STC's Technical Communication Summit: Call for Proposals

Descriptions of Session Formats

Before starting your proposal, review the following:

Case Study

About this Format

A report on a successful communication project, technology implementation or management effort, and its results.

Each case study follows this format:

  • Description of the problem faced
  • Alternatives considered
  • Alternative chosen
  • Challenges faced
  • Results

Length

30 minutes

Note: The Track Manager will group 2 Case Studies into a 60-minute session and assign a moderator.

What to Include with Your Proposal

Detailed session plan, which includes:

  • General session information:
    • Title (no more than 8 words), which clearly identifies your proposal content.
    • Brief description (no more than 30 words), which will be used in the final program if your proposal is accepted.
    • Detailed description (no more than 150 words), which clarifies the content of your proposal.
    • Key learning objectives (3 to 5 bullet points).
    • Intended audience.
    • Audience skill level (choose one of these: Getting Started, Advanced, All).
  • The case study itself, with the following sections addressed: (1) Description of the problem faced, (2) Alternatives considered, (3) Alternative chosen, (4) Challenges faced, and (5) Results.
  • Note: If the case is in progress, please indicate this. For Results, indicate the anticipated results if you do not yet have actual results.
  • Sources cited (to demonstrate that you are familiar with the work of other organizations that have done similar or related projects)
  • Bios (not to exceed 100 words) for each author, describing their qualifications to give the presentation
  • Names and full contact information for 2 speaker references for each presenter.

Required Supporting Materials

Please note that your proposal will not be reviewed without the supporting materials completed. To view a sample of what will be required, please click here.

If your proposal is accepted, will you need to submit a paper for the Proceedings?

Yes. Your Case Study should follow the format stated above and can be as long as 6 pages.

Start a proposal now

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Research Report

About this Format

A report on a completed research report, with an emphasis on the practical application of the results by professional technical communicators.

Each research report should include the following information:

  • Background
  • Literature review
  • Methodology
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Suggested applications by professional technical communicators

Length

30 minutes

What to Include with Your Proposal

Detailed session plan, which includes:

  • General session information:
    • Title (no more than 8 words), which clearly identifies your proposal content.
    • Brief description (no more than 30 words), which will be used in the final program if your proposal is accepted.
    • Detailed description (no more than 150 words), which clarifies the content of your proposal.
    • Key learning objectives (3 to 5 bullet points).
    • Intended audience.
    • Audience skill level (choose one of these: Getting Started, Advanced, All).
  • The research report itself, which includes (1) Background, (2) Literature review, (3) Methodology, (4) Results, (5) Discussion, and (6) Suggested applications by professional technical communicators.
  • Note: If the research is in progress, please indicate this. For Results, indicate the anticipated results if you do not yet have actual results. Note that the application will be added later.
  • Sources cited (to situate this study within the larger body of research)
  • Bios (not to exceed 100 words) for each author, which describe his or her qualifications to give the presentation
  • Names and full contact information for 2 speaker references for each presenter.

Required Supporting Materials

Please note that your proposal will not be reviewed without the supporting materials completed. To view a sample of what will be required, please click here.

If your proposal is accepted, will you need to submit a paper for the Proceedings?

Yes. Your Research Report should follow the format stated above and can be as long as 6 pages.

Start a proposal now

Enter proposal system.

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Demonstration

About this Format

A session in which a presenter explains a concept, then demonstrates its application in a real-world setting. Demonstrations should include at least one-third of the time as a live illustration or exercise with the participants.

Length

90 minutes

What to Include with Your Proposal

Detailed session plan including:

  • General session information:
    • Title (no more than 8 words), which clearly identifies your proposal content.
    • Brief description (no more than 30 words), which will be used in the final program if your proposal is accepted.
    • Detailed description (no more than 150 words), which clarifies the content of your proposal.
    • Key learning objectives (3 to 5 bullet points).
    • Intended audience.
    • Audience skill level (choose one of these: Getting Started, Advanced, All).
  • Schedule of activities (that is, how will the allotted time be used—please be as specific as possible)
  • Description of either the visuals or handouts
  • Sources cited (to demonstrate that you are familiar with the work of others that have done similar or related work, as well as related concepts)
  • Bios (not to exceed 100 words) for each presenter, which describe their qualifications to give the presentation
  • Names and full contact information for 2 speaker references for each presenter.

Required Supporting Materials

Please note that your proposal will not be reviewed without the supporting materials completed. To view a sample of what will be required, please click here.

If your proposal is accepted, will you need to submit a paper for the Proceedings?

No.

Start a proposal now

Enter proposal system.

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Mini-workshop

About this Format

A session in which participants learn by doing and through a debriefing of the learning activity that reinforces concepts taught. At least one-third of the session time should be devoted to a participatory activity.

