MIT: Independent Activities Period: IAP

IAP 2013 Activities by Category - Writing and Communications Skills

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32-Hour Mediation Training

Christy Anthony, Director, Student Citizenship

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/07
Limited to 20 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Fee: $100.00 for non-students (free to current students)

Conflict Resolution @ MIT announces the dates for January/IAP 2013 mediation training.  This comprehensive training teaches participants how to conduct mediations, basic mediation skills, mediation ethics, and meets Massachusetts requirements for mediation training.  Applications are currently available at the website below and are due by January 7, 2013.  

Please note that priority is given to early applications.  The training is free to MIT students.  A $100 fee is charged for those with other connections to MIT.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEFZSnhGOG9KT1lfTHpwd002amFNWHc6MQ#gid=0

If you have any questions, please contact ConflictResolution@mit.edu

If you are interested in other conflict resolution skills workshop, please contact ConflictResolution@mit.edu.  We offer a wide range of conflict management skill workshops that are shorter than this full mediation training.

Sponsor(s): Office of Student Citizenship
Contact: Christy Anthony, W20-507, 617-253-0193, ConflicResolution@mit.edu


Mediation Training Day 1

Jan/22 Tue 12:00PM-05:00PM Location TBD

Please note that you must attend all sessions.


Mediation Training Day 2

Jan/23 Wed 09:00AM-05:00PM Location TBD

Attendance is mandatory at all sessions.


Session Title TBD

Jan/25 Fri 10:00AM-04:00PM Location TBD

Attendance is mandatory at all sessions.


Mediation Training Day 4

Jan/28 Mon 09:00AM-05:00PM Location TBD

Attendance is mandatory at all sessions


Mediation Training Day 5

Jan/29 Tue 12:00PM-05:00PM Location TBD

Attendance is mandatory at all sessions.


Citation Management Tools

Peter Cohn, Anita Perkins, Mathew Willmott

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

Citation software (also called "bibliographic software," "citation managers," or "reference managers") helps you import citations from your favorite databases and websites, build and organization bibliographies and format citations while writing. Come to one or all of these sessions to see how you can use these tools to make writing and citing easier.

 

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Peter Cohn, 7-238, 617 258-5596, PCOHN@MIT.EDU


Mendeley Basics

Jan/17 Thu 04:00PM-05:00PM 14N-132

Mendeley is a free tool that can help you organize and manage your citations and PDFs. Learn how to use Mendeley to discover the latest research, collaborate with others, and automatically generate bibliographies. Registration is required for this event. You can register here.

Peter Cohn


Citation Management Tools Overview

Jan/22 Tue 12:00PM-01:15PM 14N-132

Using citation management software to create and maintain a collection of references or PDFs is becoming more common and important in today's academic world. These software packages (EndNoteRefWorksZotero, & Mendeley) allow users to search databases, retrieve relevant citations, and build a bibliography to be added to a paper or thesis or stored for future reference. We'll take a look at these 4 tools. Register here

Peter Cohn


EndNote Basics

Jan/24 Thu 12:00PM-01:00PM 14N-132

EndNote is a "personal bibliographic software" package which allows you to create and manage a database of bibliographic references. Attendees will create a personal database of cited literature by importing references from databases & other sources of published literature.

Please register for this session.

Anita Perkins


Zotero Basics

Jan/31 Thu 12:00PM-01:00PM 14N-132

Zotero is a free, open-source program that helps you collect, manage, cite, and share your citations and files.  With one click, save PDFs and citations for most articles, then cite them in Word or OpenOffice.  Make a searchable PDF library and find out how to publish dynamic bibliographies and collaborate by using group collections. Bring a laptop or use one of our computers. 

Please register for this session.

Mathew Willmott


Create a Web Series!

Sarah Coe

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

Are you interesting in storytelling or filmmaking? Are you a fan of creative web series such as Dr. Horrible, The Guild, or The Lizzie Bennet Diaries? Would you like to work with other energetic story-lovers? Then you’re invited to get in on the ground floor of developing an MIT-themed web series for debut in 2014! Comedy or drama, sci-fi or mystery, wacky or serious—your creative vision will help shape the show. Together, we’ll acheive our nefarious master plan: to create something so interesting, so entertaining, and so well-made that it will ensnare every procrastinator on campus!

