Why Should Writers Give A Hoot About OWL's?

Although Online Writing Labs or OWLs are developedThe University of Wisconsin developed a handbook
by various universities throughout the world, theythat any online writer can view at their website. This
provide valuable resources for all types of writers.handbook provides helpful hints on subjects from
Academic Writing to Grammar and Style.
OWLs offer information similar to the tips I wrote
about in my last feature Working With Words: The"The Information Stop" at George Mason University's
Basics...Writing Center presents an itemized list of links to
writing guides about topics like: grammar and
From handouts readable on the web to onlinepunctuation; the writing process; specialized writing;
tutorials, these labs offer a wide range of helpfulspecific writing forms; and specific writing situations.
hints about grammar, punctuation, writing style andGMU's OWL is one of several centers that runs a
more related topics."Grammar Hotline," which allows people to call writing
experts, who can answer almost any question
Be sure to check out my new subtopic ONLINErelated to grammar rules.
WRITING LABS at -
The Writing Center at Tidewater Community College
I chose the first ten based upon the quality andin Virginia, which offers many "self-help" handouts
quantity of information accessible by anyone (notonline, also publishes a print directory and web page
just students at their college) online.with a great list of the names, phone numbers and
URLs of Grammar Hotlines across the country. You
Lynchburg College in Virginia offers an online guide,can locate this list on the college's website. "The
which covers topics like: Drafting a Document;Write Place Catalogue," which is produced by St.
Choosing a Subject; Creative Writing in Non-Fiction;Cloud State University in Minnesota, is perhaps one of
Freewriting; Proofreading Your Paper; Using Outlinesthe most comprehensive OWL guides on the web.
to Organize; and Successful Business Writing.This useful aid covers a vast array of more than 100
Lynchburg's Writing Center also provides onlinespecific aspects within many topics including: Business
quizzes to test your ability to accurately useWriting; Development; Grammar; Online Sources;
modifiers, verbs, commas and similar subjects relatedOrganization and Cohesion; The Process of Writing;
to grammar and punctuation.Punctuation; Resumes and Cover Letters; Sentence
Structure; Style; and Types of Writing. Another
The Writing Center at the University of Toledo inpopular OWL created by Rennselaer Polytechnic
Ohio offers information like: a Checklist To ImproveInstitute provides many handouts on a variety of
And Evaluate Your Writing; Commonly Confusedsubjects like: Citation Styles; APA & MLA Styles;
Words; Literary Terms; Technical Terms; UsefulRevising Prose; Thesis Writing; Definitional
Transitions; Writing A Book Or Film Review; andTechniques; Gender-Fair Language; Styles of Writing;
Writing Coherent Paragraphs.Critiques; Memos; and Presentations.
Numerous handouts featuring tips on grammar,RPI's website also features a lengthy list of links to
mechanics, writing topics, revision, business writing,other online resources for writers. And last but
and research can be accessed at Eastern Illinoiscertainly not least, the OWL at Purdue University is a
University's Writing Center Web.must-see for writers seeking help online. The Purdue
Writing Lab is easy to navigate and seems to supply
Although the University of Toronto's webpage ismore handouts on the web than any other OWL. I
titled "Advice on Academic Writing," some of thecounted more than 300 links to page(s) with
information provided can be helpful to almost anyinformation on topics within main categories like:
writer. It's worth checking out topics like: DevelopingGeneral Writing Concerns; Grammar, Spelling, and
Coherent Paragraphs; Reading and Using Sources;Punctuation; Research and Documenting Sources;
How to Get the Most out of Reading; Research usingBusiness Writing; Writing On and With The Internet;
the Internet; A System for Dealing with New Wordsand Searching The World Wide Web. Purdue's
while Reading; How Not to Plagiarize; Standardextensive website offers much more than writing
Documentation Formats; The Book Review andadvice with features like a list of "Search Engines and
Article Critique; Style and Editing; Using the ComputerDirectories," a collection of "Online (Writing)
to Improve your Writing; and Unbiased Language.Resources" and links to other OWLs.