Call for Papers: Works in Progress Symposium

The Center for the Study of Rhetoric, Race, and Religion invites submissions for its virtual Works in Progress Summer Symposium on July 29, 2025. This interdisciplinary symposium aims to foster dialogue and collaboration among scholars exploring the intersections of rhetoric, race, and religion. This symposium will offer a supportive space for researchers at any stage of their project, from initial ideas to emerging findings, to share, receive feedback, and refine their work in a collegial setting.

Symposium Focus

We welcome submissions that engage with the complex interplay of rhetoric, race, and religion in historical or contemporary contexts. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Rhetorical strategies in religious and racial justice movements
• The role of race and religion in political discourse
• Rhetorical analyses of sermons, sacred texts, or religious performances
• Intersections of faith, identity, and activism
• The influence of rhetoric on religious communities
• Explorations of ideology, nationalism, and religious rhetoric
• Indigenous, Black, and non-Western perspectives on rhetoric and religion

Submission Guidelines

Eligibility: Open to faculty, graduate students, and independent scholars.
Format: Submit a 250-word abstract outlining the project’s central questions, methods, and current stage. Works in progress may include early conceptualizations, ongoing research, or recently completed studies that are not yet fully developed.
Panel Proposals: Proposals for panels (5-6 speakers) are also welcome and should be limited to 500 words, including each speaker’s name, email, and institutional affiliation.
Presentation: Accepted works will be presented in brief (7–10 minute) sessions, followed by facilitated feedback and discussion.
Deadline: Submit abstracts by June 30, 2025.

Registration for the one-day symposium: 

$25 for CSR3 members

$50 for non-members

*Registration includes membership in CSR3

To submit your abstract and register, click here.

We encourage submissions that are experimental, interdisciplinary, or challenge traditional boundaries. Join us in advancing scholarship and building community in these vital areas of study.

For questions, contact the Center for the Study of Rhetoric, Race, and Religion at rhetoric raceandreligion@gmail.com

We look forward to your contributions!