Hi, I'm Michael. I am a 4th year PhD student in the English Department with a concentration in Cultural, Social, and Political Thought (CSPT). My dissertation work is an inter-disciplinary attempt to theorize environmental perceptions of human/non-human relationships through the lenses of rhetoric, policy, case studies, and literature involving wolf encounters. I am a veteran TWC tutor and the current 1st Year Writing Specialist. In this latter capacity, I assist in-residence first year students on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the 1st Year Writing Room. Given my broad background in literature, creative writing, philosophy, poetry, critical theory, and environmental and cultural studies, I can generally assist students with a wide variety of topics in the humanities. I have also taught multiple sections of literature, poetry, and rhetoric and composition, both at the Univ. of Montana, and here at UVic, where I am currently an ENGL 135 instructor.
Specialties: 1st year composition and literature, rhetoric, thesis development, argumentative writing, writing across the humanities, inter-disciplinary writing.
Illy
Hello, I am Ileana Diaz, but most simply call me Illy. I am a first year Ph.D. student in the Department of Anthropology, specializing in biological anthropology. My research explores anthropogenic degradation of the environment and its effect on nonhuman primates. I conduct fieldwork in the tropics. I have received a BA in Film Studies, and a BA and MA in Anthropology from universities in the United States. I find that to be an effective writer, it is necessary to write often, revise, and rewrite. Please keep in mind this takes time, investment, and engagement on your behalf. I hope to share my writing experience and be of service to you.
Specialties: tutoring in Spanish, ESL, thesis statement, word choice, organization, writing for the sciences
Kate
Hi, I’m Kate. I’m a second-year Ph.D. student in the "Law and Society" program in the UVIC Faculty of Law. Despite being a doctoral candidate in Law, my academic background is not in Law itself, but rather in a variety of related subjects. I come from an interdisciplinary background made up of philosophy mixed with social, legal, and political theory. My doctoral thesis is on the topic of "tolerated illegality". More specifically, I am interested in uncovering the social and legal effects that result from an incongruence between written law and official action. The traits that I value the most in academic writing are accessibility, and clarity. I believe that many smart people can take a complicated idea and make it sound complicated. The real challenge lies in taking a complicated idea and making it accessible to others. As one of my favourite professors once told me: "It’s okay to be wrong...as long as you are clearly wrong."
Specialties:thesis statement, clarity, and organization
Jianxun
Hi, my name is Jianxun Liu. I am a first year PhD student in the Department of Linguistics, and my research field is syntax. I received my first MA in English language and literature years ago, and I then worked as a college teacher in China lecturing on English for a couple of years.
I enjoy writing and I believe good writing is rewriting. I would be very happy to share with you my ideas and experience on how to make your writing better and how the writing process can be fun!
Specialites:tutoring in Mandarin, organization, clarity, and ESL
Gus
Hello, my name is Gus. I am a prairie boy from the small village of Bittern Lake, AB and a second year PhD student in theatre. For me, everything is about playing and having fun. Yes, that includes writing and editing. Besides working at The Writing Centre, I am also an editor for The Coastal Spectator, an online magazine that gives views and reviews of arts and culture from a Vancouver Islander's perspective.
Specialties: thesis statement, organization, academic writing in the Fine Arts, and creative writing for an audience
David
Hi, I'm David. I'm a third year PhD student in Applied Math. I study climate modelling and my main research interests are how cloud droplets get bigger and become rain droplets. I moved to Victoria in the Fall of 2010 from Michigan where I received Master's and Bachelor's degrees in mathematics and general studies, respectively. Clear and concise writing in the sciences is crucial because the written word is an important method for communicating important scientific discoveries. One writing tip I would give is ... to start early and revise often.
Riddle: Identify the author and to what the author is referring: "This new technology is changing the very fabric of our society."
