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 an hour long and 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.
If you have any questions about the sessions, please contact Danielle Morris-O’Connor at dmorrisoconnor@brocku.ca
Consults
These 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 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.
Starting September 20, the Writing Café will be on Wednesdays from noon to 2 p.m. in the Research Impact Hub (RFP 216) with an online alternative option. RSVP on ExperienceBU.
Every Writing Café will include dedicated quiet time for students to work on any stage of their writing (including planning, reading, and research). Specialists in writing, research, and other academic skills will be available to answer questions and provide support. There may also be a short skill-developing activity during the first 15 minutes of the Café.
Free snacks and hot beverages will be provided. You are welcome to bring your lunch.
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.
Our 2023 Writing Retreat was held on June 22, with students registering by June 8.
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. She also recently completed a project through the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Alberta on building student and instructor wellbeing into teaching pedagogy, learning, and assessment.
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.