W8.1 April 22 (Mon)—ZHANG MINGSHUO

 1. Summary:

Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopedia, is a primary source of knowledge and information for many people. Its uniqueness lies in its openness and collaborative nature. This article begins by discussing Wikipedia's sourcing and verifiability policies, emphasizing the importance of basing articles on reliable, published sources that reflect both majority and significant minority viewpoints. Key points about Wikipedia’s sourcing policy include:

· Definition of a source: Articles must rely on reliable, independent sources with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy.

· Definition of published: Examples include books, articles, authors, and publishers, which influence the source's reliability.

· Context matters: The reliability of a source depends on the specific context and must be carefully evaluated.

· Specific facts: The same source can be reliable for one fact but unreliable for another.

· Age matters: Newer sources are prioritized in scientific and academic fields to ensure accuracy.

The article also outlines Wikipedia's guidelines and caveats for various sources:

· Scholarship: Preference for secondary sources, reliable scholarship, and peer-reviewed journals, while noting potential issues with isolated studies and predatory journals.

· News organizations: Reliable news reports are preferred, but lesser-known media and opinion pieces should be used cautiously.

· News aggregators: Original sources are prioritized over aggregator links.

· Vendor and e-commerce sources: Generally avoided unless used to validate specific content.

· Biased or opinionated sources: Can be reliable in some cases, but editors must carefully consider their compliance with reliable source standards.

The third part of the article highlights unreliable information sources, such as questionable sources, sponsored content, self-published materials, and user-generated content, which typically lack editorial oversight and independent review.

The fourth part addresses reliability in specific contexts, including:

· Biographies of living persons

· Primary, secondary, and tertiary sources

· Medical claims

· Fringe theories

· Quotations

· Academic consensus

· Usage by other sources

· Statements of opinion

· Breaking news

· Headlines

The final section discusses deprecated sources, which Wikipedia explicitly discourages due to serious factual accuracy issues. Editors should avoid using these sources for factual claims, relying instead on independent secondary sources.

Overall, Wikipedia's stringent sourcing policy ensures the accuracy, credibility, and authority of its content, making it one of the most popular online encyclopedias in the world. By adhering strictly to these rules, Wikipedia provides high-quality knowledge and information, promoting knowledge sharing and dissemination.

2. Interesting Point:

Wikipedia, as an electronic publication, can update its content quickly but does not need to report all event details instantly. Instead, it takes a cautious approach, advising editors to wait a day or two to gather sufficient information and verify the accuracy of events.

3. Discussion:

How are Wikipedia's criteria for reliable sources developed and updated? Have these criteria evolved over time?

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