From Jan 7th-13th, we'll be having our very first department meeting to lay the groundwork for the upcoming weeks. Feel free to stop by at meetings for the area(s) you are interested in! Also, if you are interested in helping out but not sure how yet, be sure to attend the General Meeting on Saturday the 12th, where we'll be coming together to share our progress and make plans.

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies
Contact: Sarah Coe, coesa@mit.edu


Create a Web Series!

Jan/07 Mon 07:00PM-08:00PM 5-233, Editing/Special Effects
Jan/07 Mon 08:00PM-09:00PM 5-233, Publicity/Graphics
Jan/08 Tue 07:00PM-08:00PM 5-233, Directing
Jan/09 Wed 07:00PM-08:00PM 5-233, Acting
Jan/10 Thu 07:00PM-08:00PM 5-233, Screenwriting
Jan/11 Fri 07:00AM-08:00AM 5-233, Music/Sound
Jan/12 Sat 07:00PM-08:00PM 5-233, General Body Meeting
Jan/12 Sat 08:00PM-09:00PM 5-233, Filming/Shooting/Cinematography
Jan/13 Sun 07:00PM-08:00PM 5-233, Visual Prep (locations, costumes, props)

Creativity: It's All In Your Head

Cherylle Garnes, Ariela Marshall, Ruth Levitsky, Toastmasters@MIT, David Marshall, Gustavo Garcia Barragan, Janet Johnson

Jan/26 Sat 10:30AM-12:30PM E51-149

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Everyone is born with a creative spark. However, in North America most people stop being creative by the third grade. In this interactive team presentation you will learn tips, techniques and games to sharpen, enhance and spark your creativity in all areas of your life. These tips and techniques are connected to the seven intelligences of Dr. Howard Gardner. Expect to learn something new and have fun while doing it. The Creativity Integrators were Toastmasters who branched out into this field in 2003. They come from all walks of life. To help us plan for handouts, please sign up at http://tinyurl.com/creativeones. Anyone is welcome to attend whether they register or not, though.

Sponsor(s): Toastmasters@MIT
Contact: Ruth Levitsky, E52-252, x3-3399, levitsky@mit.edu, CreativityIntegrators@hotmail.com


Critical Reasoning Boot Camp

Sally Haslanger, Professor of Philosophy

Jan/14 Mon 01:00PM-03:00PM 32-D461
Jan/16 Wed 01:00PM-03:00PM 32-D461
Jan/18 Fri 01:00PM-03:00PM 32-D461

Enrollment: Sign-up desirable but not required
Sign-up by 01/13
Limited to 60 participants
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: none

The ability to recognize, analyze, and evaluate arguments is an important life skill that everyone should have. This course will help students acquire and hone this skill. We will look at elementary logic, common fallacies, and probabilistic reasoning. We will also analyze real-world arguments to find their weak points.

Sponsor(s): Linguistics and Philosophy
Contact: Sally Haslanger, 32-D926, 617 253-4458, SHASLANG@MIT.EDU


Effective Speaking

Barbara Smith

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/07
Limited to 50 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: None Required

Have you always wondered why some people seem at ease in public speaking? Have others told you to speak up because you speak too softly, or perhaps you are self-conscious because of your foreign accent? Well, this course is for you! You will learn the proper techniques for projecting your voice and delivering that talk.

Sponsor(s): Mechanical Engineering
Contact: Barbara Smith, 5-320, 3-0137, bsmith@mit.edu


Jan/08 Tue 03:00PM-05:00PM Room 3-270
Jan/10 Thu 03:00PM-05:00PM Room 3-270
Jan/15 Tue 03:00PM-05:00PM Room 3-270
Jan/17 Thu 03:00PM-05:00PM Room 3-270

Barbara Smith


(CANCELED) et al.: A Peer-to-Peer Writing Workshop

Wiljeana Glover, Postdoctoral Associate, MIT SSRC

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/04
Limited to 20 participants
Attendance: Attending all sessions encouraged, not required

Graduate students and newly minted professors face a number of emotional challenges in academia. Among the stressors attributed to incidences of depression are feelings of isolation and a lack of social support during one’s professional development. Without these support networks and structure, graduate students and academic professionals are at risk for dropout, scholastic underperformance, and mental health problems.

To address this problem, et al., an educational initiative, is hosting a series of workshops during IAP, providing attendees with a structured process and pedagogy by which they can complete their Masters or Ph.D. thesis, following the guidelines/practices of their field. This workshop is not a substitute for advice and direction by a thesis advisor on content. Students seeking additional structure and support for the completion of the thesis should join us!

