Online Writing Assistance Center (OWAC)

Important Note:

As of January, 2009 Online Tutoring has been suspended indefinitely due to budget liminations. The information below if for reference only. Drop-in tutoring is available at the Writing and Reading Center (WRC).

What We Do

The De Anza Online Writing Assistance Center (OWAC) provides online help for De Anza students enrolled in targeted courses. Students post requests and essays to the OWAC, and tutors respond with suggestions for improving content, organization, and grammar, and links to online explanations and exercises for the most important areas where improvement is needed. Our philosophy: "Help the student, not the paper." Learn more about How Tutors Telp with Grammar and Proofreading.

Who We Serve

We will try to help any De Anza student who needs help writing, but we give priority to students who are enrolled in distance learning and evening classes. ESL students and students in developmental level courses receive priority for on-campus tutoring.

How To Get Help

1. First, request online tutoring by completing a Tutee Application.
2. The Tutor Supervisor will screen your application to see if online tutoring seems appropriate for you. If so, you will receive an e-mail directing you to our Online Writing Assistance Center. This e-mail will contain your user id and password.
3. Once you log in, read the guidelines for posting, then click on "Essay Center" then "Create a new thread" and post your essay.
   
   What you post, and the tutor's response, will be visible on the Forum to all the tutors and students who log in to the OWAC.
   
   When you submit your essay, please:
   1. Tell us the exact assignment (use your instructors' words!)
   2. Tell us when the essay is due
   3. Specify what kind of help you need
   4. In the subject line of your post, include the title of your essay and your name
      
      Be aware that tutors will not proofread or edit your essays for you, though they will provide guidance to help you improve the essay yourself.
4. You should receive an email notifying you of a tutor's response within 48 hours, depending on tutor availability, excluding weekends and holidays. Please plan ahead so you can revise your draft before the due date!
5. To see the tutor's response, log in to http://onlinetutoring.deanza.edu and go to the Essay Center again.

If you do not receive a response from a tutor, please e-mail Sandy Blackborow at blackborowsandra@fhda.edu.

Additional information for De Anza tutors, faculty, and staff members can be found on the Online Tutors Information webpage. Also visit the De Anza Writing & Reading Center website.