Support for Conference Proposals

As you consider submitting a proposal to present at SSWCA’s 2025 conference – Views from the Trail – we want to provide some guidance, especially since this year’s conference will have a virtual component. Please read our full Call for Proposals here.

Table of Contents for this Page:

Sample Proposals from Previous Conferences

Below are sample tutor proposals from past conferences. You are welcome to review these sample proposals to help you plan your own.

Please note: Proposals for our 2024 conference should reflect the conference theme of Planting, Nurturing, Pruning, Thriving. As well, those who are submitting proposals for 2024 should note the change in presentation time frames and carefully review our updated submission guidelines and evaluation rubric.

  • “Finding Space to be Together Through the Boundary of Our Virtual World”

Brainstorming and Planning Material

Jenny Goransson shares this proposal planning guide helps someone plan a qualitative research project.  Aspects of this process overlap tutor research in preparation for drafting a proposal, and as such, may be helpful as tutors find a conference presentation topic and take steps toward completing an investigation into that topic. An overview presentation of how tutors can approach finding a presentation topic is also available below. Click the buttons below to download a copy of these materials for your tutors to use.

Proposal Planning Guide
Identifying a Topic Presentation

How to Find and Integrate Research

In order to explore what writing center scholars have already published about your topic:

  1. Writing Center Journal is now open-access to all
  2. Check out SSWCA’s Annotated Bibliography focused specifically on SSWC work
  3. The Journal of Peer Tutoring in Secondary Schools – Archives
  4. Writing Lab Newsletter – Archives
  5. Praxis –http://www.praxisuwc.com/back-issues-1
    • These are not searchable, but a GoogleSearch will help you find articles in Praxis. See below:

5.  Also, search in other journals via Education-focused databases through your school’s library databases. Other fields do write about writing centers! Sometimes the terms they use are different – peer tutor, peer tutoring of writing, writing lab, etc.

Links to Writing Lab Newsletter’s free recorded webinars about conducting research and writing for publication:

Additional Books you might find helpful and accessible as a new researcher:

How to Create An Annotated Bibliography (plus sample)

Vivian Blair has created this guide for how to put together an annotated bibliography, which will be required on the submission form for presentations.

Annotated Bibliography Information

How to Craft an Effective Abstract

Renee Brown explains how to write an abstract that will encourage people to attend your presentation. Upgrade from a summary to an eye-catching, must-see abstract.

How to Create an Engaging Video: Roundtable Recording

Digital Roundtable: How to Create an Engaging FlipGrid Presentation

Time markers for above video:

  • 0:00 logistics: what information you will submit on Feb. 5
  • 5:30 starts the section with ideas and examples for engagement techniques within the 10-minute video limit
  • 8:00 elevator pitch: how to intro yourself succinctly and effectively
  • 12:30 how to allocate your 10 minutes: how much time should you spend on each element
  • 14:00 example of how to use “pause and work” technique
  • 18:30 how to incorporate research into your presentation concisely
  • 23:00 incorporating visuals
  • 28:30 handouts (optional): see sample handout AND checklist you can use on your actual video
  • 35:30 example of how to use “go to another site and do something” technique
  • 37:00 final tips: write a script and rehearse!
  • 39:30 logistics of how FlipGrid works: how to find topics, how to record, how to title your presentation, how to upload a previously recorded video

Links from presentation: tinyurl.com/linksJan12roundtable 

Ideas for Creating an Engaging Video Presentation

Many of the techniques described below are strong for presenters to integrate over Zoom as well as in-person, so SSWCA is making these ideas available for you to consider as you design your presentation.

  • Pauses
    • Give your audience quiet time to interact with your presentation content:
      • read a passage you have on the screen or as a handout in the Google Classroom
      • discuss a question or problem with other people in the room if watching together
      • free write for 3-5 minutes based on a prompt you create
      • share a response with a neighbor or in the chat (Note: If you ask the audience to engage in this way, you as the presenter should check the comments to interact and respond to them.)
      • follow a link to an outside source such as a text or video another author created that supplements your presentation
  • Handouts
    • At an in-person conference, you may have created a handout for your audience to help follow along during your presentation, read a passage, complete an activity, leave with talking points, or access resources afterwards. You may create such materials to be used over Zoom. Be sure to give directions for when these materials need to be accessed and allow time for the audience to access those materials.
    • Here is an example of an interactive activity during the SSWCA 2018 in-person conference.
  • Visuals and Sound Effects
    • While people are visual learners, this is an academic conference with high standards that will likely stretch beyond most oral presentations you have seen within your school walls. Consider this standard when adding visuals and sound effects. 
    • We encourage you to make your presentation visual in a way that helps your audience absorb important information; however, you should avoid any visual that would be distracting. This might include over-the-top bitmojis, animations, and even sound effects that are not becoming of academic discourse.