You are currently visiting our programming space. We also have a site hosted on the University of Victoria main website. You may also want to check out our spaces for Graduate Writing and Discipline-Specific Writing.
Visit us in the Library Learning Commons hallway, offices 135 i-m. We are here 9am to 4pm Sunday to Friday for booked and drop-in appts, with Saturday and evening appts online at peak times.
Fall 2024 programs
Are you wondering where to get personalized help with academic communication and learning skills? We work with you one-on-one, offering advice on academic writing, reading, presentations, time management and more! Appointments are in person or online, through same-day written feedback or real-time Zoom appointments.
Whether you’re getting started with your assignment and need help understanding the instructions and organizing your schedule, or you’ve completed your draft and want to refine it, we’re here to help!
On this page you will find information about:
- Student Appointments
- English Café
- Grad Writing Room
- Learn Abouts
- Undergrad Workshops
- Grad Workshops
- Online Resources
Student Appointments (available every day!)
Students can self-book up to three 25-minute appointments. For additional appointments, email the CAC manager. We offer tips and advice on the following:
| Writing skills | Reading skills | Presentation skills | Speaking skills | Time management skills |
| Understand your assignment | Read strategically | Prepare to present | Pronounce discipline-specific words | Manage your time and set goals |
| Prewrite and plan | Read for research | Deliver your presentation | Communicate in groups | Reduce stress and concentrate |
| Draft, revise, and self-edit | Think critically | Pace your presentation | Gain confidence | Prepare for tests |
English Conversation Café Plus: An opportunity for UVic students with English as an Additional Language
12 to 1 pm, Wednesdays | September 11 to December 4 | Centre for Academic Communication
Conversation Café: practice listening, reading, and discussion skills; receive informal coaching on vocabulary use and pronunciation; and get tips for developing fluency and confidence.
No registration required.
Facilitated by members of the CAC team; for more information, email Nancy: cacmgr@uvic.ca.
Grad writing room
9 to 12pm Tuesdays and 1 to 4 pm, Wednesdays | September 10 to December 4 | Centre for Academic Communication
Bring your laptop; we’ll work on our individual writing projects alone, but we’ll be together for solidarity. CAC tutor available for consultation from 1 to 2pm. No registration required; we’ll meet in Library 151b.
“Learn About…” individual workshops, by appointment
Need a grammar refresher? Make an appointment for an individual “Learn About…” workshop on the following topics:
- Pronouns & agreement: Discuss sentences like “Each struggle/struggles with their/his/her agreement.” (Nancy; cacmgr@uvic.ca)
- Active/passive voice: Get tips on strategic use of active/passive voice in your sentences. (Gillian; gillians@uvic.ca)
- Commas, semicolons, and colons: Enrich your punctuation toolkit through humorous examples! (Emily; earvay@uvic.ca)
- “A” or “The”? That is the question! Get all your questions answered about nouns, articles, and more! (Kaveh; kaveht@uvic.ca)
Workshops (all welcome!)
Navigating AI and Writing: Understanding expectations and decoding the syllabus; 12:30 to 1:30pm, September 25, Harry Hickman room 128
Am I allowed to use GenAI? Decode your syllabus, navigate course instructions, consider learning outcomes, clarify protocols with instructors, and equip yourself with resources. We’ll stay to field your questions from 1:30 to 2pm.
A word of advice: So, you’re in classes – now what? 11:30 to 12pm (library 129) and 3:30 to 4pm ((*Zoom) October 2
Learn about important deadlines and tips for academic success from Academic Advisers and CAC staff. For more information, please contact Emily: earvay@uvic.ca.
Nailing your “naysayer”: How to use qualifiers and rebuttals to strengthen your argument, 3 to 4pm, October 9; Zoom
Looking for ways to make your argument more persuasive? You may want (or need!) to address a “naysayer.” Sometimes called a “skeptic,” a naysayer is a someone, whether imagined or actual, who might object to part or the whole of your argument. By naming and addressing their concerns directly, you have the opportunity to make your argument more nuanced and more persuasive. In this workshop, we’ll talk about how to identify possible counterarguments and discuss strategies to effectively introduce and address those naysaying voices with qualifiers and rebuttals. For information, please contact Natalie: nboldt@uvic.ca .
Writing about Data, 3 to 4pm, October 16; Zoom
How do “results” differ from “findings”? How do we write about data? We’ll discuss these topics, explore a few strategies, and examine some sample texts. For information, contact Nancy: cacmgr@uvic.ca .
Argumentation 101: Crafting a Strong Thesis for Your Research Paper, 3 to 4pm, October 23; Zoom
Are you writing a research paper and you are asked to make an argument? In this workshop, we’ll break down the basics of argumentation, helping you craft a strong thesis and build a persuasive case. You’ll learn how to support your claims with credible evidence and address counterarguments effectively. Perfect for first-year students, this session will equip you with the skills needed to excel in academic writing. For more information, contact Kaveh: kaveht@uvic.ca .
Fitting in, finding your people, and feeling supported as a PhD student, 3 to 4pm, October 23; Zoom
This workshop emphasizes the importance of being connected and engaged throughout your PhD program and, drawing on recent scholarship and key concepts, will discuss some of the most important relationships for PhD students and introduce strategies for getting the most out of these. If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact Kevin Tunnicliffe: ktunni@uvic.ca .
Editing and Proofreading Lab: Polishing Your Prose, 3 to 4pm October 30; Zoom
If you struggle with the final stages of writing, this workshop is for you! We’ll cover some essential strategies for catching errors and tightening up your prose before you submit. Participants will also learn about some tools available to help you with this process and develop a self-editing checklist. For more information contact Gillian: gillians@uvic.ca .
Fake News and Critical Thinking, 3 to 4pm, November 6; Library room 130
This workshop explores the role of critical thinking in academic reading and writing, using “fake news” as a lens to highlight the significance of critical thinking in evaluating information and forming critical analyses. Learn strategies to detect unreliable sources, read beyond the surface, and develop thoughtful, evidence-based arguments in your writing. A collaboration between the Centre for Academic Communication and UVic Libraries, this interactive session will include hands-on activities to help you become a more informed and critical thinker in your academic work
For more information, contact Kaveh: kaveht@uvic.ca .
Exam preparation strategies, 3 to 4pm, November 20; Zoom
Feeling overwhelmed as you think about your finals? This workshop shares how to track your journey over the term, determine “gaps” and priorities, and map out your study plan. For information, contact Nancy at cacmgr@uvic.ca .
Online Resources
We have resources available to you 24/7 on our CAC website, our Brightspace site, and our graduate student community blog:
- Check out this new resource hub: UVic LEARN
- Visit our resources for text handouts and short videos on popular topics, such as defining your thesis, writing strong paragraphs, and becoming an effective reader.
- CAC Online Brightspace is self-enrolling—once you are signed into UVic Brightspace, go to “Discover” in the top menu and find “CAC online.” Once you are in the site, explore multi-modal material about all types of academic communication plus resources just for graduate students.
- Our Graduate Student Writer’s Community blog publishes posts about the graduate student experience, many by graduate students (please consider writing a blogpost for us!). Check out the Dissertation Writers’ Resource tab for articles on many aspects of writing a thesis (not just for PhD students).
