Proposing a Paper
The conference is organized primarily into seminars (or “streams”), which consist either of twelve papers, if they meet on all three days of the conference, or eight to nine papers, if they meet on two days. Papers should be 15-20 minutes long–no longer–to allow time for discussion.
We hope to have a wide range of papers at the conference, representing the full scope of comparative literature worldwide. Papers are not limited to the conference theme.
To propose a paper, first consult the list of seminars that have been approved to date and that are seeking papers following the ALL SEMINARS link or the most recent additions in the right-hand column. If you find a topic that fits your paper, select that seminar and fill out the form below its description.
If you don’t find a seminar that fits your topic, you may propose your paper for the general pool out of which additional seminars are likely to be formed. In this case you will fill the same form but will not specify the seminar title. Please use the form to submit any paper, do not contact the seminar organizer directly.
Paper Submissions process is now closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can submit a proposal for an individual paper in a seminar?
Faculty members, graduate students, and other members of the academic community, including independent (unaffiliated) scholars, are invited to submit paper proposals. However, all conference participants whose names are listed in the program, including all presenters (or co-authors) of papers, must be ACLA members. Membership forms are available on the ACLA Web site. ACLA membership is not required at the time when seminar proposals or individual papers are submitted. Nonmembers may join after the acceptance of their seminars or papers. The deadline for membership and for inclusion on the final program will be in February, before the program is printed.
How will decisions be made about which paper proposals are accepted?
Seminar organizers will decide whether to accept the proposals submitted to their seminars. Seminar organizers may also choose proposals from the general pool. Members of the conference committee will then decide whether to accept the remaining proposals in the general pool. Since the basic conference organization consists of seminars, it is to your advantage to write your proposal so it is suitable for one of the Posted Seminars. (see list in the right hand column)
What happens to proposals not accepted for a particular seminar?
Any proposals not accepted by seminar organizers will be forwarded to a general pool of proposals, from which additional seminars may be formed.
What happens if an approved seminar doesn’t receive enough strong submissions?
Seminar organizers are advised to publicize their seminars through their professional networks in addition to the postings on this conference Web site. If there is a shortage of submissions, the organizer will be invited to consider proposals in the general pool. If every reasonable effort is made and there are still not enough papers, the seminar may be canceled or combined with another, at the discretion of the conference committee. If your paper has been accepted, it will be reassigned accordingly.
Can conference participants submit or present more than one paper?
In order to allow the largest number of participants to be on the program, any individual may submit or present only one paper. However, participants may organize a seminar and/or chair a session, or serve in other organizational or official capacities, as well as presenting a paper. In case of scheduling conflicts in the final program, participants might not be able to stay on the program in more than one capacity.
Can authors submit their proposal to more than one seminar?
In order to prevent situations in which more than one seminar organizer accepts the same paper, you may submit the proposal to only one seminar. As noted above, if your paper is not accepted for this seminar, it will be forwarded to the general pool for consideration for other seminars.
Note:The concept of seminars (”streams”) is intended to encourage substantive discussion among members of a group of scholars, each of whom presents his/her work and, in turn, comments on the work of others in the group. If your paper is accepted, it is expected that you will attend all two or three meetings of your seminar. This will occupy only one time slot each day, or a total commitment of six hours (for three-day seminars) or four hours (for two-day seminars). During the rest of the conference, you are of course free to attend other seminars and events.