2021 Call for Participation – NCA Conference

The American Forensic Association (AFA) is now seeking submissions for the upcoming 2021 National Communication Association (NCA) convention. The convention will take place Thursday, November 18 – Sunday, November 21, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. The AFA is an association of educators committed to supporting forensic pedagogy. The AFA is interested in promoting and supporting research that enhances the theory and practice of argumentation, advocacy, and competitive debate and public speaking competition.

The AFA encourages submissions that reinforce the convention theme of “Renewal and Transformation.” According to NCA First Vice President, Roseann M. Mandziuk, the theme was selected in part because Seattle is known for its innovation, enterprise, and pursuit of social justice. For more information, see the convention call at www.natcom.org/convention

The AFA encourages submissions that explore these themes for forensics professionals and forensics education.

The AFA will accept the following submission types: individual papers, panel discussions, and paper sessions. All submissions must be made via NCA Convention Central. For a definition of submission types, please refer to the step-by-step “How to Submit” instructions provided in the Convention Resource Library (https://www.natcom.org/convention-events/convention-resources/convention-resource-library) on the NCA Convention website. Individual papers, panel discussions, and paper sessions submitted to the division may be theoretical, empirical and/or critical in nature. The AFA encourages a diversity of methodological approaches.

We encourage panel discussion proposals that include authors with diverse institutional affiliations, and to include the name of a Chair and a Respondent who are not one of the presenters. Participants should not have more than one role on a panel.

Individual Papers: Individual papers should be less than 6,000 words and written to conceal authorship and institutional affiliation. Instructions on how to prepare an unidentifiable copy can be found in the Convention Resource Library. Papers should be accompanied by a description of no more than 150 words. Proposals must include author, description, keywords, and AV requests (if any) in the electronic submission form.

Panel Discussions: Panel discussion proposals must include a panel title, a 150-word rationale of the content and format of the panel, a brief description of the panel discussion, and panelist contact information. A Chair is required for a panel discussion. We encourage panel discussion proposals that include participants with diverse institutional affiliations. Proposals must specify if any AV capabilities are required.

Paper sessions: Paper sessions should include a session title, a rationale for the session, an overall description of the session, titles and abstracts of papers to be featured, and participant contact information. Sessions should include participants with different institutional affiliations. Proposals also should include the name of a Chair and, if included, a Respondent who is not one of the presenters. Proposals must specify if any AV capabilities are required.

All submitters are encouraged to review the Professional Standards for Convention Participants prior to submission, located in the Convention Resource Library (https://www.natcom.org/sites/default/files/annual-convention/NCA_Convention_Resources_Convention_Standards_0.pdf). Helpful resources, including step-by-step instructions on how to submit are also included in the Convention Resource Library.

The AFA point of contact is Dr. Jarrod Atchison, Wake Forest University, (atchisrj@wfu.edu)