Call for Abstracts
Special Issue of Journal of Second Language Writing
Guest Editors: Brian Paltridge and Sue Starfield
Thesis and Dissertation writing in a second language: Context, identity and genre
The Journal of Second Language Writing announces a call for abstracts for the 2018 special issue on thesis and dissertation writing in a second language. The sub-theme of the issue is context, identity and genre signalling that we are interested in studies that go beyond the text to examine texts within the contexts in which they are being produced, circulated, received and responded to. We are interested in studies of how multilingual writers in diverse contexts across the globe negotiate their identities in their thesis and dissertation writing, the kinds of relationships that support or hinder their writing and the ways in which their knowledge of the thesis genre develops over the time in which they write their texts. We are also interested in the ways in which doctoral writing is evolving in response to the diversity of contexts in which these texts are being written, the impact of new technologies on thesis and dissertation writing and writer identities and the diversity of voices being represented in these texts.
We welcome contributions that address one or more of the following themes:
· Building genre knowledge in multilingual contexts;
· Constructing and negotiating voice, identity, agency in doctoral writing in multilingual contexts;
· Peer, mentoring and ‘brokering’ relationships in diverse contexts.
· The impact of new technologies on thesis and dissertation writing.
Contributors will discuss empirical research and address conceptual/theoretical issues of relevance to the topic and are encouraged to draw on a range of methodologies that enable us to better understand the ways in which complex texts such as doctoral theses and dissertations are being written by multilingual writers in the contemporary moment. Abstracts that address themes others than those listed above will be considered where relevant.
Papers should discuss previously unpublished work that offers new insights into the complexities of thesis and dissertation writing and consider the implications of their work for writing pedagogy. In addition to full-length articles, we would be interested in briefer reports and summaries and issues papers that address key areas of concern in doctoral writing in diverse contexts. We are particularly keen to encourage submissions that bring a range of global perspectives to this topic and which broaden the field’s understandings of the challenges and risks facing both doctoral writers and teachers of doctoral writing. Based on review of the abstracts, authors will be invited to submit full length papers for possible inclusion in the special issue.
Please send a 600-word abstract for a full-length article or a 300-word abstract for a briefer piece. For all submissions, send copies of the abstract without author(s) names. On a separate sheet, include each author’s name, affiliation, mailing address, email address, telephone number and 50-word biographical statement.
The deadline for abstracts is 1 December 2016. Please send abstracts and inquiries to Sue Starfield s.starfield@unsw.edu.au
Authors invited to submit full papers will be notified by 15 January 2017.
Full manuscripts will be due 31 July 2017.
For complete guidelines for manuscript preparation, please consult “Guide for Authors” available on the JSLW website at http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-second-language-writing/.