The Wikipedia Controversy

EAP2 WW Practice Final
Airi Murasaki
April 24, 2008

The Wikipedia Controversy

We live in the age of information nowadays. A lot of people often use Internet to get any information more easy, because it is convenient and is a faster way to find any information. “Approximately 38 million people visited the English language version of the site in December 2006. Wikipedia is also easy to find; it frequently appears at the top of many Google searches and access is completely free” (Byers. 2007, para.3). We have a lot of searching sites such as Wikipedia and Google ; people in the world can use the sites anytime for free. So, students also use the information sites for homework, researching, and papers, or for any school work. However, there are some problems between school and the Wikipedia. Students have to study, know the dangers, and find and collect information with responsibility.

First, using Wikipedia is not a good idea for students. Students want to and must study with high motivation. Study means investigate, read, and think. Professors have already found that students should not use information on the site for their study. “Middlebury College, a prestigious liberal arts school in Vermont, recently announced that its history department had banned the citation of Wikipedia for history papers and exams (Byers.2007, para.1). Information on it might be helpful, but they should not use it for papers and exams.

Second, the information is dangerous. Anyone anytime can change the information. People can believe wrong information. It is possible to have problems with the information. “While encyclopedias and journals are generally authoured by scholars and peer reviewed before publication, Wikipedia articles can be written and edited by anyone at anytime, bringing about a debate over the risk of giving those outside academia the power to create and contribute to articles on scholarly subjects. Furthering this, users can add, alter, or remove information without registering user account, giving those who visit the site free and anonymous reign over the available information” (Wolverton. 2007, para. 7). There is unclear information. We have to use it carefully.

Third, we have to find and use information with responsibility. And we want to use and collect only right information. Information on site is susceptible and weak. “It is not the number of articles available on Wikipedia that is up for debate, though. The argument amongst scholars is that the information available on Wikipedia is not necessarily accurate and that the articles themselves are particularly susceptible to Internet vandalism” (Wolverton, 2007. para.11).
In conclusion, we study by ourselves, be careful, and find right information. Wikipedia is convenient but right. We should use internet carefully in ths information society. We need to have responsibility in using any information all the time.

Reference
Byers, M. (2007, March 8) Controversy over use of Wikipedia in academic papers arrives at Smith, Sophian, Smith College. Retrieved on April 23, 2008, from
Http://media.www.smithsophian.com/media/storage/papers587/news/2007/03/08/News/Controversy.Over.Use.Of.Wikipedia.In.Academic.Papers.Arrives.At.Smith-2765409.shtml


Wolverton, J. (2007, Jan 22). Wikipedia Wilson,Valley Vanguard. Retrieved on April 23, 2008.
http://www.svsu.edu/club/vanguard/stories/1141