A presentation by Michelle Abeyta, Excelsior College's learning services coordinator, on bringing writing instruction to life through an Open Source Online Writing Lab (OWL).

1. Bringing Writing
Instruction to Life in
an Open Source OWL
Excelsior College
OWL Team

2.  Comprehensive support in 8 major areas of writing
 Each area provides:
 Access to writing content
 Student videos and/or video casts
 Sample essays from across the disciplines
 Interactive activities and authentic learning
exercises
What is the OWL?

3. What is the OWL?
 User-friendly site with:
 Student-centered content
 Clear instructions
 Scaffoldded, interactive approach with
multimedia in each lesson
 Supports beginning and advanced writers
 HTML 5 responsive design
 Replaces textbooks and/or supports the
flipped classroom

4. 10 Areas of the OWL
Locating Information &
Writing With Sources
Writing Process Grammar Essentials Essay Zone
Digital Writing Paper Capers Avoiding Plagiarism ESL-WOW Educator Resources
Argument & Critical
Thinking

5. Locating Information & Writing with
Sources
 Presents entire process of writing a
college-level research paper
 Visually appealing, student friendly
support for MLA, APA, and Chicago
Styles
 Videos demonstrating each step in
the research and writing process
 Writing process video game

6. Check It Out: Locating Information &
Writing with Sources
 Research Paper Timeline:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/573
 Thesis or Focus – See it in Practice:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/32
 APA Side by Side: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/767
 MLA Works Cited: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/396

7. Paper Capers
 Designed to reinforce the research writing
process
 Allows students to become the teacher or
employer
 Reinforces important lessons from the OWL
 Helps students build a strong writer’s vocabulary
 YouTube Overview Videos:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq4lcTPuI5M
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fYWzwUAFKA

8. Writing Process
 Focuses on the writing process without the research
component
 Highlights the importance of flexibility
in writing
 There is no “right” way to write!
 Features real students talking about
writing

9. Check It Out: Writing Process
 Writing Process Activity:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/764
 Voice – See it in Practice:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/184
 Rough Drafting: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/766
 Writing Process in Review:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/151

10. Argument & Critical Thinking
 Step-by-step process of writing a strong argumentative essay
 Features video series on process and
analysis
 Includes:
 Interactive sample papers
 Colorful comics
 Engaging fallacy interactions

11. Check It Out: Argument & Critical Thinking
 Audience Analysis: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/482
 Offending an Audience:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/483
 Augumentative Thesis – Analyze This:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/502
 Logical Fallacies – Hasty Generalization:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/543
 Putting It All Together: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/569

12. Grammar Essentials
 Includes content for:
 Punctuation
 Parts of Speech
 20 Most Common Errors
 Content is written with a
zombie and pop culture twist
 Opportunities to practice skills in authentic ways
 Tips from the Professors interactions

13. Check It Out: Grammar Essentials
 Apostrophes – Tips from the Professor:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/395
 Try It Out – Commas I:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/quizzes/view/10
 Try It Out – Nouns: http://owl.excelsior.edu/quizzes/view/12
 Types of Adjectives: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/350
 Unnecessary Comma: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/371
 Putting It All Together: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/386

14. Essay Zone
 Provides instruction in 9 major
rhetorical styles
 Makes connections between
development styles and writing for
specific disciplines
 Contains 20 sample papers from
various academic areas

15. Check It Out: Essay Zone
 Modes of Persuasion: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/132
 Cause & Effect – What Does It Look Like?:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/754
 Definition – See It in Practice:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/439
 Process – See It Across the Disciplines:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/260

16. Digital Writing
 Offers instruction and examples for
21st century writing including:
 Discussion board posts
 Tweets
 Websites
 Presentations
 Photo/Video essays
 Blogs
 Provides step-by-step videos, samples, and other interactions

17. Check It Out: Digital Writing
 Discussion Board in Review:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/270
 Blog Writing Process: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/274
 Blog Considerations: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/768
 PowerPoints: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/277
 Putting It All Together – Digital Writing:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/quizzes/view/27

18. Avoiding Plagiarism
 Defines plagiarism
 Explains consequences
and how to avoid plagiarism!
 Provides interactions and
quizzes to reinforce
responsible documentation

19. Check It Out: Avoiding Plagiarism
 Plagiarism Pre-test: http://owl.excelsior.edu/quizzes/view/40
 Video – Student Committed Plagiarism:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/404
 Types of Plagiarism: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/760
 Common Knowledge: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/417

20. ESL-WOW
 Specialized for ESL students
 Step-by-step support through the
writing process
 Animated video clips of teacher
student interaction for each step
 Check it out:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/581/

21. Educator Resources
 Is a detailed guide for instructors using
the OWL
 Provides a list of resources found within
the OWL
 Offers ways to integrate the OWL into
traditional and flipped classrooms, as well as online and hybrid class
environments
 Provides suggestions for sample activities for each section of the
OWL
 Check it out: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/770/

22. OWL Scavenger Hunt
1. What section/topic of the OWL introduces our super hero and villain?
What are their names?
2. How many types of documentation styles are provided in the OWL?
What are they?
3. How many items does the OWL suggest learners consider when
writing a blog?
4. Which type of plagiarism from those provided includes an example
about a student just returning from spring break in Jamaica?
5. Where in the OWL can you find a plethora of links to other
writing resources?

23. OWL Scavenger Hunt Answers
1. What section/topic of the OWL introduces our super hero and villain?
(Argument & Critical Thinking) What are their names? (Captain Logic and Evil
Dr. Fallacy)
2. How many types of documentation styles are provided in the OWL? (3) What are
they? (APA, MLA, and Chicago)
3. How many items does the OWL suggest learners consider when writing a blog?
(7 or 9)
4. Which type of plagiarism from those provided includes an example about a
student just returning from spring break in Jamaica? (Paying Another
to Write Your Paper)
5. Where in the OWL can you find a plethora of links to other writing
resources? (Additional Writing Resources)

24. Grant Awards
 FIPSE Award (2010-2012)
 Developed the ESL-WOW & Avoiding Plagiarism
 Kresge Foundation (2012-2014)
 Enhanced and improved Locating Information & Writing with Sources,
Grammar Essential, The Writing Process, The Essay Zone and Digital Writing
 HESC Award (2014-2015)
 Developed Argument & Critical Thinking and the Educator Resources
Handbook
 FIPSE – First in the World Grant (2015-2017)
 Develop Reading Comprehension

25. Pilot Study
 National study in the Fall of 2013
 Partnered with six community colleges
 Common curriculum for control and treatment
groups
 Measured:
 Effectiveness of the OWL
 Perceptions of writing skills
 Insights on the OWL

26. Study Findings
 Students in treatment groups:
 Scored ½ letter grade higher on final grades
 Greater improvements in writing perceptions
 Showed improvement in key categories of the
essay rubric:
 Measures the purpose for writing and use of
sources and evidence

27. Plans for the Future
 Reading Comprehension
 Recent grant award
 Technical and Professional Writing
 Career Writing
 Writing in the Disciplines
 More interaction & gaming
simulation

28. What Does This Mean?
 Completely FREE public resource that
can be used:
 To help writers transition to college writing for online and face-to-face
courses
 As a refresher for returning students
 As foundational support for writing in the disciplines and workplace
writing
 As curriculum to supplement content or replace costly textbooks
 Accessed from anywhere, anytime, any device!

29. Want More Information?
 Spend time exploring the OWL at
owl.excelsior.edu
 Contact the Excelsior College OWL Team
with questions or comments at
owl@excelsior.edu