Workshop Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, the attendees will be able to:

Contact: Wiljeana Glover, E38-642, 617 452-2753, WJGLOVER@MIT.EDU


et al.: Peer-to-Peer Writing Workshop I

Jan/07 Mon 09:00AM-10:30AM E53-208, Bring Your Laptop

Session 1: Introductory Session, form writing groups. Guest speaker will discuss writing advice. Each student should complete a brief summary and schedule describing three concrete milestones (written deliverables) that can be completed over IAP.

Wiljeana Glover - Postdoctoral Associate, MIT SSRC


et al.: Peer-to-Peer Writing Workshop II

Jan/14 Mon 09:00AM-10:30AM E53-208, Bring your laptop

Session 2: Milestone 1 complete. Check in on writing groups. Guest speaker will discuss the importance of social support and wellness.

Wiljeana Glover - Postdoctoral Associate, MIT SSRC


et al.Peer-To-Peer Writing Workshop III

Jan/21 Mon 12:00PM-01:30PM E38-208

Session 3: Milestone 2 complete. Check in on writing groups. Guest speaker will discuss academic outreach.

Wiljeana Glover - Postdoctoral Associate, MIT SSRC


et al. Peer-to-Peer Writing Workshop IV

Jan/28 Mon 09:00AM-10:30AM E53-208, Bring Your Laptop

Session 4: Milestone 3 complete. Check in on writing groups. Guest speaker will discuss career choices.

Wiljeana Glover - Postdoctoral Associate, MIT SSRC


Games for Planners

Ezra Glenn

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

During IAP, we'll try to keep it light with some fun games that help hone your planning skills. Learn to speak, draw, and build, and have fun in the process.

Please come join us -- the more, the merrier (or the messier, or the muddier, or something like that...).  Prizes, food, celebrity guests, etc.

Sponsor(s): Urban Studies and Planning
Contact: Ezra Glenn, 7-337, 617 253-2024, EGLENN@MIT.EDU


Games for Planners: Gab!

Jan/15 Tue 03:00PM-05:00PM 9-450A

All planners need to feel comfortable speaking in public.  Ideally, you'll know what you are talking about, but being able to speak extemporaneously on an subject is a great skill to have as well, and can really help loosen you up and get you comfortable with speaking in front of an audience.

Ezra Glenn


Games for Planners: Pictionary

Jan/29 Tue 03:00PM-05:00PM 9-450A

Good planning, design, and public process often depend on effective visual representation.  Come play this classic party game, with a planning twist.  Can you draw "Floor Area Ratio"?  "Foreclosure"?  How about "Emerald Necklace"...?

Ezra Glenn


Getting Started, Getting Funded: Obtaining Research Funding

Micah Altman, Director of Research, MIT Libraries

Jan/10 Thu 10:00AM-04:00PM 14N-325
Jan/31 Thu 10:00AM-04:00PM 14N-325

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/08
Limited to 25 participants
Attendance: Repeating event, particpants welcome at any session

Increasingly, conducting innovative research requires resources that exceed those readily on-hand to the individual scholar. You can use research funding to access a wider set of research methods, to accelerate your research project, expand its scope and depth, and increase its impact. This short course provides an overview of the types and sources of funding available for research support, and introduces the fundamental elements of planning, proposal writing, and management for "sponsored" projects. The course is geared toward junior faculty, postdocs, and graduate students (in late stages or on the job market), who are new to the funding process, are considering whether to seek funding from new sources, or who would like a systematic review of the grant writing and review process. 

The course will be presented in a half-day format, followed by an individualized consulting session focused on each attendee’s research project. 

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Eloise Davis, 14S-216, 617.253.5655, elodavis@mit.edu


How to Get to Know Faculty & Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

Erin Scott, Assistant Director, Prehealth Advising

Jan/30 Wed 03:00PM-04:00PM 4-237

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/29
Prereq: None

Learn how to successfully build connections with faculty, and discover the best ways to approach faculty for strong letters of recommendation for graduate school applications and jobs.

To register in advance, visit MIT CareerBridge at www.myinterfase.com/mit/student/, click on the "Events" tab, and select "Workshop" from the "Category" drop-down menu. You will see a full list of workshops. Click on the workshop you'd like to register for.

