Wikipedia+Project


 * Analyzing Web Content – A Wikipedia Lesson **

Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia entirely created by volunteer writers and editors, offers a new method for information sharing through the Internet. This method empowers individuals to create and share information in ways that were previously impossible. However, this format also opens the door for abuse and errors if individuals choose to misuse these tools. As a result, many people are asking whether Wikipedia really is a good source for research.

We are going to go through a series of steps to make some judgments about the accuracy of Wikipedia information in this project. Here are the steps:


 * 1) Choose some sort of academic topic to search on Wikipedia. This could be the Battle of Gettysburg, horses, dolphins, Saturn, or any other academic topic of your choice (must be approved by Mr. Black).
 * 2) Go to Wikipedia to look up the topic you selected. Read through the article.
 * 3) Nearly every Wikipedia article looks like it has good information, but does it? Since there is no documentation for the facts that are presented, it is difficult to know for sure. Therefore, your next step is to create a list of ten facts found in your article. Select ten facts that are not common knowledge – facts that you would only know to be true if you did additional research. List these facts in a Word document.
 * 4) Fact-check each of the ten facts you have selected with other online or print resources. In your Word document, state whether the Wikipedia fact is true or false, and list the source you used, along with page number, edition, etc…(similar to a bibliographic entry) for your research.
 * 5) Once we you have done your fact-checking, edit your Wikipedia article. Please make sure that you add or edit at least one item to your article, and in your Word document, share the details that you added or changed.
 * 6) To conclude the project, answer the following questions in complete sentences and proper form in your Word document.
 * 7) Based on your experiences in this project, do you believe that Wikipedia is an accurate source for research information? Why or why not? Give several specific details to support your opinion.
 * 8) With so many different resources available in libraries, on the Internet, etc., list and describe several steps that you think should be a part of good research techniques when working on a project.
 * 9) Print out your entire report from your Word document and turn it in to Mr. Black.