Services for Thesis Students - Consultations

How we can help

If you're an honours or graduate student you'll meet with the Coordinator, Dr. Stephen Ahern, who is available to work with you one-on-one to provide advice about how to write an effective thesis. During 50-minute sessions he offers personalized attention in a comfortable setting. This service is free to all Acadia students.

How to sign up for a session

Send an email to writingcentre@acadiau.ca to arrange an appointment time, letting us know that you're a thesis student who would like to meet with the Coordinator.

How a session works

The Coordinator is ready to work with you on any areas that you identify, from the detailed and technical (such as how to use commas) to the big picture (such as how to structure a thesis). In order to understand your specific needs, he is glad to work on any document that you bring in. This will help him to suggest effective strategies that you can use to improve your writing.

The Coordinator can help identify and explain to you how to correct standard errors she sees in your written work, and he can help you learn how to write more effectively by being coherent, concise, and correct in your written expression. What he can't do is offer opinions on a supervisor's advising or grading practices.

What you need to do to prepare

Come with some material to work on, either a specific document (a draft of a chapter) or an area of concern (if, for example, you've been told you need to write more coherent paragraphs). Many senior students each year seek out this additional expert help, and often come back for additional appointments over the course of writing their theses. Try us out!