by E A

Created on: August 06, 2009

I do believe that Wikipedia is a legitimate source for writing papers. It is very easy for anyone to change what is written on Wikipedia, whether it be a legitimate change such as a wrong date or fact, or even ridiculous changes that are simply jokes. Either way, Wikipedia allows for a collaborative effort of many people, and not just the findings of a particular author or two.

On the other hand, my standpoint is based upon the assumption that whoever is planning on using Wikipedia as a source, does not plan upon using solely the article. Because of the aforementioned horseplay and vandalism of Wikipedia pages, checking the embedded sources is a must. Usually, interesting facts or points are accompanied by a footnote with either a link to a webpage, or other information regarding where the information was obtained. It is wise to check that source before placing any information in your paper. Otherwise, some kids with a Wikipedia account could successfully fool you.

As a little bit of a side not to this topic, Wikipedia is also a fantastic starting point for research. Aside from consulting an online search engine or a library, scanning through the sources listed at the foot of the article can present you with some sources that may be useful for your own work. Of course though, this doesn't really affect just how reliable Wikipedia is.

I must point out though, that the topic question asked whether or not it was a reliable source. This means that Wikipedia does not and should not be your only source. I know from experience that many teachers do not like to see Wikipedia appear amongst your references; however this may just be because Wikipedia is so well organized that it basically does most of the research for you. This is one of the major advantages of Wikipedia.

The online encyclopedia breaks down their pages into sections. They provide pictures and diagrams, and even have a table of contents with hyperlinks that can take you directly to any particular section you are looking for. This is so much easier when compared to search engines such as Google or Yahoo.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Wikipedia to anyone that has to do any sort of paper, or even just for quick answers to questions. The articles within contain vast amounts of information that I find incredibly helpful, and I am certain you will as well. However, I believe that an unwritten disclaimer must accompany any research with the aid of Wikipedia. It should state that by no means should Wikipedia be the sole reference point. It should instead be used as a starting point for one's research. Checking facts using the footnotes, and also navigating through the further links within the sources list is a must. Bottom line, Wikipedia is a good source for a paper, but it also serves as an even better starting point research.

Learn more about this author, E A.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.