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HUILI SCHOOL SHANGHAI LIBRARY

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Extended Essay 专题论文: Background Reading

Wikipedia

Wikipedia is a very popular encyclopedia; it is a free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia project.  Anyone can edit virtually any of the entries so the information in Wikipedia should be treated with caution and must always be checked for accuracy.  There are some things to keep in mind when using Wikipedia.

On the positive side:  Wikipedia can be useful for background information (which you must check in an authoritative source) and entries frequently include a bibliography which will often lead to further useful information sources.

On the negative side: The number of pages keeps growing, and the group of volunteer editors and monitors keeps shrinking, so it gets increasingly difficult  for Wikipedia to make sure all content is accurate and error-free.  The number of hoaxes posing as factual Wikipedia articles keeps increasing.  

Dewey, Caitlin. "The Story Behind Jar’Edo Wens, the Longest-running Hoax in Wikipedia History." Washington Post [Washington, D.C.] 15 Apr.       2015: n.  pag. Washington Post. Web. 23 July 2015. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/  news/the-intersect/wp/2015/04/15/the-great-wikipedia-hoax/>.

Wikipedia vs. Britannica

Different voices on Wiki and encyclopedia Britannica:

 Why is Britannica more reliable than Wikipedia?

IB‘s guidance on Using Free Online Encyclopedias (such as Wikipedia)