Resources

Our resources are organized to help you address communication challenges across the prepare, design, deliver, and feedback stages. You can scroll our list or filter by category. For additional assistance, you can schedule a consultation with a Fanning Center faculty member. Call (574) 631-9153 or email Amanda.McKendree.1@nd.edu.

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• 10 Tips For Giving Effective Virtual Presentations

  Ten valuable best practices to ensure you communicate successfully with a virtual audience.

• 10 Tips for Powerful Presentations

  Your Powerful Presentation Checklist

• 10 Ways to Start a Conversation About Race

  Tips for beginning and continuing conversations about race, equity, healing and reparations.

• 11 Critical Considerations When Polishing Someone Else's Work

• 15 Outstanding Podcasts for Writers

  An array of podcast options for everyone’s interests, including writing techniques, publishing tips, and simple writing inspiration.

• 3 Steps to Having Difficult but Necessary Conversations

  Three rules to help you lead difficult conversations.

• 4 Basic but Absolutely Paramount Writing Reminders

  The essential reminders for writing well and keeping readers interested.

• 5 Steps for Tackling Tough Conversations

  Key action steps for approaching a challenging conversation.

• 8 Ted Talks That Teach Public Speaking

  Eight public speaking tips from various Ted Talks.

• 9 Places to Learn Public Speaking Skills for Free

  A variety of free courses, books, and videos that focus on developing public speaking skills.

• A Bizspeak Blacklist

  A list of words that have flooded the business world, but that should never be used in writing.

• Amy Cuddy-Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are

  Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk reflects on the impact of confident body language.

• A New Future with Social Finance TEDxYale

  Dr. Tomicah Tillemann’s TedTalk focuses on social entrepreneurship and social finance.

• A Plain English Handbook: How to Create Clear SEC Disclosure Documents

  The SEC’s techniques for writing in plain English to create clearer and more informative disclosure documents for the average investor.

• Become a Better Virtual Communicator

  An expert on public speaking explains how online technology changes the way we communicate.

• Brevity Just Might Save Your Career

  The importance of brevity, why it is difficult, and what can be done to change communication.

• Communicate with Mastery

  J.D. Schramm outlines Stanford’s seven secrets to master communication.

• Copyblogger

  A variety of viewpoints relating to writers, their craft, and content marketing.

• Delivering a Virtual Presentation to a Technical Audience

  Giving a virtual presentation to a tech audience has special challenges, but an expert provides tips to overcome any obstacles.

• Discussing Race, Racism, and other Difficult Topics

  Strategies for facilitating difficult conversations about race and racism, and other types of discrimination.

• Engaging in Racial Dialogue

  Expert advice for connecting with others in racial dialogue.

• Forward Focus - ”Constructive Feedback for Managers: Giving Feedback Effectively”

  Tools and techniques for managers to use when giving and receiving feedback to and from employees.

• Free Stock Photo Websites

  Several photo websites that offer free images.

• Gestures

  An informative video that offers tips to public speakers on mastering body language and movement.

• Getting Feedback

  Tips on when to ask for feedback, what kind of feedback to ask for, and who to ask for feedback when it comes to developing strong writing skills.

• Grammar Exercises

  Practice grammar skills with these short quizzes relating to punctuation, confusable words, and more.

• How Speakers Can Eliminate ‘umm,’ ‘er,’ and Other Tics

  Several tips for reducing the filler words, syllables, and sounds from public speeches and conversations.

• How to Beat Writer's Block

  The four main causes of writer’s block and ways to improve creativity.

• How to Become a Better Writer

• How to Give Writing Feedback That’s Constructive, Not Crushing

  Key tips for providing writing feedback that is positive, yet effective.

• How to Have Difficult Conversations and Stay True to Yourself

  In this video, Fred Kofman, leadership development advisor at Google, explains how to remain true to yourself and, at the same time, open to your counterpart.

• How To Have Difficult Conversations At Work

  Tips for having difficult conversations that are productive and well received.

• Julian Treasure-Five Ways to Listen Better

  Julian Treasure’s five tips for conscious listening.

• Learn From Public Speaking Feedback

  How to prepare for and learn from feedback regarding public speaking and presentations.

• Maximize the Impact of Your Virtual Presentations

  Tips for delivering memorable virtual presentations with confidence.

• Preparing for Difficult Conversations

  Activities for building a safe and supportive classroom space in which to discuss difficult issues.

• Purdue Online Writing Lab

  Purdue University’s writing lab offers free writing resources and instructional materials.

• Quick and Dirty Tricks from Mignon Fogarty

  The home page for Grammar Girl’s podcast, which was created by Quick and Dirty Tips’ founder, Mignon Forgarty.

• The Art and Science of Giving and Receiving Criticism at Work

  The reasons why criticism is difficult to receive and tips for giving and taking meaningful feedback.

• This is How to Have Hard Conversations

  Simple techniques for managing difficult discussions.

• Transitions

  An introduction to useful transitional expressions and tips to help employ them easily.

• What’s the Big Idea?

  Storytelling with Data’s “Big Idea Worksheet” helps authors determine who their audience is, what is at stake for their project, and what the “big idea” is.

• What To Do With Your Hands When Speaking in Public

  Tips on appropriate hand gestures when giving presentations.

• What Your Writing Says About Your Personality

  IBM’s Watson can analyze writing to determine authors’ characteristics, such as personality traits, intrinsic needs, and values.