Learn more about booking appointments with the St. Mike’s Writing and Research Help Centre and what to expect during your appointment.
Who can visit the Writing and Research Help Centre?
- Any St. Michael’s College (SMC) student.
- Any student taking an SMC course (Book & Media Studies, Celtic Studies, Christianity and Culture, Mediaeval Studies).
- Any student of the Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology.
If you are not eligible to use our services, you may be eligible for other UofT writing centres. Check your Quercus page to see what centres are available to you.
Common Questions About Appointments
Where do I go?
If your appointment is in person, please come to Kelly Library 132-139 (check your appointment page or confirmation email for exact location). If your appointment is online, you can find the Zoom link on your appointment page on our website. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early to make full use of your time.
What do I bring?
Have drafts of your work, notes, assignment instructions, or other materials handy. (Note: you do not have to have a completed draft to visit us. We are happy to help you at any stage of the writing or research process.) If you like, you may upload materials or link to them from your appointment page on our website. If your appointment is in person, you may also print out and bring materials. If your appointment is online, you may also share links or upload files in the chat.
What happens during the appointment?
The writing instructor or librarian may ask you about your assignment and what kind of help you want today. Because we are with you for only a limited time, consider highlighting the most important questions you have, asking additional questions as time permits.
Depending on the kind of help you’re looking for, a writing instructor may brainstorm with you; give you feedback on your thesis, organization, development, or other aspects of your writing; or suggest general improvements that improve the impact or precision of your writing.
A research librarian may search library databases with you and help you find sources, discuss your research question and agenda, improve your keywords, and model search strategies. They may also answer questions about citation styles or look at your bibliography with you.
Towards the end of the session, they’ll check in to see if you have other questions. You might talk about next steps or whether further appointments might be helpful.
When do appointment slots become available?
Appointment slots become available for booking 1 week in advance.
What do I do if all the appointments are booked?
- Join the waitlist for any day that you could attend an appointment. If a spot opens up, you’ll receive an email. Waitlists are first-come, first-serve. Many students have success with this approach.
- Visit us during our drop-in hours (academic year only). No appointment is needed.
Should I wear a mask to my in-person appointment?
We follow UofT masking guidelines. Masks are not currently required, but are encouraged if you wish to wear one.
How frequently can I visit you?
To ensure equitable access, you are limited to booking 2 appointments per week, for up to 5 appointments per month. In addition, we ask that you not bring the same assignment to us more than 2 times.
Should I cancel my appointment if my draft isn’t done?
Nope! You don’t need to have a complete draft to benefit from a writing session. We are here to help you at any stage of the writing process.
How do I cancel or reschedule an appointment?
- You can cancel an appointment on our website.
- We ask that you cancel 24 hours in advance to allow other students to schedule the appointment.
- Please note that if you cancel within 5 hours of the appointment time, it will be considered a late cancellation. (Account privileges will be suspended for the remainder of the term after three late cancellations or after two missed appointments.) You will be unable to cancel your appointment within 30 minutes of the appointment time.
What should I do if I’m late?
Arrive 5-10 minutes early to ensure you enjoy the full consultation time.
Lateness of 10 minutes or more will be considered a missed appointment. Account privileges will be suspended for the remainder of the term after three late cancellations or after two missed appointments.
What happens if I miss an appointment?
Missing two appointments will lead to temporary account deactivation for the duration of the semester. Your account will be reactivated the following semester.