Specialties: writing in math/sciences, organization, clarity
Adam
Hi everyone! I am Adam Yaghi. I am a fourth-year PhD student in English, specializing in multi-ethnic contemporary American literature. I have a BA and an MA in English. I also started a second Masters in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language), finished about two thirds of the degree, but had to withdraw from the program in order to join the PhD program at the English Department at UVic. My work experience includes translating from English to Arabic and vice versa, teaching first-year college composition in the United States, and tutoring at the Writing Centers of the University of Idaho and the University of Victoria. I speak a number of languages including Arabic, my native tongue, a specialty which could be helpful to tutees from Arabic-speaking countries. So, if you speak Arabic and need help with your writing, please, do not hesitate to come and see me. I always remind myself that writing is a process that consists of multiple stages, one that demands patience and persistence. But what I believe is more important than the product is the producer, the writer and not the writing. What do I mean? I believe that the best service I can provide for a student writer (a tutee) is to train him or her how to self-identify the problem in their writing before they act to fix it. I especially can help you with how to generate ideas for your research topic, paragraph structure, thesis statement, grammar, and organization. And remember, the most engaging writers are avid readers, so read as much and as often as you can, for reading is food for the brain; it is the input that leads you to produce rich, well-articulated, and thoughtful writing.
Tim
Hi, my name is Tim Smith (PhD candidate, Political Science). I’m passionate about working on reading, writing, and thinking skills with students. I’ve been fortunate to do this work with students as a Sessional Instructor in Political Science at UVic (Canadian Political Thought; Introduction to Political Theory). I love working at The Writing Center (TWC) because it provides me the opportunity to share my skills and strategies with students from an array of programs and disciplines; and the opportunity to learn new skills from working with UVic students and TWC colleagues. In my tutor approach, I try to work with you to diagnose your most significant writing concern (thesis development; good sentences; cohesive argument; etc.) and then develop strategies to improve in this area. My strengths include thesis development; topic narrowing; and effective argument.
Ilijc
Hi! I’m Ilijc, a third year Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering. I moved to Victoria from Italy in the winter of 2010 (Italian is my native language). My research focuses on communication networks, protocol design and discrete event simulation.My experience in scientific writing taught me how important it is to communicate ideas in a simple and straightforward manner. My goal is to help other students to develop a clear and simple writing style, organize their knowledge, and communicate their ideas effectively.
Specialties: clarity, concept mapping, organization, planning, and tutoring in Italian.
Kerry
Hi, my name is Kerry, and I enjoy helping people to write better. A short summary of my writing advice is “write first to discover your thoughts – then revise, revise, revise.” I am currently working on my PhD dissertation in Law, which is about the history of the Métis people in BC, and how that history impacts on the application of Métis rights law in the province. Before coming to UVic, I practised Indigenous rights law and civil litigation in Alberta, and was a journalist and professional editor in Vancouver. I graduated from the University of Calgary law school, and have an MA in English Language Studies, and a BA in English Literature, both from UBC. While a grad student at UBC, I taught two sections of first-year English. I was also a private writing and music tutor for many years. I hope eventually to teach Law or Indigenous Studies, and have a law practice “on the side”!
Specialties: writing in Law, writing at the graduate level, planning writing, flow, and style
Kseniya
Hi, I'm Kseniya. I’m a fourth year PhD student in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. I got my Bachelor and Master degrees in pure math at Simon Fraser University before moving to Victoria in fall 2008. My main research interests lie in the area of algebraic combinatorics. As a scientist, I know how important it is to have strong writing skills, because if you can't explain your ideas, they won't get appreciated, no matter how innovative and revolutionary they might be. I really enjoy working with students and hope to help them become the best writers they can be.
Mark
Hi, I’m Mark. Six years as a PhD student have guided my interests in writing skills development, through my work with students as a teaching assistant and sessional instructor and also through my own ongoing project of improving as a writer. My current research on homelessness and contemporary liberalism is within the department of Political Science, and my research interests and background are theoretical and heavily interdisciplinary within the humanities and social sciences.
Specialties:thesis statements, line of argument, concise writing, and sentence structure
Abby
Hi, I'm Abby and I am in the final semester of my French MA here at UVic, where I also graduated with my BA. I had the good fortune to work with the LTC in 2012 in the development of the Help Videos resource http://library.uvic.ca/instruction/helpvideos.html which greatly helped me to identify my own strengths and developing areas as a writer. My best advice is to take lots of notes, and to keep track of where everything came from! Start putting your works cited list together right away, and put the author and page number beside any citations you take while doing research. If you take lots of notes and write down why you think they are important, you'll already have a lot of your free writing and brainstorming completed.
