Part 2A: Researching your Topic
As mentioned in the project overview, scholarly writing demonstrates that the opinion given by a student is supported by information from relevant and credible sources. In an informed opinion paper, the informed aspect is the use of evidence to support your arguments (Oasis Writing Center, 2023). Learning how to identify credible evidence and then incorporate that evidence into your writing is a necessary skill in scholarly writing.
Students today have access to information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on the internet. There are significant benefits to conducting research on the internet, including easy access to current resources, information sharing, and free access to online journals and other resources. The access we have to this wealth of knowledge also prepares students for the modern workforce (Apuke & Iyendo, 2018).
However, not all information on the internet is of equal value. Much of what you encounter on the internet is not credible or scholarly. It is important to evaluate a website before you cite it as evidence supporting your opinion.
OCCC’s library provides information and guidelines on how to evaluate a website. Click on the link below to review the guidelines.
https://libguides.occc.edu/research/website
Assignment Instructions:
Locate two (2) websites to utilize in your paper (in addition to your textbook). You are looking for articles or informative websites with facts or research that will help you answer your question and support your opinion. You will more than likely need to review several websites before locating a website that will apply to your chosen topic.
Review each potential website using the Evaluating Website Checklist until you identify two (2) credible websites to use in your paper. For each website you will summarize the main idea; identify the facts or research that support or oppose your opinion about the topic; and summarize the relevant information you plan to use in your paper.
You will more than likely need to review several websites before locating a website that will be applicable and credible to use in your paper. Plan on spending extra time to complete this assignment.
Student Response:
1. Locate two (2) websites supporting your opinion.
2. Complete the Evaluating Websites Checklist worksheet for each website.
3. Copy and paste your responses into Moodle in the assignment.
4. After your assignment is graded, log back in to review any feedback left by the professor.
Evaluating Websites Grading Rubric:
CRITERION
BEGINNING
DEVELOPING
ACCOMPLISHED
Researching Your Topic:
Website Review
None or only one website URL is provided.
Evaluating Website Credibility Checklist not completed.
The article or informative website chosen does not fit the criteria of a good website.
The main point of the article or informative website not identified.
Supporting facts or research missing.
Article or informative website’s relation to the chosen topic lacks clarity.
Two website URLs provided.
Evaluating Website Credibility Checklist completed.
Article or informative website chosen fits criteria for a credible website, but one or more connections to the topic was missing.
Main point of each article or informative website identified but lacked clarity.
Supporting facts or research vague or missing details.
Sources chosen did not directly lend themselves to the topic chosen.
Two website URLs provided.
Evaluating Website Credibility Checklist completed for both websites.
Both article or informative websites chosen fit criteria for a credible website.
Main point of each article or informative website clearly stated.
Supporting facts and research identified and fully explained for both sources.
Both sources clearly aligned with chosen topic.
References
References
Apuke, O. D., & Iyendo, T. O. (2018). University students’ usage of the internet resources for research and learning: forms of access and perceptions of utility. Heliyon, 4(12), e01052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e01052
King, L.A. (2023). The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View. (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Oasis Writing Center. (2023). Scholarly writing: Overview. Walden University. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarly#:~:text=Scholarly%20writing%20includes%20careful%20citation,are%20supported%20by%20relevant%20sources.
Please use this link and answer the question above https://libguides.occc.edu/research/website
