Communication Skills

Catalog description

This course is a 7-week course for CDS students, particularly PhD students, consisting of two separate and discrete Short Course components -- a 4-week Academic Writing course and a 3-week Great Presentations course. The Academic Writing course component is an intensive introduction to the principles of excellent rhetorical writing with a focus on the development of a clear, interesting, and rigorous science text, the construction of logical arguments, and the reporting of data, as well as the important concepts including reader-oriented writing, genre, precision, tone, the composing process, and strategies useful for redrafting and editing. Some of the sub-genres we analyze and practice include introductions, data commentaries, results/discussion, conclusions, and abstracts. We also practice other professional texts including requests for funding and professional email texts. The fundamental principles discussed and practiced in the Great Presentations course component can be applied in a variety of contexts including the short research talk, a lab talk, a formal conference presentation, poster presentation, job talk, interview, industry pitch. We talk about how to construct a logical and interesting presentation story, the design and best use of visuals, transitioning through the story and visuals, fluent delivery, connecting with the audience, timing, coordination of movement with content, and key linguistic elements such as volume, pitch range, intonation, and ends of utterances. We also look at the art of asking and responding to questions. Students will give talks of varying lengths followed by detailed feedback from the instructor.