While both involve writing, the fundamental difference between a journal paper and a conference paper is that the former is written to be published in a journal and the latter is written to be presented at a conference and maybe published in the proceedings of that conference.
 

To begin, a conference is a forum in which specialists in a field discuss their findings after extensive study. A conference paper thus combines the elements of both a written report and an oral presentation. 
 

Conference papers are short, succinct publications that communicate the results of academic research in a concise manner. There are conferences where all papers presented are published in the proceedings, while there are others where only selected papers are published.
 

The main difference between a journal article and a conference paper is that the former is written to be published in a journal and the latter is written to be presented at a conference and possibly published in the proceedings of that conference. 
The reviewing procedure also varies significantly, with scholarly articles needing a far more in-depth and stringent evaluation. Additionally, conference papers are often shorter (4-10 pages) than journal publications.

There are many various kinds of conference papers, and each presenting style may call for a particular one. Take a look below to find out more information about a handful of them.
In this kind of presentation, the respondent (the speaker) gives a paper for thirty minutes. After reading the article, a responder has fifteen minutes to discuss it. After fifteen minutes, the speaker addresses the reply.
 

In a typical panel presentation, three or four speakers take turns talking for 15 to 20 minutes. A discussant who gives both individual and panel commentary on the papers is an optional addition to panels.
Posters are a visual presentation medium that emphasizes clear communication of ideas. It is common practice for speakers to hand out a three- to eight-page booklet detailing their study, establishing their methodology, and explaining their results. Posters with charts, graphs, pictures, or artwork tend to be the most eye-catching. 
Five or more speakers take turns talking for five to ten minutes each in a roundtable format.
Workshops may range in length from 90 minutes to a whole day. Speakers at workshops often give a few quick remarks before getting the audience involved in an activity. 
 

Getting ready to write a conference paper:
 

As you begin work on your conference paper, there are a number of things to keep in mind.
Figure out the format and presentation
 

What is the outline for your presentation?

 This is a crucial question since the answer will determine the structure of your final paper. The following are just a few ideas for your consultation:
• Visual aids, such as presenting programs like PowerPoint or Prezi
A public reading of an article/paper/discussion
These presentation types may also be blended together. You might, for instance, show pictures from a document while reading it aloud. There may be time for casual interaction with the other speakers after your paper.
 

The length requirements for your paper are another factor you need to consider. Talks typically last between fifteen and twenty minutes. A good rule of thumb is that it takes around two and a half to three minutes to read aloud a single double-spaced page. Therefore, a 15-20 minute presentation is usually an acceptable length for a paper of 8-10 double-spaced pages. Stay within the allotted time!  Take care that your paper fits the requirements for the presentation.
 

Take into account the conference norms and your session's format:
It is essential that you deliver on the expectations of the conference attendees. Have you ever attended a scholarly meeting?  How did the format of the presentations work? In your experience, what sorts of presentations worked best? In what ways are you prepared for this specific conference? Some academic conferences have their own set of guidelines for paper and presentation preparation. Determine what they are and always use them.
If you have suggested a panel with other academics, you should be familiar with the norms of that panel. However, further materials will be required if your article was submitted separately and is now part of a panel with other papers.
 

Is commentary planned? Commentators (also known as responders or discussants) bring the papers together and ask questions, making them an invaluable addition to panels. Be aware of when the commentator would want a copy of your paper if one will be provided. Keep this due date in mind.
You should probably also check out the topics that the other speakers will be covering. Before the conference, do you plan to share your papers with the other panelists? Will there be recurring topics in your papers? After each of you gives a presentation, will you talk about how your work connects with the others? In what ways do you hope your panelists will work together?
Look at who you're talking to.
There is no more important audience to consider than the people who will be reading your conference paper in person. Check out the audience handout we prepared for you. Writing a conference paper that effectively relates your narrow study to their broad problems is greatly facilitated by anticipating the requirements of your audience.
What are the main points of the meeting to discuss?
You may find them by referring back to the conference's official call for ideas and considering the event's stated goals and central themes. What ideas or terms do we keep coming back to? To what extent does your study contribute to answering these broader questions? If you decide to focus your article on one of these issues, make sure the connection is credible. You might undermine your work by using essential phrases too superficially.
 

Where do most researchers put their attention?
 

How can you connect your findings to the bigger picture in your field? The brainstorming process includes the discovery of such connections. For further information on how to brainstorm, please see the document we've provided. If you are giving a presentation at a conference in your area of expertise, you should already be aware of the most pressing issues and questions that will be asked. If you are going to an inter- or extra-disciplinary conference, or if you just want to brush up on the latest developments in your field, you can do one of the following: • Read recently published journals and books, including recent publications by the conference's featured speakers.
 

