Julia E. Berry Research Award to Study Careers of English Majors (The Berry Research Award)
2022 Recipient: Erin McNeill
Indiana University in Bloomington
Culturally Responsive Listening in English Language Arts Classrooms Language: Building Curriculum for Cultural Engagement
Erin McNeill is a visiting clinical assistant professor in literacy, culture, and language education at Indiana University in Bloomington. Her research focuses on asset-based strategies for linguistically and culturally diverse students, prioritizing relationships and classroom spaces where students can share family stories, life experiences, and funds of knowledge. McNeill investigates literacy methods that practitioners use to build culturally relevant curricula based on students’ experiences and interests. Her scholarship has been published in several academic journals, including the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, English Journal, and English Teaching Practice and Critique.
“Literacy educators have an important role in our society as they inspire students to develop lifelong reading and writing proficiency, think critically about texts and media, and communicate as engaged citizens of the world.”
Julia E. Berry, an NCTE member, gave a $10,000 bequest to NCTE for the purposes of establishing an award to further her interest in, as specified in her will, Careers in English Majors. The NCTE Executive Committee approved the award purpose and details outlined below in 2019.
Award Details
Submission Deadline: May 1 (every other year, next applications due in 2024)
- Notification deadline: August 15
- Award recipient announcement: Sept 1
- Award presentation: NCTE Annual Convention
Purpose:
The Berry Research Award to Study Careers of English Majors (Berry Research Award) supports NCTE members in the teaching, learning, and application of literacy learning. The Berry Research Award provides research support for an NCTE member(s) who proposes a research project that studies “the careers of English Majors and/or the role and function of English in career development.” This award will also support the study of the impact of the English language in the broadest of senses as well as literacy-related majors like writing studies, linguistics, and English education.
Award winners must convey results in at least two final products: one that is addressed to a scholarly audience of researchers and teachers in the field of English and/or literacy studies and one for a clearly specified audience beyond those in the field. Award winners will be required to present their research at one of the two NCTE Conventions following the award (e.g., if awarded in 2022, must present in 2023 or 2024). As an organization, NCTE is committed to supporting the diversity of applicants, projects, and research strategies included in these awards.
Frequency and Number of Awards
This award will be limited to 5 recipients over a 10 year period, beginning with the first award presented at NCTE’s 2022 Annual Convention in Anaheim, CA. The award schedule will be:
- November 2022, Anaheim, CA (present 2023 or 2024 Annual Convention)
- November 2024, TBD (present 2025 or 2026 Annual Convention)
- November 2026, TBD (present 2027 or 2028 Annual Convention)
- November 2028, TBD (present 2029 or 2030 Annual Convention)
Selection Committee
The Chair of the College Section Steering Committee serves as the Chair of the selection committee. The NCTE President appoints two members of the College Section Steering Committee and two members of the Secondary Section to serve as members of the committee. Final selection of the award’s recipients will be made by the College Section Steering Committee and the NCTE Executive Committee.
Eligibility:
Researchers may submit only one research proposal per award cycle. All members of the research team listed on the proposal must be members of NCTE at the time of proposal submission. Proposals are expected to last up to two years but can run for shorter periods of time. We remind nominators, nominees, and selection committee members that members of NCTE Conferences—CCCC, CEL, ELATE, LLA, and TYCA—are members, by definition, of NCTE.
Current NCTE Executive Committee members are not eligible for this award. Recipients for this award are not eligible to receive any other Executive Committee approved awards in the same year, nor in the following year.
Award Specifics:
● $1,500 in funds to support the research project
● A certificate is given to the recipient during an awards ceremony which takes place at the NCTE Annual Convention.
● For the year in which the recipient presents their research at the Annual Convention, the recipient also receives a travel voucher up to $1,100 to cover transportation, lodging, NCTE Annual Convention registration and meals.
Please Note: If a research team is proposed, there is only travel funding for the principal investigator.
How to Submit:
- Submission deadline May 1 (every other year)
- Submit proposals as a single PDF by using the form below
- We invite proposals for research that employ diverse perspectives and methodologies, including historical, archival, rhetorical, qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic, and textual
- Email NCTEawards@ncte.org with any questions
Proposals should include:
- A cover page that contains the title of the proposal, the names and full contact information of the investigator(s) (institution, address, phone, email), and, in the event of multiple investigators, the designation of a principal contact (maximum: 1 page).
- A narrative of no more than 5 single-spaced pages (12-point font, 1-inch margins) that
- Describes how the proposer(s) fulfills the criteria of studying “English Majors;”
- Defines the project and articulates specific research questions;
- Explains the significance of the project and identifies the gaps in knowledge it seeks to fill;
- Situates the project in relevant scholarly conversations about the subject to be studied;
- Carefully describes the proposed methodology and methods, including potential challenges or limitations (if relevant, includes plans to submit to submit to a human subject protection program and/or institutional review board);
- Describes the personnel and financial resources needed to complete the project, arguing why they are necessary and relevant; and
- Describes what the project will add to existing conversations among academic and public audiences and identifies at least two final products – one that is addressed to a scholarly audience of researchers and teachers in the field and one that is addressed to a specifically identified more public audience. Academic products should be submitted to NCTE publications (e.g., College English, Research of Teaching in English, CCC) for first review, prior to submission to other publications (though receipt does not guarantee acceptance).
3. A 1-page description of the credentials the investigator(s) brings to the project (relevant details about positions and teaching/research experience is sufficient) (maximum: 1 page).
4. A detailed budget with specific rationale for all expenses. Funds may be used for direct costs associated with the research, such as reassigned time/course buyout, student assistance, software, stipends for research subjects, etc. If student assistance is included in the budget, proposals should explain how the assistance will provide a learning/mentoring opportunity for the students involved. Please note that this grant may not be used to pay overhead, indirect costs, or travel to the NCTE Convention. Equipment costs are allowable if justified (maximum: 1 page).
Maximum proposal length, including all components described above, is 8 pages.
NOTE: Publications sent without supporting documents will not be considered.
Submit proposals as a single PDF using the form below. Email NCTEawards@ncte.org with any questions.
Award Criteria:
Berry Research Award to Study Careers of English Majors Criteria and Rubric