Upcoming Communication Workshops!
OPD helps students and postdocs improve their writing and presenting skills through a variety of programs offered throughout the year.
Communicating Your Expertise Quickly
Thursday, August 13th - 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 in Graduate School
Friday, August 14th - 12:00-1:30pm (online)
Writing plays a central role in sharing research and ideas in academia, yet it frequently becomes a source of worry and isolation for graduate students. This workshop serves as an "orientation" to a critical mode of communication that you will use daily while at UMass. You will be introduced to some academic genres, learn best practices for the four phases of the writing process, and discover tips to make your writing "sound more academic"!
Shut Up & Write Summer Spectacular!
Tuesday, August 18th - 9:00am-2:00pm (515 Goodell)
Shut Up & Write returns for one day only this summer! Drop in for dedicated writing time, coffee, and community. Arrive when you can, leave when you need to, and use this opportunity to wrap up your summer projects before the semester begins.
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Thursday, August 27th - 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.
Fall Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
Tuesdays, September 8th through December 22nd - 9:00am-12:00pm (515 Goodell)
Writing alongside others is a best practice for productivity! 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 is required; attend one week or attend all fall!
Communicating Your Expertise Quickly
Friday, September 11th - 10:30am-12:00pm (516 Goodell)
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.
Semester Planning Clinic: Making a Strategic Writing Plan from Now to December
Tuesday, September 15th - 2:45-4:00pm (515 Goodell)
Getting your semester off to a strong start requires knowing where you want to go and how you plan on getting there. This interactive clinic will provide strategies to plan your writing work and give you time to make those plans. Bring planners, calendars, syllabi, schedules of family members, access to email—anything you need to make a map of the semester.
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Friday, September 18th - 10:30am-12:00pm (516 Goodell)
“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, September 22nd - 10:00-11:00am (online)
Do you ever envy a presenter’s slick presentation? Do you wish you could convey your data simply or 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
Wednesday, September 23rd - 2:30-3:45pm (515 Goodell)
Are you looking for tips on how to tame 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 help you to keep track of your reading.
What is a "Response to Reading" and How to Write One
Monday, September 28th - 11:30am-12:00pm (online)
You might be asked to write a reading response – but what does that mean? This workshop will provide a framework for approaching a reading critically and suggest strategies for drafting a response.
Effective Poster Design
Thursday, October 1st - 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.
Communicating Your Expertise Quickly
Wednesday, October 14th - 11:30am-12:30pm (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.
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Thursday, October 15th - 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.
Crafting Slides for Engaging Presentations
Friday, October 30th - 11:30am-12:30pm (online)
Do you ever envy a presenter’s slick presentation? Do you wish you could convey your data simply or tell a great story that engages your audience? Join us to learn how to design slides that capture attention and convey your meaning!
Communicating Your Expertise Quickly
Friday, November 13th - 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.
Public Speaking—for the Anxious and the Not-So-Anxious
Thursday, December 3rd - 2:30-3:30pm (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
Thursday, December 10th - 10:00-11:00am (online)
Do you ever envy a presenter’s slick presentation? Do you wish you could convey your data simply or tell a great story that engages your audience? Join us to learn how to design slides that capture attention and convey your meaning!