1. Web pages are usually divided into three parts.

Think of your pages as having a head, a body, and a footer. The HTML specification defines a head and a body. The footer is an informal designation. It's important to use the "head" and "body" tags, since some search tools report which section of the document a match occurs in.

In the head a viewer typically sees only a document title, usually in the top bar of the browser window. Other important information about the document can also be included but may not show within the browser window.

The document name may be repeated in the beginning of the body along with an identifying graphic (often called a "banner graphic") and other introductory elements. This material is often treated visually as a separate section, and is sometimes referred to, confusingly, as a "head" or "header." The rest of the body contains the "flow" of the document, whether that be text with section headings, graphics, tables, or other elements. The footer contains the fine print, and often additional navigation aids.

Just remember that your page doesn't have to LOOK like it's divided into three parts. Some effective pages treat the head and body as one design space.

2. Things you can't do without.

Viewers may arrive at your page from anywhere on the Web. You can't assume they have any context for your document, so it must be able to stand alone, online or when printed out. That means every page should include:

• The name of the creating entity
• A link to the University or organization home page (can be an icon)
• Date of last revision
• The URL (Web address of the page)
• E-mail address or other contact information

Pages carrying official Penn information must also bear Penn's official Web Stamp, which is linked to a page that includes copyright notices and privacy information.

Optional items that should also be considered include:

• Links to School or other related local Web pages
• Statement of copyright(s) not covered by the Penn Web Stamp
• Individual authors' name(s)
• Postal address
• Telephone number

If you include everything, make all the link anchors textual, and put it all in the footer, the bottom of your page will be very crowded. Look for ways to make navigational aids apparent and keep the boilerplate unobtrusive.