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http://www.aarweb.org/Meetings/Annual_Meeting/Current_Meeting/Call_for_Papers/Default.asp

2008 Annual Meeting
Call for Papers

Call for Papers Text

Guidelines for Submitting Proposals

Step 1: Find a topic in the call that interests you. Determine which type of proposal you wish to submit.

  • Individual Paper Proposal – a paper written by you that you will present in response to a theme within a unit’s call.
  • Individual Panel Proposal – a unit has placed a call for scholars willing to speak (not present a paper) about a certain theme and you wish to participate. (This type of proposal is rare.)
  • Prearranged Papers Session Proposal (example) – a proposal for a complete session of different papers on a theme, complete with a presider, paper presentations, and respondent.
  • Prearranged Panel Session Proposal (example)– a proposal for a complete session (presider, list of panelists, and respondent) who will speak on a common theme.
  • Wildcard Proposal – a proposal for a complete prearranged session that on a topic outside of the Call for Papers or program unit structure. The proposal can be for a paper, panel, or other creative type of session format.

Step 2: Write your proposal and 150-word abstract. You have 1,000 words to make the case for your proposal. Prearranged papers sessions require a separate 1,000 word proposal for each paper in the session.  Session abstracts will be listed in the onsite Program Book.  Individual paper abstracts will be listed in the online Program Book.

Step 3: Submit your proposal via the method requested by the program unit no later than Wednesday, March 5. If you have any questions about your proposal, contact the chair of the program unit or the person noted in the Call for Papers.  Carefully note any audiovisual needs before you submit your proposal.

OP3
  

OP3 - Submit your 1,000 word proposal and 150-word abstract via the Online Paper/Panel Proposal (OP3) system.  Your name and contact information is sent automatically with the proposal so you do not have to submit a separate participant form.
   
E-Mail
  

E-Mail – Send your 1,000-word proposal and 150-word abstract within the BODY of ONE single e-mail sent to the contacts listed in the unit’s call (usually the chairs). Include the Participant Form for E-mail Submission.
   
E-Mail with Attachment
  

E-Mail with attachments – Submit your 1,000 word proposal, 150-word abstract, and participant form as Microsoft Word attachments via one single e-mail and send it to the contacts listed in the unit’s call. Include the Participant Form for E-mail Submission.
   
Surface Mail
  

Surface Mail - Submit six (6) copies of the 1,000 word abstract and 150-word abstract and one (1) copy of the participant from on plain white (no letterhead) paper.  Send your complete packet to the contact(s) person listed in the Call. Remember to include an e-mail address on your proposal; you will be notified of your acceptance status by e-mail.

Step 4: Notification of your proposal’s acceptance status to the Annual Meeting program will be sent by Tuesday, April 1.

Participation Requirements at the Annual Meeting:

  • Membership is not required to submit a proposal in response to the Call for Papers. However, all participants accepted to the program must be current (2008) AAR members and registered for the Annual Meeting by June 15, 2008.  Membership waivers are available to participants working outside the field of the study or religion or participants from developing nations. Contact the program unit chair for more details on how to arrange a waiver.
  • Participants may appear no more than two times in any capacity (e.g. paper presenter, panelist, presider, or respondent.). The only exception is business meeting presiders.
  • A person can have only one role in a session. You cannot preside and present a paper in the same session.  The only exception is business meeting presiders
  • People can submit no more than two proposals in response to the Call for Papers.  This includes submitting the same proposal to two separate units or two different proposals to two different units.

Wildcard Sessions

Wildcard sessions are intended to be experimental, creative, or exploratory sessions that address an area of interest that does not naturally fall within the purview of an existent program unit.  These sessions, in the third year of a three-year experiment, offer members  direct access to the Annual Meeting program outside of the normal program unit structure.

Guidelines for Wildcards:

  • All wildcard sessions are 90 minutes in length and will be scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the Annual Meeting.
  • Wildcard sessions are accepted through OP3 only.
  • Wildcard sessions must use one of the prearranged session proposal formats (papers or panel).
  • Make sure the wildcard session does not cover an area already covered by an existing program unit. If a proposal fits within an established program unit’s mission, the proposal will be forwarded to that unit.
  • The Program Committee evaluates all wildcard proposals. Notification of program acceptance will be announced by 2008.

90-Minute Sessions

The Sunday afternoon schedule for the Annual Meeting program consists of three 90-minut sessions, scheduled for 1:00-2:30 PM; 3:00-4:30 PM; and 5:00-6:30 PM.  AAR encourages creative and innovative proposals for these sessions. Some possibilities include; restricting a panel to two 30-minute papers followed by discussion; posting papers in advance to focus on discussion rather than presentation; topical panel discussions; discussion of a book or film; panel on teaching in the field; or workshop-style sessions.  The 90-minute format is perfect for hosting specialized conversations on an aspect of the field or “teaching” a topic to the audience.

Audiovisual Requests

AAR recognizes the importance of using digital equipment during presentations.  A limited number of meeting rooms are supplied with LCD projectors for connecting to a personal laptop.  A small number of rooms include computers and Internet connections.  AAR encourages participants to bring or share a personal or departmental laptop to run any PowerPoint, CD, or DVD presentation.  Analog equipment such as overhead projectors, slide projectors, etc. are available to rent at the participant’s cost.  All AV requests must be received at the time of the proposal. Late requests cannot be accommodated.

Contact the AAR's Annual Meeting Team if you have additional questions.

 

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