Student Appointments
e-Tutoring
Asynchronous appointments: You do not interact directly with a writing instructor. Instead, you upload a copy of your draft and assignment guidelines prior to your appointment time and an instructor will provide you with written comments on your draft to guide your revision.
Use e-Tutoring when you cannot be available at a specific time to meet online. It is best used when you have at least a partial draft on which your instructor can comment.
E-Tutoring is also helpful as a follow-up appointment for feedback on a revised draft, i.e., as a second appointment after you have already met online to discuss the assignment and your initial draft.
Note that we DO NOT proofread/correct any draft, though we often identify sentence level errors for you to correct.
The day before your appointment, you will receive an automated email or text reminding you of your appointment.
Online
Synchronous appointments: You interact directly with a writing instructor, in real time, through our scheduling system interface.
You can use video and/or audio to carry on conversations about your draft, which you upload to a white screen that both of you can use. A written chat function is also available.
Use online appointments when you want to simulate an in-person appointment and discuss your assignment and concerns.
You need to be available at the time scheduled and log in to the scheduling system by clicking on your appointment to “join” the session. After joining, you can “enable” your camera and microphone for the session.
The day before your appointment, you will receive an automated email or text reminding you of your appointment.
In-Person
In-Person appointments: You see an instructor in one of our offices on the St. George campus in Nursing, KPE, or Social Work.
Bring your laptop or a paper copy of your draft or outline and your assignment guidelines to your appointment. Together, you and your instructor will discuss assignment expectations, identify what needs work, read over sections of your paper, and plan next steps for your revision.
In-person appointments are most helpful when you want to discuss your concerns and get immediate feedback — you will have a conversation about your assignment. Instructors can teach you strategies for revision that you can practice and then apply later on this and other assignments.
You need to make note of WHERE your appointment will take place and allow time to get to that location.
The day before your appointment, you will receive an automated email or text reminding you of your appointment.
Drop-ins and Wait List
Appointments often fill up, especially at mid-term and end of term.
Waiting list: If the schedule is fully booked on the dates and times you want, put your name on the waiting list for that date. Click on the “waiting list” link under each day’s schedule. You will receive an automated text or email letting you know if a cancellation occurs so you can book this opening. Act fast!
Drop-in: Try our 30-minute ONLINE drop-ins on Friday mornings. You cannot book these appointments ahead of time. Instead, beginning at 15 minutes before the hour (e.g., 8:45, 9:45, etc.), you can book one of the two open slots for that hour. You and your instructor will then meet for an ONLINE appointment. Two 30-minute drop-in appts are available each hour. Drop-ins are also great if you just have a short question you’d like answered.
All Appointments
Book early, leaving time before your assignment due date so you can revise based on the feedback your instructor will provide. Plan appointments early to avoid last-minute procrastination on your papers.
Students may book up to 1 appointment per week each term, holding a maximum of 3 appointments at any one time. As you complete an appointment, you can book another as needed.
If you do not “show up” to your appointment, you can lose scheduling privileges (see below).
Students may book appointments with any instructor. Instructors are identified by their primary faculty designation and all are experienced writing instructors in the health sciences.
Preparing For Your Appointment
Note: 60-min appointments end after 50 minutes. The remaining time is used by instructors to complete appointment notes.
Please upload:
a copy of your assignment guidelines
a copy of your paper, draft, notes, etc.
DO NOT upload pdf files because we cannot make notes on them for you. Send regular document files.
We DO NOT proofread or edit your drafts. We provide feedback and comments on how you can revise your draft to best meet the assignment requirements.
Cancel/Reschedule Appointment
DON'T just skip it! You must cancel or reschedule your appointment if you can't make it, preferably 24 hours in advance. Cancelling early enables other students to book this opening.
You must cancel or reschedule AT LEAST 12 hours before your appointment time, or you will be unable to change your appointment. If you don’t show up, you will be marked as a no-show.
If you miss two appointments, your account will be locked and you will be prevented from booking any other appointments that term.
Late cancellations (less than 5 hours before the appt time) will be counted as no-shows.
Problems and Solutions
If you are unable to access our appointment schedule, check your Quercus settings to ensure that your current UoT email is being used (ending “mail.utoronto.ca").
If you are having internet or connection problems during online appointments, try logging in and out again. This often resets the system so it will work.
If you think you have an appointment but don’t see your instructor in your online session, or you don’t receive an email informing you that your written feedback is ready for you after your e-tutoring appointment time, please email your instructor directly. See the “Our Instructors” page for email addresses. Alternatively, email Dr. Boba Samuels at boba.samuels@utoronto.ca.
Appointment Reminders: Our booking system sends out appointment confirmations and reminders by email and text. If you not do not receive reminders the day before your appointments, please try the following steps.
Step 1
Check your junk/spam folders for both your email and/or your phone (if you signed up for text messages). If you do find the messages there, mark them as safe. If not, go to step 2.
Step 2
Check your reminder settings by going to the welcome menu in the booking system (‘Welcome [First name]’) and selecting ‘Update Profile and Email Options’. Ensure that your email address is written correctly in the system.
Under ‘Email Preferences’, check that you have not opted out of any emails or messages that you want to get. If you did, change the setting and click ‘Save Changes’ at the bottom of the page.
Step 3
If you signed up for text messages, send a test text message to make sure the text messaging works.
On the same ‘Update Profile and Email Options’ page (see step 2), you can sign up for text messages. If you did, you will NOT receive reminder or waitlist emails. However, if you did not test the text messaging you may not receive text messages either.
Go to the bottom of the page, to the box that says ‘Text Messaging Preferences’. After entering your phone number and carrier, click ‘Save Changes’ and a test link will appear below the phone number you just entered. Click it to send a test message.
Step 4
If you do not receive a test text message, check whether the information you entered is correct. If it is correct and you still don’t receive a text message, your carrier may not be supported. Remove your text messaging information and click ‘Save Changes’ to receive emails instead.
Contact Dr. Boba Samuels if you have any other concerns: boba.samuels@utoronto.ca.
Data and Privacy
The Health Sciences Writing Centre (HSCW) collects personal information that is necessary for the provision of the services offered by the HSWC. All student personal information is stored securely within our scheduling system WCOnline, and is at all times handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.31. The WCOnline system is not accessible to anyone outside of the HSWC, and instructors are only authorized to access your personal information stored in WCOnline to provide instruction to you. During your sessions, your instructor may ask you questions to inform and facilitate the instruction to you. Any information that you provide to your writing instructor during your session may be recorded in the instructor’s teaching notes.
By registering to use the HSWC services, you are consenting to the collection and use of your personal information as described above.
If you have any questions about how the HSWC collects or uses your personal information, please contact the Director, Dr. Boba Samuels, at boba.samuels@utoronto.ca.