I’m interested, but I have no idea where to start!Don’t worry, GradPro is here to help! There are a variety of resources available to help you prepare for the Grad Slam competition. Walk through these four steps on your own, using the online resources below, or attend GradPro’s workshops to help you develop and prepare your speech and your video submissions. Step OneNovember 2021: Study the Grad Slam Rules and Watch Some Sample Talks Read this page thoroughly to make sure you understand the rules. Then, watch previous Grad Slam videos, both from the UC Berkeley campus competition and the UC systemwide competition (from disciplines as varied as nutritional sciences and toxicology, psychology, and public health.). Analyze the content and structure of several talks; choose some that are from your own discipline, and some from unrelated fields. Attend a Grad Slam Prep Session workshop hosted by GradPro on Thursday, November 18, 10-11:30 a.m. or December 8, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Step TwoDecember 2021: Create a Compelling Story about Your Research Within any research project, there are many compelling stories to tell. A successful Grad Slam talk tells a single, clear, engaging narrative from start to finish. This could mean telling the story of why your research is exciting to you; it could mean connecting your research to ideas or experiences familiar to the general public; it could mean explaining why your research is urgent and impactful. Read the disciplinary resources below to see a variety of different, successful strategies and write out your talk and prepare your slides. Step ThreeJanuary 2022: Memorize, Practice, and Record Your Presentation Attend a Practice Session Offered by GradPro in the week of January 18 – 21, 2022 As former Grad Slam champion, Joe Charbonnet, put it, public speaking is “a psychomotor skill, not an innate talent.” Take some time to learn tips and techniques that can make you a better speaker. Then, practice and get lots of feedback! View the presentation resources below, attend a session of Toast of Berkeley (a Toastmasters club), or recruit a friend to be your sounding board. Attend a Recording Session Offered by GradPro in the week of January 24 – 28, 2022 or create your own recording. Step FourJanuary 2022: Submit your application The Deadline for video submissions using this APPLICATION FORM is January 31, 2022, 11:59 p.m. (PST) ResourcesDisciplinary Resources on Communicating to Wider Audiences: TED Talks You Should Be Watching from the American Historical Association SciComm Blog, from PLOS Object Lessons series, from The Atlantic and the National Endowment for the Humanities LSE Impact Blog, from the London School of Economics and Political Science Resources for Humanists and Social Scientists: Interview with Alberto Sanchez Sanchez (Ph.D. student, Architecture): Read about Alberto’s experience competing in Grad Slam. 2018 Campuswide Grad Slam Semifinalists from humanities and social sciences: Lilith Acadia, Rhetoric Alberto Sanchez-Sanchez, Architecture David Wheeler, Ancient History and Mediterranean Archaeology UC Systemwide Grad Slam Finalists from humanities and social sciences: Marissa Stevens, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures Leslie Rith-Najarian, Psychology Tips for Very Short Presentations: Making the Most of Your Three Minutes for 3MT: The Three Minute Thesis by Simon Clews, Director, Writing Centre, University of Melbourne Top Ten Tips for Writing and Delivering Very Brief Speeches by Bill Cole, Founder and CEO of William B. Cole Consultants Guidelines and Tips for Five-Minute Presentations, by Department of History, University of Chicago Presentation and Public Speaking Tips: How to Talk like TED by Carmine Gallo, Article by Guy Kawasaki 10 Most Common Rookie Mistakes in Public Speaking by Terry Gault, Managing Partner and Vice President of the Henderson Group Giving an Academic Talk by Jonathan Shewchuk, Associate Professor in Computer Science, University of California at Berkeley “Giving Oral Presentations,” from English Communication for Scientists by Jean-luc Doumont (ed.), Nature (2010) Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds Need inspiration? Watch these talks: TED Talks: Short talks on “ideas worth spreading.” Popular playlists and talks include: “How Language Changes Over Time,” “Fascinating History,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “The Danger of a Single Story”; Jill Bolte Taylor, “My Stroke of Insight”; Hans Rosling, “The Best Stats You’ve Ever Seen.” Ph.D. Comics Two-Minute Thesis: Ph.D. Comics challenged graduate students to explain their work in two minutes – the best have been turned into videos!