Writing in Arts & Science

(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. It will improve your chances if you apply to graduate or professional schools and will also give you an advantage in the workplace. To help you develop your writing skills, Arts and Science provides a range of instructional resources.

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 non-fiction prose:

• ENG100H1 (Effective Writing) is listed under “English” in this Calendar
• TRN190Y1 (Critical Reading and Critical Writing) is listed under “Trinity College”

Innis College now offers a minor program called Writing and Rhetoric. See the program website at www.utoronto.ca/innis/wr/. Its offerings include the following courses, all listed under “Innis College”: INI200Y1 (Writing Essays and Reports), INI203Y1 (Foundations of Written Discourse), INI204Y1 (The Academic Writing Process), INI300Y1 (Strategic Writing in Business and the Professions: Theory and Practice), INI301H1 (Contemporary Issues and Written Discourse: Rhetoric and the Print Media in Canada), INI304H1 (Critical Thinking and Inquiry in Written Communication), INI305H (Word and Image in Modern Writing), INI311Y1 (Seminar in Creative Writing), and INI412Y1 (Prose Style across Genres).

The University of Toronto at Mississauga (UTM) offers a major and minor program in Professional Writing and Communication. For more information, see the program’s website at www.erin.utoronto.ca/~w3profwr/UTMPWCWebsite. Consult with your college registrar about taking courses at UTM. These are among the courses offered: WRI203H5 (Expressive Writing), WRI303H5 (Specialized Prose), WRI307H5 (Science and Writing), WRI310H5 (Social and Professional Languages), WRI320H5 (History and Writing), WRI325H5 (Community and Writing) , WRI330H5 (Oral Rhetoric), WRI340H5 (Critical Reading and Listening), WRI392H5 (Research and Writing), WRI395H5 (Re-languaging: Writing across Cultures and Languages), and WRT420H5 (Making a Book).

WRT Courses provide opportunities for senior students to develop advanced writing skills in their disciplines. These courses count for degree credit but are evaluated on a CREDIT / NO CREDIT basis. No grades are awarded or calculated in the GPA. Regular tuition is charged. These courses cannot be taken to fulfill the distribution requirement.

WRT306H1 Writing for Scientists 26L

Intensive practice and instruction for senior science students. Teaches the essentials of writing in science courses and scientific research. Examines individual and collaborative activities in academic and professional life, focusing on such genres as the abstract, research report, poster, proposal, and product documentation. Readings introduce themes applicable to written communication in the sciences.
Prerequisite: 9.0 courses completed; major or specialist enrolment in science program
Exclusion: CSC290H1, HMB397H1, PSY309H1, PSL497H1, WRT307H1
WRT306H1 has NO distribution requirement status.

WRT307H1 Writing for Social Scientists 26L
Intensive practice and instruction for senior social-science students. Teaches the essentials of social-science writing in academic and professional life, with attention to individual and collaborative projects. Focuses on genres such as the abstract, proposal, research report, and position paper. Readings introduce themes applicable to written communication in the social sciences.
Prerequisite: 9.0 courses completed; major or specialist enrolment in social science program
Exclusion: INI204Y1, INI300Y1, WRT306H1
WRT307H1 has NO distribution requirement status.

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 and group instruction. See the webpage www.utoronto.ca/writing/news.html for announcements about group workshops and non-credit courses.

In individual consultations, trained writing instructors help you improve your ability to plan, write, and revise, using your assignments from any subject as examples. Some instructors specialize in the needs of students using English as a second language. You are entitled to use the writing centre of the college where you are registered or living in residence, or of the department where you are taking a course. Here is a list of Arts and Science writing centres, including phone numbers and websites for obtaining further information and making appointments:

• 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 2045 and 2047, www.ncwriting.ca
• Philosophy Department Writing Clinic, 2l5 Huron Street, 9th Floor, 416-978-3314
• St. Michael’s College Writing Centre, Kelly Library, Rooms 230 and 231, www.utoronto.ca/stmikes/campus/student_services_wc.html
• Trinity College Writing Centre, Larkin Building, Room 302, www.trinity.utoronto.ca/Writing/
• University College Writing Workshop, Laidlaw Library, Room 214, www.utoronto.ca/ucwriting/
• Victoria College Writing Workshop, Northrop Frye Hall, Rooms 103A and 103B, www.vicu.utoronto.ca/academic/tutorial/writing.htm.
• Woodsworth College Academic Writing Centre, Room 214, www.wdw.utoronto.ca/current/awchome.htm.

Self-Help Material

Campus libraries stock many reference guides on academic writing. Besides general handbooks on style and format, you will find books that specialize in the ways to write for specific disciplines. You can also consult the website “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 and print resources, and it gives current information on writing instruction at U of T.