Matthew A. Vetter and Oksana Moroz
Volume 5
Chapter Description
In a previous Writing Spaces essay entitled, Wikipedia Is Good for You!?, James P. Purdy introduces us to the idea that the online encyclopedia, often devalued in educational spaces, can serve as a starting place for research and a process guide to research-based writing. By observing how Wikipedia editors review each other’s work, have conversations about that work, and then revise accordingly, students like you can gain first-hand access and insights into professional writing and research practices that can be applied to research projects. In this chapter, we build on Purdy’s essay by acknowledging not only how Wikipedia is good for you but, conversely, how you are good for Wikipedia. This chapter differs from Purdy’s contribution in that we discuss how you can become more engaged in the Wikipedia community through various editing and evaluating practices. We want you to consider how you are good for the encyclopedia project in three ways. First, you can diversify the encyclopedia through your participation. Second, you can leverage your access to reputable academic sources of knowledge to improve coverage of certain topics. Third, you can apply critical thinking skills you learn in your writing class to help evaluate information in Wikipedia. Finally, we conclude the essay by providing two examples of our former students who effectively contributed to Wikipedia by connecting
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