With the vast number of ESL websites available, I ultimately decided to review one close to my home in Indiana: The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University. I had heard about it years ago, but never used it, let alone evaluated it. This review focuses on OWL as a potential resource for ESL Teachers and Students at Purdue and beyond.
Software/Website Title: The Online Writing Lab at Purdue (OWL)
Website URL: https://owl.english.purdue.edu
Grade/Age/Proficiency Level: Primarily adults, but one of the many categories deals with Grades 7-12 Instructors and Students. The ESL section seems to target students who are at least at the intermediate level of English speaking, reading, and writing.
Language and Content:
1. Mission: "The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, Members of the Community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-classroom instruction." (home page)
The purpose of the OWL section is to "offer over 200 free resources including: Writing and Teaching Writing, Research, Grammar and Mechanics, Style Guides, ESL, and Job Search and Professional Writing."
The purpose of the ESL Instructors and Students section is "to provide resources for ESL instructors and students."
2. OWL is the online component of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Content related to ESL studies is divided into one category for ESL Instructors/Tutors, and another for ESL Students. Multiple sub-topics are found under each category. A few noteworthy links are: Tips for Writing in North American Colleges, Plagiarism and ESL Writers, and U.S. Higher Education: A Cultural Introduction.
3. The site links to many external documents: guides to both MLA and APA citation style, a guide to avoiding plagiarism, a guide to developing a resume, a special section for 7-12th grade instructors, Adult Basic Ed. (GED, ESL, etc.). Within the ESL Section are handouts and worksheets on numerous topics: Grammar and Mechanics, Plagiarism and Academic Integrity, Practice and Exercises, Workplace Writing. Five areas stood out as being effective tools for ESL writing students: Tips and Terms for International Student's Job Search, Writing for a North American Business Audience, and Writing and Research Help by Email. Impressive!
4. The entire site is useful to anyone who writes or teaches writing, hence it's vast scope. The ESL Section provides a good variety of resources, from instructional materials, to advice and suggestions, links to professional organizations, and additional ESL resources. Anyone wishing to learn, improve, or enhance writing skills in English would find this site interesting. International college/University students in the U.S. who are trying to improve their English will be interested in this site.
5. The site provides helpful instructional materials to both ESL teachers and students, all of whom have differing goals. If a student wishes to improve his/her grammar, find practice exercises and handouts on Prepositions, Irregular Verbs, or How to Use Adjectives and Adverbs, among other topics, they may do so. The site provides writing guidance for ESL learners on campus as well as off-campus, and directs them to related services.
6. There are links to ESL exercises that can be used for practice in classrooms or as supplemental assignments. As far as assessment and feedback go, the only online opportunity for such is through the OWL Mail Box (email) on the home page. Users are invited to submit "brief, writing-related questions to the Mail Tutors." Aside from that, those located on or near the West Lafayette campus may receive in-person assistance in the Writing Lab or satellite locations.
7. The website layout and graphics are visually interesting and the navigation is easy. Each page is fairly concise; not too cluttered with information, as many sites tend to be. The site map and keyword Search Box assist with navigation.
8. While a bit overwhelming, the OWL website is an excellent resource. The only criticism I have is that it seems to be edited only annually (last update was Sept. 4, 2014), and the most recent entries in a few of the sub-sections were from 2012. Yet much of the information on the site is, in a word, timeless, so I'll not put too much stock in everything having to be au courant. There are many features that are super: a) a site map, b) access to an RSS feed of Purdue News, c) a link to Purdue OWL Podcasts on "Boilercast," d) a link to Purdue OWL Vidcasts, and e) contact information. Another nice surprise is the presence of OWL@Purdue on YouTube! I watched a few (Welcome to the OWL, Fluency in English, and Academic Writing in the U.S. (conventions, linear structure). The ESL section of the OWL website tends to be geared to the needs of Purdue students, as one might expect, but provides plenty of information for "outsiders" as well. At one time, the site included a "Grammar Gang" blog, but it has "gone on holiday" as of Sept. 2014, with plans to return in the future.
9. The only improvement I can suggest would be to update the site more frequently.
