First Year
In the First-year Writing Seminars, Rice students start developing the skills they need to communicate effectively throughout their time at the university. In addition, students can attend workshops through the Center for Academic and Professional Communication or make an appointment for one-on-one consultations to review an assignment.
Undergrad
Check out our workshops on topics like procrastination, oral presentations, and slide design, as well as our COMM 300 and COMM 415 course! We also maintain a list of online resources to assist undergraduate students in completing essays, presentations, and posters, and students can book one-on-one consultations to discuss an assignment.
Graduate Students
The PWC provides graduate students with workshops tailored to their academic goals and a curated list of online communication resources. Graduate students can also schedule one-on-one consultations in the Center for Academic and Professional Communication to help them succeed in written, oral, and visual assignments.
International Students
We provide resources to assist students whose first language is not English with communication assignments and courses. Students can make appointments for one-on-one consultations in the Center for Academic and Professional Communication or attend communication workshops and credit-bearing courses.
Faculty
We partner with instructors and departments to create communication instruction for their students, from classroom presentations to individual and group coaching. We also assist faculty in creating rigorous communication assignments and assessment tools tailored to their discipline.
Upcoming Workshops & Events
Writing an Abstract
In this workshop, you will learn techniques for writing an abstract for a journal article or a conference presentation. This workshop will review the structure of an abstract and discuss strategies for writing an abstract. This workshop will be interactive, so be prepared to discuss examples related to this topic. While this will not serve as a clinic to improve individual attendee abstracts, we welcome personal experiences with abstract writing as part of the conversation. By taking this workshop, you will: Learn the general structure of a research article including common ways to identify the various sections of an article. Learn the purpose of a research abstract and how an abstract relates to a research article. Learn strategies for outlining and writing an effective abstract. Instructors: Autumn Horne, Sean Bittner, Jordin Metz
Giving a Lab Meeting Presentation
Are you worried about giving a lab meeting presentation in grad school? Are you a current grad student looking for tips on how to improve your presentations? What should a group meeting presentation look like, anyway? This workshop is designed for graduate students who want to improve their lab meeting presentation skills. We will review the most common types of lab group meeting presentations and provide advice for how to approach each one. We will also explain fundamental elements of slide design and provide tips for how to give a presentation both in-person and over zoom. By taking this workshop, you will: Learn about three different types of lab meeting presentations: journal club presentations, once-a-semester research updates, and short weekly updates. Learn design principles for creating simple slides and effective visuals. Learn strategies for improving your presence during both in-person and virtual presentations. Learn strategies for alleviating presentation-related anxiety. Instructors: Sean Bittner, Autumn Horne, Jordin Metz
Introduction to Poster Design
How do you design a poster that is eye-catching and also clearly presents the data you worked so hard to acquire? This workshop is an overview of poster design. We will discuss basic design principles to make your poster look polished and professional. We will also review examples of scientific posters from a variety of fields to provide context and will discuss what makes an effective poster. This workshop will also review different softwares, websites, and resources you can use to make a poster. By taking this workshop, you will: Learn the purpose of a research poster. Learn what makes a research poster engaging. Gain strategies for deciding what content does/does not belong on a poster. Learn basic design principles for a poster while still following whatever guidelines your lab requires. Learn about the different software options to help you create your poster. Instructors: Sean Bittner, Autumn Horne, Jordin Metz
Center for Academic & Professional Communication 
The CAPC is the home for student and faculty communication support at Rice.
First-Year Writing Intensive Seminar 
FWIS courses will give you the communication foundation you need for success at Rice and beyond.
English as a Second Language 
The PWC provides a host of services for Rice students whose first language isn't English.
Communication in the Disciplines 
The PWC helps students learn to communicate in ways appropriate for their majors and intended careers.