The Faculty of Graduate Studies offers dedicated writing support to assist graduate students at all levels of study.
Writing Support Opportunities
Our Graduate Academic Support Specialist offers a variety of one-on-one and group support and events (with in-person, online, and hybrid options) to help graduate students develop their writing skills.
The goal of these sessions is to help you identify your writing strengths and areas of development so you can learn, practice, and apply writing tools, techniques, and approaches to your current and future work. These sessions are offered in-person and online.
Graduate students can book a maximum of 3 sessions per term, and no more than 1 session per week. These sessions must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.
If you have any questions about the sessions, please contact Danielle Morris-O’Connor at dmorrisoconnor@brocku.ca
Writing Consults
These 60-minute one-on-one sessions develop the drafting, planning, and prep side of your writing practice. These sessions can also focus on understanding and implementing feedback you have received. These sessions follow a conversation format, so please come prepared with questions or with a specific topic in mind.
Critical Reads
These 60-minute one-on-one sessions develop the editing, rewriting, and revising side of your writing practice. You will be asked to submit a writing sample (max 5 pages double-spaced) at least 24 hours in advance. The Graduate Academic Support Specialist will review your writing in advance to help provide suggestions and feedback, but you are also expected to come prepared with questions and specific areas of focus.
Academic Integrity Consults
These 30-minute sessions are to support students required to book a consult in relation to academic integrity and misconduct.
For Fall 2024, Graduate Writing Café will be on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in RFP 216 with an online alternative option. RSVP on ExperienceBU.
Writing Café is a space for graduate students to work on any stage of their writing (including planning, reading, and research) or to drop in for academic writing support.
Free snacks and hot beverages will be provided.
All graduate students are welcome to stop by our drop-in support sessions every Tuesday from 11am-1pm, either online or in person. No appointment necessary. Sessions are limited to 30 minutes (or 20 minutes if students are waiting). First come, first served. For location check ExperienceBU
Our Graduate Academic Support Specialist will be available every week to help with writing and general academic skills.
There may also be special topic weeks with other Support Specialists available (see ExperienceBU). If you would like to see other supports available during these drop-ins, please contact Danielle Morris-O’Connor (dmorrisoconnor@brocku.ca) to make a request.
Academic writing workshops specifically for graduate students can be booked by students, staff, and faculty. If the workshop is not attached to a particular course, you are asked to provide a location (if possible) and have at least 5 participants. Workshops will be tailored to your requested needs, including topic, area of study, length, in-person/virtual, and style (from lecture-based to practice/exercise-based).
If you are a faculty member looking to book a workshop for your students, please fill out the “Order a Workshop” form through Learning Services.
If you are a student or staff, or if you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Academic Support Specialist at dmorrisoconnor@brocku.ca.
A day-long retreat with various writing spaces to meet your graduate writing needs! On-campus and online workshops, including research-specific and professional development topics, as well as one-on-one consultations and break activities. Typically held in May or June.
Meet Your Graduate Academic Support Specialist
Danielle recently completed her Ph.D. in English Literature at the University of Alberta. She has over 6 years of experience in teaching academic writing in a university setting, including as a primary instructor of English courses focused on critical analysis, writing, and research, for which she received the prestigious University of Alberta Graduate Student Teaching Award. Her academic journey includes experience as an international graduate student, presentations at multiple international conferences, and three published articles in academic journals.
When you attend a one-on-one session or workshop with our Graduate Academic Support Specialist, the Faculty of Graduate Studies collects participation data in order to 1) evaluate our services, 2) make decisions about our programming, and 3) report attendance to faculty IF attendance is mandatory for your program.
Brock University protects your privacy and your personal information. The personal information requested for this service is collected under the authority of The Brock University Act, 1964, and in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).
If you have any questions, please contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies at Brock University at (905) 688-5550, ext. 4490 or see www.brocku.ca/graduate-studies.