Writing Centre

The Writing Centre supports students, faculty members, and staff at UNF to improve writing and academic skills. We strive to be a safe space for the UNF community to develop confidence in tackling writing tasks and meeting the requirements of their program, position, or academic standing. 

You can visit us for assistance at any stage of the writing process; whether you need someone to bounce ideas off of for a writing task you're just starting or you want input on revising your final draft. 

Explore how our writing and academic skills services, programming and events can help to support your learning and academic development!

Book an appointment with one of the Advisors. Please note that you must login to the booking site using your UNF email address and password. Upon your first login, you must register for an account with WC ONLINE. From here, you will then have access to all Writing Centre services and booking forms. 

Visit us for drop-in hours in the Lake Superior Library: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00 - 3:00pm.

• Understand academic tasks, assignment descriptions, and instructor expectations
• Develop an understanding of audience, purpose, and writing style to inform specific writing tasks
• Critically think about and revise arguments, analyses, document structure and organization
• Develop effective revision, editing, and proofreading strategies and practices
• Integrate and properly reference outside sources in their own work
• Responsibly utilize AI generators and services to maintain academic integrity standards
• Learn how to properly use APA formatting styles in academic documents
• Effectively incorporate and learn from instructor feedback
• Cultivate a positive relationship with academic writing and develop confidence in written tasks

• Build strong study and focus habits to increase motivation
• Utilize active reading strategies to improve efficiency of work and absorption of information
• Understand critical analysis and development of critical thought and discourse
• Integrate academic sources into assignments, essays, reports, etc. 

The Writing Advisors won't copy edit or proofread your written assignments for you; rather, they exist to provide you with formative, inquiry-based feedback on your work. During your consultation, the Advisors will work through tools and strategies to encourage your own self-directed revision of your work and are happy to help provide additional resources as needed. 

If you are looking for help with grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, or other writing mechanics help, please view our Writing Guides. 

If you need help writing a resume or cover letter, preparing for an interview, finding a job, or updating your LinkedIn profile, please visit Career Services. 

If you have questions about wellness, please visit Student Wellness.

If you'd like to learn more about your Rights and Responsibilities as a UNF student, please visit the Student Rights and Responsibilities webpage. 

Rachel obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English and Cultural Studies from McMaster University in 2015 and went to complete a Master of Arts at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2017. As evidenced through her own personal educational choices, she has always been passionate about writing and communication. Since graduating, Rachel worked as postsecondary fundraiser before entering her teaching career. Since then, Rachel has gained years of experience teaching college Communications classes. This experience ignited her passion for helping students realize their potential and gain confidence in their written and oral communication skills. 

To book an appointment with Rachel, please use our booking link or visit her during drop-in Writing Advisor hours. 

Contact Rachel: rachel.macivor@unfc.ca, Location: Lake Erie Library

Aleks holds a bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature and Masters of Arts degree in Applied Linguistics from Brock University. Aleks is deeply passionate about empowering students to navigate their academic jounrey with confidence and equipping them with the skills to become independent learners. 

With years of experience as an ESL Instructor and Writing Mentor and Advisor, Aleks has supported countless students to develop their academic writing, critical thinking, and communication abilities. These roles have reinforced Aleks' dedication to creating supportive learning environments where students can grow and succeed. 

To book and appointment with Aleks, please use our booking link or visit during drop-in Writing Advisor hours. 

Contact Aleks: aleksandra.skrba@unfc.ca, Location: Lake Erie Library

The Writing Centre offers various services for UNF students, faculty, and staff. Our services are offered in-person and online and are often available in both synchronous and asynchronous modalities.

• One-on-one writing consultations: personalized feedback and coaching on essays, research papers, lab reports, theses, and other academic writing tasks
• Writing resources: access to online guides, handouts, and short, informative videos on topics like grammar, writing style, citation and referencing, assignment formatting, and academic integrity
• Academic Integrity support: guidance on how to avoid academic misconduct and to help students understand the principles of academic honesty
• Graduate writing support: specialized support for graduate students working on theses, dissertations, or complex research papers
• Presentation and visual communication support: assistance with preparing presentations and other visual communication tools effectively
• Drop-in hours: quick, informal consultations for last-minute questions and minor revisions
• Peer tutors: support for students struggling with a particular class or subject within their program, peer tutors are available to students at no cost on an as-needed basis
   

The Writing Centre offers interactive, comprehensive workshops both online and in-person on various writing and academic skills topics. Keep an eye on our Workshops and Events page to view and register for current workshop offerings. Registration is open on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you're interested in attending, ensure that you register as soon as possible!

