Upcoming Communication Workshops!

OPD helps students and postdocs improve their writing and presenting skills through a variety of programs offered throughout the year.
 
Fall Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
Tuesdays, September 17th through December 17th - 9:00am-12:00pm (209 Bartlett)
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Fall Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!
 
Writing Literature Reviews
Monday, December 2nd - 11:00am-12:15pm (online)
Many dissertations, research proposals, and articles require a literature review. But many grad students get stuck on this deceptively simple genre of scholarly writing. This session will demystify the lit review by discussing its purpose and strategies for critical reading and writing to make moving toward effective synthesis easier.
 
Crafting Slides for Engaging Presentations
Wednesday, December 4th - 12:00-1:00pm (online)
Do you ever envy a presenter’s slick presentation? Do you wish you could convey your data simply and tell a great story that engages your audience? Join us to learn how to design slides that capture attention and convey your meaning!
 
Revision Clinic: Pushing the Draft Forward
Wednesday, December 11th - 2:30-4:00pm (online)
If you have a draft, this workshop is for you! You can think of it as a revising boot camp, a place to push forward on projects, refining the argument, purpose, and/or organization of your draft. In this interactive workshop, we will practice three different techniques for revising academic projects – so make sure to bring a draft of your conference or seminar paper, article, chapter, or any other draft. 
 
Effective Poster Design
Thursday, December 12th - 12:00-1:00pm (online)
Conference coming up? Not sure how to make a great poster? Come get a crash-course in making a poster presentation. We’ll cover the basics of graphic design, and the software you need. Get feedback and learn how to use your poster to network in your field and promote your research.
 
Three Minute Thesis Info Session
Thursday, December 12th - 3:30-4:30pm (online)
In spring 2025, UMass will host its annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition! This popular event challenges graduate students to communicate the significance of their research to a general audience, all in three minutes or less, with generous prize money available. It's a great way to practice communicating with non-experts and prepare for the job market! This Info Session will outline competition rules, offer strategies to prepare your presentation, and share tips for getting comfortable with public speaking. All participants in the 2025 3MT must attend an Info Session. 
 
Three Minute Thesis Info Session
Tuesday, December 17th - 10:00-11:00am (online)
In spring 2025, UMass will host its annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition! This popular event challenges graduate students to communicate the significance of their research to a general audience, all in three minutes or less, with generous prize money available. It's a great way to practice communicating with non-experts and prepare for the job market! This Info Session will outline competition rules, offer strategies to prepare your presentation, and share tips for getting comfortable with public speaking. All participants in the 2025 3MT must attend an Info Session.
 
The 5 Things You Need to Do to Prep Your Writing for Winter Break
Thursday, December 19th - 12:00-12:30pm (online)
We all know that breaks are important for our well-being and long-term productivity, but how do we take time off without losing momentum on our projects? The key to both a restorative break and a productive return is to take small steps to prepare your writing—and yourself!—in advance. Join us to learn the five things you need to do before you leave campus so that you’re able to come back in January refreshed, renewed, and ready to pick up where you left off.
 
Three Minute Thesis Info Session
Friday, December 20th - 1:00-2:00pm (online)
In spring 2025, UMass will host its annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition! This popular event challenges graduate students to communicate the significance of their research to a general audience, all in three minutes or less, with generous prize money available. It's a great way to practice communicating with non-experts and prepare for the job market! This Info Session will outline competition rules, offer strategies to prepare your presentation, and share tips for getting comfortable with public speaking. All participants in the 2025 3MT must attend an Info Session.
 
5 Questions to Ask About the Comprehensive Exams
Tuesday, January 7th - 12:00-1:00pm (online)
Preparing to take your Comprehensive Exams? Knowing what questions to ask—and who to turn to—will help you navigate the process of this important milestone. Come learn 5 key questions to ask as you prepare for Comps. 
 
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Wednesday, January 8th - 12:00-1:00pm (online)
“There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and the liars.”–Mark Twain. Speaking to an audience is important for your professional life, but that doesn’t mean we get a lot of training in it. Come learn the tips and tricks that will make you a more confident public speaker, convince your audience of your brilliance, and leave a lasting impression.
 
Writing Literature Reviews
Wednesday, January 15th - 1:00-2:15pm (online)
Many dissertations, research proposals, and articles require a literature review. But many grad students get stuck on this deceptively simple genre of scholarly writing. This session will demystify the lit review by discussing its purpose and strategies for critical reading and writing to make moving toward effective synthesis easier.
 
Crafting Slides for Engaging Presentations
Thursday, January 16th - 10:00-11:00am (online)
Do you ever envy a presenter’s slick presentation? Do you wish you could convey your data simply and tell a great story that engages your audience? Join us to learn how to design slides that capture attention and convey your meaning!
 
How to Get More Out of Your Reading by Doing Less
Tuesday, January 21st - 12:00-1:00pm (online)
Do you find yourself spending too much time reading and not enough time actually writing up your research? Are you looking for tips on how to work through your reading list and take efficient notes on what you’ve read? In this workshop we will break the reading and annotation processes down into concrete steps that will save you time and set you up to start writing.
 
Using Simple Words for Big Ideas
Wednesday, January 22nd - 1:00-2:00pm (online)
Communicating your research effectively can be tough, and it can be even tougher when your audience doesn’t share your expertise. Success hinges on your ability to articulate what you are doing and why it is worth doing, whether your goal is to communicate the relevance of your work, recruit a potential collaborator, impress a prospective employer, or finally have your family understand what you do. In this session, participants will draft a short explanation of their work that avoids jargon and engages audiences.
 
Drafting Clinic
Monday, January 27th - 10:30am-12:00pm (online)
All writers agree: drafting is hard. By “drafting,” we mean that blank-page moment between research and initial draft, when most sentences are being composed for the first time. This “clinic” will be a combination of workshop and writing session. We will learn about and practice three different methods for drafting academic projects. Think of it as a drafting boot camp, a chance to get a head start on the coming semester’s writing projects.
 
Communicating Your Expertise Quickly
Tuesday, January 28th - 10:00-11:00am (online)
Communicating what you do effectively can be tough, and it can be even tougher when your audience doesn’t share your expertise. Success hinges on your ability to articulate what you are doing and why it is worth doing, whether your goal is to communicate the relevance of your work, recruit a potential collaborator, impress a prospective employer, or finally have your family understand what you do. In this session, participants will draft a short explanation of their work that avoids jargon and engages audiences.