Perfecting Proposals

Vanessa Armand & Sara Van Dan Acker

A Workshop for TESOL professionals
The Global Teaching Institute, Tokyo International University
November 23, 2016

Workshop Abstract
This 45 minute workshop will offer tips for how to hone a conference proposal to fit
a conference theme and presentation type as well as to utilize buzzwords and
phrases in TESOL to be more appealing to proposal readers. GTFs are encouraged
to bring information about conferences they are interested in, their own drafts of
proposals, and/or work they are interested in presenting at a conference.

PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

Before Writing Your Proposal

Start with the conference or publication establishment:

What is the conference theme?

Does the theme match your topic? / Does your topic match the theme?
Is the conference theme relevant to your PD goals?
What type of presentation or publication are you proposing?
E.g. A poster session vs. a research-oriented presentation
Who is the target audience?
Who will be reading your proposal to score it?
Who will be interested in attending your presentation or reading your publication?
How will your proposal be scored?
E.g. TESOLs Proposal Evaluation Criteria rubric

Consider deadlines & resources

Do you already have all the info you need to write the proposal, or do you need time to do research?
Do you have someone who can review it before you submit? How much time do they need?
PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

Example
Conference
Proposal
Rubric
(TESOL 2017)

PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

Introducing...the C.A.R.S Model!

Creating A Research Space
This is a research model developed by John Swales, which consists of three basic
moves:
1. Establishing a territory (the situation)

Lets write some proposals!

2. Establishing a niche (the problem)

3. Occupying the niche (the solution)

PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

Establishing a Territory (The Situation / Context / Research)

Define terms and specialized language used in research

Link your work to previous research, debates, conversations within the field

Familiarizing your audience w/buzzwords & key vocab

Paradigms, teaching practices, models, theories, frameworks
APA citation (cite, but sparingly)

Show your reader where in the field your content is situated.

E.g. Encouraging reflective teaching has become a widespread practice in the field of L2
teacher education.
E.g. Educators in general, and particularly language educators in an EFL context, need to
evaluate teaching experiences that have proved to be successful.
E.g. The development of the Academic Word List and concordancing software has
facilitated vocabulary teaching, both solving the problem of which words to teach and
illustrating their collocations.
PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

Now you...

What are you currently working on?

What specialized terms does your partner need to know in order to understand
your presentation or publication?

What is your context?

What paradigms, models, frameworks, or theories are you working from/with?

PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

Establishing a niche (Gap / Problem)

After exploring previous research, identify a gap in

The field

Between fields

Within the GTI?

At TIU?

Nai

led
it!

In a class

Between early childhood development and second language development

In a specific program or curriculum

Within education?
Within TESOL?

A speaking/listening course?

Or for a participant

A student?
A co-teacher?
PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

Occupying the Niche (Filling the gap / Solution)

Your presentation/publication offers ways to fill the gap

Your motivation for exploring your topic

Describe your project concretely

Just like
parallel
parking!

When did it take place?

Who were the participants?
Where was the setting?
What were the materials? Where did they come from?
What was the process/methodology used?
What was the data collection (if any?)
Was there any analysis? If so, how was it done?
For ongoing projects: What are the expected outcomes?
For completed projects: What were the results and conclusions?
PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

Now you...

Is your project filling a gap in:

The field?
Between fields?
In a program or curriculum?
In a class?
With participants?

What is the gap?

Why is it important to fill?
How are you filling the gap?
Describe the details of your project.

PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

Occupying the Niche (Filling the gap / Solution) ...Continued

Detail what will happen in the presentation/publication

Presentation:
Is it a workshop? Will it be hands-on?
Should audience members bring any materials?
Will you utilize audience participation?
Publication:
Basic outline of the write-up

Mention what readers or conference attendees will take away (why they
should attend your presentation or read your publication)

Materials?
Project adaptation ideas?
New theories?
New approaches in the classroom?
PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

Now you...

What are some things you have done in the past as

an attendee at a presentation?
Do you have any pet peeves as an audience
member?
What might you want attendees in your
presentation to do?
What are some take-aways you want your
attendees to have by going to your presentation?
Why should potential audience members choose
your presentation as opposed to another one during
the same time slot?
PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

Other tips

Consider what area/SIG within the conference your proposal might best fit,
and the popularity of that area/SIG.

If you choose an area (ex: Higher Education) with a large number of submissions, you may have
less chance to get accepted than if you choose a more specific and specialized area more related
to your topic (CALL within Higher Education).

Give yourself time to write.

Peer edit and revise!

Set it down and come back to it later.

Ask as many people as possible to read your draft.

Be mindful of time differences for deadlines.

If not accepted, recycle and adapt!

Just because you didnt get accepted to one conference doesnt mean you can never use your
written proposal again (recycle and adapt).
PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016

References
McVeigh, J. (2012, May 16). Tips on Writing Successful Conference Presentation Proposals.
[Blog post]. TESOL Blog. Retrieved from:
http://blog.tesol.org/tips-on-writing-successful-conference-presentation-proposals/
Payant, C. & Wald, M. (2016). Writing Successful TESOL Proposals: Engage, Enrich,
Empower. [Presentation Slides]. Retrieved from: tesol2017_proposalwriting.pptx

Further Reading
Halleck, G.B. & Connor, U.M. (2006). Rhetorical Moves in TESOL Conference Proposals. Journal of English for

Academic Purposes, 5(1). p70-86.

PPT by Armand & VanDanAcker 2016