(Dr.) Margaret Procter (neé Whitcombe)
Coordinator, Writing
Support, University of Toronto
University College, 15 King's College Circle
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H7
Phone: 416 978-8109, 905 569-4335; home 416
759-7509
E-mail: procter@epas.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto:
B.A., English Language and Literature,
1966;
M.A., English, l967;
Phil.M., English, l969;
Ph.D.,
English (minor History), l973 ; Dissertation: E.M. Forster and D.H. Lawrence as
Novelists of Ideas
French (good reading knowledge, good comprehension, adequate speaking);
German (some reading knowledge, some comprehension);
Latin (some
reading knowledge)
1967-1993 Department of English, various positions: Taught range of literature courses
1983- Erindale College, University of Toronto: Developed and taught Writing for Business course, now Professional Writing Programme
1987-1991 Erindale College Teaching-Learning Centre, coordinator of Writing Across the Curriculum project (10 departments): consulted with faculty and TAs on design and marking of assignments, gave class presentations and student workshops
1991- University College Writing Workshop, Director: Tutor students individually, present workshops on academic skills, write guidesheets and pamphlets on aspects of academic writing, coordinate work of four other tutors.
1994- University Coordinator of Writing Support: Design and implement programs for range of faculties and divisions; consult with tutors and instructors in these programs; provide teaching development workshops for faculty members and tutors; write informational and advisory material for students and faculty; producereports and discussion documents on policy concerning writing.
1980-1982 International Students' Centre, volunteer leader of conversation classes
1989 East York Board of Education, workshops for curriculum coordinators
1989-1990 York University, M.B.A. program, Managerial Communications course
1980-1983 Marker, English Proficiency Test, University of Toronto
1984-1989 Consultant and editor, various organizations, including George Enns Executive Search, Consumers' Gas, East York Board of Education
1985-1990 Editorial Assistant, University of Toronto Quarterly: assigned books for review, assessed and help edit manuscripts
1989-1990 University of Lethbridge: four one-day seminars on business writing
"Possibilities of Completion: The Endings of A Passage to India and Women in Love," English Literature in Transition, 34:3 (September 1991), 260-80.
"The University as Context for Writing: How Undergraduates See It." Educational Resources Information Centre (ERIC) paper #346783, November 1992.
"In the Box: Students' Attitudes to Academic Writing," in Contextual Literacy: Writing Across the Curriculum, ed. Catherine F. Schryer and Laurence Steven. Winnipeg: Inkshed Publications, 1994.
"Too Great Expectations: Teaching Writing to Graduate Business Students," Association for Business Communication, Vancouver, April 1991
"The University as Context for Writing: How Undergraduates See It," National Council of Teachers of English, Conference on College Composition and Communication, Cincinnati, March 1992
"Academic Literacy: A Report from the Front Lines," Symposium 93, University College, February 1993
"Reading Canadian Texts: Business Writing as Deference or as Negotiation?" Association for Business Communication, Montreal, October 1993
"In Spite of Us: How Universities Don't Teach Writing," Canadian Association for the Study of Language and Learning, Fredericton, May 1994
"Discipline or Expression: Setting Academic Priorities," Canadian Association for the Study of Language and Learning, Calgary, May 1995
Inventory of Resources on Teaching Writing in the Disciplines, June 1993 (56 pages): For Faculty of Arts and Science, investigated teaching practices and written resources for students and faculty at U. of T.; posted to gopher site:
gopher//utl.library.utoronto.ca//11gopher_root70%3a%5b_faculty/_teachcom._inventory%5d
Software for Writing Instruction, September 1994 (10 pages): For administrative discussion of instructional technology, investigated over 25 software programs, made detailed analysis and comparisons; report circulated at U. of T. and adapted for publication in various professional newsletters; posted to gopher site: gopher://gopher.epas.utoronto.ca/0ftp%3aftp.epas.utoronto.ca%40/pub/cch/english/misc/writing_software.procter_report
Post-Admission Assessment of Writing, March 1995 (30 pages): To guide administrative discussion of possible testing, analysed first-year transition assessment and support at all Ontario universities, some other Canadian and U.S. universities; presented to Academic Policy and Planning Committee at U. of T., circulated by Council of Ontario Universities and Council of Deans; copies requested for new testing board, Ministry of Education and Training; basis of presentations to English Language Arts Council (Ontario English coordinators) and various secondary-school teachers and coordinators