Length

90 minutes

What to Include with Your Proposal

Detailed workshop plan including

  • General session information:
    • Title (no more than 8 words), which clearly identifies your proposal content.
    • Brief description (no more than 30 words), which will be used in the final program if your proposal is accepted.
    • Detailed description (no more than 150 words), which clarifies the content of your proposal.
    • Key learning objectives (3 to 5 bullet points).
    • Intended audience.
    • Audience skill level (choose one of these: Getting Started, Advanced, All).
  • Schedule of activities (that is, how will the 60 minutes be used—please be as specific as possible)
  • Descriptions of visuals or workshop handouts
  • Sources cited (to demonstrate that you are familiar with both the theoretical and real-world applications of the concepts in the proposed session)
  • Bios (not to exceed 100 words) for each author that describes their qualifications to give the presentation
  • Names and full contact information for 2 speaker references for each presenter.

Required Supporting Materials

Please note that your proposal will not be reviewed without the supporting materials completed. To view a sample of what will be required, please click here.

If your proposal is accepted, will you need to submit a paper for the Proceedings?

No.

Start a proposal now

Enter proposal system.

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Panel Discussion

About this Format

A panel discussion is like a television news panel. It delves into a controversial issue and has panelists who represent diverse points of view. In a panel discussion session, participants give brief (no more than 2-minute) opening statements, and the majority of the session (at least 80 percent) is a dialogue between the panelists and participants. A facilitator ensures that panel discussions stay on track.

Length

60 minutes

What to Include with Your Proposal

Detailed discussion plan including:

  • General session information:
    • Title (no more than 8 words), which clearly identifies your proposal content.
    • Brief description (no more than 30 words), which will be used in the final program if your proposal is accepted.
    • Detailed description (no more than 150 words), which clarifies the content of your proposal.
    • Key learning objectives (3 to 5 bullet points).
    • Intended audience.
    • Audience skill level (choose one of these: Getting Started, Advanced, All).
  • Panel discussion plan, which includes:
    • Key points
    • Opening question
    • How time will be used during the panel discussion
    • How the discussion will be concluded
  • Sources cited (to demonstrate that you are familiar with both the concepts and applications to be addressed in the Panel Discussion)
  • Bios (not to exceed 100 words) for each presenter that describes their qualifications to give the presentation
  • Names and full contact information for 2 speaker references for each presenter.

Required Supporting Materials

Please note that your proposal will not be reviewed without the supporting materials completed. To view a sample of what will be required, please click here.

If your proposal is accepted, will you need to submit a paper for the Proceedings?

Yes. Each speaker may submit a paper up to six pages OR the group of presenters may submit a paper up to six pages.

Start a proposal now

Enter proposal system.

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Progression

About this Format

A session in which 8 to 12 speakers each present an oral presentation (5-10 minutes), followed by moderate audience discussion (15-20 minutes). Repeated to 3 different groups of roundtable participants

Length

25 minutes (repeated 3 times) (Note that, in some instances, either the length of the Progression’s round or the number of rounds might be altered.)

What to Include with Your Proposal

Detailed plan including:

  • General session information:
    • Title (no more than 8 words), which clearly identifies your proposal content.
    • Brief description (no more than 30 words), which will be used in the final program if your proposal is accepted.
    • Detailed description (no more than 150 words), which clarifies the content of your proposal.
    • Key learning objectives (3 to 5 bullet points).
    • Intended audience.
    • Audience skill level (choose one of these: Getting Started, Advanced, All).
  • Sources cited (to demonstrate that you are familiar with the work of others who have done similar or related work)
  • Bios (not to exceed 100 words) for each author that describes his or her qualifications to give the presentation
  • Names and full contact information for 2 speaker references for each presenter.

Required Supporting Materials

Please note that your proposal will not be reviewed without the supporting materials completed. To view a sample of what will be required, please click here.

If your proposal is accepted, will you need to submit a paper for the Proceedings?

Yes, if you wish.

Start a proposal now

Enter proposal system.

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Presentation

About this Format

This is a session in which the speaker is an expert in the field and is on hand to impart that knowledge to the audience. A presentation is very suitable for larger audiences and is more of a lecture format than any other of our formats. Audience participation is limited to a question and answer session at the end.

Length

60 minutes

What to Include with Your Proposal

Detailed session plan including:

  • General session information:
    • Title (no more than 8 words), which clearly identifies your proposal content.
    • Brief description (no more than 30 words), which will be used in the final program if your proposal is accepted.
    • Detailed description (no more than 150 words), which clarifies the content of your proposal.
    • Key learning objectives (3 to 5 bullet points).
    • Intended audience.
    • Audience skill level (choose one of these: Getting Started, Advanced, All).
  • Sources cited (to demonstrate that you are familiar with the work of others that have done similar or related work, as well as related concepts)
  • Bios (not to exceed 100 words) for each presenter, which describe their qualifications to give the presentation
  • Names and full contact information for 2 speaker references for each presenter.

