Panels

Papers will be presented in the following subject-area categories:

1. Allied Health and Nursing
2. The Arts
3. Business and Economics
4. Communications (Media Studies, Speech, Popular Culture)
5. Computer Studies
6. Education
7. Gender Studies
8. Geography
9. History
10. Interdisciplinary Studies
11. International Studies/Globalization
12. Literature
13. Mathematics and Science
14. Multicultural Studies
15. Natural and Physical Sciences
16. Philosophy/Religious Studies
17. Psychology
18. Social Justice
19. Social Sciences (Anthropology, Political Science, Sociology)
20. World Languages-Spanish (a paper written for a Spanish language course)

These categories and the assignment of papers to them are subject to change based upon the number of submissions. Students should discuss the choice of appropriate categories with their mentors.

Approach

The methods and tools of research/analysis will vary from discipline to discipline. For example, field work might be part of an anthropology presentation while lab reports might be featured in a scientific or technical paper. All submissions must show the results of research, reflection, and an original perspective.

Criteria

Quality and originality of research, written work, and oral presentation.

Eligibility

Papers submitted in courses taken in spring 2008 through spring 2009 semesters.

Length

Maximum length of 5000 words (approx. 20 typewritten, double-spaced pages) for papers and 20 minutes for presentations. After each presentation, 10 minutes will be reserved for questions from the judge and the audience.

Format

1. Typed, double-spaced on 8 1/2 x 11" white paper with left-hand margin of 1 1/2" and at least 1" top, bottom, and right. Pagers must be numbered with Arabic numerals in the upper right-hand corner.
2. References should be incorporated according to the guidelines of the discipline (MLA, APA, etc.). Name of the student or college must not appear anywhere other than on the title page; however, the title of the paper should appear at the top of the first page of the text.
3. The paper must include the Beacon cover sheet, which provides the necessary student, mentor, and paper information. The cover sheet can be obtained from the Conference Co-Directors, Beacon mentors, or the Beacon Web site: www.beaconconference.org.

Submission

Six copies of each paper, including a completed cover sheet, must be submitted to:

BEACON 2009
Montgomery College
Campus Commons
51 Mannakee Street, MT 212C
Rockville, MD 20850
Attn: Roxanne Davidson

All entries must be postmarked no later than February 27, 2009. Entries will not be returned.

Selection of papers

A panel of three scholars will select three papers from each category to be presented at the conference.

Prizes

$100 will be awarded to the student who presents the outstanding paper in each category. In addition, the student's mentor will also receive $100.

Conference Director

Professor Roxanne Davidson
Phone: 240-567-7505
E-mail:
roxanne.davidson@montgomerycollege.edu

Collegewide HP Director

Dr. Lucy Laufe
Phone: 240-567-1965
E-mail:
lucy.laufe@montgomerycollege.edu

Montgomery College • 51 Mannakee Street • Rockville, Maryland 20850 • Fax: 240-567-1745