Event sponsored by MIT Prehealth Advising.

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: Erin Scott, 12-185, 617-715-5328, scotte@mit.edu


How to Write a Great Abstract

Thalia Rubio

Jan/15 Tue 10:00AM-11:30AM 4-261

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 20 participants
Prereq: none

For your paper to be successful, people have to actually read it. A compelling abstract is essential for capturing their attention and making them want to read more. But writing an effective abstract is challenging because you need to summarize what motivated you, what you did, and what you found, in a small number of words. In this workshop, we'll analyze sample abstracts from different fields, learn editing strategies, and practice revising abstracts. You'll leave with a better understanding of how to write a strong abstract that clearly presents your research.

Sponsor(s): Writing and Communication Center
Contact: Steven Strang, 12-120, 617 253-4459, SMSTRANG@MIT.EDU


Improve Your Negotiation Skills - The Mutual Gains Approach

Carly Inkpen, Communications Coordinator, Consensus Building Institute

Jan/15 Tue 06:00PM-09:00PM 56-154

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Limited to 50 participants
Prereq: None

Negotiating a job or internship offer? Trying to solve problems with your roommate? Haggling over how to divide up project responsibilities?

This participatory workshop offers a process model for negotiation that focuses on reaching better, more sustainable agreements while preserving important relationships. In this workshop you will:
- See negotiation principles in action during various interactive exercises
- Learn the basics of the Mutual Gains Approach
- Test the skills you've learned in a simulated negotiation 

The Mutual Gains Approach to negotiation is a process model, based on hundreds of real-world cases & experimental findings, that lays out four steps for negotiating better outcomes while protecting relationships and reputation. This framework can be used to improve outcomes in any situation, from academic or professional negotiations, to difficult conversations with friends & family. Everyone is welcome, no negotiation expertise required.

The tools & theory in this workshop are based on work done by the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, as well as the Consensus Building Institute. The Program on Negotiation is an inter-university consortium committed to advancing the theory & practice of negotiation and dispute resolution. The Consensus Building Institute is a not-for-profit consulting organization located in Kendall Square dedicated to empowering people to negotiate and collaborate more effectively using our Mutual Gains Approach.

Sponsor(s): SpousesandPartners@mit
Contact: Carly Inkpen, carly.inkpen@gmail.com


Individual Consultations at the Writing and Communication Center

Steven Strang

Jan/07 Mon 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/08 Tue 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/09 Wed 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/10 Thu 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/11 Fri 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/14 Mon 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/15 Tue 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/16 Wed 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/17 Thu 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/18 Fri 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/22 Tue 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/23 Wed 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/24 Thu 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/25 Fri 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/28 Mon 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/29 Tue 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/30 Wed 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler
Jan/31 Thu 10:00AM-04:00PM 12-132, sign up on online scheduler

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Repeating event, particpants welcome at any session
Prereq: none

The Writing Center will continue to offer free consultation and advice on oral presentations and on any writing problem, including finding a topic, generating ideas, overcoming writer's block, improving grammar, crafting effective sentences and paragraphs, organizing ideas, using of evidence, analyzing audiences, and writing strategically. We can help with technical writing; theses in all departments; job, graduate and med school application essays; research and teaching statements; resumes; conference talks; articles for publication; book proposals and chapters; and papers for any course. We also offer help on pronunciation.

Sponsor(s): Writing and Communication Center
Contact: Steven Strang, 12-132, 617-253-4459, smstrang@mit.edu


Integrating Communication Instruction in CI Subjects: A Writing Across the Curriculum IAP Workshop

Louise Harrison Lepera and Dr. Jessie Stickgold-Sarah, Lecturers, Writing Across the Curriculum

Jan/28 Mon 10:00AM-11:30AM 12-134

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

Instructors of CI subjects often ask how they can more effectively connect writing and speaking instruction with the course content, so that communication assignments are not just additional requirements, but instead help students more deeply engage with the concepts of the course.  How can we design instructional and assignment sequences that are organic to each subject, and that help students approach writing and speaking as the space for developing conceptual thinking?  Working with some examples from CI-M and CI-H classes, we'll explore how instructors can break down assignments to demystify research, writing, and presentation in their fields.  Improved sequencing will help students experience a more productive writing experience.

Bring examples of assignments from your classes to share.

