[eDebate] Debate Conference in 2008

[Alfred Snider]

http://debate.uvm.edu/betterworld.htm

2nd International Conference on Argumentation, Rhetoric, Debate and the 
Pedagogy of Empowerment
11-12-13 April 2008, Ljubljana, Slovenia

The conference begins with registration at 1200 11 April 2008.
The conference ends with the closing ceremony at 1500 13 April 2008.

The World Debate Institute at the University of Vermont USA, the 
National Education Institute of the Republic of Slovenia and ZIP, Za in 
proti, zavod za kulturo dialoga/ Pro et contra Institute for culture of 
dialogue Slovenia invite all scholars and practitioners of 
argumentation, rhetoric, debate, and educators using deliberative 
education methodologies to the International Conference on 
Argumentation, Rhetoric, Debate and the Pedagogy of Empowerment -- 
THINKING AND SPEAKING A BETTER WORLD, 11-13 April 2008, Ljubljana, Slovenia

The conference will welcome scholars and educators from diverse fields 
for vigorous dialogue and exchange.  This conference will unite scholars 
of argumentation and rhetoric, teachers, and organizers of local, 
national and international debating networks to discuss critical 
thinking and advocacy discourse through pedagogy.  We intend for the 
conference to welcome all who are involved in public discussions and 
debates about different issues.

This conference is extremely timely.  A global information society which 
seeks reasoned solutions to problems through broad citizen involvement 
needs to develop and refine techniques for criticizing and validating 
ideas through discourse and then impart these to new generations of 
citizens if we are to create a better future and avoid looming crises.  
This conference represents a unique opportunity to share ideas, network 
and cross-fertilize with global critical thinkers.

The conference will generate a proceedings volume in the form of a book 
with completed papers.  Submissions will be selected from the papers 
available at the conference.

The program for the conference will have three themes.  Submissions are 
encouraged to center their work on one of the three themes and to submit 
proposals to the appropriate conference division.  Interdisciplinary 
work that might fit into more than one category is welcome.

Argumentation and rhetoric.  The use of logic and reason to criticize 
and analyze ideas through communication.  Those interested in research 
on argumentation theory, criticisms of communication acts and 
scholarship on argumentation practice are encouraged to submit to this 
division.
Debate.  The use of formal argumentation forums to educate and empower 
citizens. Those interested in work on the practice and theory of debate 
competition, public debates, research on the impact of debate for 
participants, and theorizing about debate paradigms are encouraged to 
submit to this division.
Critical thinking/pedagogy.  Teaching and the methodology of teaching in 
the active classroom.  Those interested in using debate, discussion and 
argumentation in classrooms, discussion of experiences and teaching 
lessons relating to communication and critical thinking are encouraged 
to submit to this division.

Paper proposals (a less than one-page abstract) should be submitted as 
soon as possible but not later than 15 February 2008. The committees 
will evaluate proposals in hand each month and inform those submitting 
papers of the committee's decision. Full copies of papers should be 
provided electronically by the beginning of the conference. ALL PAPERS 
AND PRESENTATIONS MUST BE IN ENGLISH.

Format for papers will be that of the Modern Language Association. For 
information, see http://www.docstyles.com/mlacrib.htm . You can download 
a copy of the guidelines at http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/mlacrib.pdf .

A committee of conference organizers and scholars will examine 
submissions to each division.

The members of the argumentation division committee are:
David Williams, Florida Atlantic University, USA
Frans van Eemeren, Department of Speech Communication, Argumentation 
Theory and Rhetoric, University of Amsterdam (invited)

The members of the debate division committee are:
Bojana Skrt, ZIP Slovenia.
Sam Nelson, Cornell University, USA
Loke Wing Fatt, SAID, Singapore

The members of the pedagogy division committee are:
Alfred Snider, University of Vermont USA
Zora Rutar, National Education Institute, Slovenia
Maria Wolrath Söderberg, Department of Rhetoric, Södertörn University 
College, Sweden

Proposals and full papers for argumentation should be sent to David 
Williams at davidcratis at hotmail.com
Proposals and full papers for debate should be sent to Bojana Skrt at 
bojana.skrt at siol.net
Proposals and full papers for pedagogy should be sent to Alfred Snider 
at alfred.snider at uvm.edu




Those wishing to attend the conference without submitting a paper are 
very welcome but must register.

The Conference will be held at various venues in Ljubljana. The 
participation fee is 65 Euros and covers the conference sessions, 
reception, coffee breaks and materials as well as a banquet. The 
participants will be accommodated in different locations in Ljubljana, 
depending on the budget option they choose. There are different 
accommodations possible, from low cost high school dormitory to moderate 
hotels in Ljubljana to the best hotels in Ljubljana. Low cost 
accommodations must register through Bojana Skrt, while all others must 
be booked by the attendees. We will be supplying a list of suggested 
hotels soon. The conference is a non-profit project and all organizers 
are unpaid. The participation fee is designed to cover costs only.

Please note that registration for admission to the conference and low 
cost housing must be coordinated through Bojana Skrt 
bojana.skrt at siol.net. Registration deadline is 15 March 2008.

The payment for the participation fee should be transferred to ZIP bank 
account by March 15 2008 or in cash on arrival. All inquires about 
application, payment and other information should be sent to Bojana Skrt 
at bojana.skrt at siol.net.




Travel to Ljubljana is possible through many forms. Regular air service 
from most European cities is available, including on a number of 
discount airlines such as Easyjet. Train and bus service is convenient 
with arrivals at the city center. We will not be arranging pick ups from 
arrival points because it is quite easy. We will be publishing low cost 
options for airport pick up.

Ljubljana travel guides can be found at:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/slovenia?
http://www.randburg.com/si/ljubljana.html
http://www.ljubljanalife.com/

Organizing committee:
Bojana Skrt, Za in proti, zavod za kulturo dialoga, Slovenia
Alfred C. Snider, World Debate Institute, University of Vermont, USA

-- 
Alfred C. Snider aka Tuna
Edwin Lawrence Professor of Forensics
University of Vermont
Huber House, 475 Main Street, UVM, Burlington, VT 05405 USA
Global Debate Blog http://globaldebateblog.blogspot.com
Debate Central http://debate.uvm.edu
World Debate Institute http://debate.uvm.edu/wdi/
World Debate Institute Blog http://worlddebateinstitute.blogspot.com
802-656-0097 office telephone
802-656-4275 office fax