Consult faculty and advanced graduate students in my department or program for coursework and resources (including books) relevant to my discipline.
Write reports regularly to document my research progress. This regular reflection will improve my writing overall and make the writing process easier.
Start a professional blog focused on research and graduate school. Write “how-to” guides, share solutions to problems, or share my thinking about complex issues.
Organize a journal club or reading group to discuss writing style, format, and structure. Become familiar with leading journals in my field to see how scholars craft journal-worthy arguments and articles.
Join a writing group to share writing and feedback regularly with my colleagues.
Participate in the biannual PAL (Philosophy, Arts and Literature) Writing Is Thinking events, generally offered in the spring of odd-numbered years. Find upcoming offerings on The Graduate School’s professional development calendar.
Attend the workshop on Writing from the Reader’s Perspective with Dr. George Gopen. This popular multi-part series is focused on persuasive writing, i.e., for grant proposals, and fills up quickly when advertised.
To gain experience in writing grant proposals, collaborate with colleagues and faculty from my department or program to apply for a Professional Development Grant from The Graduate School.
Consult faculty and advanced graduate students in my department or program for coursework and resources relevant to my discipline. Participate in department-level student seminars, or start one for my department.
Attend conferences in my discipline to see successful models of presentations in my discipline. Consider presenting at a graduate student conference to learn the conventions.
Consult faculty and advanced graduate students in my department or program for coursework and resources relevant to my discipline.
Attend conferences in my discipline to see successful models of presentations in my discipline. Consider presenting at a graduate student conference to learn the conventions.
Take GS 760: College Teaching and Visual Communication to learn graphic and web design for teaching, including design of online teaching portfolios. The course is limited to students who are post-prelim. (Note: Enrollment preference for this class is given to participants in the Certificate in College Teaching program. Consider enrolling in CCT first.)
Speak with my advisor, my director of graduate studies (DGS), and/or advanced graduate students to learn about the teaching opportunities that are available to me through my department.
Participate in Teaching Ideas workshops to learn about topics relevant to teaching, learning, instructional technology and issues in higher education and faculty life.
Participate in the Certificate in College Teaching (CCT): The CCT facilitates pedagogical training, a reflective teaching practice including peer observation, and development of an online teaching portfolio.
To learn how to create a professional profile and manage a successful presence on LinkedIn, consult the Career Center’s tools (find this under the Career and Professional Development Fundamentals drop-down menu).
Attend workshops focused on communication skills; find upcoming opportunities on The Graduate School's professional development calendar.
Attend the networking workshop offered by Duke Career Center. Find upcoming workshops on The Graduate School's professional development calendar.
Attend events offered through the Forum for Scholars and Publics to see models of scholars sharing their research with a broad audience.
Attend the Graduate Etiquette Workshop and Luncheon in The Graduate School’s Professional Development Series to develop professional communication skills in a dining setting.
Discuss the communication skills I’ll need to develop in order to achieve my professional goals in an individual advising appointment with Duke Career Center staff. Schedule an individual appointment with a Duke Career Center advisor; schedule an appointment in Handshake or take advantage of drop-in advising for a brief conversation.
Seek advice on the communications skills I’ll need to develop through the Versatile Humanists @ Duke initiative. Students in the humanities and interpretive social sciences can set up advising appointments with Dr. Maria LaMonaca Wisdom.
Join a Toastmasters chapter to practice oral communication skills and receive feedback. Look for Duke-based chapters, or join a Triangle-based open chapter (with no membership restrictions) to combine networking with oral communication practice.
Apply to participate in the annual GradX talks, part of Graduate Student Appreciation Week. The TED-inspired talks focus on a research question in approximately five minutes. Accepted presenters can join a workshop on preparing for the presentation.
