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| Tips for Grads: Communication
Writing email is so common that we may do it without much thought, yet email is a distinct genre of writing. Recognizing that email requires specialized writing skills can help you to be a more effective communicator, and more productive in getting the response you want from your reader. - Your email must answer two questions for the reader. The first, “What is this email about?”, should be answered by your subject line. Summarize, rather than describe, your email content in the subject, so that your reader can prioritize it in his or her workflow. (Hint: do this after you have written the body of the email.)
- The second question is, “What do you want from me?” Do you have a question, a request, or need a response? Put this first! This will ensure that your reader actually sees it and addresses your need. Then, fill out the rest with background and supporting information (which your reader is much less likely to pay attention to).
- Think about the context in which your email will be read. Your reader may be busy, have many tasks to attend to, receive hundreds of emails each day, and not read everything carefully. Write for brevity and clarity.
- Write so your email is easy to visually scan, with numbered lists, bullets, clean paragraphs, bold text, and white space. Think about your own response upon seeing an email that’s one long block of text. Would you feel motivated to delve into that quagmire? Don’t make your reader suffer.
With these simple considerations, your email communication will improve, and you’ll be far less likely to scream in frustration, “I asked that person four questions in my email, and she only answered two!” Need more help with your email? The Writing Center offers a great workshop on this topic!
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DiscoverPD is an innovative tool for UW-Madison graduate students to advance their academic and professional goals. Reviewing the nine facets of professional development, complete a self-assessment, and get a customized report and recommendations.
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Upcoming Professional Development Events
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Take a break from grading, studying, or writing during the final days of the semester to see UW-Madison students compete in the internationally recognized 3-Minute Thesis Competition. STEM PhD students are asked to explain their research for a general audience in only three minutes, so you don’t need background knowledge to be able to enjoy the program. Past competitors have explored the link between pancakes and alpine plants, discussed wind turbine bird kills, and delved into nematode romance. This event is open to all members of the UW community and the public.
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| Find more Graduate School Professional Development events here.
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| FAFSA Frenzy
Wednesday, December 6 | 12:00 - 2:00 pm
MSC, Armory and Gymnasium (Red Gym) | Personal Effectiveness FAFSA Frenzy
Friday, December 8 | 9:00 - 11:00 am
Caucus Room, Student Activity Center (SAC) | Personal Effectiveness
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For Future Faculty Series
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| Preparing for success on the job market and beyond. Full list of events here. Upcoming Events:
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| Introduction to Proposal Writing
Thursday, December 7 | 10:00 - 11:30 am
Room 231, Memorial Library | Communication | Disciplinary Expertise and Interdisciplinary Connections Writing a Letter to the Editor
Monday, December 11 | 4:00 - 5:00 pm
2511 Microbial Sciences Building | Communication | Disciplinary Expertise and Interdisciplinary Connections
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| STS: DesignLab Consultation
Sunday, December 10 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm
Room 2250, College Library | Managing Projects and People | Disciplinary Expertise and Interdisciplinary Connections STS: DesignLab Consultation
Monday, December 11 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm
Room 2250, College Library | Managing Projects and People | Disciplinary Expertise and Interdisciplinary Connections STS: DesignLab Consultation
Tuesday, December 12 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm
Room 2250, College Library | Managing Projects and People | Disciplinary Expertise and Interdisciplinary Connections
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| For more technology courses from Software Training for Students (STS) click here.
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Special Events & Conferences
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| WARF Entrepreneurons
Tuesday, December 12 | 4:00 pm
H.F. DeLuca Forum, Discovery Building | Inquiry, Discovery, and Creation | Disciplinary Expertise and Interdisciplinary Connections
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Increase in Minimum TA and PA Stipends Announced
Graduate School Dean William J. Karpus has announced that the minimum TA and PA stipend rate will change from $16,196 to $18,350 (9-month, 50% appointment level), representing a 13.3% increase. This goes into effect July 1 for annual appointments and August 20 for academic appointments. Dean Karpus stated, “The latest increase contributes to a sustained investment in graduate education… Moreover, the increase represents a continued commitment to recruit and retain the best graduate students, and it acknowledges the critical contributions of graduate students to the University’s research and teaching missions.”
Professional Development Programming GrantThe Graduate School Office of Professional Development is accepting requests for funding from graduate student organizations that intend to host professional development programming for graduate students in the spring 2018 semester. The deadline to apply is January 16, 2018. Read more here.
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Please note: Some graduate students may be ineligible to hold graduate assistantship appointments. Be sure to check with your graduate program coordinator about your eligibility before applying.
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| The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship supports graduate students in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences, as well as law, medicine, engineering, and architecture. Each fellowship provides tuition plus a generous stipend. Candidates must have an outstanding academic record, demonstrate financial need, and be U.S. citizens. Applications must be submitted through the university. Contact Irina Diaz for more information about applying.
The Graduate Public Humanities Exchange (HEX) program funds innovative public humanities projects that forge partnerships between community organizations and graduate students. With funding as well as mentorship from the Center for the Humanities, each HEX scholar builds a partnership with a community group that reflects both the partner's existing needs and the graduate student's research, interests, and expertise. HEX goes beyond volunteerism and the pure research model to offer graduate students and partners the chance to form mutually rewarding relationships with surprising outcomes. FLAS fellowships are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the UW's area & international studies centers to assist students in acquiring foreign language and area or international studies competencies. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Applications by students in professional fields are encouraged. Preference will be given to applicants with a high level of academic ability and with previous language training. Awards are only granted for a selection of less commonly taught languages. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award supports outstanding Ph.D and other research doctoral candidates complete their dissertation research training and transition in a timely manner to mentored, cancer-focused postdoctoral career development research positions. Applicants should be 3rd or 4th year graudate students nominated by their institutions.
The Dan David Prize awards scholarships to doctoral and post-doctoral researchers registered at globally recognized universities who exhibit exceptional promise in their field of study. The fields in which awards are granted vary each year within three dimensions -- past, present, and future. This year's eligible fields are history of science, bioethics, and personalized medicines.
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