Workshops

First mandatory paid training session for Teaching Assistants on their first appointment in all English (both Literature and Creative Writing) courses

• Date: Sept 4, 2024
• Time: 11:00 am-1:30 pm
• Location: JHB 616

First-contract TAs must receive 4 hours of paid training. These 4 hours are divided in two sessions: this 2.5 hour session in early September and a 1.5 hour session in mid-October. The sessions will be conducted by Cassandra Olsen (PhD candidate). TAs will be paid and attendance is mandatory.

• Date: Sept 6, 2024
• Time: 11:00 am-12:00 pm
• Location: JHB 616

TAs facilitating tutorials for the first time must receive 1 hour of paid training. This training session will take the form of a round table and will be conducted by Titilola Aiyegbusi, Zachary Jones, and Cassandra Olsen (all PhD candidates). TAs will be paid and attendance is mandatory for TAs facilitating tutorials for the first time.

The second mandatory paid sessions for TAs on their first appointments are divided between a workshop for TAs in English Literature courses and a workshop for TAs in Creative Writing courses.

Second mandatory paid session for Teaching Assistants on their first appointment in English Literature (not Creative Writing) courses

• Date: Oct 24, 2024
• Time: 5:00-6:30 pm
• Location: in two rooms, JHB 616 and 617 

As above, first-contract TAs must receive 4 hours of paid training. These 4 hours are divided in two sessions: the 2.5 hour session in early September and this 1.5 hour session in mid-October. The sessions will be conducted by Cassandra Olsen (PhD candidate). TAs who attend this training will be paid.

Second mandatory paid session for Teaching Assistants on their first appointment in Creative Writing courses

• Date: Oct 24, 2024
• Time: 5:00-6:30 pm
• Location: in two rooms, JHB 616 and 617

As above, first-contract TAs must receive 4 hours of paid training. These 4 hours are divided in two sessions: the 2.5 hour session in early September and this 1.5 hour session in mid-October. The session will be conducted by Zachary Jones (PhD candidate). TAs who attend this training will be paid.

• Date: Nov 21, 2024
• Time: 3:00-5:00 pm
• Location: JHB 616

This workshop is mandatory for PhD1 and PhD U2 students.

Hosted by Professor Alan Ackerman (Associate Director, PhD), the workshop will address the Special Fields (SF) process and provide advice that will help students design their reading list and prepare for the exam.

The deadline for students to RSVP for this session was Nov 18, 2024. Registration is now closed.

This workshop is open ONLY to students from the Department of English at the University of Toronto.

• Date: Oct 24, 2024
• Time: 3:00-5:00 pm
• Location: JHB 616

This workshop is mandatory for PhD3 and PhD U4 students, as well as any ABD students who have not attended this workshop; it is also open to any students who have attended but have further questions and/or would like to join in the discussion.

The workshop for recently ABD students will be hosted by Professors Dan White (Director of Graduate Studies) and Alan Ackerman (Associate Director, PhD). They will be joined by two English PhD Students, Sylvanna Baugh (PhD5) and Bill Kroeger (PhD4), who will offer their advice and perspectives.

This workshop addresses both bureaucratic and practical issues related to achieving candidacy (or becoming ABD). Dan, Alan, Sylvanna, and Bill will provide guidance and answer questions about: the timeline for achieving candidacy; what to expect from your supervisory committee and supervisor; the pros and cons of writing groups; the relative importance of writing the thesis vs. professional development and achieving life-work balance. 

Registration for this workshop has now closed.

The deadline for students to RSVP for this session was Oct 21, 2024.

This session is open ONLY to PhD Students in Graduate English at the University of Toronto.

• Date: Nov 7, 2024
• Time: 3:00-4:00 pm
• Location: JHB 616

This information session with Professor Dan White (Director of Graduate Studies) is for PhD students preparing to submit within the 2024-2025 Academic Year (from September 1, 2024 to April 1, 2025).

The Graduate Assistant will be there to answer your questions about the presentation requirements of your thesis, and the timing and planning of the Final Oral Exam. 

Registration for this workshop is now closed.

