RSA Awards

The Rhetoric Society of America gives a Book Award and a Dissertation Award for the best work in rhetorical study in a given year. Additionally, it recognizes achievement in scholarship and professional service by naming Fellows to the Society and giving the George E. Yoos Award at its biennial meeting. The best article published in RSQ is recognized with the Charles Kneupper Award, which is granted by the Editorial Committee of RSQ. All other awards are open for nominations from any member of the Society. The Gerard A. Hauser Award for outstanding student papers presented at the RSA conference; selection is made by a committee appointed by the conference planner.

Nominations are reviewed by the Awards Committee of the RSA Board, which recommends winners to the Board for final approval.

For the 2011 Awards, submit nominations for the Book Award, RSA Fellows, and the Yoos Award to the Awards Committee Chair:

Details for submission will be posted in November. 2011 Book Award:

 

Details for submission will be posted in November.

These awards are for books published between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010.   

Book Award nominees need to have a letter from the publisher confirming the month and year of publication.

Letters of Nomination are welcome. Authors may nominate their own work.  See RSA Book Awards for additional information.  

 2011 Dissertation Award:

For the 2011 Awards, submit nominations for the Dissertation Award Committee Chair: 

Details for submission will be posted in November.

2012 Yoos Award and RSA Fellows:

Details for submission will be posted in November.

Awards Policies & Procedures

The Board has approved the following policies for awards.

  1. Eligibility for the Book and Dissertation Awards.

    To be considered for the Book and Dissertation Awards, a scholar must be a member of the RSA. The book award subcommittee will consider any book that has a designated author or authors and that meets the eligibility requirements. Generally, edited collections and second editions are not eligible for this award. Translations are eligible.
  2. Guidelines for Assessing Nominated Books
    In reviewing nominees for the Book Award, the Awards Committee considers:

    Originality
    Strength and persuasiveness of argument
    Engaging style or readability
    Potential to promote rhetoric among scholars from other fields and/or the general public's understanding of rhetoric.
  3. RSA Fellows

    Fellows of the Rhetoric Society of America have produced scholarship in rhetorical studies that is remarkable for its quality and quantity, have participated in the work of the RSA, whether on the Board, on its committees, or in other capacities, and have worked to increase the visibility and influence of rhetorical studies through public lectures, teaching, advocacy, or other activities.
  4. Winners of the George E. Yoos Award, which automatically confers the status of Fellow, meet the criteria for Rhetoric Society Fellows and have made sustained contributions to the RSA which have improved the organization.
  5. Conflict of Interest for Book and Dissertation Awards.

    A member whose book is nominated for the RSA book award may not serve on the book award sub-committee. A member who has worked as a member of the dissertation committee for any nominee for the dissertation award may not sit on the dissertation sub-committee. Members of the Awards Committee who feel that they are unable to be impartial in judging any nominee will recuse themselves from discussion of that nominee.