Proposed Pedagogy Panel for BWWC 2016: Paper Proposals {Due 12/14/15]

full name / name of organization: 
Dr. Kelli MacCartey / University of Tennessee Knoxville
contact email: 

Making a Scene in the Classroom: Best Practices for Fostering Discussion when Students are Resistant to a Text (Panel Proposal for the annual British Women Writers Conference 2016.)

This pedagogical panel—to be held at the BWWC annual conference June 2-5 2016 in Athens, GA—will address the conference theme of "Making a Scene" as it explores why students are resistant to particular approaches or texts, and how we, as teachers, can "make a scene" ourselves to spark involvement, foster interest, and propagate engagement with vital works. We will explore the various ways that 18th and 19th century texts by women writers have been met with unexpected resistance, empty criticism, or unproductive conflict in seminars, which impedes successful exchange of ideas. While instructors choose appealing texts that illustrate a theme, speak to cultural issues, or help to demonstrate the complexities of the period, this does not guarantee that these writings are met with an enthusiasm and appreciation that could shape meaningful analysis or debate. A sampling of things to consider: What texts have you read in your courses that students just didn't like, were hesitant to discuss, or refused to engage with? How did you counteract this? What worked? What didn't? (The focus of papers and possible literary texts has been left deliberately open in this initial search for interest.)

Hopefully this panel will provide much opportunity for more discussion. Therefore, it is requested that papers be brief, about 10-12 minutes, to allow for open forum dialog between panel presenters and attendees. Handouts and/or PowerPoint presentations at the conference are most welcome.

Please send abstracts of no more than 300 words, with a short bio, to Dr. Kelli MacCartey at kmaccart@utk.edu by Monday, December 14th, 2015.