Welcome to the Health Sciences Writing Centre

The HS Writing Centre offers undergraduate and graduate students personalized writing instruction and feedback. Individual appointments are available from September through July. Our Winter 2024 schedule is open between January 15 - April 25, 2024. Appointments will be available VIRTUALLY (synchronous and asynchronous) as well as IN-PERSON.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

We offer:

• Individual student instruction, in person or virtually

• Support for your writing development as you need it

• Synchronous (Online) and asynchronous (e-Tutoring) virtual appointments. Click on the Appointments tab for more info.

• Graduate student writing groups

• Writing resources and links

• Support for faculty to integrate effective writing instruction into classes

If you need help or have any questions, please email Roz Spafford, Acting Director of the HSWC, at roz.spafford@utoronto.ca.

Graduate Student Writing Groups

Inked : the Health Sciences Writing Collective

 Inked: the HS Writing Collective is a graduate writing group hosted and organized by the Health Sciences Writing Centre. Inked supports three weekly, in-person/hybrid, graduate writing sessions during the academic year. Sessions begin in September, but you are welcome to join at any time during the year.

Inked offers a collaborative and distraction-free environment where you can work on your current writing projects, presentations, and/or teaching. Sessions are structured with frequent opportunities for breaks and one-on-one writing support. Most importantly, the sessions allow you to focus on your work with the built-in accountability and social support of writing with others. Coffee and snacks are provided.

If you are planning to join one of our sessions, please contact the host of each session below (i.e., Michael or David). Feel free to invite friends and colleagues who may be interested in joining.

Times and locations to be confirmed in January 2024.

Tuesdays, 1:00pm-4:00pm, GO335 [in-person or virtual] – hosted by Michael Cournoyea, Asst. Professor, Teaching Stream, HSWC (michael.cournoyea@utoronto.ca)

Fridays, 12-3 pm, in HS210 [in-person or virtual] – hosted by David Calloway, HSWC writing instructor (david.calloway@utoronto.ca)

 If you’re interested in additional or alternative writing support, there are also online and hybrid Graduate Writing Groups hosted by Academic Success at Student Life.

News & Announcements

Acting Director

Dr. Boba Samuels, Director of the Health Sciences Writing Centre, is on research leave until July 2024; in her absence, Roz Spafford is serving as Acting Director. Please contact Roz at roz.spafford@utoronto.ca with any questions or concerns.

Health notice - COVID-19 and your appointment

Appointments are currently available both VIRTUALLY and IN-PERSON. If you will be on campus and do not have COVID symptoms, you are welcome to see an instructor in person by making an in-person appointment. If you prefer to work virtually, you may choose either: online (synchronous video and audio) or e-tutoring (asynchronous emailed feedback) consultations. If you have questions about your appointment, please email your writing instructor or Roz Spafford, Acting Director.

For more information on UoT’s recommendations during this time, please see coronavirus.

Previous Announcements

Undergraduate Student Support

ACReW Program for 1st Year KPE students - new session to start September 11, 2023

Are you a first-year undergraduate student in KPE?   ACReW can start you off right by giving you feedback on your academic reading and writing!

ACReW (Academic Reading and e-Writing) is an online program for first-year undergraduate KPE students, offering individualized feedback two times per week on your academic reading and writing skills. Sign up for a 2-week session to get paired up with a writing instructor – space is limited!

What is required?

1.       read something of your choice (a course reading, a newspaper article, a magazine report, etc.)

2.       write a short email (one page or less) to your assigned writing instructor, responding to the reading (e.g., summarizing it, paraphrasing, or reflecting on it).

3.       your instructor will write you back, commenting on your response and its strengths and weaknesses

ACReW can help you develop the ability to recognize key points and respond to them, practice citation, improve your academic vocabulary, and identify skills you need to improve.  Two readings/writings each week are scheduled.

This program is operated by the Health Sciences Writing Centre. It is free, but requires students to sign up and commit to participating for two weeks. Space is limited.

Session Fall 2023:  September 11-22.                            

Sign up by emailing Dr. Boba Samuels at boba.samuels@utoronto.ca. Provide your full name and student number.  You will receive additional information when your participation is confirmed.

We are celebrating 25 years of the Health Sciences Writing Centre!

The Health Sciences Writing Centre opened its doors in 1994, and we have been teaching students to write more effectively ever since. Click on this article about us, and come for an appointment so you can join the thousands of students we’ve helped!

On April 17, 2020 the University of Toronto Writing Centres Directors will hold a PD session celebrating the HSWC’s 25th anniversary and looking ahead to the future of writing centre work.

Appointment Scheduling: NEW scheduling system!

We implemented a new online scheduling system in September 2018!  Click under "Appointments" and the link to "Make an Appointment." ALL students need to register for an account, even if you have been to the HSCW before. If you have questions, please contact the Director of the HSWC, Dr. Boba Samuels, at boba.samuels@utoronto.ca.