Panel Proposal Submission Checklist

Panels consist of either three 12-minute papers, a chair, and a respondent; OR three 15-minute papers and a chair; OR four 12-minute papers and a chair. 

The chair is responsible for starting the panel on time, briefly introducing the panelists, keeping them to their allotted time, and moderating the Q and A. The respondent provides no more than ten minutes of reflection on the papers. This leaves 40 minutes for Q and A and conversation with the audience. All panel proposals must include a chairperson (who may also serve as respondent); paper presenters may not chair the session in which they are presenting.

All panel organizers must submit a 350-word-maximum session abstract that describes the overall questions and goals of the session, as well as 350-word-maximum abstracts for each paper in the session. The paper abstracts, written by the individual scholars but submitted by the session organizer, should explain the presentation’s purpose, methodology, sources, argument and specific contribution to scholarship in the field. Please be advised that should the session be accepted, the abstracts are made available to the public in the fall.

PLEASE NOTE: The Program Committee reserves the right to make adjustments to pre-arranged sessions (e.g., add or remove a paper, change the chair, discussant, or respondent) in response to program needs. The Committee will make every effort to notify the session organizer regarding such changes.

Seminar Proposal Proposal Submission Checklist

The seminar format brings together a maximum of eight scholars for two 90–minute meetings over the course of the conference. The goal of this format is to allow for sustained discussion/workshop of a question or problem, and to take advantage of the presence of a diverse range of scholars at the meeting. Participants will not read papers in the seminars; rather, the AJS will post papers on its website in advance, for discussion. Only AJS members will have access to the papers through our password-protected site, and papers will be taken down immediately after the conference. Prior to submission, seminar organizers may invite individuals personally to participate in the seminar, as well as issue a call for participants through the Organizing Session Submissions Form. The call for participants should state the issue to be explored in the seminar, and examples of questions that seminar papers may address. The seminar proposal should include a 350-word-maximum session abstract that describes the question or problem to be explored, as well as a brief, one-sentence description of the topic each participant will address. All seminar proposals must also include a chairperson. Please be advised that should the session be accepted, the abstracts are made available to the public in the fall.

By submitting a seminar proposal, the organizer and all participants agree to the following:

Each participant will prepare a paper in advance (10–20 pages in length) and agrees to submit their paper to the AJS by November 20. The papers will be available to members via the MyAJS website. If an author is not willing to post their paper in advance, they should not be part of the seminar proposal.

All seminar participants are expected to read the papers of their fellow participants IN ADVANCE of the conference.

The first 75 minutes of each seminar meeting will be dedicated to presentations and discussion among the seminar participants. In general, each presenter scheduled for the session should present a five-minute synopsis of their work, to be followed by discussion among the seminar participants (and/or respondent). The last 15 minutes of each seminar meeting should be dedicated to Q&A from the audience. 

Seminar organizers play a critical role in the success of their seminar. They are the seminar’s representative to the AJS office, and it is their responsibility to ensure the communication of information from the AJS staff to the seminar participants regarding deadlines, procedures, etc. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Program Committee reserves the right to make adjustments to pre-arranged sessions (e.g., add or remove a paper, change the chair, discussant, or respondent) in response to program needs. The Committee will make every effort to notify the session organizer regarding such changes.

Roundtable Proposal Submission Checklist

Roundtables are structured discussions around pre-circulated questions and/or texts  with the option to share materials publicly to encourage more robust audience participation. The session consists of 3–5 discussants and a moderator, who takes a more active role in the session than a traditional panel chair. Discussants may not serve as moderators.

Discussants may not read papers and may prepare no more than 3–5 minute responses to the questions being discussed. The purpose of this format is discussion and interchange among a group of scholars about a debate, question, or issue in the field. The moderator will pose the questions and control the time given to each discussant to respond. Moderators should email questions to discussants at least two weeks before the conference, and ask discussants to prepare short responses for each. While the best roundtables incorporate spontaneity and unexpected exchanges, they also benefit from advance preparation and reflection.

Those submitting a roundtable proposal must submit a 350-word-maximum session abstract that describes the overall goals of the session; the questions (usually three or four) that the discussants will address; and the perspective that each discussant will represent (i.e., a two-three sentence description of each participant’s role, including that of the moderator). Roundtable proposals that do not adequately detail the session’s guiding questions, and each participant’s role/contribution, will not be accepted. All roundtable proposals must include a moderator.

PLEASE NOTE: The Program Committee reserves the right to make adjustments to pre-arranged sessions (e.g., add or remove a moderator or discussant) in response to program needs. The Committee will make every effort to notify the session organizer regarding such changes.

Lightning Session Proposal Submission Checklist

Lightning Sessions consist of short presentations by 5–7 presenters and a chair. Each panelist presents for approximately 5–8 minutes, followed by general discussion. 

The chair is responsible for starting the panel on time, briefly introducing the panelists, keeping them to their allotted time, and moderating the Q and A. 

All panel organizers must submit a 350-word-maximum session abstract that describes the overall questions and goals of the session, as well as 350-word-maximum abstracts for each paper in the session. The paper abstracts, written by the individual scholars but submitted by the session organizer, should explain the presentation’s purpose, methodology, sources, argument and specific contribution to scholarship in the field. Should the session be accepted, abstracts are made available to the public in the fall.

PLEASE NOTE: The Program Committee reserves the right to make adjustments to pre-arranged sessions (e.g., add or remove a paper, change the chair, discussant, or respondent) in response to program needs. The Committee will make every effort to notify the session organizer regarding such changes.

Performance Scholarship Session Proposal Submission Checklist

Performance/Scholarship is a presentation method for scholars who would like to infuse live performance into their presentations. To allow for sufficient time for such presentations, this type of submission should include one to three presenters and/or performers, along with a chair and an optional respondent. 

Submissions should include abstracts from each presenter/performer (max. 350 words) that properly detail both the scholarly argument and the artistic performance. Abstracts of accepted sessions will be made available to the public. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Program Committee reserves the right to make adjustments to pre-arranged sessions (e.g., add or remove a paper, change the chair, discussant, or respondent) in response to program needs. The Committee will make every effort to notify the session organizer regarding such changes.

Individual Paper Proposal Submission Checklist

Those who are submitting a paper individually (not as part of pre-formed sessions) are required to submit a 350-word (maximum) abstract, in addition to their contact information, division. The abstract for an individual paper must explain the presentation’s purpose, methodology, sources, argument and specific contribution to scholarship in the field. In composing your abstract, please bear in mind the time allotted for your presentation (12-15 minutes). The Program Committee will assign accepted proposals to a session based on recommendations from the Division Chairs. Abstracts of accepted papers will be made available to the public in the fall.