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 are limited to 1 writing consult and 1 critical read (total of 2 bookings) per term. There is also a limit of 1 session per term for scholarship applications. There is no limit on academic integrity consults. These sessions must be booked at least 48 hours in advance and no more than 1 session per week. If you would like individual support beyond these limits, including follow-ups, you can attend the weekly writing drop-ins (available in-person and virtually). If you have any questions about the sessions or accessing support, please reach out to Learning Services at [email protected].
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 1000 words) 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 support graduate students with questions about citation and reference formatting, using Gen AI, appropriate peer feedback, and appropriate collaboration/group work. Academic integrity consults may be required for some graduate students in relation to academic misconduct, but all are welcome to book a session.
Graduate Writing Café is a two hour in-person weekly event, with an online alternative option. Please RSVP on ExperienceBU and check for date, location and time.
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 at our weekly drop-in support sessions, 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 date, location and time 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 Learning Services at [email protected]. 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 are max 1.5 hours and can be in-person or virtual. For more information, visit the Learning Services website.
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 Learning Services at [email protected].
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
Daniel completed his Ph.D. in English Literature at the University of Toronto. He has over 8 years of experience teaching academic writing and was the inaugural recipient of the University of Toronto English Department’s Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship. In addition to publishing his research in academic journals and presenting at a variety of international conferences, he has also helped graduate students and faculty members revise their manuscripts and scholarship applications through his work as a professional editor. He is passionate about supporting graduate student professional development in all its forms, and in his spare time, he enjoys practicing guitar, watching the Blue Jays, and scrolling through videos of dogs with jobs.
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.