Workshops

Mandatory paid training Round Table for Teaching Assistants leading tutorials for the first time

• Date: Sept 9, 2026
• Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
• Location: JHB 718

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 PhD candidates. TAs will be paid and attendance is mandatory for TAs facilitating tutorials for the first time.

First mandatory paid training session for Teaching Assistants on their first appointment in any English (Literature or Creative Writing) course

• Date: Sept 11, 2026
• Time: 8:30-11:00 am
• 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 a PhD candidate (TBA). TAs will be paid and attendance is mandatory for TAs on their first appointment.

• Date: Oct 22, 2026
• Time: 4:00-5:30 pm
• Location: JHB 616

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 a PhD candidate (TBA). TAs will be paid and attendance is mandatory for PhD TAs on their first appointment.

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

• Date: Oct 22, 2026
• Time: 4:00-5:30 pm
• Location: JHB 614

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 PhD candidate (TBA). TAs will be paid and attendance is mandatory for all MA CRW and PhD TAs on their first appointment in a Creative Writing course. 

• Date: Oct 22, 2026
• Time: 12:00-2:00 pm
• Location: JHB 616

This workshop is mandatory for PhD3 and PhD U4 students, as well as any ABD (All But Dissertation) 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 advanced English PhD Students, who will offer their advice and perspectives.

This workshop addresses both bureaucratic and practical issues related to achieving candidacy (or becoming ABD). Dan, Alan, and the two advanced PhD students 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 is now open. Please register by October 20.

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

• Date: Oct 29, 2026
• Time: 3:00-5:00 pm
• Location: JHB 616

This information session with Professor Dan White (Director of Graduate Studies) is for PhD students preparing to submit within the coming twelve months.

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 is now open. Please register by October 27.

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

The Special Fields Workshop will be held during the ENG9400HF Essential Skills Workshop Series on Nov 5.

• Date: Nov 5, 2026
• Time: 4:00-6:00 pm
• Location: JHB 718

This workshop is mandatory for PhD1 and PhD U2 students. Attendance will be taken.Hosted by Professor Alan Ackerman (Associate Director, PhD) with Dan White (Director of Graduate Studies), the workshop will address the Special Fields Examination (SFE) process and provide advice to help students design their reading list and prepare for the exam.

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

Workshop for Administrative Teaching Assistants

• Date: Sept 9, 2026
• Time: 9:00-10:00 am
• Location: JHB 616

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 a PhD candidate (TBA). TAs who attend this training will be paid.

Workshop for TAs working (or interested to work) in Creative Writing courses; open to all interested TAs

• Date: Oct 22, 2026
• Time: 4:00-5:30 am
• Location: JHB 616

The session will be conducted by a PhD candidate (TBA). TAs who attend this training will be paid.

Training Round Table for Teaching Assistants leading tutorials

• Date: Jan 15, 2027
• Time: 11:00 am-12:00 pm
• Location: JHB 616

This training round table is open to all TAs interested in discussing leading tutorials and classroom pedagogy. TAs who attend this training will be paid.

EDIA training for Teaching Assistants

• Date: Feb 5, 2027
• Time: 10:00-11:30 am
• Location: JHB 616

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 the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program (TATP). TAs who attend this training will be paid.

These workshops and peer-review sessions, hosted by Dr Danielle Martak (Acting Director, Graduate Writing Support, Faculty of Arts & Science), complement the department's one-on-one External Awards Research Proposal Clinics. 

Writing a Strong Research Proposal for the SSHRC CGRS D Application

• Date: Sept 10, 2026
• Time: 12:00-2:00 pm
• Focus: English Literature (this workshop is reserved for graduate students in English)
• Location: JHB 616

These informational workshop aims to demystify research proposals and offer practical writing strategies for those (including current MAs applying for PhD funding for 2026-27) applying for the SSHRC Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D). Note that international students are now eligible to apply for the CGRS D. Those applying for the CGRS M or OGS are also welcome to attend, but note that there will be a separate workshop for these awards on Nov 5 (see below). Attendees will also be encouraged to participate in one or more optional virtual peer-review sessions (see below).

To register, please complete this form.

If you cannot attend this workshop, there is a virtual alternative on Friday, September 11 from 12:00-2:00 pm. You can register for the virtual alternative by completing this form. However, please note that this will be a generic version, not specific to English, showing examples from all Social Science and Humanities fields.

Writing a Strong Research Proposal for the SSHRC CGRS M and/or OGS Application

• Date: Nov 5, 2026
• Time: 2:00-4:00 pm
• Location: to be shared upon registration

This informational workshop aims to demystify research proposals and offer practical writing strategies for undergraduate students (who are applying to the MA Program) and eligible MA and MA CRW students applying for the SSHRC Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master's (CGRS M) and/or Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS).

To register, please complete this form.

Virtual Peer-Review Sessions for SSHRC CGRS D / CGRS M / OGS Proposals

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

1. Thursday September 3, 9-11 am
2. Friday September 11, 3-5 pm
3. Wednesday September 17, 9-11 am
4. Friday November 20, 9-11am
5. Friday November 20, 12-2 pm

To register, please complete this form and then email your draft proposal to Dr. Martak at least two days before the session in question.

• Date: Oct 15, 2026
• Time: TBD
• 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, who will offer their advice and perspectives.

Registration is now closed. 

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

This workshop will be held during an ENG6999YF Critical Topographies class and is open ONLY to MA and MA CRW students from the Department of English at the University of Toronto.

• Date: Oct 21, 2026
• Time: 12:30-2:00 pm
• Location: JHB 616

Hosted by Professor Paul Downes, 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 is now open: the workshop will be held during an ENG6999YF Critical Topographies class, so only MA CRW students will need to register.

• Date: TBD, 2027
• Time: TBD
• Location: JHB 616

Hosted by Professor Melissa Gniadek, Associate Director, MA, 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. It will focus on practical details to help you translate your English or Comp Lit 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 now closed. 

This workshop is open ONLY to MA and MA CRW students in English and MA students in Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto.

• Date: Sept 24, 2026
• Time: 12:00-1:00 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 8, 2026
• Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
• Location: Graduate Lounge, JHB 719

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: Jan 22, 2027
• Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
• Location: Graduate Lounge, JHB 719

Join the GEA for an informative workshop with the DGS and upper year PhD and MA students to discuss funding letters, budgeting for your program timelines, and living expenses in Toronto. This will be a low-stakes opportunity for incoming students (and any other interested parties) to start developing your financial literacy for your time at the Department and beyond.

• Date: Feb 12, 2027
• Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
• 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 5, 2027
• Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
• Location: JHB 616

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.