The deadline for students to RSVP for this session was November 4, 2024.

This session is open only to PhD Students in Graduate English at the University of Toronto.

Workshop for Administrative Teaching Assistants

• Date: Sept 5, 2024
• Time: 10:00-11:00 am
• Location: JHB 617

This workshop is to help admin TAs navigate the various functionalities of Quercus and to share their experience with course administration. The workshop will be led by Danyse Golick (PhD candidate). TAs who attend this training will be paid.

Training Round Table for Teaching Assistants leading tuturials

• Date: Jan 14, 2025
• Time: 10:00-11:00 am
• Location: JHB 617

This training round table is open to all TAs interested in discussing leading tutorials and classroom pedagogy. It will be conducted by Titilola Aiyegbusi, Zachary Jones, and Cassandra Olsen (all PhD candidates). TAs who attend this training will be paid.

EDIA training for Teaching Assistants.

• Date: Feb 3, 2025
• Time: 9:30-11:00 am
• Location: JHB 617

This is a 1.5 hour training session aimed to address graduate students’ needs concerning EDIA in the classroom. This session will be facilitated by the Graduate English Association (GEA) and Cristina D’Amico (Teaching Assistants’ Training Program, TATP). TAs who attend this training will be paid.

Strategies for Writing a Strong Research Proposal (an informational workshop)

• Date: Sept 4, 2025
• Time: 9:00-11:00 am
• Location: JHB 616

This informational workshop aims to demystify research proposals and offer practical writing strategies for those applying for the SSHRC doctoral award (including current MAs applying for PhD funding for 2025-2026). Note that SSHRC is now offering some awards to international applicants. Those applying for CGS M or OGS are also welcome to attend, but note that there will be a separate workshop for these awards in November (date TBD). Attendees will also be encouraged to participate in one or more optional virtual peer-review sessions for SSHRC proposals (dates TBD).

No registration is required, but feel free to email Dan Newman at daniel.newman@utoronto.ca with questions. This session is open ONLY to students from the Department of English at the University of Toronto.

Anyone applying for a graduate award is encouraged to participate in one or more of the virtual peer-review sessions listed below:

1. Tuesday, Sept 3, 4:00-6:00 pm
2. Tuesday, Sept 10, 4:00-6:00 pm 
3. Monday, Sept 16, 1:00-3:00 pm
4. Thursday, Nov 21, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
5. Thursday, Nov 21, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm

Registration: sign up by completing this form. This hands-on peer-review session is designed for applicants to the SSHRC doctoral and Vanier award programs, but those applying for CGS M or OGS are also welcome. You do not need to have participated in the September 6th session to participate in the peer-review session. To participate, please register and then email your draft proposal to daniel.newman@utoronto.ca .

This workshop will be held during an ENG6999YF class, so only MA CRW students will need to register.

Hosted by Professors Randy Boyagoda and Adam Hammond, this workshop will feature a panel of current PhD students, who will offer reflections and advice about writing your first seminar papers (including getting started, entering scholarly conversations, and time management), how to be a good class member in seminars, managing stress, having a life as a graduate student, and more.

Registration for this workshop is now closed.

The deadline for students to RSVP for this session was Sept 27, 2024.

This workshop is open ONLY to MA and MA CRW students from the Department of English at the University of Toronto.

Exploring Career Options with an MA in English (I) - Fall 2024 

• Date: Oct 4, 2024 - DONE
• Time: 10:15-11:45 am
• Location: JHB 616 and via ZOOM 

There is mandatory registration for all participants (see below). Students will be sent the ZOOM link after they register for the session.This workshop will be co-hosted by Jessica Wurster, Career Education & Exploration Graduate Career Educator, and Joel Rodgers, Coordinator, Graduate Student Professional Development for the Faculty of Arts and Science.

The format will be hybrid. Please register below, and indicate if you will be attending in person, or via ZOOM. Only students registered will receive the information.

In this session you will begin to explore career pathways, considering various options available to you after the MA degree. You'll also be encouraged to think about the skills you're learning and practicing in graduate courses as stepping stones toward those pathways.(Another workshop during the Winter semester will build on this Fall session, discussing practical details such as reading job postings and how to translate literary research skills onto a resume.)

