See flyer below and “Programs” in Conference Menu above for this year’s conference.

Call for Papers

The Young Rhetoricians’ Conference (YRC) on college rhetoric and composition–part pedagogical conversation, part convivial retreat–welcomes presentations on students’ diverse literacies and linguistic worlds. 

Many of the challenges of teaching writing exist alongside possibilities, as traumatic crises (pandemic, climate change, war, white supremacy, labor precarity and teaching conditions) have called for transformative pedagogical approaches. For example, the widespread dissemination of misinformation and disinformation has renewed interest in information literacy. The emergence of AI platforms like ChatGPT has fostered discussions about integrity, accuracy, agency, and alternative forms of composing. Calls for uniformity in academic language have been met with considerations of linguistic justice and the significance of student expression and voice. 

In these larger contexts, how do we nurture our students’ diverse and developing literacies while preparing them for challenging–and potentially rewarding–new rhetorical and information ecosystems? How do we center students’ voices and encourage them to play in rich multimodal compositions: written, visual, and even sonic? How can we help students to explore and share the many worlds–spatial, temporal, linguistic, and more–that they belong to? In your writing pedagogy, what possibilities do you embrace and what do you resist? 

Please propose individual papers or panels that directly or indirectly consider how writing instruction can address and celebrate students’ literacies and linguistic worlds. We welcome presentations outside traditional conference formats, including workshops and roundtables, and encourage participation. 

Participants with disabilities, neurodivergence, chronic illnesses, and other accessibility issues are welcome. Please see the CFP Google Form for information on Covid precautions and to request disability accommodations. Email us with questions at youngrhetconf@gmail.com.