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Writing Support

Writing Support offers creative coaching to help you become a more effective communicator. We also recognize the role that writing plays in inquiry and learning.

New during Winter 2024

Due to increased capacity during the Winter 2024 Term, SSC Writing Support is temporarily extending student booking limits to 3 appointments per-week. 

One-on-one appointments

Do you want to improve your writing? Writing Support Services offers free individual writing consultations for UCalgary students. We'll support you to develop an individual writing process that'll allow you to become an independent and effective writer.

During the consultations, you can:

  • discuss your writing process and learn strategies to write more effectively
  • review returned papers to understand how to improve your written assignments
  • work with an instructor on an ongoing basis to improve essay structure, paragraph development, sentence structure, style, grammar, and punctuation
  • receive information on writing papers, book reviews or other assignments
  • learn how to use and document sources
  • Get help with English as a second language

One-on-One Writing Support Appointments are available online and in-person, seven days a week throughout the Fall and Winter semesters. Students can book up to two writing appointments per-week with a maximum of two writing appointments per day.

Please Note: The following services will be held in-person only at the location(s) designated in Elevate.

  • Sensory-friendly Writing Support Appointments
  • Writers’ Space
  • Speakers’ Space: English Conversation Group
  • Residence Writing Support
  • Dinos Writing Support
  • Writing Support for Indigenous Students at Writing Symbols Lodge

Writing Support

Taylor Family Digital Library, third floor

Contact info

Dr. Kendell Heydon
wconline@ucalgary.ca

Two students discuss coursework.

New for Winter 2024

Graduate students can now book an extended 45-minute 1:1 appointment with Writing Tutors. Students can book up to two writing appointments per-week with a maximum of two writing appointments per day.

Book a Graduate Writing Appointment

Want to learn more about our services? For more details about what we offer and how to access our services, watch our Introduction to Writing Support Services Video

Evening and weekend writing support sessions are available on Zoom or in-person TFDL 150A. Availability for these sessions can be found under the Writing Support tab in Elevate.

Are you registered in a distance program at the University of Calgary? Writing support services offers synchronous tutoring for distance students using Zoom. Availability for these sessions can be found under the Writing Support tab in Elevate.

Writing Support is happy to offer an online venue for UCalgary students to submit questions from anywhere or anytime. This system allows students to submit quick citations or grammar questions. We aim for, but can't always guarantee, a turn-around time of less than a week on email requests for help. The more direct and specific the questions, the faster that we can respond. For more extensive feedback or support, please book a one-on-one appointment or visit our drop-in consultations.

Tired of writing alone? Want to develop a writing routine? Need some writing accountability? Join your peers and experienced writing tutors for Writers' Space, available in-person and remotely through Zoom. Sensory-friendly options are also available.

Join us for Writers Space and share a supportive space with others while writing. Increase your writing productivity and add an element of structure to your writing sessions by setting a
writing goal. Receive feedback on your writing from a writing tutor and connect with other students.

What to expect:

  • Set a writing goal(s) at the start of the session.
  • Receive feedback on your writing from an experienced writing tutor
  • Experience a supportive environment by discussing writing with your peers
  • Add accountability by revisiting your writing goals at the end of each session

Writers Space is limited to 12-20 students per session. These sessions differ from regular writing appointments. One writing tutor will run each session and offer feedback to students for a  maximum of 15 minutes per session. Prepare for your time by identifying a suitable piece of writing for the tutor to review and prepare a question to ask the writing tutor. The tutors will visit students on a first-come, first-served basis for the duration of the session.

Want to practice your English conversational skills? Want to connect with peers?

This enjoyable weekly conversation group will focus on topics of interest drawn from current news or contemporary events. In a relaxed setting, students can develop conversational and academic speaking, listening, and presentation skills, build vocabulary and practice common Canadian usage and conventions. This session is intended for students for whom English is an additional language, as well as any students who want to practice their English conversational skills.

Poor internet connection, time zone, or computer availability preventing you from accessing writing support?

If you are experiencing issues attending writing support in person, Writing Support Services will try to accommodate your writing needs by offering asynchronous appointments (appointments not attended in person). Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please allow 48 hours for your request to be approved.

To book an asynchronous online writing support appointment

  1. Book an open appointment as usual.
  2. Email wconline@ucalgary.ca to request the appointment to be changed to asynchronous.
  3. In the email, provide an explanation of why you need the appointment to be asynchronous, and also the date and time of your appointment.

Join your peers and an experienced writing tutor for Writing support for Indigenous students.

Tired of writing alone? Want to develop a writing routine? Need some writing accountability?

Join us for the newly formatted Writing support for Indigenous students and share a supportive virtual space with others while writing. Increase your writing productivity and add an element of structure to your writing sessions by setting a writing goal. Receive feedback on your writing from a writing tutor and connect with other students in this virtual space.

What to expect:

  • Set a writing goal(s) at the start of the session
  • Receive feedback on your writing from an experienced writing tutor
  • Experience a supportive environment by discuss writing with your peers
  • Add accountability by revisiting your writing goals at the end of each session

Writing support for Indigenous students is limited to 8 students per session. These sessions differ from regular writing appointments. An experienced writing tutor will offer feedback to students. Prepare yourself by identifying your questions, thoughts, and/or, writings to discuss with the writing tutor.

A zoom invitation and password will be emailed immediately to registered students once the session starts: it is important that you do not distribute the zoom link and password to other students.

Students may register for writing support for Indigenous students by logging on to https://elevate.ucalgary.ca/home.htm and opening up the "Events/Workshops" calendar.

Workshops and Communities

Writing Support offers writing workshops designed with both undergraduates and graduate students in mind.

Foundational and Focused Writing Workshops

Through the fall and winter semesters, Writing Support offers workshops that all University of Calgary students can attend.

Learn more about Writing workshops

Writing Skills Badges

Select writing workshops can be applied towards the Writing Skills digital badges. You can use digital badges as a micro-credential to show peers and potential employers that you're proficient in a specifc skill. 

Learn more about Writing Skills Badges

Writers' Space

Writers' Space sessions are available for undergraduate and graduate students. There are a variety of Writers’ Space sessions held in the SSC classroom, in the SSC sensory-friendly space, and in International Student Services (ISS).

Register for a session

Speakers' Sapce

Join us for the new Speaker’s Space English Conversation Group to practice and improve English conversational and presentational skills. Sessions are held in-person at International Student Services (ISS) on Thursdays 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Register for a session

Resources: Writing Support