The Writing Center's online writing lab provides written feedback on drafts. The OWL is open to anyone who wishes to use it and is ideal for distance learners, as they need not be on campus to receive writing help.

The Writing Center wants the OWL to be successful and not risk crossing any clear or perceived academic protocols, so tutors will observe these ground rules:

• Tutors will post feedback at the end of the author’s text in response to written requests.
• Tutor responses might include additional information such as lower order concerns (LOCs: mechanics and punctuation), but the bulk of the tutor’s response will focus on high order concerns (HOCs: focus, organization, cohesion, logic).
• Tutors will insert comments at the beginning or end of your text, or in the body of the email.
• Tutors will not edit papers, meaning they will not make additions, deletions, or other changes in the writer’s text.
• Tutors may highlight one or two sentences or passages they feel are exceptional in thought or written expression.
• Tutors may highlight one or two sentences or passages they feel best represent weak writing in the text.
• Tutors will try to respond within 48 hours to submitted papers. However, priority is given to real-time drop-in writers.
• Tutors will treat OWL sessions the same as real time sessions and not exceed 30 minutes per session.
• Students are allowed to resubmit papers after revising with new questions at any time.

How to Submit a Paper to the OWL

Email papers directly to the Writing Center as an attachment in Word format -- DOC, DOCX or RTF -- with the subject line including your name and the title.

Please put this information in the body of the email:

1. The discipline and instructor for which the paper has been written. If the paper is not for a class, please identify its purpose, e.g., resume, scholarship letter, letter to the editor.
2. State what the tutor should focus on, e.g. clarity, focus, formatting style, a specific paragraph.
3. A general, brief description of the writing assignment. If you have an e-copy of the assignment, attach that to the email.

A face-to-face session is always better than a session mediated through space and time (on a computer, through email). With this fact in mind, tutors will end their suggestions by inviting writers to come to the Writing Center for more clarification or detailed responses.

Our hope in the Writing Center is that we become more adept at reaching all writers who might benefit from writing tutorials. We truly believe that an OWL can be of great service if used wisely and professionally.

If you have any questions or concerns call or email Kathryn Byrne or 913-469-8500, ext 3497.