Training modules/dashboard/slides/10906-elements-of-not-so-great-articles

Elements of not-so-great articles

You'll want to read Wikipedia critically to decide for yourself if you trust it. Here's some signs that the article may not be so great:

• Warning banners. Often these make a statement about the article's reliability, though sometimes it's simply a suggestion for improvement. Make a note and read accordingly.
• Are there language problems in the lead? For example, a very short lead might indicate that the article was written through staggered contributions, and could use a rewrite to tie it together.
• Are there value statements, such as "the best" or "the most important"? Those are flags that it's written to persuade, or at least, not properly referenced.
• Are there references to unnamed sources of information, such as "some people say," or "many believe"? Can you answer the question, "Who said that?"
• Are there very few references or citations? Are the citations from good, reliable publishers, or are they from questionable websites or publishers with a clear bias?
• Are some sections longer than others, despite being equally (or less) important? Are relevant sections missing completely?