The Writing and Communication Centre
If you need help with the writing process, including revising your work, the Office of Academic Integrity highly reccomends students use the Writing and Communication Centre (WCC). The WCC will not change your work for you, but will teach you skills and strategies to review and edit your own work. They can help you at any stage of the writing process, including understanding your assignment expectations, organizing your ideas, grammar, writing structure, and integrating evidence and citing appropriately. Consider:
- Booking an appointment or attending a drop-in session with instructors that are experts in communicating in all disciplines
- Using WCC online resources for a broad range of topics related to writing and communication, including organization, style, citing, and polishing your work
- Signing up for online workshops on topics such as grammar, STEM writing, paraphrasing and summarizing, and design and delivery
Guidelines for Professional Editing Services
If you are considering using a professional editing service, it is important to review the Guidelines for Ethical Editing from Editors Canada. There are differences in what constitutes ethical editing at the undergraduate and graduate level - in either case, students should receive permission their instructor or supervisor that outlines what is acceptable.
Undergraduate students should review Guidelines for Ethical Editing of Undergraduate Student Texts (PDF). Important points from the guidelines to consider include:
- Students must obtain written permission from their instructor that specifies what the editor is allowed to do
- The editor cannot fix or change the content or structure, but can flag issues (e.g., grammar, spelling, mechanics, citations, simplicity)
Graduate students should review Guidelines for Ethical Editing of Graduate Student Texts (PDF). Important points from the guidelines to consider include:
- Students must obtain written permission from their supervisor or instructor that specifies what the editor is allowed to do
- The editor cannot make changes, but can flag issues (e.g., grammar, spelling, citations, style, structure)