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Chairs & Moderators

Concurrent paper sessions are run by two volunteer roles: a student chair who introduces the session and presenters, and a faculty moderator who facilitates the Q&A and keeps time. Both roles make the convention work.

Student Volunteers

Chairs

Chairs play a major role in facilitating each paper session—introducing the session topic, the presenters, and the titles of their individual papers. A few words about each presenter (year or class rank, university affiliation, academic interests) make each session friendlier and more relaxed.

While the faculty moderator is assigned in advance, a quick-witted chair may need to locate a faculty member willing to serve for an absent moderator. Chairs promote the congenial atmosphere necessary for collaboration and discussion. They model the best kind of session participation.

Eligibility

Students active in a Sigma Tau Delta or Sigma Kappa Delta chapter and Sigma Tau Delta alumni members may sign up to chair a session.

Sign-Up

  • Chair sign-up form: opens TBD
  • Sign-up deadline: TBD—typically about six weeks before the convention
  • Chair assignments will be listed on the "Schedule of Concurrent Sessions of Presenters, Chairs, and Moderators," available roughly one month before the convention

Chair Suggestions

  • Arrive at your session at least five minutes prior to the start.
  • Before formally starting, introduce yourself to the presenters; check the pronunciation of each presenter's name and pronouns.
  • Remind presenters they have no more than 15 minutes and that the moderator will keep track of the time.
  • Encourage presenters to stand while presenting so the audience can see and hear them.
  • If a presenter has a handout, assist by distributing it as the presentation begins.
  • Begin the session on time. Timing is tight—assist the moderator in keeping track.
  • Ask the audience to hold all questions until all presenters have finished.
  • Ask everyone to silence cell phones and other electronic devices.
  • Sit in the front row. Just before each presenter begins, stand off to one side and introduce them by name and college/university (or alumni affiliation), share any extra detail you collected, and give the title of the work being presented. Follow the order in the program.
  • Jot down thoughtful comments and questions during the readings. Be willing to participate in the Q&A—but yield the floor to session attendees.
  • If a faculty moderator does not arrive, ask a faculty member in the audience to moderate, or take on the additional duties yourself. On your next break, please inform the staff at the registration desk.
Faculty Volunteers

Faculty Moderators

While a chair introduces each session and its participants, moderators are responsible for facilitating the Q&A. The faculty moderator’s task looks much like the work they do in the classroom: fostering discussion that leads to deeper understanding of the works.

Moderators allow attendees—both audience and presenters, whom they should encourage to ask questions of each other—to dictate the direction of the discussion. Because sessions are limited to 75 minutes, moderators also keep time so no participant exceeds the 15-minute limit. Moderators for regular paper sessions are faculty members, since alumni members are eligible as presenters in those sessions.

Sign-Up

  • Moderator sign-up form for paper sessions: opens TBD
  • Sign-up deadline: TBD
  • All attending Chapter Advisors are expected to participate as a moderator. Advisors will be asked to complete a form on topic preferences, availability, and whether they want to be in a session with their chapter's student members.
  • Moderator assignments will be listed on the "Schedule of Concurrent Sessions of Presenters, Chairs, and Moderators," available roughly one month before the convention.

Moderator Suggestions

  • Well before your session, check the time and location (in the 2027 Program and the convention app). Last-minute changes will be posted near the registration table.
  • Arrive at your session at least five minutes prior to the start.
  • Before the session begins, introduce yourself to the chair and presenters; check the pronunciation of each presenter's name and pronouns; help the chair start on time.
  • Remind presenters they have up to 15 minutes. Keep time and gently signal when one or two minutes remain.
  • As time permits, facilitate discussion among presenters, the chair, and the audience. If the audience hesitates, step in with your own question—but yield the floor when others speak. Make sure each presenter is involved in the discussion, even if you have to direct a question to them.
  • Intervene if an audience member is dominating the discussion or being inappropriate. You are the "safety net" for often-nervous first-time presenters.
  • Conclude by thanking attendees and asking for another round of applause for the presenters.
  • If the chair does not arrive, take on the duties of the chair. At your next opportunity, inform the staff at the registration desk.

Strategies for Constructing Discussion Questions

  • Listen for questions the presenter's work poses.
  • Listen for key concepts and key words; use them in your questions.
  • Listen for the larger issues the work addresses; ask about the connection.
  • Draw connections among and between presenters' works.
  • Draw on your own experience and knowledge related to the subject matter.
  • Ask what or who inspired the writer (a class? a teacher? a dream? an event?).
  • Ask what authors influence the presenter's writing.
  • Ask what works of literature influence the presenter's writing.
  • Ask the presenter to explain their use of ___________ in the work (symbolism, point of view, metaphor, dialogue, etc.).
  • Ask what prompted the presenter to take that approach or to look at the subject matter that way.
  • Ask the presenter to describe their writing process.
  • Ask presenters if they have any questions in mind they're hoping to hear from the audience—and ask them to respond to those.

A Reminder to All Attendees

Help your colleagues remember: do not enter or exit a room while a presenter is at the podium. Wait until the applause between presenters for your cue to leave or enter.

Sign up to volunteer.

Both chair and moderator sign-up forms open after acceptance decisions are released. Subscribe via the registration page to be notified.

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Questions about chair or moderator volunteering? Email [email protected].