Composing with Wikipedia: The Peer Review

1. Read your partner's draft on their user page thoroughly, noting any sources they're planning on using.

2. Go to the Wikipedia Drawing Board and create a report for your partner's planned article

Please include an article title, some details about the topic, and why you think an article is merited (that is, why a subject is notable). You should provide at least a couple of links (to demonstrate that there are reliable sources for such an article).

Sign the report in your partner's name.


After creating the report, compose an email to be sent to your partner and CC'd to me (mv115510) in which you respond to the following prompts.

Style:

1. How well does the author adopt a neutral, third person style? Are there any lapses in which the article is presented in subjective or first-person terms? Is the information presented in a neutral, unbiased way? How might this area be improved. Point to specific places that might need revision and places that you feel are well-written.


Notability:

A topic is notable if it has been the subject of multiple, non-trivial published works from sources that are reliable and independent of the subject itself and of each other. All topics must meet a minimum threshold of notability in order for an article on that topic to be included in Wikipedia. This requirement ensures that there exists enough source material to write a verifiable, encyclopedic article about the topic.

2. Is the topic notable? Does the author provide enough sources to show that the topic is notable? If not, where might they continue their research?


Sources: Information on Wikipedia must be reliable and verifiable.

Facts, viewpoints, theories, and arguments may only be included in articles if they have already been published by reliable and reputable sources. Sources should have a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy, and be independent of the subject. Citing sources is one of the core elements of Wikipedia and is official policy for every article on Wikipedia. Any unsourced material may be challenged and removed. For academic subjects, the sources should preferably be peer reviewed. Sources should also be appropriate to the claims made; for example, outlandish claims need very strong sources. If you're not sure if your sources are good enough, look at Wikipedia:Reliable sources, and if you're still not sure, you can ask at the Reliable Sources Noticeboard.

3. Consider your partner's sources. Do they meet Wikipedia criteria or are they questionable? Why? What other sources might the author consider using?


Content:

The content of the article should provide useful information without violating copyright. The author should write about the subject by summarizing other sources in his/her own words. Quotations may also be used but should be appropriately formatted with signal phrases and parenthetical references. The content should be organized with section titles. Finally, the content should avoid engaging in "puffery." Puffery is when an article attempts to exaggerate the notability of its subject. Puffery only serves to reduce the neutrality of the article and so it should be avoided.

4. Evaluate the content of your partner's draft. Is it written in a way that doesn't violate copyright laws? Does the author quote effectively? Is the content organized effectively? Does the author avoid puffery?



5. What's the best aspect of this article? Why? What needs the most work?