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WRT 101S - Desert Vista -Evaluating Sources: Wikipedia: Good or Bad?

Pros and Cons

 

CONS to using Wikipedia

  • Your instructor may ask you not to use Wikipedia
  • Content can be edited by anyone at any time for any reason
  • Most of the information has not been verfied by experts and can't be considered credible or reliable
  • Like all web information, can be quickly outdated

PROS to using Wikipedia

  • Can help you get started with a general idea of what a topic is about
  • Nicely-organized and easy-to-use pages
  • Cross-referenced to related information
  • Wide range of information, much of which is becoming more reliable

 

As we can see from the pros and cons list, while you do not want to use Wikipedia.org websites as a source for a research paper, the articles may help you get started by providing an easy-to-read introduction of a topic.  Check the references or external links at the end of an article.  Those references might help you with your paper.