About Online Tutoring

The Arch W. Shaw Foundation Writing Center has two online writing tutoring services: Zoom and Submit A Paper. Both online resources have advantages and disadvantages.

Schedule a ZOOM Session   SUBMIT A PAPER   Start my ZOOM Appointment

Zoom

Zoom is the free telecommunications software we use at Missouri State University to hold virtual meetings. It's free and available on any device. Schedule a Zoom appointment.

Advantages
  • Students can use Zoom anywhere with internet access.
  • Students do not have to be on campus to contact a Writing Tutor.
  • Students can send documents and discuss feedback with a Writing Tutor.
  • Zoom allows for a more personal and in-depth tutoring session.
  • Zoom allows for real time interactions between students and Writing Tutors.
Disadvantages
  • Zoom sessions are by appointment only and available only when the Writing Center is open.
  • Students must have good internet access to contact Writing Tutors.
  • Writing Tutors may not have a long time to think about their replies.

Submit a Paper

Another option for virtual writing tutoring is submitting documents for feedback. Students provide information to the Writing Tutor, and the Writing Tutor will send feedback to the student's MissouriState.edu email account.

Advantages
  • Students can send papers any time of the day and from anywhere.
  • It is a relatively anonymous setting without distractions.
  • Writing Tutors have more time to think over their response and provide links to additional resources.
  • Students can print the Writing Tutor's remarks and study them as often as needed.
  • Students can learn from the Writing Tutor's remarks in a setting of their choice.
  • Students get experience reading feedback about their writing in writing.
Disadvantages
  • The immediacy of face-to-face writing tutoring is gone.
  • Writing Tutors may not have the ability to give effective feedback if students don't clearly explain the assignment or what kind of feedback they'd like from the tutor.
  • Students might have problems applying the Writing Tutor's suggestions when they revise.
  • Some errors might be difficult for Writing Tutors and students to handle in an online session.
  • On the whole, online writing tutoring is better for global issues, such as essay structure and essay development, while face-to-face writing tutoring might still be better for line edit revisions.