If you are looking for on- or off-campus work for the upcoming academic year, then you may want to explore the Career Exploration & Education job boards. The work study hiring period runs from mid-August to late September, and the best jobs tend to fill quickly.

You may also want to keep an eye on those job boards in September, as many employers start recruiting graduating students in the fall of their final year of study for roles starting the following spring/summer.

Registration is closed.

The deadline for students to RSVP for this session was Oct 1, 2024.

This workshop is open ONLY to students from the Department of English at the University of Toronto.

• Date: Apr 10, 2025
• Time: 10:15-11:45am
• Location: JHB 616

Hosted by Professor Melissa Gniadek, Associate Director MA. This 1.5-hour workshop will be co-hosted by Jessica Wurster, Career Education & Exploration Graduate Career Educator, and Joel Rodgers, Coordinator, Graduate Student Professional Development for the Faculty of Arts and Science. This session will build on one offered in October, but you do not need to have attended the first workshop to attend this one or to benefit from it! This session will focus on practical details to help you translate your English MA into the job search. For example, we will discuss how to read and interpret job postings and how to present literary research skills on a resume. 

Registration is closed.

The deadline for students to RSVP for this session was April 7, 2025.

This workshop is open ONLY to students from the Department of English at the University of Toronto.

• Date: Oct 17, 2024
• Time: 2:00-4:00 pm
• Location: JHB 616

This workshop will be hosted by Professors Melissa Gniadek (Associate Director, MA) and Alan Ackerman (Associate Director, PhD). They will be joined by two English PhD Students, Josiah Lamb (PhD 2) and Madhubrata Bhattacharyya (PhD2), who will offer their advice and perspectives.

Registration for this workshop is now closed.

The deadline for students to RSVP for this session was Oct 11, 2024.

This workshop is open ONLY to students from the Department of English at the University of Toronto.

Writing a Strong Research Proposal for SSHRC CGS-M and/or OGS Applications, with Prof. Dan Newman

Those applying for a SSHRC CGS-M are encouraged to participate in the proposal clinics offered by faculty in the English Department, as well as the informational workshop on SSHRC CGS-M (and OGS) organized by Dan Newman on November 6, 11am-1pm (in person).

To register, please complete this form, selecting the “SSHRC CGS-M” option. On the same form, you can also sign up for the associated virtual peer-review sessions on Thursday, November 21 from either 10 am-12 pm or 1-3 pm (remote sessions)

Feel free to email Dan Newman with any questions at daniel.newman@utoronto.ca.

• Date: Sept 19, 2024
• Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
• Location: Graduate Lounge (JHB 719)

Join the GEA as we discuss finding community at the university and in Toronto with PhD student panelists, who will talk about their involvements, favourite things to do in the city, and how they adjusted to the social side of graduate life. While this discussion is geared towards incoming students, all graduate students in the department are welcome to attend this informal conversation.

• Date: Oct 24, 2024
• Time: 4:00-6:00 pm
• Location: TBA

Join the GEA for an in-depth, peer-led workshop on putting together your PhD applications, with a focus on writing research statements (also known as the Statement of Purpose). For the first hour, junior PhD students will share their strategies and approaches to the application with insights from their respective fields and academic backgrounds. In the second hour, students will have the opportunity to practice a series of writing exercises designed to help you clarify and structure how you pitch your research to prospective programs. Please bring a computer, tablet, or notebook to write in.

• Date: Feb 25, 2025
• Time: 10:00-11:00 am
• Location: JHB 616

The workshop will explore questions and concerns about Form A, forming a supervisory committee, creating reading lists and the Special Fields exam itself. It will be led by a panel of PhD students who represent diverse fields and are from across different years of the program.

• Date:Mar 6, 2025
• Time: 11:00 am-12:00 pm
• Location: Zoom

Please join the GEA for a workshop on how to find, apply for and successfully execute Course Instructorships, with guidance from experienced PhD students in the department.