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Appendix A: Annotate Your Lists of Links
Even novice web authors can offer a list of links as a time-saving service to the Internet community. You can make your list more efficient if you comment briefly on each item. The comments become part of the interface -- they help the user decide whether to click on a particular link, which improves the efficiency of your document.
- Begin by stating your selection criteria.
- For each item, describe and evaluate what your reader will find.
- Describe: summarize the content, keeping your reader's needs in mind.
- Evaluate: provide your personal opinions and subjective responses to the resources you have visited.
- Your comments will help readers decide which sites are worthwhile.
- Is the site thorough?
- How much is original material, and how much is links to other lists of links?
- Is it managed by an expert in the subject?
- Is the site graphics-intensive?
- Does it require special software?
- Beware of link rot -- the decay that cripples a list of links as web sites gradually move or shut down.
- Make it easy for your visitors to report outdated links, and correct them promptly.
- Each time you add a new link, e-mail the webmaster, and ask to be notified when the site changes or moves.
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