All WAC workshops are open to faculty and teaching assistants who are interested in integrating writing and speaking into their subjects.

Sponsor(s): Teaching and Learning Lab, Comparative Media Studies
Contact: Ashley Caval, 12-117, 617 253-0650, ACAVAL@MIT.EDU


International Training in Communications @ MIT

Ruth Levitsky, Coordinator

Jan/28 Mon 06:30PM-08:30PM E51-149

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Come join a sample meeting of International Training in Communications and learn how to improve your public speaking and general communications skills.

Contact: Ruth Levitsky, E52-252, 617 253-3399, LEVITSKY@MIT.EDU


Introduction to Drupal Cloud

Michael Rossetti, IS&T Web Development

Jan/25 Fri 01:00PM-02:00PM E17-121 Learning Ctr

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: None

Interested in creating and maintaining your own website (yoursite.mit.edu) at MIT?  Would you like to learn a little about content management systems such as Drupal?  Fancy yourself an early adopter? 

Come learn about MIT’s future service known as Drupal Cloud.  In this session we will give a

At the end of the session we will be accepting signups for the next beta phase of Drupal Cloud.

Sponsor(s): Information Services and Technology
Contact: Michael Rossetti, (617) 254-4589, rossetti@mit.edu


MIT Can Talk Speaking Competition

Tony Eng, EECS

Feb/01 Fri 02:00PM-04:00PM 34-101

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none

Come watch MIT students compete for prizes in the "MIT Can Talk: Speaking Competition".  Participants give a 4-5 minute speech in English that relates to this year's competition theme. Material must be original, but it can include excerpts from other works (a speech, a literary work, a poem, a story, etc.) so long as sources are properly attributed. Prizes will be awarded by a panel of judges to those who are best able to deliver their material to a live audience. The event is open to everyone in the MIT Community, and audience members can also win door prizes!

Add yourself to the mitcantalk-announce mailing list for reminders about general upcoming events related to MIT Can Talk!

Sponsor(s): Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Contact: Tony Eng, tleng@mit.edu


MIT Can Talk Workshops

Tony Eng

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: none

A series of open and independent workshop sessions on public speaking/oral communications meant to be practical and hands-on.  No registration; come  to as many as you like.

Plus, you may win an "MIT Can Talk" T-shirt door prize!   (Limit one per individual across all workships; must be present to win.)

Add yourself to the mitcantalk-announce mailing list for reminders about general upcoming events related to MIT Can Talk!

Sponsor(s): Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Contact: Tony Eng, tleng@mit.edu


Reading an Audience

Jan/28 Mon 10:00AM-12:00PM 32-141

No matter how brilliant your speaking may be, if you are not reaching the specific audience in the room your presentation will be poorly received. In this workshop we'll talk about observing body language and adapting on the fly as well as targeting your talk to the audience you expect to have (rather than the one you might like)! Be ready to be an emotional audience member!

Alison Malcolm


Wielding Humor

Jan/28 Mon 03:00PM-06:00PM 32-141

No one can be "taught" to be funny, comedy helps in all forms of communication. learn tips on incorporating humor into a speech, how to feel out your audience, how to employ certain techniques (e.g. timing, switches, setup/punchline/tag-on, callbacks, combinations, etc), and how to be able to work on your feet in a realtime environment. Come and "find your funny." Squares encouraged to attend.

Mehran Khaghani


Visualizing the Narrative

Jan/28 Mon 06:00PM-09:00PM 32-144

Narrative and storytelling are as old as human society. In this workshop, you will  develop narratives using a visual approach to storytelling that integrates complex systems, metaphor and storytelling in order to communicate a core message that connects with a target audience in a compelling way. Join us.

V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai

 


Nonverbal Behaviors for Speaking

Jan/29 Tue 10:00AM-12:00PM 32-141

This workshop explores the roles and influences that various nonverbal behaviors have on effective speaking. Through various demonstrations and activities, we will discover the power of eye contact, movement/use of space, and gestures as they relate to engaging and influencing the audience.

Neal Hartman


Speechwriting and Message Crafting

Jan/29 Tue 12:30PM-02:30PM 32-144

Using the tools that speechwriters use when writing for someone else to help you write speeches for yourself.

Joshua Mueller


How to Tell a Compelling Story

Jan/29 Tue 03:00PM-05:30PM 32-144

Nothing grabs audience attention and imagination so strongly as a well-told story. This workshop will teach you how to tell a story so that people really listen: what to include, how to shape it, and how to keep every moment compelling.

