While this page did load fairly fast, what loaded was not impressive. The only graphics on the main page were unlabeled buttons that looked as if they were supposed to line up with the links across from them. The only other graphic that should have loaded had a broken link. All of the subsequent pages had different backgrounds, detracting from a sense of continuity. In addition, there was not a lot of information to be found.
This was not what I would consider to be an online writing lab. The layout was not easy to follow, the information not presented in a user-friendly format, and it did not appear very professional.
Format for submission: There is no form to complete or any specific instructions provided. There is a mailbox icon to click on which sets up an email screen to enter your message. To submit the paper, it is necessary to open your file in a word processing program and then cut and paste it into the document. If you already know how to do this, then the accessibility options are no problem. If you're not comfortable with this procedure, this screen would be of little help. The directions simply ask whether you are submitting a file in DOS, Mac, or Windows text.
Difficulty level: Somewhat tricky, depending on your familiarity with cutting and pasting files into email. Otherwise, the site is not difficult to use.
Amount of feedback received: The Writing Center's site says: "email us your paper and we'll do as good of job tutoring you in cyberspace as we'd do in person!" (This is an exact quote, grammar and all.) The response I received relating to the content of the paper consisted of just three sentences.
Quality of feedback: The cybertutor wrote, "Overall, the grammar and syntax are pretty good. I didn't see any glaring errors. A few times, I feel you almost lapsed into a summary of the play, but overall I think you did a nice job of making your point and supporting it." Although this feedback is personalized, it does not point out the major flaws in the paper. The problem of run-on sentences is not mentioned, and the lack of paragraph structure towards the end of the paper is not addressed. The message stated, however, that although specific corrections could not be given, "we will be able to do so in the future."
Staff qualifications: USC's site offers links to their tutors' homepages. The staff member who reviewed my paper is the writing center coordinator and has a B.A. degree.
Additional features: The response I received was a statement that there had been a delay in processing my request due to "working the bugs out of our system." It went on to say, "We are getting a new system in the middle of January [1998] that will enable us to respond quicker and in more detail to a student's paper."
Overall Rating: 3 Hoots