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 2nd through December 16th - 9:00am-12:00pm (515 Goodell)
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!
Please note that we will not meet on November 11, as it is a University Holiday.
 
A Topic is Not a Question: How to Design a Research Question
Tuesday, November 18th - 2:00-3:45pm (515 Goodell)
Determining a field or concentration for your research may be easy enough, but how do you transform a topic of interest into a specific and compelling research question? In this interactive workshop/work session we will discuss the qualities of successful research questions and why the advice to “just keep narrowing it down” can do more harm than good.
 
Communicating Your Expertise Quickly
Thursday, November 20th - 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.
 
Writing Literature Reviews
Tuesday, December 2nd - 2:00-3:30pm (515 Goodell)
Many dissertations, research proposals, and articles require a literature review. But many grad students get stuck when tackling this 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.
 
Three Minute Thesis Info Session
Wednesday, December 3rd - 2:00-3:00pm (online)
Join us in early 2026 for UMass's 10th 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 2026 3MT must attend an Info Session.
 
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Friday, December 5th - 10:00-11:00am (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.
 
Crafting Slides for Engaging Presentations
Tuesday, December 9th - 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!
 
Revision Clinic: Pushing the Draft Forward
Wednesday, December 10th - 9:30-11:00am (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. 

Three Minute Thesis Info Session
Wednesday, December 10th - 2:00-3:00pm (online)
Join us in early 2026 for UMass's 10th 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 2026 3MT must attend an Info Session.
 
The 5 Things You Need to Do to Prep Your Writing for Winter Break
Monday, December 15th - 11:00-11:30am (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
Thursday, December 18th - 10:30-11:30am (online)
Join us in early 2026 for UMass's 10th 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 2026 3MT must attend an Info Session.
 
Three Minute Thesis Info Session
Wednesday, January 7th - 1:00-2:00pm (online)
Join us in early 2026 for UMass's 10th 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 2026 3MT must attend an Info Session.