The Society for Technical Communication (STC) India Chapter
conferences over the last seven years have significantly contributed
to the standardization and wide acceptance of the profession.
For this year's conference also, STC India invites proposals for
paper presentations.

You could choose from a wide range of topics related to Technical
Communications. The topics should be original works, preferably based
on real time experiences. For example, you may wish to present an
innovative method that your team uses to communicate technical
content, or discuss the emerging trends in technical writing. You can
see the section - "Topics for Paper Presentations" for some ideas.

Instructions

Contents of the Proposal

Suggested Topics

Frequently Asked Questions

Instructions

Due Date
The due date for proposal submission is "15th September 2006".

Duration
Plan your presentation to run for 45 minutes, including time for Q&A.

Number of Proposals
You may submit one or more proposals. However, submit each proposal separately.

Contents of the Proposal

Your proposal should contain the following information:

Title - In no more than 8 words, clearly identify your proposal content.

Description - Briefly describe your proposal, in no more than 30 words. This will be used in the final program if your proposal is accepted.

The proposal must also contain a detailed description (no more than 150 words). The description must also include 3-5 key learning objectives.

Intended audience – In you proposal, mention the expected skill level of your intended audience. You can choose one of these: Getting Started, Advanced, All.

If your paper is selected, you will be notified by e-mail. Send your proposals in Word or PDF format to: rashmi_kumar_2006@yahoo.co.in.

Suggested Topics

Listed below are some suggestions for papers. You can choose a topic from those listed below, or on a topic of your choice:

• Trends in Technology
• Basic Technical Writing
• Editing
• Indexing
• Open Source Documentation
• Usability
• Documentation Techniques for White Papers
• Technical Communication Education
• Accessibility in Communication Products
• E-Learning Tools and Techniques
• Technical Writing for Translation
• Multilingual Publishing and Documentation
• Software Internationalization/Software Localization
• Building Knowledge Bases
• About Help Systems
• International Project Management
• Management
• Career Path
  

Frequently Asked Questions

Do speakers have to register for the conference? Do they get special conference rates?
All selected speakers must register for the conference by paying a registration fee. There will be a discount for speakers. The special conference rate is presently under discussion.

When is the proposal due?
Your proposal is due (via e-mail) by 15th September. If you do not get an e-mail message indicating that your proposal has been received, you might want to send it again. All proposals must be submitted to rashmi_kumar_2006@yahoo.co.in.

Can there be joint proposals? What is the maximum number of presenters per session?
Yes, joint proposals are possible. There can be a maximum of two presenters per session.

What is the process for paper selection?
Paper selection process will take place in two stages. In stage one, a selected group will go through all proposals and shortlist a few of them. During stage two, a different group of people will hold telephonic interviews with the short listed presenters. The aim of the interview is to gain a better understanding of the presentation's objectives, and assessing the speaker's communication skills.

When will I hear from the committee?
The committee is scheduled to meet after the closing date (15th September) and start the paper selection process. Once the committee comes to a final decision, you will be notified. You will hear from us by October.

Do I have to bring my materials to the conference, what about printouts?
If you want handouts for your sessions, you will need to bring them with you. We will let you know well in advance, about the number of people who have registered. You can decide the number of handouts based on the number of registrations.

What can I submit for the proceedings? When is that content due?
If short listed, we encourage you to submit your presentation and associated materials, such as papers, articles, or graphics by 15th October.

Are there any awards for the presentations/speakers?
The audience will vote for the best speaker in the conference. He or she will be awarded the "Speaker of the Year" by STC India.