Before the Conference

  • Use the online conference program to review the schedule and lineup for your session.
  • Download the papers for your session from the online conference program.
    • Papers that have been uploaded for the conference are accessible through the online conference program. Follow the steps listed here to access and download papers from your sessions. If your session does not have a download button available when logged in, the author(s) have not yet uploaded their research to the session.
    • Please note that you will only be able to download papers if the author has uploaded them. If you find that papers have not been uploaded for your session, please contact the authors directly via email and request that they send you their papers. You can locate the email address of an author by logging in to the online conference program, navigating to your session, and clicking on the name of an individual author. Email addresses will not be visible if you are not logged in.
  1. Read the papers carefully. Take the time to understand the main points and identify areas that merit remarks during the session, such as original contributions or areas that may require further development or revision.
  2. If the session has two discussants and four or more papers, communicate with the other discussant about splitting up the papers so each paper receives feedback from one discussant.

The Day of the Session

  1. If you are participating in-person, arrive at the conference room at least 10 minutes before the start of your session. If you are participating virtually, plan to log in to the conference platform early and navigate to your session. Be ready to enter the virtual Zoom meeting room when it opens. As a reminder, all sessions are being recorded.
  2. When it is your turn to provide feedback after the paper presentations have concluded:
    • Stand near the projector screen.
    • Project your voice loudly.
    • Stay in the camera frame during presentations.
    • Stay on time.
    • If a presenter is not called upon at the designated time to present, inform the Chair.
  3. The Chair of the session will:
    • Follow the order and timing listed for the session in the conference app or the print program to allow time for all presentations.
    • Introduce the session and all speakers (both virtual and in person). Inform virtual audience members of the chat feature in Zoom if they would like to submit questions. Alert everyone that the Zoom meeting room will close abruptly for virtual attendees at the scheduled end time, so it is crucial that sessions do not run over the time allotment.
    • Instruct presenters and discussants to stay in the camera frame during presentations, and presenters should share their screen in Slideshow View.
    • Help the speakers keep their presentations within the allotted time and signal the amount of time remaining toward the end of their presentations.
    • Monitor the Zoom chat for questions or comments.
    • Repeat questions from audience for virtual attendees.
    • Provide a two-minute warning prior to the scheduled session end time.

General Tips on Preparing Feedback

  1. Avoid summarizing the paper in its entirety; instead, summarize what you took to be the most important points in each paper. As you evaluate a paper, ask yourself such questions as: ‘Does the paper make an original contribution to the area of study?’; ‘Are there any specific areas of strength, or areas of opportunity for further development?’; ‘Are there specific ways that the argument, methods, or analysis could be improved?’.
  2. If possible, try to draw connections between the paper and theme of the session. If the paper complements, challenges, or informs other papers in the session, point out these connections.
  3. Situate the paper within the extant scholarly literature on this topic. Where does this paper fit in relation to the current research, or within the subfield as a whole?

If you are participating virtually, you can view the virtual conference instructions here.

Looking for additional resources for the conference and/or your visit to Chicago?

View Author Guidelines, Chair Guidelines, Lightning Talk Guidelines and FAQs, Poster Guidelines and FAQs, Instructions for the Hybrid Conference and Virtual Attendees, and Tips for Using Zoom.

View Travel Resources, On-site Details, A/V Details and Tech Support information, Local Dining options, Family Resources, and Health and Emergency Services locations and contact information. A Conference Guide can be found here.