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Writing Support Through the CFLC
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Writing tutoring:
The听 tutoring appointments for writing support, including writing support for English Language Learners,听 are designed to assist with all stages of the writing process.听 During a fifty minute students can brainstorm ideas, go over an outline, or work on a draft.听 Tutors do not edit papers.听 They will work with you to help your writing improve.听Papers to be reviewed during a session should ideally be five to eight pages in length. The CFLC does not have staff to provide writing assistance for dissertations or pieces being submitted for publication. To make an appointment please follow the instructions.听听All appointments beginfive to eight pages in length.on the听hour听(*Except A&P).听听
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The Online Writing Lab (OWL):
The OWL offers asynchronous, email-based feedback on work in progress. Writers can submit drafts and identify revision priorities through an online form and OWL tutors will deliver written feedback within 48 hours. As in face-to-face sessions, OWL tutorials aim to help writers improve their overall processes, with emphasis on higher-order effectiveness rather than cosmetic editing.听
OWL Spring 2025 Calendar
- Thursday, January 23rd听听-听First day accepting tutorial requests for the spring semester.
- Wednesday, February 26th听- Deadline for听tutorial requests to be
completed before Spring Vacation. - Saturday, March 1st, to Sunday, March 9th听- Closed for Spring Vacation.听Tutorial requests received during this period
will be processed on Monday, March 10th. - Monday, April 14th听- Deadline for听tutorial requests to be completed before Easter Weekend.
- Thursday, April 17th, to听Monday, April 21st听- Closed for Easter听Weekend.听Tutorial听requests received during this period will be processed on Tuesday, April 22nd.
- Tuesday, April 29th听- Deadline for spring semester tutorial requests.
- Friday, May 2nd听- Closed for summer.
Please note additionally that the OWL is closed
on all Saturdays.
Contact
For questions about our tutoring services, please contact:
Cecilie Reid-Joyner
Associate Director
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Frequently Asked Questions about OWL
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The OWL is open to all current members of the Boston College community. Writers must be logged in with their school-issued Gmail addresses to access the tutorial request form.听
Like the in-person tutorial services offered at the Connors Family Learning Center, OWL tutoring is completely听free听to eligible users.
The OWL is听open for business Sunday through Friday听and follows the same calendar as the Connors Family Learning Center's in-person tutoring services. 听It is not available during the winter, spring, or summer breaks, nor is it available during periods officially designated as university holidays, and closes on the final day of undergraduate classes each semester. During regular business hours,听OWL submissions will be processed three times daily: at 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 6:00 PM. Wait times for submissions received after a given process time will not begin until the subsequent processing time (e.g., if your paper arrives at 6:30 PM, it will not be processed--and your expected 48 hour waiting period will not begin--until 10:00 AM the following day). Please plan accordingly.
The OWL currently limits submissions in any discipline to听8 double-spaced pages or less.听 If you are working on a longer writing project, you may wish to send only a portion of your draft, or to break your essay into parts and submit them separately. Long research papers, theses, and dissertations are not eligible, nor are assignments designated as "take-home" midterm or final writing examinations.听 We will, however, accept non-coursework related writing, such as cover letters and application essays. Questions regarding writing projects longer than 8 pages should be directed to Cecilie Reid-Joyner at听reidce@bc.edu.