by Gordon Hamilton

Created on: April 24, 2009

Considering how to rate a Helium article can be split in to two distinct categories: the technical side of how we actually go about performing this task upon the site and what is perhaps the artistic side, that of how we determine which of the articles we have to rate is the better of the two.

The technical side of how to rate a Helium article is further split in to two sections. We can either write an article to Helium, after which time we will be presented with random articles to rate, or we can simply press the "Rate" button from the toolbar at the top of most Helium screens. In both these circumstances, we will be diverted to a screen where a title is provided, two articles side by side which have been written to the title and a series of buttons below these articles. The buttons allow us to determine which article we believe to be the better of the two and to what extent. We then click upon the submit button to record our vote. Alternatively, if the random subject for the articles is one which we perhaps know nothing about or simply do not wish to rate articles upon, the "Skip" button allows us to pass on the topic and be presented with a fresh one in similar fashion.

When we are actually considering which of the two articles is better during the rating process, the first thing we have to do is take mental note of the title to which the articles have been written and subsequently read the two articles. We should not rush the process of reading the articles as there are several factors which we will later have to take in to account. Note that it is likely as we read the articles that we will be required to scroll down via the sliding panel located to the right of each article.

When we have read and digested both articles, we should first of all determine how relevant they are to the category title to which they have been written. Articles written to an inappropriate titles is one of the biggest failings on Helium and it is unlikely that we would wish to rate such an article in a positive fashion. We should also be looking, however, at the overall quality of the article in terms of the amount of relevant information it provides, how well it is structured in terms of paragraphing, grammar and even spelling and consider - quite simply - how much we enjoyed reading each article. Only when we have taken all of these factors in to account should we make our rating as described above.

It is important that we are aware also when rating articles on Helium of the "Flag this article" facility. This is where we think that the article includes some form of inappropraite content and should be considered for removal from the Helium site. Do not, however, use this facility simply because you disagree with or dislike an article!

It is worthwhile remembering when rating articles on Helium that you are determining how well these articles and writers perform on Helium, just as other writers are determining how you and your articles perform. Rating should always therefore be performed with integrity, honesty and all due care, in order that it may provide as accurate a picture as is at all possible and ensure that the quality rises to the top.

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