Authority

It is helpful to identify authors and hosts of a site to assess their level of expertise, their bias, and their site in the context of their other writing.

• Who is the author, creator, or producer - an individual, a non-profit organization, a government agency, or an academic department?
• Is the author identified? What are the author's qualifications?
• Is biographic information given about the author?
• Is the document written as part of the author's professional duties?
• Has the author published other works?
• What reviews have been published about the author's works?
• Has the site been arrived at through links from a reputable site?
• Does the home page list the author's postal or telephone address?

The Intended Audience

• Who is the audience: scholars and specialists, or a general audience?
• Is the author's audience reflected in the his/her writing style, vocabulary, etc.?

Look for a link "About the Author" on the homepage.