The Online Writing Desk

Welcome to the Online Writing Desk!

CGCC's Online Writing Desk (OWD) offers tutoring help to students who have questions about writing. It is NOT an editing service, so please do not ask us to look over a final essay. Instead, let us know the specific issue or skill that you need to work on and we will be happy to help you.
 
Topics could include things like:
 
  • How to avoid run-on sentences
  • How to transition between paragraphs
  • Paragraph organization and unity
  • Improving one’s introduction or conclusion
  • Integrating quotations
  • Using concise language
  • Parallel structures in lists
  • Using more specific language
  • Strengthening a thesis
  • etc.

Please email your question or concern to writingdesk@cgcc.edu. Be sure to include the following:

  • instructor and course, as well as the assignment you are working on
  • Your work, submitted as a Google doc. Set the sharing to "Anyone with the link" and "editor"
  • You are welcome to include a few paragraphs, a page or two, or the whole essay, but remember that we are NOT here to proofread or edit final essays.

An instructor will read your submission and get back to you via email within 24-36 hours, including weekends. If you have any questions about the process or do not receive a response within 48 hours, please contact Jenn Kamrar: jkamrar@cgcc.edu.

Thank you!

Writing Formats

The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University is an excellent free resource for learning the formats students are asked to use for academic essays and papers. The three most common formats are MLA (used in the Humanities), Chicago (used in the Social Sciences), and APA (used in Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science). Your instructor will tell you if they prefer a specific format. Hint: it's on your syllabus!