Re: [LM_NET] Wikipedia.... and bibliographies

[Liz Herman <imcozit@VERIZON.NET>]

I always caution people *not* to use Wikipedia as a major source, using the 
substitution of a photograph of the Emperor from "Star Wars" for the new Pope that 
occurred repeatedly over a week or so after he was elected to the position (until 
wikipedia "froze" the entry for a period of time).  However, it *can* be a 
half-decent starting point for research, even if a step below encyclopedias... and 
I always stress that further research should be done to verify the information 
found in a 
more reliable source.

But I understand why people warn students (and adults) away from it in general.

What I don't understand is the lack of citing it as a resource used, and the few 
entries in LM_NET in which the LMS has suggested that it is a good jumping off 
point but that they tell students not to cite it after encouraging its use as that 
jumping off point.  My understanding has always been that if you use a source, you 
should give credit to that source.  Period.

While it may not (and shouldn't) be the only source, for middle school onward it 
can be a useful tool, if for nothing other than recommended websites - the sort 
that you can verify, such as museums and other "scholarly" organizations.  It seems 
to me that denying its use when you *have* used it goes against all the rules of 
citing/giving credit to your sources.

If you encourage it (or encyclopedias) as a jumping off point, how do you justify 
telling students not to cite it in their bibliographies?

-Liz Herman
(not currently in a school, but still in Howard County, MD)
imcozit@verizon.net

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