Writing and Research Help Centre

Working on an assignment and need help? Look no further!

We’re professional writing instructors and librarians ready to support you in your journey to express your ideas, make strong arguments, and back up what you say with evidence. We’re here to help you improve your writing, editing, and research skills–skills that will benefit you at school, in the workforce, and in your life. In turn, we believe all students are already writers and researchers with something to say, and we value the diverse knowledge and skills you bring to our sessions. 

  • Make a personalised one-on-one appointment with a friendly and experienced research librarian or a writing instructor.
  • Level up your writing, thinking, and research skills.
  • Visit us at any stage of the writing or research process, from pre-research and brainstorming to working with full drafts.
  • Our services are completely free and open to all St. Mike’s students (enrolled at SMC, Regis, or taking an SMC course) in any year, in any discipline, and working in any writing genre.
  • Meet with us in-person or online.

We can’t wait to work with you! 

How Do I Book an Appointment?

Appointments are booked through Quercus. From your Quercus page, select the “St. Michael’s College Writing and Research Help Centre” to be taken to our appointment booking system. First time users will be guided through the process of creating an account. After selecting your preferred time and whether you want to meet in-person or online, an appointment confirmation email will be sent to your University of Toronto email address.

Learn more about our appointments.

What Can I Get Help With?

Book a Writing Help appointment for:

  • Instruction in and an objective critique of written assignments for coursework in any discipline
  • Brainstorming & planning
  • Thesis development
  • Structuring your ideas or argument 
  • Learning about academic writing conventions
  • Revising & editing
  • Feedback on graduate school and scholarship applications

Book a Research Help appointment for: 

  • Finding articles, books, and other library resources
  • Finding and using primary sources
  • Narrowing your topic & coming up with a research question
  • Advanced research strategies
  • Citation help
  • Questions about using the library

Learn more about our services.

Drop-Ins, Events, and Workshops

Drop-In Hours

Have a quick question? Trouble getting an appointment? Stop by the Writing & Research Help Centre during our drop-in hours. No appointment necessary! Questions are answered on a first-come, first-served basis in a one-on-one setting. 

Thursdays
4pm-7pm
Kelly 139

Sep. 30-Dec. 13, 2024
There will be no drop-in hours during Reading Week, Oct. 28-Nov. 1

Drop-in sessions are shorter than full appointments and are generally no more than 10-15 minutes long.

Writing Groups

Shut Up & Write (Write-Together Group)

Looking for some company to keep you motivated as you write your class paper, thesis, creative project, or something else? Join our Shut Up and Write group writing session! We’ll hang out together and write using the Pomodoro Method (write in 20-minute rounds with 5-minute breaks).

We will return in September 2024. Register here to learn when our next Shut Up & Write sessions will be!

Events and Workshops

UofT Writing Centres Workshops: Writing Plus

We offer workshops on topics such as Organizing your Essay, Finding Scholarly Sources, Survival Skills, Writing Well Under Pressure, Note-Taking, Writing Grammatical Sentences, Preparing for Essay Exams, and many more.

Workshops are free and open to any UofT student. Some workshops are online and some are in person.

See the current schedule and register for upcoming workshops.

Writing and Research Guides

Writing at UofT

Guides on various aspects of writing from the UofT Writing Centres. Topics covered include thesis statements, critical reading, paraphrasing, revising and editing, comma splices, annotated bibliographies, and much more. See available Writing at UofT guides.

Research Guides from the Kelly Library

Find librarian-recommended databases, reference works, books, and more for courses and programs offered and supported at St. Mike’s. See available Kelly Library guides.

Research Guides from UofT Libraries

Browse all research guides developed by UofT librarians, from Indigenous Studies to Statistics to Maps to Nutritional Science. See available UofT Libraries guides.

Get in Touch!

Offices

John M. Kelly Library, Rooms 132, 137, and 139 (ground floor)

Make an appointment

Make an appointment here.

Questions about the library or for research help

Telephone: +1 (416) 926-7114

Email: reference.kellylibrary@utoronto.ca

Questions about the Writing and Research Help Centre

Telephone: +1 (416) 926-7114

Email: kelly.writingresearch@utoronto.ca


The St. Mike’s Writing Centre is supported by the Principal’s Office and housed in the Kelly Library.