Conference Abstracts APLNG Roundtable September 28, 2012 Bob Schrauf

Conference Timelines The “Idea” 9-10 months Abstract Deadline 8 months Conference Presentation Write the Talk 2 months Practice the Talk with A Group 1 month Follow-up with Interested People 1-2 weeks Before…. ….After

The Abstract: For Whom Are You Writing? 1.Yourself 2.The Selection Committee 3.The Conference Goer 4.Publication (?)

Typical Guidelines American Association of Applied Linguistics TESOL n-schedule/graduate-forum

Submission Components 1.Paper title 2.Abstract – words 3.Summary (program abstract) - 50 words 4.Keywords

Abstract Components 1.Title 2.Background 3.Problem 4.Aims 5.Methods/Analysis 6.Significance

Examples Buckholtz, M. Standard English as Subversion (AAA 1998) Keating, E. Embodied Practices of Honorification (AAA 1998) Anon. “Okay, when did it start?” (AAAL, maybe) Schrauf, R.W. Ethnicity, Alzheimer’s, and Indexicality. (AAAL, maybe)

Course Papers APLNG Roundtable September 28, 2012 Bob Schrauf

Course Papers / Lit Reviews: Amount, sources, recency How much reading should you do? i.e., how many papers are enough for a good quality lit review? What kinds of sources can I use for my lit review? What kinds of research should I be focusing on? i.e., should I focus only on foundational studies, or should I focus on more recent work, or both?

SOURCES – Seminal sources: these are fundamental publications (books or articles) usually mentioned by your professor or in your texts. – Recent sources: these are books or articles published within the last 10 years. Search Engines: LLBA – Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts Web of Science ERIC LIBRARY > DATABASES

Literature Review Papers “A lit review is a tutorial in that the author Defines and clarifies a problem Summarizes previous investigations in order to inform the reader of the state of current research Identifies relations, contradictions, gaps, inconsistencies in the literature; and Suggests the next step or steps in solving the problem” (Eisenberg, 2000, p. 18)

Summarizing, Quoting, Paraphrasing How much information can/should I take from these primary sources and how I can I use it in my paper? i.e. issues of citation/paraphrasing and plagiarism How much should I synthesize the information? for example, is it okay to have a separate page on each of the sources?

Q: How much information can/should I take from these primary sources and how I can I use it in my paper? A: As much as is necessary (groan) Think about these questions: For whom am I writing? What in my sentences is my own and what belongs to the authors to whom I’m referring?

Storytellers almost inevitably describe their characters’ actions in terms of preferred or dispreferred values. However, as Ochs (2001) notes, “…. moral stance becomes destabilized when it is directly or indirectly challenged by another co-teller” (Ochs, 2001, p. 51). “In addition to self-doubt, moral stance becomes destabilized when it is directly or indirectly challenged by another co-teller” (Ochs, 2001, p. 51). Storytellers almost inevitably describe their characters’ actions in terms of preferred or dispreferred values. Nevertheless, narrators may find that interlocutors challenge or contest their ‘moral stance’ (Ochs, 2001, p. 51) The Original Source My Citation of That Source My Paraphrase of That Source, with Cited Phrase Storytellers almost inevitably describe their characters’ actions in terms of preferred or dispreferred values. Nevertheless, narrators may find that interlocutors challenge or contest their views (see Ochs, 2001). My Incorporation of the General Idea

Q: is it okay to have a separate page on each of the sources? A: Well, no. Am I summarizing one person’s thoughts? Am I integrating thoughts from several persons? How much information from each source do I need to make my summary meaningful to my audience? Or how much information do I need to support the argument that I am developing? If you read the paper to your roomate, will he or she have enough information to understand your point Or have you given so much unnecessary information that your roomate is confused?

Q: How much criticism should there be in a lit review? i.e. do I simply retell what's been done or should I evaluate it and relate it to other important issues in my field? A: Evaluate it, comment on it, relate it to your other reading, relate it to your experience. Hint: Your professor probably already knows this material. You want to show that you have read it, and you want to show that the material relates in interesting ways to other things that you’ve read.

The MA/TESL (‘Thesis’) Paper APLNG Roundtable September 28, 2012 Bob Schrauf

The MA/TESL (Thesis) Paper What makes a good MA paper? How long should it be? What is the typical genre -- literature review, original empirical study, etc.? About how much literature should be read or cited in order to develop a quality paper (or does that "just depend")? Any tips on choosing topics?

The MA/TESL (Thesis) Paper Q: What makes a good MA paper? A: Thoughtful writing, clear organization, reader-friendly language, interesting project.

The MA/TESL (Thesis) Paper Q: What is the typical genre -- literature review, original empirical study, etc.? A: Some examples include: – empirical research involving data collection and analysis; – empirical research involving analysis of secondary data; – development of curriculum; – literature reviews of particular topics, and – development of assessment instruments.

The MA/TESL (Thesis) Paper Q: How long should it be? A: pages

The MA/TESL (Thesis) Paper Q: About how much literature should be read or cited in order to develop a quality paper (or does that "just depend")? A: You should include seminal works and recent works. For example, if you were doing linguistic relativity, you would certainly cite Whorf’s work from the 1950’s, but you would also cite work as recent as 2011.

The MA/TESL (Thesis) Paper Q: Any tips on choosing topics? A: Talk to your advisor.

MA Paper Timeline End of 2 nd semester, choose topic and advisor 6 weeks before graduation: complete draft to advisor Graduation 4 weeks before end of semester: complete draft to committee 1 week beofore end of semester: Final copy and signature page to committee Third semester, start project and writing