Tips from the Two-Year Colleges for Writing Successful CCCC Program Proposals
Sati Maharaj-Boggs, University of Charleston

Freshness of topic e.g. technology

Thorough/explicit description of each speaker’s thesis-generalities sound the gong.   Stay away from proposing studies you are about to do. Don’t fear redundancy especially in describing speakers’ roles

Brief mention of scholarly or pedagogic traditions you are building upon-i.e. “standing on the shoulders of those who came before.” Rest assured that practitioners’ proposals are very welcome, but not when a claim is made, or the tone implies, you have found “the one [and only] answer.”

Use the names of researcher in your description, for e.g.

Timeliness in relation to the theme of that year’s convention (but don’t force it)

If panel or other group, involve participants from different colleges and/or geographical areas, if at all possible.  Diversity of participants is important to reviewers.

Full information on entire form 

Completeness of plan-if a group proposal, never ask the program chair to find you another person to complete your roster 

Professional looking: Proposal must look good (typed etc.), be readable, and concise.

Individual proposals have a great chance of making the cut--50% of proposals are from individual/ new proposers.  So don’t hesitate to submit an individual proposal.

The conference would like to see more proposal submissions from two-year colleges.

Templates for submission of proposals can be downloaded from the CCCC web site, or you can make your own template by typing the form on your computer 

The use of jargon of your discipline does matter to reviewers; however, don’t overload the proposals with so much jargon as to turn off the reviewer. 

 To clarify ideas etc. in the proposal, it may be a good idea to meet face-to-face with your fellow-presenters

Generate a title that will attract the audience, as that is all that prospective audience has to go on.  If possible, work with someone who has submitted a successful proposal.

Submit only ONE proposal

Most proposals submitted are panels; participants generally like roundtable sessions. 

Proposers who propose a “Forum” session have a good chance of being accepted.

Although presenters in many sessions read papers, it is not at all a requirement that you read a paper as long as you remain within your time limit.  If you submit a proposal as an individual presenter, you may most likely be placed on a panel.  Panels are limited to 3-4 persons.