Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 11:51:45 +0100 From: debaron[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UIUC.EDU Subject: ads at ncte, 1995; 1996 I am writing to remind those ads members attending ncte next week of our session on political correctness (c-23) at 2:15 pm, Friday Nov. 17, in San Diego. We have three exciting speakers: John Baugh, Lynne Murphy, and Gail Stygall and we look forward to seeing you all (I mean all y'all, [+pl.], heah?). I've also just received the ncte call for proposals for 1996, and I'm taking it upon myself to call for suggestions for next year's ads-ncte session in Chicago. I've already come up with two ideas to put in the pot: 1. Grammar and the schools. 2. Gender and discourse. Other suggestions are welcome, as are comments on the above, volunteers to present talks, chair, organize, get donuts (crullers, bismarcks, danish, microwaveable pastries) and so on. Reply to me (debaron[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]uiuc.edu), or Allan Metcalf, who is really in charge of all of this (Aallan[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]aol.com), or to the list in general. Our sessions on dirty words and pc terms over the past 4 years have been well-attended and favorably received, dammit. I think it's time to move on to something else, though something that will also bring in the crowds. Chicago, with its central location and miserable climate, promises to be a big draw (and the miserable climate will keep attendees at the sessions, if they don't go to the malls), so let's really go for it this year. We're looking for topics and presentations that are appropriately pitched for the ncte audience: teachers of English and language arts at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels, many of whom have little formal training in linguistics, or even "school grammar," but who tend to be favorably disposed to our ideas when presented comprehensibly, practically, and in an accessible manner (that is, talk, don't read). Part of our job, as I see it, is to convince teachers who are primarily concerned with writing and literature (especially the latter) that writing and literature are made up of language, and that we can give them ideas about language that will revolutionize or radicalize their world view. Or at least give them something to do on Monday morning. Dennis -- Dennis Baron debaron[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]uiuc.edu Department of English office: 217-333-2392 University of Illinois fax: 217-333-4321 608 South Wright Street home: 217-384-1683 Urbana, Illinois 61801