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Writing Lab

Your source for writing help.

  • About the Lab and Resources
  • About Online Tutoring
  • Writing Process
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    • Peer Editing Guidelines
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    • Definition
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    • Evaluation
    • Explaining a Concept
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About Online Tutoring

For asynchronous online tutoring, students can send papers to the Online Writing Lab (WPOWL@missouristate.edu) and get feedback in their email in-boxes within 24 hours.
For synchronous online tutoring, student can make an appointment (WPOWL@missouristate.edu or 417-255-7980) for a zoom session.

Here is a brief tutorial about using Online Tutoring at the Writing Lab. Students can also use the Tutor Talk feature to chat online in real time with a tutor.

Advantages of Online Tutoring using the OWL

  • Students can send papers any time of the day and from anywhere.
  • It is a relatively anonymous setting without the distractions of the physical presence of a tutor or other students.
  • Tutors have more time to think over their response.
  • Students can print the tutor’s remarks and study them as often as needed.
  • Students can learn from the tutor’s remarks in a setting of their choice.
  • Students get experience reading comments about their writing in writing.

Disadvantages of Online Tutoring using the OWL

  • The immediacy of face-to-face tutoring is gone.
  • Tutors may not have the ability to give effective feedback if students don’t clearly explain the assignment and what kind of feedback they’d like from the tutor.
  • Students might have problems applying the tutor’s suggestions when they revise.
  • Some errors might be difficult for tutors and students to handle in an online session.
  • On the whole, online tutoring is better for global issues, such as essay structure and essay development, while one-to-one tutoring might still be better for teaching grammar.

Advantages of using Tutor Talk

  • Students can ask questions virtually
  • Students do not have to be on campus to contact a tutor
  • Tutor Talk allows for real time interactions between students and tutors
  • Students can upload their whole paper and discuss it with the tutor

Disadvantages of using Tutor Talk

  • Tutor Talk is by appointment and only available when the Writing Center is open
  • Students must have good internet access to contact tutors
  • Tutors may not have a long time to think about their replies

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MLA and APA help

  • APA Lecture
  • APA Student Paper Example.pdf
  • Editing essays using Word
  • MLA correcting extra spaces on Word
  • MLA Lecture
  • MLA on Word
  • MLA Works Cited on Word
  • Saving in PDF format

Other

  • Assessment of Multiple Intelligences

Writing Resources

  • Indiana University's Writing Tutorial Services
  • Purdue's Online Writing Lab
New beginnings...endless possibilitiesNew beginnings...endless possibilities
  • Last Modified: August 27, 2020
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