TESOL Arabia) Title (7 word maximum)

Summary (250 words TESOL Arabia)

If you need help writing these sections,contact the proposals team or someonewho has successfully submitted.


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Abstracts

Suggested Format: one/two general sentence(s) relating your topic to

importance in the field, theory and/or research

one/two sentence(s) describing what you

re going to do last item stating what participants will get out of thesession

Write in 3rd person present or future tense The presenters will describe. (NOT always a

requirement, but good practice anyway) Spell out acronyms used

Dont include citations

Do a word count at the end! 50 words max (TA)!


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Abstract

Good examp le or bad example?

Online teaching issues include unreliablestudent participation and high dropout. The

presenters will review these and other issues

to online instructors, discussing tips and

online tools available for producing effectivecourses that keep interest high and

participation steady.


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Abstract

One or two general sentence(s) relating your topicto importance in the field, theory and/or research?

Online teaching issues include unreliablestudent participation and high dropout. Thepresenters will review these and other issuesto online instructors, discussing tips and

online tools available for producing effectivecourses that keep interest high andparticipation steady.


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Abstract

One or two general sentence(s) relating your topicto importance in the field, theory and/or research?

YES

Online teaching issues include unreliablestudent participation and high dropout.Thepresenters will review these and other issuesto online instructors, discussing tips and



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Abstract

One/two sentence(s) describing what youre goingto do?




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Abstract


YES

Online teaching issues include unreliablestudent participation and high dropout.Thepresenters will review these and other issuesto online instructors, discussing tips and

online toolsavailable for producing effectivecourses that keep interest high andparticipation steady.


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Abstract

Last item stating what participants will get out ofthe session?

Online teaching issues include unreliablestudent participation and high dropout. Thepresenters will review these and other issuesto online instructors, discussing tips andonline tools available for producing effectivecourses that keep interest high andparticipation steady.


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Abstract

Last item stating what participants will get out ofthe session?

YES

Online teaching issues include unreliablestudent participation and high dropout. Thepresenters will review these and other issuesto online instructors, discussingtips and



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Abstract

Written in 3rd person?




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Abstract

Written in 3rd person?YES

Online teaching issues include unreliablestudent participation and high dropout.Thepresenterswill review these and other issuesto online instructors, discussing tips and



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Abstract

Length?







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Abstract

Length? 39 words!!!







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Abstract

Acronyms? Citations?




online tools available for producing effective

courses that keep interest high and



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Abstract

Good example or bad example?



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Abstract

Good example



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Same Abstract

Good example or bad example?

We are going to review lots of problems(Algren, Coombe and Hoelker, 2004, p. 19)

with online teaching and other areas of

concern to instructors who teach them, and

then you will get tips and online toolsavailable for producing things that keep

student interest high and participation steady

in your class.


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Same Abstract

One or two general sentence(s) relating yourtopic to importance in the field, theoryand/or research?

We are going to review lots of problems(Algren, Coombe and Hoelker, 2005, p. 19)with online teaching and other areas ofconcern to instructors who teach them, and

then you will get tips and online toolsavailable for producing things that keepstudent interest high and participation steadyin your class.


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Same Abstract

One or two general sentence(s) relating your topicto importance in the field, theory and/or research? SORTA, BUT WHICH PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS?

UNRELIABLE STUDENT PARTICIPATION? HIGH DROP-OUT RATES?

We are going to review lots of problems (Algren,Coombe and Hoelker, 2005, p. 19)with onlineteachingandother areas of concernto instructors

who teach them, and then you will get tips and onlinetools available for producing things that keep studentinterest high and participation steady in your class.


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Same Abstract

One/two sentence(s) describing what youregoing to do?

We are going to review lots of problems(Algren, Coombe and Hoelker, 2005, p. 19)with online teaching and other areas ofconcern to instructors who teach them, andthen you will get tips and online toolsavailable for producing things that keepstudent interest high and participation steadyin your class.


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Same Abstract


SORTA: top-down review

no discussion; no interaction;no exchange of ideas?

