Preview

Summary Of Philip Lau's Essay The Limitations Of Wikipedia

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
586 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Summary Of Philip Lau's Essay The Limitations Of Wikipedia
Philip Lau, writer of the essay, “The Limitations of Wikipedia”, is successful in persuading his readers that the webpage Wikipedia should not be used for college level research. In his essay, Philip states that, “Wikipedia can be a beneficial starting point in gaining general information on a subject but users should be wary of incorrect information”. The essayist’s use of examples, facts and quotes are what makes his argument so convincing.

The writer wrote this essay to warn fellow college students the dangers of using Wikipedia as an academic research source. No student wants to go through hours of studying and research for a paper and end up using incorrect information. Knowing this, the writer starts by discrediting Wikipedia …show more content…
Proving that even Wikipedia is aware that there is incorrect information on their site. They then name actual creditable resources, so one can verify that the information found on Wikipedia was accurate or not. Having to research a topic and then research the information one found to make sure it was accurate is absurd. When a college student is researching a topic they want to be confident that the information they find is accurate without having to double or triple check.

Thirdly, the writer explains how as a result of anyone being able to modify a post on Wikipedia, the chances of the user modifying his or her bias opinion is immensely high. The essayist also provides a definition of opinion making it clear to the reader that Wikipedia posts tend to be one-sided. Furthermore, Philip adds Wikipedia’s quote warning users “not to believe everything they read including the information on Wikipedia”. Philip then illustrates how political figures and subjects like abortion are slandered and vandalized on Wikipedia, making it harder for a student to find useful
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Summary Of Randall Mcclure's Essay Googlepedia
    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Summary Of Randall Mcclure's Essay Googlepedia

    Randall McClure’s essay “Googlepedia” assesses current students’ predominate approach to research-based writing, and uses realistic ways to push such approaches further. He does this by analyzing two of his students’ methods. Of the strategies his students use, perhaps the most effective is Edward’s use of Wikipedia as a leaping off point, before delving further and entering search terms into Google (230). This practice should be just the beginning of an in-depth research process. However, Edward’s successional use of search engines does provide a template for an ideal research process. In addition, although he does not go nearly in depth, he does include an assessment of the author’s credibility (229). More rigorous assessment could greatly…

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Apa Research and Bibliography Activity Essay Example
    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Apa Research and Bibliography Activity Essay Example

    |Wikipedia |Wikipedia is not a reliable source. It is an online encyclopedia where that |It is not a validity source. The web site has no peer review and the information can |…

    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A Rhetorical Analysis Of John Seigenthaler's Essay
    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A Rhetorical Analysis Of John Seigenthaler's Essay

    The author’s purpose is to testify about his experience with Wikipedia and persuade the intended audience that Wikipedia is not a credible or…

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Nicholas Carr's 'Is Google Making USupid?'
    • 2227 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Nicholas Carr's 'Is Google Making USupid?'

    In his article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” Nicholas Carr, a Dartmouth and Harvard graduate, and member of encyclopedia Britannica’s editorial board of advisors, poses the argument that the constant use of sources such as Google can reshape the thought process in a negative way. Although, the Internet has brought many advantages to the user, these advantages could be detrimental to the brains thought process.…

    • 2227 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Jimmy wales
    • 561 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Jimmy wales

    Relevance: According to the research on citations of Wikipedia, Along with the increasing number of citations, another indicator that Wikipedia may be gaining respectability is its citation by well-known scholars. (Digital Scholarship in the Humanities, 2008)…

    • 561 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Inf 103 Week 3 Assignment 2
    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Inf 103 Week 3 Assignment 2

    Wikipedia's mission was to share the entire world’s information with everyone everywhere, anytime. A quotation of Jimmy Wales (the founder of Wikipedia) taken from his personal website said, "Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That’s what we’re doing" (2013). Because anyone can edit information on Wikipedia, many different fields of knowledge can become part of the encyclopedia; it is very useful for getting a quick review of information. "Wikipedia isn't a commercial website. It's a community creation" (Wales, 2009). I personally us Wikipedia as a…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why I Love Ashford University
    • 579 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Why I Love Ashford University

    In my studies at Ashford University, I have found writing papers fun and gained an enormous amount of knowledge through the research involved. However, I do not just jump on google and use the first Wikipedia page that pops up. These types of searches can obtain inaccurate information that can be an absolute waste of time. This is why I am extremely grateful to have access to the abundance of valid research available in the Ashford University (AU) library.…

