Online Writing Lab

Welcome to Kent State University at Trumbull Online Writing Lab (OWL)

If you are struggling with a written assignment and you do not have time to come to the Learning Center, you can send us your paper via this online form, and an English tutor will provide written feedback in 48 business hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can use the OWL?
Any Kent State student can use the OWL.

How do I submit my paper to the OWL?
Click on Submit a Paper to the OWL at the bottom of the page to get to the submission page. Fill in the information, attach your paper, and click on Submit. To ensure a timely response, save your paper as a Word or Rich Text Format document.

How can the tutors at the OWL help me?
You tell us! Just let the OWL tutor know what problems you are having, such as with clarity, grammar, punctuation, citations, brainstorming, and so on.

What papers does the OWL accept?
You can submit any paper for any class or subject if you would like to receive feedback on how it is written. 

When can I submit my paper to the OWL?
You can submit your paper to us at any stage of the writing process and at any time. You will hear back from one of our OWL tutors within 48 business hours.

Can I just send my paper to the OWL for the tutor to fix it?
No, the OWL tutors cannot proofread or “fix” the paper for you, but they can point out mistakes and make suggestions.

How many drafts can I submit to the OWL?
You can submit as many drafts as you want, but you should revise them first to incorporate the tutor’s feedback.

Who will read my paper?
The English coordinator and peer-tutors are usually the only people who see your paper.

How will the OWL tutor reply to my paper?
An English tutor will comment on your paper and then email it to you as an attachment.

When will the OWL tutor reply to my paper?
You will get your paper back within 48 business hours. We are closed on the weekend, so if you send it on a Saturday, you should get a response by the end of the day on Tuesday. You also need to give yourself time to rewrite your paper after you get our feedback. If you send us your paper two days before it is due, you may not have enough time to make the revisions.

Submitting a paper to the OWL is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Answer all of the questions in the form.
2. Attach your paper.
3. Click Submit.

Submission Form