Jo Radner

 


What the Audience Remembers

Jan/30 Wed 10:00AM-12:00PM 32-141

What does the audience remember after a one hour presentation? Probably only a few key points from your talk, a memorable quote and a detail or two about you.  So you better make sure that the things they take home are the ones that are important to you. This workshop is about what you want you audience to remember and how to make that happen.

David Engel


Express Yourself!

Jan/30 Wed 01:00PM-03:00PM 32-144

Expressive. Synonyms: Animated, Sensitive, Open, Easy-to-read, Dramatic.
Antonyms: Impassive, Emotionless, Blank, Expressionless, Inexpressive, Unrevealing
Which would you rather listen to? Which way would you rather speak?
Wear loose clothing.

Keeley Eastley

 


Don't Just Stand There

Jan/30 Wed 04:00PM-06:00PM 32-144

Dynamic speakers are vocally energetic, but they should be physically energetic as well. Learn some ideas for how to more effectively utilize your room during a speaking engagement.

Tony Eng


Your Presence in Space

Jan/31 Thu 11:00AM-02:00PM 32-144

An effective confident speaker is more than just physically "there" -- they are present, they are in the moment, they take up space. Learn how to find and fill both the space within you and the space immediately around you, so that you can be yourself in front of an audience.  Wear loose clothing conducive for physical movement.

Anna Kohler


Getting Your Face Out of Your Speech

Jan/31 Thu 02:30PM-05:30PM 32-144

I clunod't bvleiee taht I culod aulaclty cummicontae waht I was rdnaieg! How do you read without reading? Not so differently than reading that first sentence. Explore how to "take the words off the page", while continuing to make a connection with your partner/audience. Covering keywording, phrasing, text analysis and even some helpful writing hints we will perfect the art of the "cold read".

James Elliott


MIT Writers' Group

Steven Strang

Jan/07 Mon 12:00PM-01:00PM 12-134
Jan/14 Mon 12:00PM-01:00PM 12-134
Jan/28 Mon 12:00PM-01:00PM 12-134

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/04
Attendance: Repeating event, particpants welcome at any session
Prereq: none

Want to write something creative but need some motivation or support? Join other writers to get advice about your own writing, to help other writers, or to get inspiration to write something to share with the group--any type of creative writing, including fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction,memoirs, personal essays, plays. Open to MIT undergraduate and graduate students, lectuers, staff and faculty.

Sponsor(s): Writing and Communication Center
Contact: Steven Strang, (617) 253-4459, smstrang@mit.edu


Oral Presentations and the Academic Conversation: A Writing Across the Curriculum IAP Workshop

Atissa Banuazizi and Nora Jackson, Lecturers, Writing Across the Curriculum

Jan/31 Thu 10:00AM-11:30AM 12-134

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

This interactive workshop is geared to instructors across the disciplines who are interested in integrating oral presentation into their classes.  We will discuss effective strategies to teach the oral component in CI classes as an act of critical thinking.  Together, we will define goals for a variety of speaking genres in science and humanities classes.  Participants will collaborate in sharing good practices from their own experience.  Finally, we will explore some practical templates to teach oral presentation that encourage students to practice the following skills: (1) communicating complex ideas in accessible language; (2) creating presentations that clearly define goals and argument or hypothesis; (3) organizing presentations in the service of developing ideas in the broader context of the field.

All WAC workshops are open to faculty and teaching assistants who are interested in integrating writing and speaking into their subjects.

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies, Teaching and Learning Lab
Contact: Ashley Caval, 12-117, 617 253-0650, ACAVAL@MIT.EDU


Powerful Feedback: Strategies for Responding to Student Writing: A Writing Across the Curriculum IAP Workshop

Dr. Karen Boiko and Susan Carlisle, Lecturers, Writing Across the Curriculum

Jan/29 Tue 10:00AM-11:30AM 12-134

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

What kind of feedback will help students understand how to revise their essays, reports or articles, or to write their next assignment more effectively?  This workshop will help faculty and TA's to articulate their criteria for student writing and to develop powerful feedback practices, from written comments to ribrucs to peer review to individual conferences.  By considering feedback in relation to other forms of instruction, participants will learn to provide the kinds of comments and strategies that will help students understand how to improve their skills as writers.

