The Centre’s aim is to provide our students with a supportive environment in which they learn the skills of critical thinking and reading in relation to academic research and writing. 

We teach students to develop practices of academic scholarship through creative and critical processes of reflection such that students avoid forming habits of late night cramming and last minute essay writing.  

Tutorial sessions and workshops provide instruction in research techniques and the writing of academic prose such that students actively learn to integrate the two into a disciplined mindset that enhances their undergraduate studies.

We also offer appointments and workshops to address issues related to the demands of academic life such as anxiety and time management. 

RASC Coordinator:
Jenna Sunkenberg

RASC Location:
Room 232,
John M. Kelly Library
113 St Joseph Street

Learn About:

• Research process
• Starting your research
• Finding primary and secondary scholarly materials
• Evaluating sources
• Citations and referencing

Details:

Book an individual 40 minute appointment with a Kelly Librarian on any aspect of Academic Research.

Schedule:

Monday to Friday | 10:00 am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00 pm

Location:

John M. Kelly Library, Room 113 on the ground floor of the library behind the Reference Desk.

Note: Though same-day research appointments are not available, you can drop-in and speak to a librarian at the Reference and Information Desk about your essay anytime Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm.

Key Contact:

Richard Carter

Reference and Instructional Librarian
John M. Kelly Library

Staff:

Richard Carter

David Hagelaar

Noel McFerran

Remi Pulwer

Academic Research appointment system created by Gabriel Luong

Learn About:

• How to navigate resources and build research skills
• Personal academic research support
• Available to all first year SMC students

Details:

Your Personal Librarian is your UofT library contact for first year St Michael's College students and all USMC Faculty of Theology students.

Contact your Personal Librarian by e-mail as often as you like throughout the year with any questions you have about your research or using the library system.

Key Contact:

Richard Carter

Reference and Instructional Librarian
John M. Kelly Library

Staff:

Richard Carter

David Hagelaar

Noel McFerran

Remi Pulwer

Learn About:

• Clarifying topics
• Critical reading
• Brainstorming ideas
• Thesis statements
• Paragraph and sentence structure
• Essay structure and grammar

Details:

Book an individual 45-minute appointment with a writing instructor. Appointments must be booked in advance. Writing appointments are intended to assist with the essay writing process, not proof reading or remedial editing. 

Drop-in workshops will also be available throughout November and next semester.  Students come prepared to work on their essays for the two hours period while a writing instructor moves through the room offering one-on-one support for specific questions regarding essay development. 

Schedule: 

Essay Help Drop Ins:

Thursday, 28 February 4pm-5pm
Thursday, 7 March, 4pm-5:30pm
Thursday, 14 March, 4pm- 6pm
Thursday, 28 March, 4pm-6 pm

Thesis Writing Workshop:

Wednesday, 13th March, 3pm
Plagiarism and Citation Workshop:
Wednesday, 20th March, 3pm

Location: 

Room 232, John M. Kelly Library.

Book directly through UofT

Key Contact:

Jenna Sunkenberg

Coordinator, SMC Research and Academic Skills Centre

Staff:

Steve Hoselton

Cristina Peter

Jenna Sunkenberg

See Also:

UofT English Language Learning Program

The English Language Learning Program provides intensive non-credit courses and free drop-in sessions designed to help multilingual Arts and Science students advance in critical reading, academic writing, oral presentations, and more. For further information, visit:

www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/advising/ell

Learn About:

• Negotiating the academic environment
• Tapping into UofT academic resources
• Time management
• Communicating with professors and T.A.s
• Academic balance

Details:

Book an individual 30 minute appointment with the Academic and Campus Life Coordinator.

Schedule:

Fridays | 9:00am to 12:00pm

Location:

Academic and Campus Life Advising Office, Brennan Hall (south of the student lounge)

Key Contact:

Cristina Peter
SMC Academic and Campus Life Coordinator

Learn About:

• Mini essay workshops on various research topics
• Academic writing workshops
• Combined writing and research workshops

Details:

Regular 20 minute drop-in essay group workshops. Registration is not required.

Schedule: Wednesdays | 12:10 pm to 12:30 pm

Location: Research and Academic Skills Centre, Second Floor, John M. Kelly Library, 113 St Joseph Street

Key Contact:

Richard Carter

Reference and Instructional Librarian
John M. Kelly Library

Staff:

Richard Carter (Research)

Jenna Sunkenberg (Writing)

Learn About:

• Strategies for finding library materials
• Instructional videos and tutorias on evaluating sources, catalogue searching, and citation
• Research guides

Details:

The primary mission of the Kelly Library is to help students use information resources.

Key Contact:

Richard Carter

Reference and Instructional Librarian
John M. Kelly Library

Staff:

Richard Carter

David Hagelaar

Steve Hoselton

Noel McFerran

Remi Pulwer

Silvia Vong