Welcome to the Academic Success Center On-line Writing Lab (OWL)! Thank you for utilizing our services. Below is information to help with and inform requests for an OWL tutoring session.

Please Note:  A submission of a paper for an OWL does not guarantee an appointment will be available within the time frame the student desires. Requests received during non-business hours/days will be processed the next business day. For example: a paper submitted after 5:00 pm on Friday will be processed on the following Monday morning and the 24-48 hour return time will begin then. Students will receive an email confirming receipt of the request. ***Non-business hours are after 5:00 pm Monday-Friday and non-business days are Saturdays and Sundays.

Please take the time to read the following:

  • Students must use a Rider University email address to receive feedback.
  • Papers must be submitted as a Word document or attach and share a Google Doc.
  • If students have questions about the feedback they receive, please email [email protected], so we can reach out to the tutor for follow up.
  • Students will receive an automated email from TutorTrac regarding the scheduled appointment. Students do not have to attend OWL appointments-this is simply a function of the scheduling program.
  • Please keep in mind that tutors have 24-48 hours to complete an OWL submission, so planning ahead is important. 
  • During face to face sessions, tutors are typically able to review 5 pages in an hour and the same applies to OWL sessions. Please be prepared to send longer papers in sections of 5 pages at a time (one section per day). 
  • We cannot edit or proofread papers. Tutors will make suggestions or ask questions to help students clarify ideas or information within their paper, but the actual work has to be completed by the students.
  • Students may only submit their own work; papers cannot be submitted on behalf of someone else.

Please include the following information in the email request for an OWL appointment. 

Send emails to [email protected] with “OWL Request” in the subject line. 

  • Course name
  • Instructor's Name (optional)
  • Assignment due date
  • Please attach the assignment to the email or provide as much detail as possible when describing the assignment
  • Please let us know if you have received any feedback from the instructor or from a Writing Studio tutor. If so, please include that information.
  • Please indicate the areas of concern within your paper or areas of focus for the tutor. For example: Thesis clarity/strength; organization and flow; supporting evidence; does the paper address the assignment goals; grammar (word choice, sentence structure, punctuation, active/passive voice, etc.) 
  • ***Please note: If you are submitting a paper for review, please keep in mind that the Writing Studio does not proofread to identify every area within a paper that may need revision. Rather, we try to identify patterns of errors or areas that may need strengthening and explain why revision is needed. We may even provide examples and students should then revise on their own.