We aregoing to reviewlots of problems (Algren,Coombe and Hoelker, 2005, p. 19) with online

teaching and other areas of concern to instructorswho teach them, and thenyou will get tips and onlinetoolsavailable for producing things that keep studentinterest high and participation steady in your class.


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Same Abstract

Last item stating what participants will get out of

the session?

We are going to review lots of problems (Algren,

Coombe and Hoelker, 2005, p. 19) with online

teaching and other areas of concern to instructors

who teach them, and then you will get tips and online

tools available for producing things that keep studentinterest high and participation steady in your class.


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Same Abstract

Last item stating what participants will get out of

the session?

NOT BAD


Coombe and Hoelker, 2005, p. 19) with online

teaching and other areas of concern to instructors

who teach them, and then you will get tips andonline

tools available for producing things that keep student

interest high and participation steady in your class.


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Same Abstract

Length?


Coombe and Hoelker, 2005, p. 19) with onlineteaching and other areas of concern to instructorswho teach them, and then you will get tips and onlinetools available for producing things that keep studentinterest high and participation steady in your class.


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Same Abstract

Length? 55 words




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Same Abstract

Length? 55 words

TOO LONG!!!

We are going to review lots of problems (Algren,Coombe and Hoelker, 2004, p. 19) with onlineteaching and other areas of concern to instructorswho teach them, and then you will get tips and onlinetools available for producing things that keep studentinterest high and participation steady in your class.


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Same Abstract

Citations? Acronyms?




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Same Abstract

Citations? OOPS!

We are going to review lots of problems(Algren,

Coombe and Hoelker, 2005, p. 19)with onlineteaching and other areas of concern to instructorswho teach them, and then you will get tips and onlinetools available for producing things that keep studentinterest high and participation steady in your class.


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Same Abstract

Written in 3rd person?




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Same Abstract

Written in 3rd person? OOPS!

We are goingto review lots of problems (Algren,

Coombe and Hoelker, 2005, p. 19) with onlineteaching and other areas of concern to instructorswho teach them, and thenyou will gettips and onlinetools available for producing things that keep studentinterest high and participation steady in your class.


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A Sample Abstract

Good abstract or bad abstract?

According to testing literature, multiple-choice questions

(MCQs) are the most difficult to develop. Although MCQsare tremendously popular, teachers lack experience in

writing valid and reliable items. This workshop provides

guidelines and experience in writing, critiquing and

analyzing multiple-choice items.

Why do you say so?

Think of at least 2 reasons to su ppo rt you r answer!


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A Sample Abstract

According to testing literature, multiple-choice questions

(MCQs) are the most difficult to develop. Although MCQs

are tremendously popular, teachers lack experience inwriting valid and reliable items. This workshop provides

guidelines and experience in writing, critiquing and

analyzing multiple-choice items.


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Another version

Good abstract or b ad abstract?

Good MCQs are the most difficult formats to develop

(Coombe et al., 2009) and everyone needs to learnabout making good ones. Although they are still the

most popular sort of item, all teachers lack training.

You will have hands-on experience in writing,

critiquing and analyzing MCQs and getting handouts

to take home.

Why do you say so ? Think of at least 2 reasons to

suppor t your answ er!


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Another version

Good MCQs are the most difficult formats to develop

(Coombe et al, 2009) and everyone needs to learn

about making good ones. Although they are still the

most popular sort of item, all teachers lack training.

You will have hands-on experience in writing,

critiquing and analyzing MCQs and getting handouts

to take home.


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Titles

Good titles attract people to your session Compare and contrast these titles

Rate from 1 to 5 for . . .

Title (7 words max!) make sure it matches your abstract

should accurately reflect the content of your presentation

try to make it eye catching & interesting

avoid gimmicky titles

each part of hyphenated or slashed words counts as oneword

And NO colons!

What would be a good title for the sample abstract?


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Titles

Rate the following titles:

Good?

Needs improvement?

Rationale?


