Sessional Lecturer - WRR312H1S: Writing Literary Journalism
Toronto, ON, Canada
Sessional Lecturer - WRR312H1S: Writing Literary Journalism
Date Posted: 07/02/2026
Req ID: 49057
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Innis College
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Existing Vacancy: Yes
Description:
Course title: WRR312H1S: Writing Literary Journalism (In-Person)
Course description: This course introduces students to works by some of the most influential literary journalists of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Classes will be devoted to the following genres: the personal essay, the profile, the polemic, the memoir, literary reportage, and cultural criticism. Students will look closely at key writers who worked/work across these genres: George Orwell, James Baldwin, and Joan Didion, among others. Over the semester, students will develop and write a feature-length work of literary journalism in a genre of their choice, to be refined through peer workshop and instructor feedback.
Estimated enrolment: 30
Estimated TA support: None
Class schedule: Lectures: Fridays, 11:00am – 1:00pm. No tutorials.
Sessional dates of appointment: January 1st, 2027 to April 30th 2027
Salary: Pay for half course, vacation pay included.
- Sessional Lecturer 1 - $9,997.48 (includes 4% vacation pay)
- Sessional Lecturer 1 Long Term - $10,699.22 (includes 6% vacation pay)
- Sessional Lecturer 2 - $10,699.22 (includes 6% vacation pay)
- Sessional Lecturer 2 Long Term - $10,953.96 (includes 6% vacation pay)
- Sessional Lecturer 3 - $10,953.96 (includes 6% vacation pay)
- Sessional Lecturer 3 Long Term - $11,228.90 (includes 6% vacation pay)
Please note that should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.
Qualifications:
Required:
- MA in journalism, English literature, creative writing, rhetoric, or a related field.
- At least 2 years of successful experience teaching credit courses on writing, journalism, and/or creative writing in a postsecondary setting.
- Experience marking university-level assignments; ability to mark carefully for Standard English grammar and style.
- Demonstrated student-focussed approach to teaching.
- A publication history that includes literary journalism, reporting, the personal essay, and/or creative writing.
Preferred:
- Demonstrated interest in pedagogy.
- Familiarity with the range of writing ability of university undergraduates.
- Familiarity with the goals of the Innis Writing & Rhetoric program.
Duties of sessional lecturer: The Sessional Lecturer will teach the half-year course called Writing Literary Journalism (WRR312H1). The Lecturer will be expected to develop a syllabus and assignments for the course, with the approval of the Director of the Writing and Rhetoric program. The Sessional Lecturer will lecture one weekly (two-hour lecture), grade all assignments, hold office hours each week, see students by appointment, and answer questions through email.
The mode of teaching is in person, but online teaching might be required if circumstances call for it.
Application instructions: Please submit a cover letter, a completed CUPE 3902 Unit 3 application form (https://uoft.me/CUPE-3902-Unit-3-Application-Form), a sample publication of not more than five pages, a two-paragraph statement of teaching philosophy, and a curriculum vitae to hr.innis@utoronto.ca by July 23, 2026, 11:59pm EST. For filing purposes, we ask that applicants applying to multiple sessional lecturer positions at Innis College kindly send separate emails for each position.
Closing Date: 07/23/2026, 11:59PM EDT
**
This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement.
It is understood that some announcements of vacancies are tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolment. Should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.
Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II or Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement.
Please note: Undergraduate or graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of the University of Toronto are covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement rather than the Unit 3 collective agreement, and should not apply for positions posted under the Unit 3 collective agreement.
Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.
As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.
Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.
The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.
If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.
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