Skip to main content
Penn State Mont Alto
Report a Concern Give Now Visit Apply Now
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • We Are Penn State
  • Information For
    • Alumni
    • Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Mont Alto LaunchBox (Entrepreneurs)
    • Visitors and Community Members
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Mont Alto
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Report a Concern Give Now Visit Apply Now
  • We Are Penn State
  • Academics
    • Associate Degrees
    • Bachelor Degrees
  • Admissions
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Student Life
  • Athletics
  • Continuing Education

Find Information For:

  • Alumni
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Mont Alto LaunchBox (Entrepreneurs)
  • Visitors and Community Members

Helpful Links

  • Penn State Mont Alto Campus Directory

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • x (formally twitter)
  • flickr
  • youtube
  • instagram
  1. Home
Mont Alto OWL

Mont Alto OWL

What is the Mont Alto OWL?

  • OWL is an abbreviation for Online Writing Lab.
  • The OWL provides asynchronous, written feedback from an ASC professional writing consultant.
  • Papers will not be edited for you, but professional feedback will be given to help make your writing the best it can be.

Reasons Students Use the OWL
Students have specific questions about some aspect(s) of their paper and would like feedback.

  • Students feel confident taking written feedback and revising their writing independently.
  • Students have worked on a paper with an OWL reviewer, have revised, and want the same person to review their submission.
  • A student's paper is too long to cover in a single writing center consultation.
  • Writing consultant isn’t available when the student needs assistance.

How to use the OWL

1.Start your writing assignment: 

  • Writing assignments will be accepted at all stages. However, the more you have completed, the more feedback we can give.

2. Complete the Microsoft Form

  • OWL Microsoft Form - Summer 2025
  • Answer all the questions based on the paper you need assistance with.
  • Submit the paper in Microsoft Word form. NOT A PDF. The Word document allows the writing consultant to leave notes in the margin of the paper.

3. Submit Your Paper

  • Please submit as many details about the requirements of the assignment as possible.
  • Specify areas where feedback is needed – organization, citations, grammar, etc.

4. Wait for Feedback

  • Your paper will be reviewed in 24-48 hours.
  • When the review is complete, the paper will be emailed back to you at your PSU email address with the OWL reviewer's comments in the margin of the paper. Open this document to see the OWL reviewer's comments.

5. Use the Feedback to Revise

  • The first line of the comment will either be a suggested revision or an instruction/suggestion.
  • Sometimes, an explanation will appear in parentheses underneath the suggested revision.
  • If wording is awkward or unclear, the OWL instructor may suggest an alternative.


Common Questions

Q: How often can I submit papers to the OWL?
Answer: There is no limit how often or how many papers you may submit to the OWL per semester; however, you can only submit one at a time.

Q: Can I submit the same paper again after revising it?
Answer: Yes, you may! We want to help your writing be the best it can be, and we know this involves multiple drafts.

Q:Are there page length limitations?
Answer: Papers submitted may not exceed 10 pages. If the paper exceeds 10 pages, only the first 10 pages will be reviewed. 

Q: I can't see the reviewer’s comments in the margin of my paper.
Answer: Check to be sure you have downloaded Microsoft Office 365. If you have already downloaded it but still can't see the comments, email the OWL reviewer directly.

Timeline for Return

You will get your paper back within 48 business hours. Please follow this timeline when submitting a paper: 

Monday by 4:00 p.m. = returned by Wednesday
Tuesday by 4:00 p.m. = returned by Thursday
Wednesday by 4:00 p.m. = returned by Friday
Thursday by 4:00 p.m. = returned by Monday
Friday or Saturday = We are closed on the weekend, you should get a response by the end of the day on Tuesday. 

Give yourself time to make changes to your paper after you get our feedback. If you send us your paper two days before it is due, you may not have enough time to make the revisions.

The ASC Space

  • Academic Support Center (ASC)
  • Content Tutoring
    • STEM Tutoring
  • Writing Center
    • Mont Alto OWL
  • Academic Advocacy
    • Academic Specialist
    • Peer Academic Advocates
  • Study Groups
  • Workshops and Events
    • Academic Institute
    • Workshops
    • Event Schedule
  • Additional Student Resources
    • Outstanding Peer Assistant Award
    • ASC Appointment Policies and Guidelines
    • Student Disability Resources
    • Exam Proctoring
Pennsylvania map showing Penn State's campuses with Penn State Mont Alto highlighted

Penn State Mont Alto

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • x (formally twitter)
  • flickr
  • youtube
  • instagram
Give Now Visit Apply Now
  • Academics
    • Associate Degrees at Mont Alto
    • Bachelor's Degrees at Mont Alto
  • Admissions
    • Apply to Penn State
    • For Transfer Students
  • Financial Aid
    • Tuition Calculator
    • FAFSA
    • Affordability
    • Types of Student Aid
    • Penn State Discover Award
  • Campus Directory
    • All Faculty & Staff
    • Department Phone & Fax Numbers
Penn State University
1 Campus Drive, Mont Alto, Pennsylvania 17237 717-749-6000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2025
  • We Are Penn State