DiMarco Graduate Scholarship in Computational Rhetoric

Award type:
Scholarships, Research specific awards

Award description:
A scholarship valued at $2,500, will be awarded annually to a graduate student registered full-time in the Faculty of Mathematics or the Faculty of Arts at the University of Waterloo with a demonstrated area of interest in computational rhetoric, computational analysis and/or generation of rhetoric and persuasive text. Interested students must submit an application to the Graduate Studies Office in the Faculty of Mathematics by October 15th in order to be considered. The application form can be found on the Faculty of Mathematics website. Selection will be based on academic achievement (minimum A- cumulative average in their current program) and interest in computational rhetoric as demonstrated in the application. Computational Rhetoric is a twenty-first century offshoot of Natural Language Processing (NLP) that Professor Chrysanne DiMarco helped to pioneer. Applicants are advised to read some of her foundational papers to see how their projects fit into that research. This fund is made possible by a donation from Sam Pasupalak in honour of Professor DiMarco’s excellent teaching and mentorship.

Value: 
$2,500

Value description: 
The goal is to provide at least one award valued at $2,500 annually.

Eligibility & selection criteria: 

  • Graduate students registered full-time in the Faculty of Mathematics or in the Faculty of Arts.
  • Selection to be based on academic achievement (minimum A- cumulative average in their current program) and demonstrated interest in computational rhetoric, computational analysis and/or generation of rhetoric and persuasive text.
  • Interested students will be required to submit an application to the Graduate Studies Office in the Faculty of Mathematics by October 15th in order to be considered. As part of the application, students will be required to include a written statement highlighting their interest in computational rhetoric, computational analysis and/or generation of rhetoric and persuasive text.
  • Applicants should familiarize themselves with the relevant literature, including the works of Professors Chrysanne Di Marco and Randy Allen Harris:
    • Some examples include:
      • The computational study, analysis or detection of rhetorical figures (metaphor, rhyme, ploke, …).
      • The computational study, analysis, or detection of style in propaganda, hate speech, or misinformation.
      • The computational study, analysis, or detection of style in technical documentation (science, engineering, or medicine).
      • The design of chatbots to use persuasive methods, like the appeal to authority or emotion.
      • The development, use, or analysis of persuasive algorithms.
      • The study or practice of ‘literate programming’ or other aspects of communicative or persuasive code.
      • Anything you design, study, or use that involves persuasion and computers and demonstrates an awareness of rhetoric.
  • A committee, comprised of one faculty member from each of the Faculty of Mathematics and the Faculty of Arts whose research area focuses on computational rhetoric will select a recipient normally each Fall.

Level: 
Masters, Doctoral

Program:
Arts→Accounting, Anthropology (Public issues), Classical Studies, Digital Experience Innovation, Economics, English, Fine Arts, French Studies, German/Russian, Global Governance, History, Peace & Conflict Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Service, Religious Studies, Social Work, Sociology and Legal Studies, Taxation; Mathematics→Applied Mathematics, Combinatorics & Optimization, Computational Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics for Teachers, Pure Mathematics, Statistics & Actuarial Science

Citizenship: 
Canadian/Permanent resident, International/study permit student

Selection process:
Application required

Term: 
Fall

Application deadline: 
October 15

Additional instructions: 
Interested students must submit an application to the Graduate Studies Office in the Faculty of Mathematics by October 15th in order to be considered.

Contact person:

Additional Information
Category: Faculty: