Call for Papers
American Literature
Association
Annual
Conference
San Francisco, CA 94111
Conference Director: Alfred Bendixen
California
State University, Los Angeles
Conference Fee: For those who pre-register before April 15, 2004: $75 ($25 for Graduate Students, Independent Scholars, and Retired Faculty).
After April 15, the fees are $85 and $35.
Address for Papers and
Proposals:
Professor Alfred Bendixen
English Department
California State University
Los Angeles, CA 90032-8110
Fax: (323) 343-6470
Email:
abendix@calstatela.edu
The primary source for information on the ALA and its activities is our website:
www.americanliterature.org
Our San Francisco Location: In 2004, the American Literature Association will meet in the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco in the Embarcadero Center, one of the best locations in this exciting city. For further information on the hotel, please consult its website (www.sanfranciscoregency.hyatt.com).
ALA Conference Housing Information: The Hyatt Regency San Francisco will offer a conference rate of $149 for a single or double room (triples are $174). For reservations, please call 1-800-233-1234 before April 15, 2004 and request the American Literature conference rate.
ALA Conference Travel Information and Discounts: The official ALA travel agent is still TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS, which will attempt to negotiate discounted airfares and which charges a small service fee. Their toll free number is 888-293-9441.
Conference Details: The representatives of the societies that make up the American Literature Association will organize much of the program. The various author societies will issue their own calls for papers. The official representatives of author societies will be asked to confirm their plans to participate in the 2004 ALA conference; they will be given tentative dates for their panels in October 2003, and will assume the responsibility for delivering all information on their panels (including the names and complete addresses of all participants and all audiovisual needs) to the conference director by January 30, 2004 and for informing their panelists of all relevant conference information.
Individuals may propose papers or panels to the conference director by January 30, 2004. Preference will be given to papers and panels that represent authors, genres, or topics that are not covered by the societies that make up the ALA.
Tentative Conference Schedule:
Thursday, May 27 2004: Sessions from 8 AM until 7 PM.
Book Exhibit: 10 AM –5 PM
Opening Reception : 7 PM
Friday, May 28, 2004: Sessions from 8 AM until 7 PM.
Book Exhibit: 9 AM –5 PM
Saturday, May 29, 2004: Sessions from 8 AM until 7 PM.
Book Exhibit: 9 AM –3 PM
ALA Reception: 6 PM
Sunday, May 30, 2004: Sessions from 8 AM until 1 PM
ALA Guidelines: The most common ALA format is a time slot of one hour and twenty minutes with three papers and a chair. This permits some time for discussion and three papers of approximately 20 minutes (or ten typed double-spaced pages). Organizers of panels are free to use other formats provided they respect the time limits. Please note that the normal reading time for a paper is two minutes per double-spaced page (or 20 minutes for a 10-page paper). Furthermore, the ALA encourages panel organizers to experiment with innovative formats including discussion groups and panels featuring more speakers and briefer papers. Chairs will make sure that the panels start and end on time and that no speaker goes beyond the allotted time limit. Chairs may not present papers on the panels that they are moderating, and no one may present more than one paper at the ALA conference.
Book Exhibit: An exhibit of scholarly books will be held throughout the conference. To have your books represented at the exhibit, ask your publisher to contact Scholar’s Choice or the AAUP, both of which will be organizing exhibits. Several major university presses are also expected to take part.
The conference fee covers the costs of the conference including the opening and closing receptions; it does not include any food this year. All of those who are on the program are required to pre-register. For those who register before April 15, 2004, the pre-registration rate is $75 ($25 for Graduate Students, Independent Scholars, and Retired Faculty). After April 15, the conference fee becomes $85 ($35 for Graduate Students, Independent Scholars, and Retired Faculty). Registration Information for the conference will be available on the website in January and mailed to all participants and anyone on the ALA mailing list by early March. The website will list the program as soon as it is available –a draft will probably appear in early March. Copies of the printed program will be mailed in late April to all who pre-register.
ALA Membership: Membership in the ALA is not required in order to propose or present a paper. In fact, technically the members of the American Literature Association are the various author societies. Individuals may keep informed about the activities of the ALA by checking our website (www.americanliterature.org), which is the primary source for information about ALA activities. Individuals can also be placed on a mailing list by sending a check for $10 made out to the American Literature Association to: Alfred Bendixen, English Department, California State University, Los Angeles, CA 90032-8110. Those on the mailing list will receive copies of the annual call for papers and the conference announcement/registration packet.
The easiest way to find out about the conference and all ALA activities is by consulting our website:
www.americanliterature.org
Please note that the American Literature Association maintains the lowest conference fees of any major scholarly organization because it operates without a paid staff. We cannot help you find a roommate or spend a great deal of time answering personal phone calls. If you have any questions that are not answered by this announcement, please contact the conference director, Alfred Bendixen, Executive Director of the ALA, at abendix@calstatela.edu.