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ENGL 3083 Professional and Technical Writing (BA): Other Online Resources

Evaluating Websites

It's important to remember that publishing on the web is very easy - almost anyone can do it! The problem with that is knowing what's credible (worth your time) and what's not. 

There are five main criteria that I use when evaluating a website:

  • Accuracy
  • Authority
  • Currency
  • Objectivity
  • Coverage

Some of the things you want to look at or for in a website include:

  • the URL (.gov, .mil, .us, .edu are usually pretty credible); 
  • links to information about the author or sponsoring organization; 
  • links to other sites that are credible; 
  • the currency of the page (is it updated regularly?);
  • no broken links.

Ultimately the researcher must be the one to determine whether or not to use information found on a website. Below are a couple of links to websites that provide some excellent guidelines for evaluating resources and websites:

Useful Sites for Technical Writing

Links

Open Access Journals

Associations

Other:

Online College Courses (link below) -- a database of open courseware from the nation’s leading universities. Unlike other platforms, our design allows anyone interested in these courses to create their own course list and track their personal progress. Our site provides students with access to free, high-quality, college-level classes, across many subjects giving them the opportunity to explore different areas of study as well as supplementing their education. 

Online College Courses (see the link below) -- a database of open courseware from the nation’s leading universities. Unlike other platforms, our design allows anyone interested in these courses to create their own course list and track their personal progress. Our site provides students with access to free, high-quality, college-level classes, across many subjects giving them the opportunity to explore different areas of study as well as supplementing their education.

Broken Arrow Librarian

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Tom Rink
Contact:
NSU-BA Library
3100 East New Orleans Street
BALB 134
Broken Arrow, OK 74014
(918) 449-6457 (office)
(918) 449-6454 (fax)
rink@nsuok.edu
Website Skype Contact: tom.rink

John Vaughan Library Librarian

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SophiaBeverley Threatt
Contact:
Librarian/Instructor of Library Services
John Vaughan Library 213a
Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, OK 74464

threatt@nsuok.edu
918.444.3267