“Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Even though our Writing Center does not offer direct tutoring on public speaking, we recognize the link between verbal and written communication. As such, we have curated a list of helpful resources: online links/videos and on-campus groups/activities. Click here to view our informational pamphlet.  

On-Campus Public Speaking Resources 

• SJSU Communication Center: Make appointments to write and practice speeches. Learn more.

• SJSU Career Center: Make appointments to practice interview questions. Learn more.

Further Reading on Our Blog:

• Preparing and Delivering Presentations

A major skill graduate students benefit from learning is how to communicate their research to a non-technical audience. Most classes teach students how to present their work and ideas to people in the same field, but as students progress in their careers, they must talk to increasingly non-specialist audiences. You will likely find yourself working on a cross-functional team or reporting to more general project managers, and you need to be able to convey your ideas to them in a clear, concise manner. 

We recommend practicing making your ideas understandable to a general audience. The video linked on the left is an excellent example of a researcher effectively and briefly (3 minutes) communicating about his PhD thesis. You can also practice and see this skill in action at the SJSU Grad Slam Competition. More information is listed below.

Grad Slam at San José State University is a campus-wide competition for the best short research presentation by a graduate student. During the competition, graduate students will be judged by a panel based on their ability to successfully engage a non-specialist audience while communicating key details about their research in three minutes or less.  Panelists may include SJSU staff, faculty, students, alumni, city officials, and industry professionals. For more information or to enter the competition, click here.

Grad Slam is designed to showcase and celebrate the wide array of excellent research and creative activity taking place at the graduate level. Applications are invited from students in all fields, from arts and humanities to engineering, education, science (social, biological, health), and others. This is a premier opportunity for graduate students to present their work clearly and concisely in front of a broad audience.