College Writing II

• Is the page dated? 
• If so, when was the last update? 
• How current are the links? 
• Have some expired or moved?

Why is this important?
When dates are not provided, you cannot tell how "stale" the information is and whether newer information exists that's not covered on the website.
Bad links are an indication of a site that might be abandoned or neglected.
Even if a date is provided, it may have various meanings. For example,

• It may indicate when the material was first written.
• It may indicate when the material was first placed on the Web.
• It may indicate when the material was last revised.

•Is the author of the information named?
​•What are the author's qualifications and expertise? 
•Who sponsors the website?
•Is the sponsor of the page reputable? How reputable?
•Is there a link to information about the author and/or the sponsor and/or a way to contact them?
•Are there links to any other organization(s) that supplies information to the website?
•If the page includes neither a signature nor indicates a sponsor, is there a way to determine its origin?

Why is this important?

• Anyone can publish anything on the web.
• Qualifications can bolster confidence in the information presented.
• Authorship and/or sponsorship can be an indication of bias or limited viewpoint.

• Does the information show a minimum of bias? 
• Is the page designed to sway opinion? 
• Is the position clearly stated? 
• Who sponsors the website?
• Is the sponsor of the page reputable? 
• How reputable? 
• Is there advertising on the page, and how much? Is it related to the information provided?

Why is this important?

Frequently the goals of the sponsors/authors are not clearly stated. 
Often the web serves as a virtual soapbox expressing opinions not based in verifiable information.
The information provided by a commercial site can be selective, with the intention to sell a product or idea, rather than provide balanced information, possibly leaving out important information. Sponsorship can be an indication of bias or limited viewpoint.

• Is there a way to verify that the information is reliable and error-free? 
• Is there an editor or someone who verifies/checks the information?
• Are sources of information cited and accurate?

Why is this important?

Information about the expertise of the author can lend credibility to the accuracy of the information.
Being able to go to cited sources also lends credibility to the accuracy of the information.
Even if there are no cited references, being able to verify information from a outside sources (journal articles, etc.) lends credibility to the accuracy of the information.
Remember! Unlike many traditional print resources, web resources rarely have editors, fact-checkers, peer reviewers.