Written by Marissa Thompson, Writing Consultant at the Student Learning Hub

Do you ever find yourself sitting in front of a blank page with an ever-blinking cursor and a daunting due date, wondering, “Where do I even begin?”. Or maybe you are finding it difficult to get even that far. Are you ever just about to hit submit but begin second-guessing whether your paper covers every criteria point? Or maybe you are simply wondering if your argument makes any sense at all.

If you are ever in a similar position, visit the Student Learning Hub (SLH). We have friendly (and free) writing consultants who can help you figure out the next step, or if that argument makes sense. It can be daunting to book a one-on-one appointment with a tutor, so we want to erase the mystery by offering a glimpse of what to expect during a writing appointment at the SLH.

Before your appointment, you will fill out the basics of the assignment and your concerns, questions, or challenges in the appointment form.

When you arrive, you will check in with the front desk where you will either be directed to your consultant or asked to take a seat on the blue couch.

During your appointment, your consultant will provide you with a comfortable environment to practice, ask questions, and get individualized support. This appointment is for YOU so we will ask what YOU want to work on—you are in complete control of where the appointment goes from here.

We encourage you to share any questions or concerns you have about your assignment. Some concepts we might cover in an appointment are academic conversation/speaking practice, grammar, integrating sources, organization, paraphrasing/summarizing/quoting, planning and drafting, revision strategies, thesis statements, understanding assignment expectations, word choice, writers block, and anything else you are concerned or unsure about.

Appointments are 45 minutes long, but they don’t need to be. Sometimes, you might only need half the time before you feel ready to go off and work on your paper—that’s okay! Our goal is for you to leave the appointment feeling confident about writing on your own and, sometimes, that doesn’t take the whole block of time. Before wrapping up, we will give you a five-minute warning, allowing you to ask any last-minute, burning questions you might still have

After your appointment, we will email you a post-appointment summary that will detail some of the concepts we covered, any additional resources, and your “next steps”. Then, it is time to get writing!

The writing consultants at the SLH are here for YOU, so come say hi! You can book an appointment on QReserve: https://my.qreserve.com/site/nztru67ihr3rbtchet756juvdt6e90qcypzm5?idp_entity_name=https%3A%2F%2Fauthentication.ubc.ca

Happy writing!

Written by Mihai Covaser, Writing Consultant at the Student Learning Hub

So, you’re thinking about reaching out for some support on an assignment or course concept. Great! There’s just one important question: what exactly can the Student Learning Hub (SLH) do for you? Perhaps more importantly, what can the SLH not do?

Many of the students that come to the SLH have questions about writing at university. Academic writing can be a complex undertaking with many components to understand and perform correctly. Luckily, our Writing Consultants (WCs) are here to provide free writing support to help you sharpen your drafting, writing, and revising skills. This may mean tackling big issues like paper structure, theses, or flow. It could also include more focused advice like word choice and grammar tips, transitions, and sentence structure.

The SLH welcomes any writing assignment you might want to work on, from the half-finished to the nearly polished. Bring your lab report outline, your skeleton for an argumentative philosophy essay, or your fully drafted literature review, and a WC will be happy to offer the advice and cultivate the skills you need to improve that piece and future work!

It may seem like we do it all here at the SLH, but it is important to note some components that the WCs do not cover. One example is citations. This includes formatting in different styles, both in-text and bibliographically. Although these are not dealt with at the SLH, the WCs will still support you with integrating citations and paraphrasing. Moreover, they can connect you with a librarian for citation formatting help.

Lastly, if you have a take home exam or test prompt, a WC can’t help you directly with the test, but don’t worry; they can still help you prepare! A WC can walk you through essay exam writing strategies, general structure for essay exams, and even practice with a different prompt!

At the heart of it, writing support at SLH is meant to equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to become a better written communicator at the university level. We strive to provide a safe, comfortable space for you to explore your voice and hone applicable skills for powerful writing.

For more information about all of the learning supports you can find at the SLH please visit https://students.ok.ubc.ca/academic-success/learning-hub/.

UBC Okanagan Library would like to extend a sincere thank you to Heather Berringer for her years of service and dedication to the library as Chief Librarian. Heather will be transitioning to a full-time appointment as Associate Provost, Academic Operations and Services effective April 1, 2023.

Heather has been a valued member of UBC’s leadership team since her first appointment as UBC Okanagan’s Deputy Chief Librarian in 2012. She has provided continuous leadership in the planning, development and coordination of learning services at UBC Okanagan, leading to the development of new programs, spaces and innovative partnerships, including the opening of the Commons building in 2019, the establishment of the UBC Innovation Library and Student Learning Hub, and the creation of the British Columbia Regional Digitized History project.

“We greatly appreciate Heather’s significant contributions to the Library over the past eleven years and we will miss her tremendously,” says Dr. Susan E. Parker, UBC’s University Librarian.

During the search for the UBC Okanagan Library’s next leader, Robert Janke has been appointed Interim Chief Librarian for a one-year term, effective April 1, 2023.

Read the full announcements:

• Chief Librarian and Associate Provost, Academic Operations and Services portfolio changes
• Robert Janke Appointed Interim Chief Librarian, UBC Okanagan

For Honouring Indigenous Writers (March 1-31), UBC Okanagan Library Special Collections is pleased to present an exhibition featuring the publications of Theytus Books. These books, having an essential tie to the Okanagan, provide a reflection of place that is valuable to our campus and communities.

Founded in 1980, Theytus Books is the first, and oldest, Indigenous publishing house in Canada. It operates in partnership with the En’owkin Centre on Syilx territory on the Penticton Indian Reserve. Frequently lauded for its focus on the authentic expression of Indigenous voices in print, Theytus has brought the writing, dialogue, and art of a multitude of Indigenous authors to the public. Many of these authors are local to the Okanagan.

The exhibition is staged in the Okanagan Special Collections Corbishley Family Reading Room, located on the lower floor of the Commons adjacent to the D. Ross Fitzpatrick Great Hall. From the Hall, highlights of the exhibition can be seen in our glass display cases. Students, faculty, and all members of the larger community are invited to enter the reading room to see a more detailed “loop” of exhibits featuring the striking visuals and compelling texts put forth by Theytus Books.

Okanagan Special Collections is open for walk-ins from Monday to Friday at 10 am to 3 pm or at other times by appointment.

Honouring Indigenous Writers seeks to increase awareness of Indigenous authors. This year the organizing team has put together an exciting schedule of events throughout the month of March. All events are free and open to everyone!

UBC Okanagan Library has designed a BC Heritage Walk as part of BC Heritage Week and Move UBC month. 11 stops are located between the Library and The Commons to help you learn more about Okanagan history and explore archival materials. Participate in this activity and enter for a chance to win prizes from Theytus Books at the final stop.

The first stop is located on the main floor of the Library near the service desk.

Interested in learning more about local history? Visit British Columbia Regional Digitized History or UBC Okanagan Special Collections and Archives for more information.