Academic Conferences 101

Academic conferences are one of the predominant ways that scholars network, engage with ideas, and present their research to others in the field. The goal of this page is to provide English graduate students with resources, tips and tricks, and general guidelines for all things academic conferences. On this page, you will find info on:

• Finding a conference
• Current list of English-related academic conferences 
• Writing a proposal
• Funding 
• Attending a conference
• Presenting at a conference

Finding a Conference

A great resource co-authored by one of our very own faculty members, Dr. J. Elliott Casal, is a guidebook titled Making the Most of Graduate School. This book discusses topics like imposter syndrome, study routines, carving our professional interests, networking, and more. This open access text is available here. 

“Choosing Reputable Outlets for Academic Work” by Paul Matsuda 

UPenn’s Call for Papers database houses literature and humanities calls for papers, and is updated on a regular basis.  

English Academic Conferences

email epsmith2@memphis.edu for new additions!

Writing a Proposal

Resources

• Western Carolina University’s tip sheet and sample proposal 
• University of California Berkeley’s “From Submission to Applause: Conference Proposals That Get Accepted” 

Funding

Many of the conferences listed above have their own funding opportunities available, but UofM also has several avenues for potential funding:  

• UofM Graduate School’s webpage on Fellowships & Awards 
• College of Arts and Sciences Travel Enrichment Fund 
• Graduate Student Association Travel Funding 

Attending a Conference

Plan ahead and travel light: Generally, you’ll be on a pretty strict timeline. Be sure that you’re paying attention to your flight details (as they can change on a whim), that you have a plan for getting to your hotel or final destination once you land (if you’re flying), that you have ready access to any secured funding, and that you’re adhering to TSA guidelines and your flight’s luggage weight restrictions. A few essentials to consider: A Tide to-go pen, Kleenex or tissues, a lint roller, all of your chargers, a dongle/USB adapter, headache medication, Tums or Pepto, mints (be sure to get rid of mints or gum before you present), and water bottles.  

Dress for success: The most important part of your wardrobe is comfort. Remember that the room you’re presenting in may be very cold or uncomfortably warm, so dressing in layers is always recommended. There’s no need to feel like you need to go out and spend a ton of money on a new conference outfit, just be sure that you’re presenting yourself professionally and that you’re also comfortable and prepared for the climate you’re traveling to and the possibility of a cold or hot presentation room.  

Set a goal outside of your own presentation: It’s not going to be possible to see everything that happens at any given conference, so setting a goal not only reduces the overwhelm that many of us feel in this new environment, but also gives you something else to focus on aside from your own presentation. Think of a goal like “I want to see at least three presentations outside of my primary research field,” “I want to see Person X and Person Y’s presentations,” or “Swap contact info with at least three people”.  

Attend keynotes and featured talks: These often feature prominent speakers talking about current issues and shape a lot of shared vision in the field.  

Don’t overdo it!: Take notes and reflect on what you hear and see. Conferences are intellectually stimulating environments, but conference fatigue is real and sets in quickly. This can limit your ability to reflect and retain.  

Go with a conference buddy: Recruit your fellow graduate student friends to attend a conference with you! This will help you keep one another accountable to your goals, will make the travel itself more fun, and may cut down on some in-city travel and boarding costs.  

Take care of yourself: Don’t forget about you while you’re traveling for a conference; while it can be expensive and overwhelming, remember to take a bit of time for self-care. Treat yourself (even if it’s something small) after your presentation is over, and don’t forget to enjoy your trip, enjoy the other presentations, and have a good time!  

Presenting at a Conference

Audio/visual & other tech considerations: Be prepared for the technology in the room to not cooperate! Come prepared with a dongle that is compatible with your laptop, be sure to back up your presentation files in multiple places (external hard drive, cloud storage, even emailing it to your session chair the day before), and, if all else fails, have a plan for how your presentation might go without your audio-visual component.  

When creating your audio-visual component(s), be aware of accessibility considerations:  

• For slide text, it’s generally recommended to keep your font size at 24pt or larger 
• if your presentation contains audio, be sure that you’re also providing captions 
• if your presentation has visuals that are necessary to understand your presentation, be sure to verbally describe the image, emphasizing key elements 
• If the room has a microphone, use it! 
• If your presentation includes a video, be mindful of potential WiFi issues and have a backup plan.  

Practice: Be sure to practice your presentation, be mindful of your time (and that your speech may speed up or slow down when you’re nervous), and ask your advisor for insights.  

Don’t feel pressured to present at your first conference: A poster or a roundtable may be a good first presentation, but also consider attending a conference before presenting. 

Presentation tips:  

• Keep an eye on your time, and practice your timing! Some conferences are very strict on time limits, so be sure that you’re able to get to your most important sections within your time frame. Remember that some can speed up or slow down their speech when nervous or if the room is uncomfortable, practice your timing!
• Visit your presentation room ahead of time so that you know where you’re going. This ensures that you'll be on time and prepared ahead of your presentation. Getting a good look at the room ahead of time will help you prepare for your own panel, and it gives you an opportunity to attend another panel! 
• Be mindful of your body language; try to avoid looking down at your notes or laptop the entire time, spread your eye contact throughout the room. If standing, try to avoid leaning on a podium or post if you’re able; if sitting, try to keep a straight posture.  
• Prioritize your comfort; it’s okay to stop for a beat and take a breath, have a sip of water, etc.; 3-4 seconds may feel like a long time to you, but it’s entirely natural and will help you remain calm. Many presentation rooms will have water available for you, but it’s never a bad idea to bring your own. Don’t forget to get rid of any gum, mints, etc. before your presentation starts.  
• Leave time for the Q&A. If someone asks you a question that you genuinely don’t have an answer for, rather than trying to make up an answer on the spot, simply say that it’s a good question, but you’d like to think about it for a bit, and offer to swap contact information. This is a great networking opportunity!  
• American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL)’s webpage on “Publishing and Presenting”