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Printer-Friendly ModeProfessor urges students to not rely upon Wikipedia
submitted by Thomas Renna
November 13, 2006 —
Students who use Wikipedia might be interested in the lead article ("Grading Wikipedia") in the Oct. 27 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education.
This online, open-source site has very low credibility among academics, which is why virtually all professors do not accept it as a source for student papers.
Did you know that anyone may change anything in any entry at any time? That original research is banned? That professors and other experts are actually discouraged from writing articles for Wikipedia and there is no peer review or panel of editorial experts?
My own perusal of many history items on the site has uncovered numerous factual errors, superficial and bizarre interpretations, little or no context, and critical writing at the eighth-grade level.
My advice: forget this pseudo-site. Go to the library!
Thomas Renna
Professor of history