Coming soon!

To book any type of consultation with a Writing Advisor, please use our Booking Calendar. You may book appointment for yourself or, for group work, on behalf of your group. If booking for a group, please note this in your booking. 

Remember that you can book as many consultations with a Writing Advisor as you need; there are no limits for booking!

In-Person Consultation:

In-person appointments are held in the Lake Erie Library, located on the second floor on our main campus. Please check in at the Library Services Desk and your Writing Advisor will be informed of your arrival. 

If you have started working on your assignment or project already, please bring a draft of your work with you, along with the assignment instructions from your professor. If you have a draft of your assignment completed upon booking of your consultation, please upload it, along with assignment instructions from your professor, via the appointment booking form. 

If you would prefer to work off of a hard copy of your assignment, printing is available in the Library. Please print your assignment before your appointment time slot. 

Remote Virtual Consultation:

Virtual appointments are video conferences hosted via the WC ONLINE site. Please ensure that you have a working computer microphone and webcam ahead of your appointment time slot and that you are situated in a quiet working space. 

Upon booking, you will receive a confirmation email. To access the online meeting, log in to the WC ONLINE platform, select your appointment, and click the "Join Now" button. Please log into the meeting 5-10 minutes ahead of your scheduled appointment. Ensure that you have submitted an electronic version of your work and assignment description to your Writing Advisor, either via the appointment booking form or via email.

Email Written Feedback Consultation:

Email Appointments are available if you are unable to schedule time with a Writing Advisor that works within your schedule. Please note that if you book an email appointment with a Writing Advisor, you do not need to attend the consultation at all; this type of appointment is purely to receive written feedback on your work. 

Your scheduled appointment will be up to 45 minutes in duration and the Writing Advisor will spend that time independently reviewing your draft, focusing on areas or questions that you have identified in your booking form. You will receive feedback on your draft via email through the Microsoft Word 'Review' function at the end of the appointment time. Remember that the Advisor will not edit or proofread your work for you; the feedback that you will receive will be non-prescriptive and is based on revision. 

Our Writing and Academic Skills Advisors are writing experts; if you bring in a piece of writing that you would like feedback on, writing-related questions you may have, or even just a rough idea for a writing tasks you must do, our Advisors will provide you with a personalized, individual consultation on your work. They can help you to:

• Plan out your documents and/or research
• Develop strategies for document revision
• Provide feedback

• A draft of your document for discussion
• An assignment description (from your instructor)
• Any questions you may have or writing strategies you would like to discuss during your consultation

To book any type of consultation with a Writing Advisor, please use our Booking Calendar. 

After you book your appointment, you will receive a confirmation email. Please follow the instructions provided in the email based on the type of appointment you have booked.

The Writing Centre hosts drop-in hours in the Library on scheduled days of the week. These are brief, 30-minute consultations for which no booking is required. If you have questions or want some quick feedback on an assignment, come by on one of the following days:

• Tuesdays, 1:00-3:00pm
• Thursdays, 1:00-3:00pm

Drop-in consultations are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Our policies help the Writing Centre to run efficiently, ensure equitable access to our services, and maximize the benefits that students receive from our consultations and workshops. 

Appointment Scheduling:

Advance Booking: Appointments must be scheduled a minimum of 15 minutes in advance of the appointment time. Please ensure that you book your appointment early, as consultations on assignments due the same day or the next day will be provided limited feedback due to time capacity for revision.

Cancellation and No-Show Policy:

If a student can no longer attend a scheduled appointment, they may cancel their booking up to 5 minutes before their appointment time. A no-show will results in a warning sent to the student. If a student reaches 3 no-shows, the student will be restricted from future bookings with the Writing Centre. To regain access to booking, the student must send an apology, explanation, and written request for reinstatement of their account to writingcentre@unfc.ca. 

Appointment Duration:

To ensure that we are accommodating as many students as possible, scheduled appointments are available for a duration of 45 minutes. Drop-in appointments are limited to 30 minutes. Please ensure that you evaluate the tasks and/or questions you may have and choose an appointment type that will suit your needs. 

Group Consultations:

Students may schedule a consultation on behalf of a group, but the number of group participants in a consultation is, at maximum, 5 group members. This guideline ensures that all students in the group have the chance to contribute to the conversation and receive personalized feedback from the Writing Advisor. 

Writing Centre Code of Conduct:

Upon booking any type of consultation or registering for a workshop with a Writing Advisor, students are thereby agreeing to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully for the entirety of the interaction. If a Writing Advisor deems the student's behavior as disrespectful, unprofessional, or inappropriate in any way, we reserve the right to end the consultation immediately without question. 

The Writing Centre develops comprehensive writing and academic skills guides to help students navigate a wide number of writing-related tasks. Ensure that you check back often if you don't find what you're looking for; guides are added and updated regularly!

The Writing Centre's Guides:

• Annotated Bibliography
• Paraphrasing and Summarizing
• 7Cs to Improve Writing
• The Writing Process: From Planning to Polishing
• Writing a Research Paper
• Writing Strong Arguments
• Plagiarism/Academic Integrity
• Reading Strategies

If you are a student and have a request for a guide that you cannot find in the UNF Library or Writing Centre Guides, please email writingcentre@unfc.ca.

If you are a faculty member and have a request for a specific guide to be created for your course, please email rachel.macivor@unfc.ca.

Academic Integrity

Upon completion of this learning module, you should have a clear understanding of what academic integrity means, both at UNF and in Canada more generally.

This module covers a generalized overview of Academic Integrity. You will learn what academic misconduct means, how the University of Niagara Falls Canada defines it, and the cultural considerations that come into play in these conversations. Then, you'll learn the different types of academic misconduct that exist and some strategies to avoid academic misconduct allegations. Finally, you will understand what your responsibilities are in regard to academic misconduct as a student at UNF and the module will provide an overview of the penalties you may encounter if you are accused of misconduct.

We'll also quickly remind you of the resources available to help you to ensure that all of your work adheres to the standards of academic integrity at our institution.

If you have an assignment in your class or a particular writing skill that you would like a Writing Advisor to visit your classroom to discuss with/teach students about, you may book an Academic Writing Skills Session. 

To request a session with a Writing Advisor, please fill out our Request an Academic Writing Skills Session form.

Typically, we ask that faculty fill our the form at least 2 weeks ahead of the requested session. This ensures that our Writing Advisors can customize the session for your students and meet your learning objectives. Exceptions can be made in extenuating circumstances. 

If you have questions or would simply like to discuss an idea you have with a Writing Advisor, please feel free to reach out via email to Rachel (rachel.macivor@unfc.ca) or Aleks (aleksandra.skrba@unfc.ca) to set up a meeting. 

If you have need for a subject-specific tutor in your program, the Writing Centre manages a peer-tutor program that is free for students to make use of. Peer tutor positions are paid student roles and provide students an opportunity to gain valuable tutoring skills while improving their own learning and supporting fellow students in need of subject assistance. 

The steps for hiring a subject-specific peer tutor through the Writing Centre are as follows:

To request a peer tutor, please fill out the Peer Tutor Request Form. 

Key considerations for Associate Dean and faculty members:

• Is the need for the peer tutor based on subject (generally) or a specific class?
• What are the criteria required for a peer tutor in this subject?
  • Specific year of study (ex: 2nd term or above)
  • Specific grade in course of GPA
  • Previous experience
• Are there particular days of the week/times that you would recommend for the student to offer tutoring hours (based on class times, student availability, or other factors)?
• Would you recommend or prefer a specific tutoring modality (ex: online vs. in-person)?

The Writing Centre is also home to our UNF peer tutors. Peer tutors provide subject-specific support for students who need additional assistance with a particular course or subject within their program. Like Writing Advisors, peer tutors provide consultations to UNF students at no cost on an as-needed basis. 

Currently, we have peer tutors in the following subjects:

• Chemistry (Ghazal)
• Business Statistics (Gabriela)
• Business Accounting Fundamentals (Reet)

To view tutoring hours and to book a consultation with a peer tutor, please sign in and book an appointment via our booking portal. Ensure that you book with the peer tutor offering assistance in the subject you're requesting help with.