Comments on: MHA 2009 Call for Papers

By: Kevin Barney

Kevin Barney — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:55:31 +0000

Thanks for the helpful advice, everyone. I just now went ahead and submitted a proposal, so we’ll see what happens.

By: Ardis Parshall

Ardis Parshall — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:42:32 +0000

It’s also good to include a paragraph about the materials your paper will draw on. That shows the committee you know what you’re doing, if your vita/resume doesn’t back up your topic. Or, if you’re an old-timer, it reassures them that you aren’t planning to give yet another iteration of your dissertation that you’ve been milking for papers for the last 30 years.

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:37:21 +0000

Yep, they should have a formal proposal outline in the next weeks, I would think. I think it is typically 500 words or less.

By: David G.

David G. — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:13:02 +0000

Kevin, yes. My proposals are usually a page or less in length, provide a tentative title for the paper, and a summary of my argument. It’s also usually good to submit a C.V. with it.

By: Kevin Barney

Kevin Barney — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:06:19 +0000

So what does a proposal look like? I’ve never done a presentation at MHA and am thinking about doing one (on the history of Hebrew translations of the BoM). But this call doesn’t really say what a proposal is. Is it basically an abstract of what your presentation will cover?

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:38:54 +0000

Kris and I are both going to pull proposals together; we have a dozen or so potential topics. We will probably circulate a list in a couple of weeks as we want to pull in a third presenter and a make a session of it. You know the routine: liturgy, ritual, healing, etc. Anybody interested?

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:32:59 +0000

Thanks for the heads up.