Required Supporting Materials

Please note that your proposal will not be reviewed without the supporting materials completed. To view a sample of what will be required, please click here.

If your proposal is accepted, will you need to submit a paper for the Proceedings?

Yes.

Start a proposal now

Enter proposal system.

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Leadership Day

About this Format

Leadership Day (Sunday May 3, 2009) will offer a number of learning opportunities for those involved in STC communities. Part of the program will be selected "Case Studies in Leadership."

Length

You are invited to describe a specific example that details and exemplifies successful community leadership at any level in STC. The case study should be no longer than 20 minutes.

What to Include with Your Proposal

Leadership is much more than filing reports or managing volunteers. Leadership encompasses many skills, such as communication, delegation, decision-making, and project management. And leadership can be applied at the individual, team, and organizational levels.

Tell us how an individual, committee, or group made a difference in your community and led the way to success in your programs. What attributes and techniques enabled the leaders to achieve their goals? What skills? Your proposed presentation should inform attendees about how leadership makes a difference.

Required Supporting Materials

Please note that your proposal will not be reviewed without the supporting materials completed. To view a sample of what will be required, please click here.

If your proposal is accepted, will you need to submit a paper for the Proceedings?

No.

Questions about this format?

Lloyd Tucker, STC, e-mail.

Start a proposal now

Enter proposal system.

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Pre-conference Workshops and Tutorials

About this Format

These half-day pre-conference workshops (2-3 May 2009) are for people seeking a shorter learning experience than the 2-day certificate sessions. You are invited to submit proposals that complement the tracks offered in the conference program.

Tutorials (lecture and discussion for in-depth exploration of a topic with limited hands-on activity) or workshops (lecture and discussion with significant hands-on activities.)

Presenters receive a stipend for leading pre-conference sessions. Stipends are $450 (flat fee) per half-day session.

Presenters receive a free conference registration.

Length

The sessions should be 3.5 hours in length. 8:30am – 12:00pm, 2-3 May, 2009.

What to Include with Your Proposal

Detailed session plan which includes:

General session information:

Title (no more than 8 words), which clearly identifies your proposal content.

Brief description (no more than 30 words)

Detailed description (no more than 150 words), which clarifies the content of your proposal.

Key learning objectives (3 to 5 bullet points).

Intended audience.

Relevance to STC members.

Audience skill level (choose one of these: Getting Started, Advanced, All).

Schedule of activities (that is, how will the allotted time be used—please be as specific as possible)

Description of samples, visuals or handouts

Sources cited (to demonstrate that you are familiar with the work of others that have done similar or related work, as well as related concepts)

Bios (not to exceed 100 words) for each presenter, which describe their qualifications to give the presentation
Names and full contact information for 2 speaker references for each presenter.

Required Supporting Materials

Please note that your proposal will not be reviewed without the supporting materials completed. To view a sample of what will be required, please click here.

If your proposal is accepted, will you need to submit a paper for the Proceedings?

No.

Questions about this format?

Lloyd Tucker, STC, e-mail.

Start a proposal now

Enter proposal system.

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Pre-conference Certificate Sessions

About this Format

These two-day pre-conference certificate sessions (2-3 May 2009) are for attendees seeking to explore a subject in-depth over the course of the conference. Participants who complete the program earn a certificate of attendance and are expected to attend topic-related conference sessions as selected by the speaker. This combination of seminars and sessions is intended to help develop skills and expose the attendee to the broad range of thinking in the subject area.

Presenters receive a stipend for leading pre-conference certificate sessions. Stipends are $2,000 (flat fee) per two-day certificate program.

Presenters receive a free conference registration.

Length

The sessions will be two days, 8:30am - 4:30, 2-3 May 2009.

What to Include with Your Proposal

Detailed session plan which includes:

General session information:

Title (no more than 8 words), which clearly identifies your proposal content.

Brief description (no more than 30 words)

Detailed description (no more than 150 words), which clarifies the content of your proposal.

Key learning objectives (3 to 5 bullet points).

Intended audience.

Relevance to STC members.

Audience skill level (choose one of these: Getting Started, Advanced, All).

Schedule of activities (that is, how will the allotted time be used—please be as specific as possible)

Description of samples, visuals or handouts

Sources cited (to demonstrate that you are familiar with the work of others that have done similar or related work, as well as related concepts)

Bios (not to exceed 100 words) for each presenter, which describe their qualifications to give the presentation
Names and full contact information for 2 speaker references for each presenter.

Required Supporting Materials

Please note that your proposal will not be reviewed without the supporting materials completed. To view a sample of what will be required, please click here.

If your proposal is accepted, will you need to submit a paper for the Proceedings?

No.

Questions about this format?

Lloyd Tucker, STC, e-mail.

Start a proposal now

Enter proposal system.

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