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Sample Titles

Teaching grammar

Silenced voices speak out

Grandpa and grammar

Daring to lead your students to

grammar Grammar: The right way to teach it

Activating the passive voice

15 sure-fire warm-ups

Can grammar classes promote

communication and interaction? Surviving and thriving in newcultures

Tactile grammar for all ages

Checkl is t

Make sure it matchesyour abstract.

It should accuratelyreflect the content ofyour presentation.

Try to make it eyecatching andinteresting.

Avoid gimmicky titles.

Each part ofhyphenated or slashedwords counts as oneword


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Summaries

Summary (250 words max)

This document is crucial because its the soledocument that the review teams sees.

Summaries should have a clearly stated rationale

contain evidence of current practice and/or research

include supporting details and examples

be carefully edited and proofread

demonstrate that presenter has chosen correct type ofpresentation.


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Checklist for Better Summaries

Meet the technical requirements (wordcount, verb tense, etc.)

It illustrates its importance to the field, basedon theory and/or research?

It is clear who the intended audience is

Describes what the presenters intend to do

Describes how the audience will benefit


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Improving Your Description

Get feedback from others who have had their

proposals accepted.

Volunteer to read proposals for your Interest Section

(IS), Special Interest Group (SIG) or other group

Get involved in an IS, SIG or other group

Network and learn what topics the interest section would like

to see on the convention program

Read this (or last) years program book for great ideas(and see samples ofwinning abstracts and content!


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Factors Affecting Selection

An important factor for the proposals team isbalance.

Too many proposals on the same topic can not all

be accepted

Proposals that target certain demographics havea good chance of being selected.

There is a lack of good presentation content at the

primary and secondary school level

Well-written proposal summaries have a betterchance of being accepted than poorly writtenones.


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Factors Disqualifying a Proposal

It promotes commercial interests.

It doesnt conform to the proposal guidelines.

It is not received before the deadline.

The same proposal is submitted more than onceunder different titles.

The same proposal is submitted every year underdifferent titles, and conference!

Being a no-show at a prior conference.


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What the Review Team says..

Good proposals

identify the anticipated outcomes

relate theory to practice

address issues of current, local and globalrelevance

are anchored in a historical context

are not narrowly focused

draw on research, theory and practice from one ormore disciplines

are well written and free of typos/grammarmistakes


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Reviewing

Peer reviewers will blind review all proposal

submissions and (for TESOL Arabia) will

have the opportunity to provide comments,

but the reviewers identities will remain

confidential.

For TESOL Arabia, all proposal reviewers willuse evaluation criteria and a scoring

rubric. Total possible score is based on a

scale of 5 points.


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Rubric for TESOL Arabia

4 or 5 paper (first round acceptance): Interesting topic

Relevant to a wide audience

Presenter seems dynamic Up-to-date topic which presents new information

Appears to be knowledgable about research relating tothe topic

Incorporates AV and technological support effectively

Offers something that participants can take away withthem

Incorporates audience participation and/or hands-onapproach


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3 paper (waiting list): Partially relevant to TESOL Arabia membership

Interesting, but does not present new ideas

Level seems either too high or too low Proposal seems too theoretical orgimmicky


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1 or 2 paper (rejected): Irrelevant topic

Does not meet standard of other proposals

Not enough information about the content of the presentation

Summary is full of spelling and grammatical mistakes

Culturally inappropriate

Level is out of reach to attendees

Paper only represents theory; no pratical element included

Paper is going to be read Paper doesnt seem to have a wide range of interest

Paper appears to be promotional (i.e. promoting a specifictextbook or program)


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What Have You Learned?

Follow the instructions

Get help if you need it

Find a good topic Write a good summary

Write a good abstract

Write a good title

Follow the instructions!


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What Do You Do Now?

Go to:

http://tesolarabia.org/conference/proposals

and submit your proposalbefore November 15th!
http://tesolarabia.org/conference/proposalshttp://tesolarabia.org/conference/proposalshttp://tesolarabia.org/conference/proposals

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Tips for Writing Successful Conference Proposals