Define-A-Thon
Ruth Levitsky, MITAC
Wed Jan 9, 12-01:00pm, 34-101
No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Single session event
You’ve heard of spelling bees. But are you ready to take the next step at the Define-A-Thon 2008?
The Define-a-thon is a game of vocabulary strength that ups the ante on word-based competition. Developed by the editors of the American Heritage Dictionary, this quick-paced game takes participants beyond the spelling bee. Why? Because the ability to spell a word doesn't necessarily mean that you know how to USE the word. The ContestMaster will give each contestant a definition, followed by several possible answers. The contestant must choose the correct one. Prizes will be awarded!
Sign up via email, levitsky@mit.edu or at the MITAC desk in Stata Center or Lincoln Labs.
Contact: Ruth Levitsky, E52-252, x3-3399, levitsky@mit.edu
Sponsor: Toastmasters@MIT
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Effective Speaking
Barbara Smith
Tue, Thu, Jan 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 04-06:00pm, 1-390
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 04-Jan-2008
Limited to 50 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: None Required
Have you always wondered why some people seem at ease with public speaking? Have others told you to speak up because you speak too softly, or perhaps you are self-conscious because of your accent? Well, this class is for you! You will learn the proper techniques for projecting your voice and delivering a talk.
Contact: Barbara Smith, 5-320, x3-0137, bsmith@mit.edu
Sponsor: Mechanical Engineering
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Individual Consultations at the Writing and Communication Center
Steven Strang
Mon-Fri, Jan 14-18, 22-25, 28-30, 10am-03:30pm, 12-132
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Repeating event. Participants welcome at any session
Prereq: none
The Writing Center's professional staff will offer free consultations on any writing issue, including finding topics, generating ideas, improving grammar and stye, organizing documents, and using evidence. We can help with theses from any department, application essays, resumes, articles for publication, proposals,course papers, and oral presentations.Go to our online scheduler to schedule an appointment.
Web: http://web.mit.edu.writing
Contact: Steven Strang, 12-120, 253-4459, smstrang@mit.edu
Sponsor: Writing and Communication Center
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Making the Most of Your Presentation
Dr. Jean-luc Doumont, Communication Consultant
Mon Jan 28, 02-04:00pm, 4-370
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Effective presentations skills are a major asset for engineers, scientists, and other professionals. Professional presentations hold a persuasive power not found in print documents or electronic messages. In this seminar you will hear about a five-step method for an effective presentation: how to plan it, design it, create the visual aids, deliver it, and answer questions. Handling nervousness will also be discussed.
Contact: Leann Dobranski, 5-122, x3-3371, leann@mit.edu
Sponsor: Teaching and Learning Lab
Cosponsor: Graduate Students Office
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Miniature Writing Workshop
Jessica Young
Tue Jan 15, Wed Jan 16, Thu Jan 17, 11:30am-01:00pm, 24-619
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
This is an informal writing workshop that will run for three days. Each day we will read some very interesting texts together. Be ready to be excited by this literature and to generate some literature of your own. Each session is separate, so you may attend one without having attended the others, and are of course welcome to attend all three. Bring your lunch!
Tues, Jan 15: Make literature through a list
Wed Jan 16: Create a world, write your way out of it
Thurs, Jan 17th: Mess with time
Web: http://web.mit.edu/esg
Contact: Jessica Young, 24-612, x3-7786, jessicay@mit.edu
Sponsor: Experimental Study Group
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Persuasive Proposals
Sally Susnowitz
Wed Jan 9, 02-04:00pm, 1-150
Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Signup by: 08-Jan-2008
Limited to 16 participants.
Single session event
Prereq: RSVP appreciated
This class is FULL. We cannot accept anymore registrants.
Whether you're interested in community improvements, scientific research projects, or marriage, successful proposals all share common factors. Learn how to persuade people to see things your way and to improve your chances of success through persuasive proposals. Please register in advance by emailing Sally at susnowit@mit.edu.
Contact: Sally Susnowitz, 4-104, x8-7344, susnowit@mit.edu
Sponsor: Public Service Center
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Public Speaking at Toastmasters
Ruth Levitsky
Fri Jan 11, 18, 25, 1, 12-01:00pm, E19-758
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Come join us at Toastmasters! You can come and observe or jump right in and practice impromptu speaking at Table Topics.
For more information, see http://www.toastmasters.org
For other clubs at MIT, see http://web.mit.edu/personnel/toastmasters
Web: http://web.mit.edu/personnel/toastmasters
Contact: Ruth Levitsky, E52-252, x3-3399, levitsky@mit.edu
Sponsor: Toastmasters@MIT
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Public Speaking at Toastmasters-Tuesday Group
Ruth Levitsky
Tue Jan 15, 22, 29, 06-07:15pm, TBA
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Learn how Toastmasters can help you overcome nervousness when you present and develop your skills in public speaking.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/personnel/toastmasters
Contact: Ruth Levitsky, E52-252, x3-3399, levitsky@mit.edu
Sponsor: Toastmasters@MIT
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Structuring Your Scientific Paper
Dr. Jean-luc Doumont, Communication Consultant
Wed Jan 30, 02-04:00pm, 4-270
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
\*\*NOTE: Room Change from 4-370 to 4-270.
Written documents are a typical outcome, if not the sole tangible deliverable, of the work of engineers, scientists, and other professionals. Well-designed, they efficiently allow each reader to learn only what he or she needs to. Poorly designed, by contrast, they confuse readers, fail to encourage decisions, or simply remain unread. This seminar will propose an effective structure applicable to documents in general, and to scientific papers and technical reports in particular.
Web: http://www.principiae.be
Contact: Leann Dobranski, x3-3371, leann@mit.edu
Sponsor: Teaching and Learning Lab
Cosponsor: Graduate Students Office
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Working with the Media: Practical Skills for Effective Results
Rich Hayes, Journalists
Wed Jan 30, 09am-05:00pm, E51-149, Lunch will be provided.
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Limited to 30 participants.
Single session event
Participants in this highly interactive workshop will be introduced to the challenges and opportunities of working with the media. Issues addressed will include conveying technical issues to the public; understanding reporters’ needs and constraints; developing effective messages; interview techniques; and other tools to reach the public through the media, such as press releases, letters-to-the-editor, and op/eds.
Participants will work with journalists and communications professionals to develop practical media-relations skills. Participants are asked to prepare in advance a short press release on a salient aspect of their own work, which will receive expert review and will provide material on which to practice skills.
Featured speakers will include Rich Hayes, author of the book A Scientist’s Guide to Talking with the Media.
Contact: Don MacKenzie, 31-141, (206) 794-0189, dwm@mit.edu
Sponsor: Technology and Policy Program
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