Do you know Wikipedia? Have you used it yet? Wikipedia is a website where you can find everything you want just like a encyclopedias. According to Wolverton, in his article “Wikipedia Wisdom”, “it is already the ninth most popular Web site in the United States, according to Alexa Internet, a company that monitors Web traffic” (2007, para. 9). Many people use this website to find the information that they want. Also, it is the second best website to find business information (Gapper, 2008). Most people like it because it includes a wide range of scientific subjects, and it’s the most up-to-date encyclopedia you’ll find; also, it’s completely free.
First of all, people can find almost all the information on Wikipedia. It’s the web that feels like an encyclopedia. On most of the website, people can only find several kinds of information. But on the Wikipedia, people can find everything; that is why the Wikipedia is a very popular website. “This website has grown into an immensely useful resource for background information on a wide range of scientific subjects” (Parry, 2008, para.6). The only thing that people need to do is type the subject that people want to know, then people can find the information. It’s much easier than finding some information in the library. People don’t need go to the different parts of the library to find the different information; they just type in the topic and that’s it. Easy and fast.
Second, Wikipedia is the most up-to-date encyclopedia. According to Lengel, in his article “Authority”, “Wikipedia is an encyclopedia compiled by the voluntary contributions of hundreds of writers and editors. Anyone can write an article and post it to the Wikipedia; anyone else can come along later and edit the article” (2006, para. 6). People cannot find an encyclopedia that can always be up-to-date. People all know that the knowledge is always changing because more and more new theories are found. So people can always find some wrong information on the encyclopedia. But on the Wikipedia, people can always find new information, because there are so many editors who are changing the information.
Finally, Wikipedia is completely free. There are so many websites where people can find information, but they need to pay. People can buy some encyclopedias or rent books from the library. People always spend money on this. But Wikipedia is a completely free website. People don’t need to pay any fee; they even don’t need an ID. They can just go on the website and find all the information they need.
It has been argued that going to the library is the best way to find information. However, Wikipedia has wide range of information. You can find all the information in the Wikipedia. All the information that you find in the Wikipedia are newest, because there are a lot of people are changing the information.
In conclusion, Wikipedia is a very good website to find information. Maybe some scientists don’t like it because there is some wrong information. But most people like it. Wikipedia includes a wide range of information, it has the most up-to-date information, and it’s free.
References:
Gapper, J. (2008, January 23). Wikipedia is popular but scary. Gapperblog. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://blogs.ft.com/gapperblog/2008/01/wikipedia-is-pohtml/
Lengel, J. (2006, February 7). Authority. Teaching with Technology. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://tinyurl.com/n5clt2
Parry, D. (2008, February 11). Wikipedia and the new curriculum. Science Progress. Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/02/wikipedia-and-the-new-curriculum/
Wolverton, J. (2007, January 22). Wikipedia wisdom. Valley Vanguard. Retrieved June 5
, 2009, from http://www.svsu.edu/clubs/vanguard/stories/1141
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