Laurie
Hi, I'm Laurie. I started working at the Writing Centre in July, 2007, and have since developed a specialty in working with instructors to craft assignments which support the development of student writing skills. Before I started my job at the Writing Centre, I taught Com 206a and EDCI 357 at UVic, as well as first-year English composition courses at Temple University Japan. My BA is in English and Linguistics (UVic), my MEd is from Temple University, and my PhD, in Curriculum and Instruction, is from UVic. The one piece of wisdom I have for all students is that a tutor helps the writer, an editor helps the writing. You can contact me at TWCdir@uvic.ca or 250-472-5662 Spacebar 3 Laurie WayeAdvice on Peer Reviewers
The Writing Centre - 250-853-3675 - twccoor@uvic.ca- Rooms 135K, L and M in the McPherson Library - Open Monday through Friday
Currently on leave
Shu-Min
Hi, I'm Shu-min. This is the fifth year I've been working at the Writing Centre. Working at TWC has been a wonderful experience because I enjoy working with students from diverse backgrounds and this position allows me to learn from students while assisting them with their writing. My areas of interest are grammar, organization, and tutoring students for whom English is not a first language. I can tutor in Mandarin Chinese. Since 2010 I have been working as the Coordinator of the Writing Centre.
Jessica
Hi, I’m Jessica and I am a fourth year PhD student in Geography. My research focuses on coastal livelihood vulnerability and resilience. This fall, I will be in Mozambique conducting surveys and interviews in fishing communities. But, I will be back at TWC in January 2012! At UVic, I love teaching and working with students. As a self-taught writer, I have learned that writing is not a skill that you are either born with or without. It is a skill that is learned and can be practiced! So come early, and come often, and let us help you practice your writing.
Catherine
Hi. I'm Catherine. I am a PhD candidate here, following my MA in Art History at UVic, and my BA in Political Science at the University of Toronto. My inherent love of communication makes me want to hear about your projects, read your essays, and teach you about writing. I have taught English and ESL for many years, as well as working as a Sessional Instructor in Art History. I bring to the Writing Centre a sincere desire to help you communicate your ideas. I believe that clarity is key, and that we can all practice good academic writing.I read and write far beyond my field of Art History, in Political Science, Philosophy, Geography, Gender Studies, and the History of Science, among others. I am very interested in theory and in the history of concepts. I am also fascinated by the interplay between official academic requirements and the individual creative voice. I have travelled widely and lived outside of Canada for many years - now as an armchair traveller I would very much enjoy hearing about your academic projects.
Karibuni (Kiswahili for: you are all welcome)!
Specialties: structure, planning, organization, clarity, grammar, undergraduate- and graduate-level writing
Crystal
Hi, my name is Crystal. I am a 4th year PhD candidate in the geography department. My doctoral research explores using Participatory Video as a communication and public policy tool with organized recycling cooperatives in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I have a broad background and interest in social theory, political ecology, community-based participatory methodologies, and civic engagement. My particular strengths are in organization and structure, as well as good time management - a critical balance of student life! A good piece of advice I always encourage is to have a concise outline to help guide the writing and keep focused. While at UVic I have had the pleasure of teaching courses (economic geography, qualitative research methods), and working on a variety of research projects in Canada and internationally that have given me loads of opportunity to conduct research, write for varied audiences and prepare grant applications. I am happy to be joining the writing centre this fall and working with students on improving their writing skills.
Specialities: Organization, structure, writing in geography, qualitative research, and tutoring in Quebecois French.
Sean
Hi, I'm Sean, a Computer Science PhD student at UVic here. My research is in algorithms, particularly as they apply to data mining problems. My publication has been solely through IEEE, but I have a fairly inter-disciplinary background. As such, I enjoy helping students across all departments, especially with the process of research and research-oriented writing. As quick, general advice to everyone, I suggest always keeping in mind the ultimate purpose (alt., thesis) of your paper.