    • 579 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ldr/531
    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ldr/531

    Wikipedia is one of the most sought out information website. Jimmy Wales, founder says this about his website, “Wikipedia is something special…, it is a place we can all go to think, to learn and share our knowledge with others” (Wikipedia, 2012, p1). This resourceful tool has up-to-date news, press releases, and it provides its users with the convenience to various languages. In this paper team C will debate on supporting arguments for Wikipedia and opposing arguments if it is credible and a valid source of information.…

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Wikipedia
    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Pros And Cons Of Wikipedia

    In just three months, Wikipedia received 250 million fewer visitors compared to the same time last year. The officials of the free encyclopedia know about this, but they are not at…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Inf 103
    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Inf 103

    Wikipedia has been a successful source of information.Wikipedia does have a wealth of knowledge. I have used it a lot to find facts about different people, places, and books. It is a convenient way to look up information. It is a temporary solution to research. However when you are doing research Wikipedia is not a credible source nor is it recommended by professors. Anyone can post material on Wikipedia as stated in the disclaimer. So this information does not necessarily have to be the most accurate. This information could be old the facts may not…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Nicholas Carr
    • 307 Words
    • 1 Page

    Nicholas Carr

    The internet has become a good tool for people in the use of knowledge. Search engines like Google , allows us to find information that we want, some people believe search engine like Google are doing the opposite and instead are making us “stupid”, they believe that the internet is replacing knowledge with information. Nicholas Carr wrote an article that he believes that Google making us stupid, he contributes about The Atlantic. Nicholas Carr wrote an article called ‘’is Google making us stupid’’. Nicholas Carr is an American writer who published articles and books on business and culture but mainly on technology, and one of them is the one I will talk about. In this article he argues that reading online is less provoking then reading a book. My analysis will talk about three claims that Carr makes, first the internet causes us to be distracted, second the way read on the internet is changing the way we think and third the way we gather information from internet.…

    • 307 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Attachment in Children with Asd
    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Attachment in Children with Asd

    Rector, Lucy Holman. (2008). Comparison of Wikipedia and other encyclopedias for accuracy, breadth, and depth in historical articles, Reference Services Review, Vol. 36 Iss: 1, pp.7 - 22. Retrieved December 19, 2010, from the World Wide Web:…

    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Credible Source of Information
    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Credible Source of Information

    Wikipedia can be beneficial to the academic student as well as the general researching public. Wikipedia covers an immense variety of topics that is continually maintained and updated, relevant, and non-biased in its presentation of information. Wikipedia possess all the qualities a reliable source would have. Wikipedia’s premise is promoting involvement of the general public for inputting information and continually adding into a comprehensive knowledge base.…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Professors Should Embrace Wikipedia
    • 885 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Professors Should Embrace Wikipedia

    In Mark Wilson’s article “Professors Should Embrace Wikipedia”, Wilson argues that despite the legitimacy of Wikipedia, educators should engage and take part in helping shape the direction of Wikipedia. In a test published in the journal “Nature”, articles in Wikipedia are said to be as revered as those in the “Encyclopedia Britannica.” Since the perceived lack of academic authority, Wilson suggests that those with research specialties should enroll as editors of Wikipedia to add, control, and learn from the information being provided. Wilson describes his own interaction with Wikipedia and how he, his students, and other colleagues have benefitted from the use of it. From becoming a Wikipedia editor and a collaborator with other colleagues, Wilson has “in turn taught some people how to properly reference ideas and information.” Wilson expresses his ideas to involve scholars with Wikipedia to make it more useful to students and the public. Wilson argues that Wikipedia is a source that although warned from, students will go to anyway to start projects, look up terms, and go for general information. If Wikipedia is “the largest coherent store of information and ideas” as stated by Wilson, then “teacher and scholars should have been on this train years ago for the benefit of our students and professions.”…

    • 885 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Blue Ocean Strategy Analysis of Wikipedia
    • 682 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Blue Ocean Strategy Analysis of Wikipedia

    The value proposition offered by Wikipedia was markedly different from that being currently offered by the online encyclopaedias (dominated by www.brittanica.com). Wikipedia added a missing component of people participation into the scheme of things. They realized that the main use of the encyclopaedia was to gain quick and easy-to access information on a particular topic. The costs that went into copyright and into proofreading…

    • 682 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics