A Stand Against Wikipedia Analysis

Wikipedia: information technology

On January 15th 2001, Jimmy Wales, a financial trader turned internet entrepreneur, and Larry Sanger, a freshly minted philosophy PhD, launched Wikipedia (Simonite, “The Decline of Wikipedia”). Sanger was the one who created its name by morphing “wiki” (a web application which allows people to add, modify or delete content in collaboration with others) and the suffix of “encyclopedia”. The idea was to illustrate the concept behind the website: an online encyclopedia where anyone could start or modify an entry, generating new articles that experts could then finish up. This was the start of a new era in the way people find information and it might not be all for the best.
According to Tom Simonite’s article…show more content…
Scott Jaschik’s “A Stand Against Wikipedia” quotes Don Wyatt, the chair of the history department at Middlebury College in Vermont, who contends, “Even though Wikipedia may have some value, particularly from the value of leading students to citable sources, it is not itself an appropriate source for citation”. Many faculty members feel similarly, arguing that students need to be taught to go for quality information, not just convenience. Wikipedia official, Sandra Ordonez, agrees in part, saying: “Wikipedia is the ideal place to start your research and get a global picture of the topic. However, it is not an authoritative source. In fact, we recommend that students check the facts they find in Wikipedia against other sources. Additionally, it is generally good research practice to cite an original source when writing a paper, or completing an exam. It’s usually not advisable, particularly at the university level, to cite an…show more content…
It has become more convenient to open a search engine than to visit a library or bookstore. With access to a computer and an internet connection, the knowledge of the world is just a click away. There are not many topics that one could not find information on, especially on Wikipedia. Technology changed the way people find the information they are looking for and, unfortunately, it might not be for the best.

Works Cited
Berkman, Fran. "At Age 13, Wikipedia Has Reshaped the Knowledge Industry." Mashable. N.p., 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 16 Jan. 2014.
Jaschik, Scott. "A Stand Against Wikipedia." Inside Higher Ed. N.p., 26 Jan. 2007. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Simonite, Tom. "The Decline of Wikipedia." MIT Technology Review. N.p., 01 Apr. 2008. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
"What's Wrong with Wikipedia?." Harvard Guide to Using Sources. Harvard College Writing Program, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Wilson, Mark. "Professors Should Embrace Wikipedia." Inside Higher Ed. N.p., 22 Oct. 2013. Web. 16 Jan.