Specialties: concise writing, research, organisation and structure
Kelly
Hi I'm Kelly, a master's candidate studying Educational Psychology. I did my first master's degree in English Lit and I've worked for ten years as a writer. I love to write. I love to talk about writing and I love to share ideas with people. I think the keys to writing great essays are focus, planning and precision. I can help you lay the groundwork for solid discussion, strong thesis statements and smooth transitions. I have taught an intro English course at Wilfrid Laurier University and a professional writing course at Capilano University.
Specialties: organization, thesis statement, and grammar
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Hi, I'm Michael. I am a 4th year PhD student in the English Department with a concentration in Cultural, Social, and Political Thought (CSPT). My dissertation work is an inter-disciplinary attempt to theorize environmental perceptions of human/non-human relationships through the lenses of rhetoric, policy, case studies, and literature involving wolf encounters. I am a veteran TWC tutor and the current 1st Year Writing Specialist. In this latter capacity, I assist in-residence first year students on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the 1st Year Writing Room. Given my broad background in literature, creative writing, philosophy, poetry, critical theory, and environmental and cultural studies, I can generally assist students with a wide variety of topics in the humanities. I have also taught multiple sections of literature, poetry, and rhetoric and composition, both at the Univ. of Montana, and here at UVic, where I am currently an ENGL 135 instructor.
Hello, I am Ileana Diaz, but most simply call me Illy. I am a first year Ph.D. student in the Department of Anthropology, specializing in biological anthropology. My research explores anthropogenic degradation of the environment and its effect on nonhuman primates. I conduct fieldwork in the tropics. I have received a BA in Film Studies, and a BA and MA in Anthropology from universities in the United States. I find that to be an effective writer, it is necessary to write often, revise, and rewrite. Please keep in mind this takes time, investment, and engagement on your behalf. I hope to share my writing experience and be of service to you. 
Hi, I’m Kate. I’m a second-year Ph.D. student in the "Law and Society" program in the UVIC Faculty of Law. Despite being a doctoral candidate in Law, my academic background is not in Law itself, but rather in a variety of related subjects. I come from an interdisciplinary background made up of philosophy mixed with social, legal, and political theory. My doctoral thesis is on the topic of "tolerated illegality". More specifically, I am interested in uncovering the social and legal effects that result from an incongruence between written law and official action. The traits that I value the most in academic writing are accessibility, and clarity. I believe that many smart people can take a complicated idea and make it sound complicated. The real challenge lies in taking a complicated idea and making it accessible to others. As one of my favourite professors once told me: "It’s okay to be wrong...as long as you are clearly wrong."
Hi, my name is Jianxun Liu. I am a first year PhD student in the Department of Linguistics, and my research field is syntax. I received my first MA in English language and literature years ago, and I then worked as a college teacher in China lecturing on English for a couple of years.
Hello, my name is Gus. I am a prairie boy from the small village of Bittern Lake, AB and a second year PhD student in theatre. For me, everything is about playing and having fun. Yes, that includes writing and editing. Besides working at The Writing Centre, I am also an editor for The Coastal Spectator, an online magazine that gives views and reviews of arts and culture from a Vancouver Islander's perspective.
Hi, I'm David. I'm a third year PhD student in Applied Math. I study climate modelling and my main research interests are how cloud droplets get bigger and become rain droplets. I moved to Victoria in the Fall of 2010 from Michigan where I received Master's and Bachelor's degrees in mathematics and general studies, respectively. Clear and concise writing in the sciences is crucial because the written word is an important method for communicating important scientific discoveries. One writing tip I would give is ... to start early and revise often.
