Research Network Forums

Did you want to go to the RSA or CCCC conference this year and are you still looking for a way to present and possibly find funding at KU to travel to them? Luckily, both have Research Network Forums intended for graduate students like us! The deadlines for proposals are coming up, so check them out:

“Gateways to the Future of Research”
RESEARCH NETWORK FORUM AT CCCC
25th Anniversary
March 21st, 2012, St. Louis, Missouri
Proposal deadline: October 31, 2011
HOMEPAGE: http://www.rnfonline.com
Questions? Email Risa P. Gorelick or Gina M. Merys: [email on website]

CFP: Please join us in St. Louis to present a Work-in-Progress presentation or serve as a Discussion Leader (for those who are experienced, established researchers) and/or Editor (for those who edit journals/presses).

The Research Network Forum was founded in 1987 as a pre-convention workshop at CCCC. The RNF is an opportunity for published researchers, new researchers, and graduate students to discuss their current research projects and receive responses from new and senior researchers. The forum is free to CCCC convention participants. You need not be a work-in-progress presenter to attend.

As in past years, the 2012 will feature three plenary addresses focusing on “Gateways to the Future of Research.” This year’s distinguished speakers will be

· Rebecca Moore Howard and Sandra Jamieson, “Take a Deep Breath and Jump: Doing Data-Driven Research When You Aren’t Trained in Data-Driven Methods”
· Charlie Lowe and Pavel Zemliansky, “Open Educational Resource (OER) Projects as Alternative Publication Sites for Writing Teachers”
· Rich Haswell, “CompPile, Writing Studies, and Obligatory Misknowledge”

At the subsequent roundtable discussions, Work-in-Progress Presenters discuss their current projects (in an eight-minute presentation) and gain the responses of other researchers, including the Discussion Leaders. Work-in-Progress Presenters are grouped by thematic clusters, in which they will discuss their projects with other researchers and a Discussion Leader who is a senior researcher. Participants also include editors of printed and electronic journals of composition/rhetoric who will discuss publishing opportunities of completed works-in-progress.

Work-in-Progress Presenters should bring three typed questions that they should copy and distribute to participants at their table (15 copies for the two sessions will do). We encourage participants to bring a copy of the journals they edit/publish, any other publications, and announcements, which will be displayed at the RNF meeting.

Electronic proposal forms are available at www.rnfonline.com which will redirect you to our new Google sites webpage where you can click on “submit a proposal” for the roles of Work-in-Progress Presenter, Discussion Leader, and/or Editor. You may appear on the RNF Program in addition to having a speaking role at the Conference on College Composition & Communication. MEET US IN ST. LOUIS!


RSA Research Network: Sharing Work-in-Progress

Call for Submissions

The Research Network will once again be held at the 2012 RSA Conference in Philadelphia. The purpose of the Research Network is to provide newer members of our profession, especially graduate students, with an opportunity to share a work-in-progress paper in a 75-minute group session conducted by a senior scholar in the field. For our 2012 RSA Conference, the senior scholars include:

Ralph Cintrón (University of Illinois-Chicago)
Chris Farris (Indiana University)
Cara Finnegan, (University of Illinois)
Shirley Wilson Logan (University of Maryland)
Carolyn Miller (NC State U)
Roxanne Mountford (U of Kentucky)
Lester Olson (U of Pittsburgh)
Kendall Phillips (Syracuse U)
Krista Ratcliffe (Marquette University)
Jack Selzer (Penn State University)
David Zarefsky (Northwestern University)
Applications. To participate in the Research Network, submit an online application by November 10, 2011. Also feel free to contact Kim with any questions you may have. Her contact information is: kimberly.newman@mu.edu or 414.288.7033

You will be asked to include the following information in your application email:

Your name and contact information
The name of your educational institution
A ranked list of 3 scholars with whom you would like to work
A title of your dissertation chapter or article draft, plus number of pages

You will be asked to submit a 200-word abstract of your chapter or article draft under separate cover. Here's the link to the application: http://associationdatabase.com/aws/RSA/input_form/display_form_01_show?include_back_button=true&form_no=12

Acceptances. If accepted, participants will be assigned (in groups of six) to a senior scholar who will lead a sessions on May 26, which is the Saturday morning of the conference. Lunch is included. The senior scholar will contact those accepted for her/his group by early December. At that time, the senior scholar will inform participants of the process and the deadline for sharing drafts among group participants. The senior scholar will also provide further instructions for the session as the conference approaches.

Graduate Student Write-In

With one month left until finals' week here at KU, I'd say a few of us are starting to tackle, or worry about tackling a number of final papers. Luckily, I happened to notice a recent email about a Graduate Write-In today at Watson Library. From 10am-3pm the KU librarians and Writing Center representatives held a write-in on 4th floor Watson. There was coffee (essential, right?), tea, an assortment of pastries, muffins, fruit and more to munch on while we got our "write" on (I know, I know...I do not pride myself in excellent humor).

On the business side of things there were many consultants available during the whole thing to help with writing issues/questions and you could come & go whenever in both quiet and group study areas. The event was intended to help grad students work on whatever writing they had. I actually had a nice mix of productivity and fun since I was accompanied by KUAR members Jennifer, Joy and Kara. We were able to discuss resources and questions, and overall felt it was really helpful to be there together. That's about all I have to say on this but I thought I'd share in case anyone was interested in future events like this (or us forming our own type of "write-in" for Ars members). I thought it was nice to have a change of scenery...helps inspire creativity, collaboration, and community.

Does anyone have good writing tips to share? Do you have a daily or weekly routine that you follow throughout the whole semester? Secret gems you've discovered for research? Do share and look out for an announcement coming soon about another KUAR event at the end of April!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! -RMB

Communications Spring 2011 Colloquium Series

Yet another example of the need for KU Ars Rhetorica: I'd bet "money" (my money right now is only an abstract concept!) that most of the English grad students have no idea about the Communications Spring 2011 Colloquium Series. But here's the schedule for it, so now you have no excuse, fellow English folk! Our own Dr. Frank Farmer is going to be speaking, which is nice. I've briefly summarized the series below, but click the link above to get time and place details.

Feb 9 -- Dr. Rachel Griffin, U of Southern Illinois (specializations: intercultural communication, critical race theory, gender issues, critical pedagogy)

Feb 23 -- Dr. Frank Farmer

Mar 9 -- Dr. Mary Banwart (political coms) and Dr. Tom Beisecker (legal coms)

Mar 29 -- Dr. Debbie Hawhee, of Penn State (rhetorical studies)

Apr 13 -- Christine E. Crouse-Dick, KU Coms grad student