Online Writing Center

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go. ... Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way. — EL Doctorow

Nothing is more satisfying than to write a good sentence. It is no fun to write lumpishly, dully, in prose the reader must plod through like wet sand. But it is a pleasure to achieve, if one can, a clear running prose that is simple yet full of surprises. This does not just happen. It requires skill, hard work, a good ear, and continued practice. — Barbara Tuchman   

If you have arrived at this page, then you have joined the company of many who have submitted drafts of their writing to be critiqued. 

The OWC offers everyone in our community another mechanism for offering constructive feedback.  With that in mind, please do not submit drafts that are due tomorrow.  Leave four or five days for the critiquing, which will help you revise your essays.  We will try to return any draft we receive within this time frame.

To submit a draft, follow these procedures:

• Read over your own draft.  At the top of the first page explain your concerns and problems.  Make sure your name is on the first page of the draft, and follow the rules and standards for written work.  Please indicate the teacher of the class for which you are writing.

• Submit the draft to the In-box folder named Writing Workshop on the OWC web page.  The address is: \\redhot\Public\UpperSchool\Writing Workshop. 

• Tutors will review and critique the draft and return it to you via email.  Find the highlighted comments on the side margins of each page.  At the end of the draft there should be a brief narrative comment on the entire piece of writing. 

• A copy of the draft with comments will be sent to your teacher. 

  This writing must be your own work and will remain your own work throughout the critiquing process.  Student tutors will offer constructive suggestions and comments, but will not actually change words or sentences, nor will they correct spelling and grammar on the draft.  Their suggestions will be come in the highlighted places on the draft. 

  As the writer, you have the right and responsibility to respond to the comments as you consider most effective.  You are the ultimate judge of the final product, and you will submit what you believe to be your best work.

  The student tutor will send a copy of the essay and comments, as well as a brief narrative comment on the process to the teacher you have indicated. 

  All student tutoring is monitored.  Please contact the Online Writing Center's director, Rodney Rice (ricer@rpcs.org) concerning any problems you experience using the Writing Lab.