Hi everyone! I am Adam Yaghi. I am a fourth-year PhD student in English, specializing in multi-ethnic contemporary American literature. I have a BA and an MA in English. I also started a second Masters in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language), finished about two thirds of the degree, but had to withdraw from the program in order to join the PhD program at the English Department at UVic. My work experience includes translating from English to Arabic and vice versa, teaching first-year college composition in the United States, and tutoring at the Writing Centers of the University of Idaho and the University of Victoria. I speak a number of languages including Arabic, my native tongue, a specialty which could be helpful to tutees from Arabic-speaking countries. So, if you speak Arabic and need help with your writing, please, do not hesitate to come and see me. I always remind myself that writing is a process that consists of multiple stages, one that demands patience and persistence. But what I believe is more important than the product is the producer, the writer and not the writing. What do I mean? I believe that the best service I can provide for a student writer (a tutee) is to train him or her how to self-identify the problem in their writing before they act to fix it. I especially can help you with how to generate ideas for your research topic, paragraph structure, thesis statement, grammar, and organization. And remember, the most engaging writers are avid readers, so read as much and as often as you can, for reading is food for the brain; it is the input that leads you to produce rich, well-articulated, and thoughtful writing.
Hi, my name is Tim Smith (PhD candidate, Political Science). I’m passionate about working on reading, writing, and thinking skills with students. I’ve been fortunate to do this work with students as a Sessional Instructor in Political Science at UVic (Canadian Political Thought; Introduction to Political Theory). I love working at The Writing Center (TWC) because it provides me the opportunity to share my skills and strategies with students from an array of programs and disciplines; and the opportunity to learn new skills from working with UVic students and TWC colleagues. In my tutor approach, I try to work with you to diagnose your most significant writing concern (thesis development; good sentences; cohesive argument; etc.) and then develop strategies to improve in this area. My strengths include thesis development; topic narrowing; and effective argument. 
Hi, I'm Abby and I am in the final semester of my French MA here at UVic, where I also graduated with my BA. I had the good fortune to work with the LTC in 2012 in the development of the Help Videos resource 
Hi, I'm 
Hi, I'm Shu-min. This is the fifth year I've been working at the Writing Centre. Working at TWC has been a wonderful experience because I enjoy working with students from diverse backgrounds and this position allows me to learn from students while assisting them with their writing. My areas of interest are grammar, organization, and tutoring students for whom English is not a first language. I can tutor in Mandarin Chinese. Since 2010 I have been working as the Coordinator of the Writing Centre. 
Hi, I’m Jessica and I am a fourth year PhD student in Geography. My research focuses on coastal livelihood vulnerability and resilience. This fall, I will be in Mozambique conducting surveys and interviews in fishing communities. But, I will be back at TWC in January 2012! At UVic, I love teaching and working with students. As a self-taught writer, I have learned that writing is not a skill that you are either born with or without. It is a skill that is learned and can be practiced! So come early, and come often, and let us help you practice your writing.
Hi. I'm Catherine. I am a PhD candidate here, following my MA in Art History at UVic, and my BA in Political Science at the University of Toronto. My inherent love of communication makes me want to hear about your projects, read your essays, and teach you about writing. I have taught English and ESL for many years, as well as working as a Sessional Instructor in Art History. I bring to the Writing Centre a sincere desire to help you communicate your ideas. I believe that clarity is key, and that we can all practice good academic writing.I read and write far beyond my field of Art History, in Political Science, Philosophy, Geography, Gender Studies, and the History of Science, among others. I am very interested in theory and in the history of concepts. I am also fascinated by the interplay between official academic requirements and the individual creative voice. I have travelled widely and lived outside of Canada for many years - now as an armchair traveller I would very much enjoy hearing about your academic projects.
Hi, my name is Crystal. I am a 4th year PhD candidate in the geography department. My doctoral research explores using Participatory Video as a communication and public policy tool with organized recycling cooperatives in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I have a broad background and interest in social theory, political ecology, community-based participatory methodologies, and civic engagement. My particular strengths are in organization and structure, as well as good time management - a critical balance of student life! A good piece of advice I always encourage is to have a concise outline to help guide the writing and keep focused. While at UVic I have had the pleasure of teaching courses (economic geography, qualitative research methods), and working on a variety of research projects in Canada and internationally that have given me loads of opportunity to conduct research, write for varied audiences and prepare grant applications. I am happy to be joining the writing centre this fall and working with students on improving their writing skills.