Overview
The Writing Centre
The Writing Centre is located in room C210, on the second floor of the newly refurbished C-building, directly above the bookstore. We are open most hours throughout the week. To see our schedule, click on “Location and Hours” in the menu to the right.
Tutoring
The main service we offer is free one-on-one tutoring on a drop-in basis (no appointment necessary). Tutoring sessions are usually about 20 minutes long. If all tutors are busy working with other students, you are welcome to browse our reference books and handouts or to use the space to study while you wait.
You can get help with assignments at any stage of the writing process:
- Getting started
- Understanding an assignment
- Identifying readers’ expectations
- Clarifying the purpose of a given assignment
- Generating ideas
- Finding a suitable focus / thesis
- Strengthening support / giving evidence
- Achieving clarity and power of expression in your writing
- Revising a draft
Writing assignments in all subjects, not just English, are acceptable.
If there is a particular aspect of an assignment you would like help with, let the tutor know so you can focus specifically on that issue.
Please note that it is not the tutor’s job to correct or proofread your writing. Rather, it is his or her job to help you improve an assignment and become a better writer.
Workshops
We also offer workshops on demand. Here’s how it works. Form a small group (4-6 students) and chose a topic. Then speak with a tutor or contact the Writing Centre coordinator and let us know what topic you would like to explore and when you are available. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Here are samples of workshop topics:
- Punctuation basics
- Essay formatting
- Essay organization
- Thesis statements
- Improving grammar
- Improving style
- Understanding poetry
- Quoting
- Documentation
These are just suggestions. Feel free to come up with your own ideas. We can help you to shape them into practical workshop topics.