Western Translation Theory

Currency

• When was the information published or posted?
• Has the information been updated or revised?
• Does your topic require up-to-date information or will older sources work or perhaps even be preferable?
• Is there only one date for the entire website or do content pages have dates too?
• If on a website are the links still live or do they lead to dead or missing pages?

Relevance

• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information at an appropriate level for your needs (i.e. not too basic or too advanced)?
• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
• Is the information just summary of other perspectives or does it add its own content?

Authority

• Who is the publisher/author/source/organization?
• What qualifies this author/creator to provide this information?
• What credentials or affiliations does the author/creator have?
• Is there contact information where the publisher or author can be reached? (If a print or database source try doing a web search for the publisher/author to get more information)
• If on a website, what URL does the site use and what does that tell you about the source? (.com .edu .gov .org .net)

Accuracy

• Where does the information come from?
• Is the information supported by evidence?
• Are there any references?
• Is there a bibliography?
• Can you verify the information from another source?
• Are there spelling, grammar, or typographical errors?
• Is the language emotional or appear to be strongly biased?

Purpose

• What is the purpose of the information? Is it designed to entertain, inform, educate, sell, persuade?
• Is the intent of the information clear?
• Is the information fact or opinion?
• Does the point of view appear to be objective and impartial?
• Are the ads clearly separated from the information?
• What type of ads/images are included?