Writing
At University
(Note: For courses in creative writing, see entries under
"English" (ENG), "Innis College" (INI) and "Victoria" (VIC)
in this calendar)
The ability to think critically and to write well-organized,
clear, grammatical prose is important to your work in many courses and will improve your
chances if you apply to graduate or professional schools. It will also give you an
advantage in the workplace. To help you develop your writing skills, more and more the
university provides a number of resourses.
Courses.
Departments and programs integrate instruction on writing into their courses, and some
offer courses that concentrate on communication in their disciplines. Check the course
listings by department. In any course, your instructors will provide guidelines for course
assignments, and you may ask them to discuss written work that has been graded and
returned to you.
In addition, the university offers a number of courses in
writing expository prose.
- ENG 100H (Effective
Writing) and ENG 269Y (Writing: Purposes, Strategies,
Processes) are listed under "English" in this calendar.
- INI 203Y (Clear Discourse, INI 204Y (The Academic Writing Process), INI 300Y (Strategic Writing) and INI 301Y (Contemporary Issues and Written Discourse) are
listed under "Innis College."
- TRN 190Y (Critical Reading
and Critical Writing) is listed under "Trinity College"
- University of Toronto at Mississauga (Erindale College) has a
program in Professional Writing that includes these courses:
- WRI 203H (Expressive Writing)
- WRI 303H (Specialized Prose)
- WRI 305H (Professional Writing and Computer Communications)
- WRI 307H (Science and Writing)
- WRI 390H and WRI 391H (Independent Studies).
- See the Erindale College calendar at www.erin.utoronto.ca/academic/calendar
or call 905- 828-3900 for more information.
- A few courses are also offered free of charge for upper-year
students to provide practice and instruction in specialized writing skills. They do not
count for credit, but students who complete them get notes on their transcripts. For
further information about timing, eligibility, and registration, ask at your college
registrar and look at the Timetable. Next year, these courses are planned: WRT 300H (Writing for Scientists); WRT 302H
(Writing in the Workplace); WRT 305H (Writing for ESL students).
English as a Second Language:
If English is not your first language, you may wish for some specialized training. The
School of Continuing Studies at U. of T. offers non-credit courses on academic writing for
students learning English as a second language. Courses start at various times throughout
the year. Some are offered as distance learning. See
http://www.learn.utoronto.ca
or call 416-978-2494 for information. Tutors in the college Writing Centres (below) can
also help you improve your English skills by focussing on the writing done in any of your
courses.
Writing Centres:
The Writing Centres provided free of charge at
undergraduate colleges will help you develop the writing skills needed throughout your
university studies. They offer both individual counselling and group instruction. Some
sponsor non-credit courses on writing. In the individual consultations, trained writing
instructors will help you improve your ability to plan, write, and revise, using your
assignments from any subject as examples. You are entitled to use the writing centre of
the college where you are registered or living in residence, or the department where you
are taking a course. Here is a list of facilities, including numbers to call for
appointments and further information:
- Erindale Academic Skills Centre, South Building, Room 2115B,
905- 828-3858
- French Department Writing Labs: ask your professor or inquire
at 416-926-2302
- Innis College Writing Centre, Room 322, 416-978-2513
- New College Writing Centre, Wilson Hall, Room 2047,
416-978-5l57
- Philosophy Department Writing Clinic, 2l5 Huron Street, 9th
Floor, 416-978-3314
- St. Michael's College Writing Centre, Kelly Library, Rooms 229
and 230, press 1, 416-926-1300, ext. 3456
- Trinity College Writing Advisory, Larkin Building, Room 214,
416-978-3530
- University College Writing Workshop, Laidlaw Library, Room
214, 416-978-8090
- Victoria College Writing Workshop, various locations,
416-585-4478
- Woodsworth College Writing Lab, Room 224, 416-978-2411
Self-help Material:
A number of campus libraries stock books about writing.
Besides general handbooks on style and format, you will find discussions of the ways to
write for specific disciplines. You can also consult the Web site "Writing at the
University of Toronto" at www.utoronto.ca/writing.
It offers over 60 specialized files giving advice on university writing, along with links
to other useful online resources, and it gives current information on writing instruction
at U. of T. |