Inquire of those who have attended the conference before; focus on theoretical and methodological concerns. Which questions arise in the books? What seminal works should you have read?
Go back to the questions that sparked your investigation at the outset of your project. Consider some of the most pressing issues raised by the secondary sources in your subject.
You should do some freewriting. Picture yourself discussing the project to a coworker who works in the same department but is not as knowledgeable with the subject as you are. Is there anything you can safely presume they know? From what point do you need to launch your explanation? In what ways do you plan to find common ground?
 

Your audience will feel more connected to you if you place your specific research topic within the context of broader trends in the subject.  The discovery of a great poet from the nineteenth century may fascinate you. But will people really care about your subject?  You don't want people to wonder after hearing your presentation, "What was the point of that?" You may deliver a paper that makes people go "Wow!" if you put some thought into who you're talking to, what they care about, and what the conference and field are all about. Where has this unknown poet been all my life? When trying to make sense of the evolution of Romantic poetry in the 1800s, she is a crucial figure.
 

Create a paper for the conference:
I have a fantastic chapter of my dissertation or a research paper I wrote on this same issue. Can I just copy and paste?
Take care around here. Your message may need to be succinct and narrowly focused in order to meet the demands of both you and your audience. You may wish to start again if you want to write a paper specifically for the conference.  If you ever need that old document, manuscript, or chapter again, you still have it. However, a new perspective will help you learn more from your study.
 

In-text citations:

When citing sources for a conference paper that will be presented orally, several additional considerations apply. When referencing sources in your work, be sure to follow the norms established by your specific academic field. However, while presenting, you should also use vocal cues to distinguish your evidence and quotes from the text. You may say something like, "As Nietzsche said, quote, 'And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you,' end quote." The phrases "quote" and "end quote" might become repetitious if used for every quotation in a document. Use voice modulation or pauses to indicate when you're quoting someone.
 

Methods of Paper Structure
You may structure your conference paper in a variety of ways, but it's important to have a clear message that fits the allotted time and addresses the concerns of the target audience. Start by discussing how your study relates to the problems faced by the target audience, then provide some concrete instances or case studies from your study, and then return the subject to more broad, field-wide concerns.
 

Don't leave your readers scratching their heads.
The amount of detail you provide should be restricted. Your dissertation cannot be summarized in 10 pages. Instead, focus on the most important topics and illustrate them with relevant examples. Alternatively, you might choose a central theme or case study and illustrate it with two to four instances.
 

Verify the content for readability.
Reading your work aloud might help you imagine how your thoughts will be received. If you want to make sure your thoughts are crystal clear, reading them aloud is a terrific method to do it, since you may pick up on errors you missed while reading silently.  Improve your audience's comprehension by using simple, straightforward language and eliminating any unnecessary complexity.
 

Incorporate textual verbal signals
Use connective phrases like "however," "so," and "thus" and "signpost words" like "first," "next," etc.
Say so at the outset and state your five key points if such is the case. When moving from one area to another (e.g. "Now I will discuss my fourth point, the importance of plasma"), go back to this framework.
 

Introduce your argument using an expression like "I argue" to set the tone. If you use multiples of any of these sentences, your readership may get confused about what you're trying to say.
Always bring it back to the outline and let the audience know when you are shifting gears by saying something like, "I just talked about x, now I'm going to talk about y."
What should I do now that I've finished my conference paper?
Now that you have written your conference paper, the real work begins: presenting it to your fellow academics.  Keep in mind that presenting the paper at the conference is just as important as drafting the paper itself. It's a presentation as well as a written content.
Your presentation will go well if you put in the time to prepare for it. Some suggestions for improving your presentation are provided below. Our pamphlet on public speaking is now available.
 

Indicators to the Mind:
 

Be sure to add any notes of advice to your own copy of the document. Stop, stand up straight, and establish direct eye contact with your listeners to strengthen the impact of what you have to say. If a slideshow is involved, you may choose when to advance slides. Your document may be easier to read if you increase the font size to 14 or 16 points.
 

Repeated practice is essential:
 

Time yourself as you train. Is your reading speed too high? Do you have a clear pronunciation? How confident are you in your ability to pronounce each word in your paper? Make a recording of yourself talking and give yourself a critical ear. Rehearse in front of a group of trusted friends or coworkers.
Learn how to use the technologies you want to use. Verify and recheck your pictures. You should proofread them with the rest of your presentation materials just like you would a paper.  Make sure you have a hard copy of your photographs and documents, and carry extras in case something goes wrong.  If you have questions concerning the equipment during the conference, you should ask the organizers.
Maintaining a professional demeanor is not limited to only the written material of a conference presentation. Your presentation is the other. This implies that others will judge not just your job but also you as a person. Be sure to present yourself in a professional manner.
 

References used:
When creating this guide, we referred to the following sources. We urge you to perform your own research to identify further publications on the issue, since this is by no means an exhaustive list of resources related to the handout's subject. Do not use this list as a template for your own reference page; it may not conform to the citation style you're required to use. Refer to the UNC Libraries' citation tutorial for help with citation format. We'd love to hear what you think of these hints and how we might improve them.