All WAC workshops are open to faculty and teaching assistants who are interested in integrating writing and speaking into their subjects.

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies, Teaching and Learning Lab
Contact: Ashley Caval, 12-117, 617 253-0650, ACAVAL@MIT.EDU


Reading Programming Code as a Cultural Object

Patsy Baudoin, Liaison to the Media Lab + Art, Culture & Technology program

Jan/09 Wed 04:00PM-05:00PM 14E-311

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Prereq: None

So much around us is driven by programs and written in code, in one or several computer languages. We use algorithms to visualize data, interpret behaviors, read  trends, and drive decisions. Programs and algorithms are culturally determined objects, often observable as aesthetic works or philosophical gestures. It's time to think more about the cultural aspects of code and what goes on "under the hood" of digital manifestations. How is code written and by whom? Under what conditions? How does code circulate? Where do the creative aspects of programming lie? What do porting code and natural language translation have in common? How do we understand the obsolescence of computer languages? Let's talk about what it means to start reading code differently, as cultural objects and statements. Let's raise the questions that need to be raised.

Sponsor(s): Libraries, Comparative Media Studies
Contact: Patsy Baudoin, 14S-230, 617 253-4979, PATSY@MIT.EDU


(CANCELED) RESCHEDULED to 2/15/13 Structuring Your Scientific Paper

Dr. Jean-luc Doumont,

Jan/30 Wed 02:00PM-04:00PM Rescheduled for 2/15/13 in 32-123

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Papers are one of the few deliverables of the work of researchers. 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 prompt decisions, or remain unread. Based on Dr Doumont's book Trees, Maps, and Theorems, about “effective communication for rational minds”, the lecture shows how to structure scientific papers, theses, and technical reports effectively at all levels to get the readers' attention, facilitate navigation, and, in this way, get the message across optimally.

Sponsor(s): Dean for Graduate Education (ODGE), Teaching and Learning Lab, Sloan School of Management
Contact: Leann Dobranski, 5-122, x3-3371, leann@mit.edu


Research and Teaching Colloquium: Communicating in the Disciplines

Dr. Suzanne Lane, Acting Director, Writing Across the Curriculum

Feb/01 Fri 01:00PM-04:30PM 56-154

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Sponsored by the Writing Across the Curriculum Program

How can we teach students to become critically reflective writers and speakers in classes across the Institute?  This session will present creative teaching practices and research from many Communication Intensive classes, and is open to all faculty and TAs interested in enhancing communication instruction in their subjects.

Barbara Hughey, Jane Kokernak, and Thalia Rubio

Marilee P. Ogren, Jessie Stickgold-Sarah

Lydia E. Volaitis

Janis Melvold

Mary Caulfield

Contact: Ashley Caval, 12-117, 617 253-0650, ACAVAL@MIT.EDU


Teaching Students to Write with (and Cite) Sources: A Writing Across the Curriculum IAP Workshop

Dr. Suzanne Lane, Acting Director, Writing Across the Curriculum

Jan/30 Wed 10:00AM-11:30AM 12-134

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)

Using evidence and writing with sources are central features of academic work.  Students often struggle with these aspects of academic writing; they find the differing requirements for source use, the practices of citation, and the relationships between claim and evidence hard to navigate as they move from one discipline to another throughout their undergraduate career.  Drawing from recent research in writing pedagogy, this workshop will discuss how to teach students to write with sources in ways that help them both to understand the methods of argument in different disciplines, and to better understand the requirements of academic integrity.

All WAC workshops are open to faculty and teaching assistants who are interested in integrating writing and speaking into their subjects.

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies, Teaching and Learning Lab
Contact: Ashley Caval, 12-117, 617 253-0650, ACAVAL@MIT.EDU


Zotero Basics

Mathew Willmott, Physics Librarian

Jan/31 Thu 12:00PM-01:00PM 14N-132

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required

Zotero is a free, open-source program that helps you collect, manage, cite, and share your citations and files.  With one click, you can save PDFs and citations for most articles, then cite them in Word or OpenOffice.  Make a searchable PDF library and find out how to publish dynamic bibliographies and collaborate by using group collections.  In this hands-on session, learn tips and tricks on how to use Zotero more efficiently to save you time and energy.  Bring a laptop or use one of our computers.

Please register for this session.

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Mathew Willmott, 617-324-5855, willmott@mit.edu