- When it comes to English literature, I recommend researching the problems you encounter while studying various genres, time periods, styles, themes, symbols, motifs, and/or authors. Focus on one main issue to address, and be sure to articulate that problem in the form of a question to be answered. *Also, I recommend that you search a Call for Papers database to search for upcoming conferences, and plan a research idea accordingly (click on the links below and see item #5 in this list):
- What is a research problem in English literature? It is a contradiction, a gap, or a specific and significant issue that arises in one or more works. Your research problem should be narrow enough for approximately 10-30 pages of research for a conference paper.
- Pick a problem or issue that you can explore using a critical theory or established framework, unless your goal is to create a new one. (Such an effort, however, is often beyond the scope of a conference paper! Seek out the advice of colleagues and other researchers before proceeding into this type of uncharted territory!
- Next, you must thoroughly explore, using databases and search engines, such as Google Scholar, what has already been discussed on your problem. You don’t want to reiterate what has already been said. Instead, you always want to provide new insight.
- Planning for your research:
- Pick a conference wisely:
Conferences typically have a specific theme or focus on special topics that they present at each event. Your paper must address this theme directly. The more related your paper to a specific conference, the greater the chance of acceptance.
***Review recent conferences: If a list of recent conference papers is available, browse through them to gain a sense of the scope and types of presentations typically accepted. - Write a clear thesis: A conference paper needs to make an original argument. Come up with a one to two-sentence thesis statement that summarizes exactly what you will be arguing.
***Select your text(s): Choose which specific primary texts (novels, poems, plays, etc.) you want to discuss and analyze in support of your argument. - Write an abstract:
Concisely summarize your project: In a short, clear paragraph (usually 250–500 words), explain your main argument, your research materials, and methods in a short and clear paragraph. Pay attention to any length and formatting requirements, as those are usually strictly followed.
***Make clear the importance of your project: The abstract must clearly state how your project contributes to the field and what the audience should find significant.
- Pick a conference wisely:
Below are over 100 examples of interesting problems or issues in literature, but it is always better to think of your own! Be realistic for the length of your paper and pick a problem you are truly passionate about! *The list below is quoted from the following community on Reddit: literature
1. Postcolonial Identity and Migration Narratives
2. Environmental Humanities and Climate Change Literature
3. Digital Humanities: Literature in the Age of Digital Reproduction
4. Queer Theory and Contemporary Fiction
5. Intersectionality in Modern Literary Criticism
6. Trauma Narratives and Memory Studies
7. Neoliberalism and Contemporary Literature
8. The Global Novel: Transnational Themes and Forms
9. Speculative Fiction and Social Commentary
10. Literary Representations of Mental Health
11. Feminist Literary Criticism in the 21st Century
12. The Politics of Translation in World Literature
13. Narratives of the Anthropocene
14. Posthumanism in Contemporary Literature
15. Representations of Artificial Intelligence in Literature
16. Afrofuturism and Black Speculative Fiction
17. Ethnic Minority Literatures in a Global Context
18. The Literature of Refugees and Exile
19. Graphic Novels and Visual Storytelling
20. Digital Narratives and Hypertext Literature
21. Contemporary Gothic and Horror Fiction
22. Intertextuality and Adaptation in Modern Literature
23. Literature and Social Media: New Forms of Engagement
24. Post-9/11 Literature and Cultural Memory
25. The Role of Libraries and Archives in Literature
26. Literary Prizes and the Economics of Prestige
27. The Evolution of Detective and Crime Fiction
28. Voice and Silence in Contemporary Women’s Writing
29. Cultural Representations in Young Adult Literature
30. Linguistic Diversity in Contemporary English Fiction
31. Narrative Ethics and the Contemporary Novel
32. Modernism’s Legacy in Contemporary Literature
33. Diasporic Literature and Hybridity
34. Literature of the Global South
35. Science Fiction and Technoculture
36. The Impact of Globalization on Literary Form and Content
37. Contemporary Indigenous Literatures
38. The Literary Representation of Global Conflicts
39. Metafiction and Self-Reflexivity in Modern Literature
40. Narratives of Disability in Contemporary Fiction
41. The Role of the Author in the Digital Age
42. Literature and the Politics of Identity
43. Postcolonial Ecocriticism
44. Cultural Memory and Historical Fiction
45. Hybrid Genres and Narrative Experimentation
46. The Aesthetics of Protest in Contemporary Literature
47. Biopolitics and Literature
48. Reimagining the Canon: Inclusive Literature Studies
49. The Influence of Technology on Literary Style
50. Contemporary Poetry and Political Activism
51. Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Science Fiction
52. The Impact of Social Movements on Modern Literature
53. Cultural Narratives of Urban Spaces
54. The Evolution of Narrative Voice in 21st Century Literature
55. Cyberpunk and the Digital Literature
56. Contemporary Literature and Disability Studies
57. Literature and Global Health Crises
58. Diaspora and Identity in Contemporary Drama
59. Multilingualism in Modern Literature
60. Myth and Modernity in Contemporary Fiction
61. The Literary Exploration of Silence and Voicelessness
62. Ecofeminism in Contemporary Literature
63. The Role of Food in Contemporary Literature
64. Representations of Parenthood and Family Dynamics
65. Digital Storytelling and Interactive Narratives
66. Contemporary Travel Writing
67. Narratives of Imprisonment and Incarceration
68. The Aesthetics of Fragmentation in Postmodern Literature
69. The Role of Memory in Diasporic Literature
70. Metamodernism in Contemporary Literature
71. Contemporary Satire and Political Critique
72. Sound Studies and Literature
73. The Portrayal of Historical Trauma in Literature
74. The Evolution of Romance Fiction
75. Digital Archives and Literary Preservation
76. Narrative Strategies in Autobiographical Fiction
77. The Role of Animals in Contemporary Literature
78. The Influence of the Internet on Literary Forms
79. Literature and Game Studies
80. The Literary Representation of Non-Western Spiritualities
81. Contemporary Literature and Disability Justice
82. Post-Internet Poetry
83. Literature and Cybernetics
84. Narrative Time and Temporality in Modern Fiction
85. Representations of Work and Labor in Contemporary Literature
86. The Influence of Fan Fiction on Modern Literature
87. Contemporary Fairy Tale Retellings
88. Literature and Environmental Justice
89. The Role of the Uncanny in Modern Fiction
90. Literary Responses to Technological Surveillance
91. The Representation of Illness and Healthcare in Literature
92. The Politics of Literary Anthologies
93. Contemporary War Literature
94. Post-Postmodernism in Literature
95. Literature and Artificial Life
96. The Portrayal of Digital Natives in Fiction
97. Neo-Slave Narratives
98. Literature and Cultural Landscapes
99. The Role of Humor in Contemporary Literature
100. Representations of the Anthropocene in Poetry
101. Literature and Human Rights
102. Neurodiversity in Contemporary Literature
103. Literary Depictions of Aging and Elderhood
104. Literature and Urban Studies
105. Gender Fluidity and Non-Binary Narratives
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