.umuc.edu/d2l/le/54162/discussions/topics/555907/View”>Developing Topics and Wikipedia
.gif” alt=”https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/img/lp/pixel.gif”>Actions for Developing Topics and Wikipedia
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Many
college professors do not allow their students to use Wikipedia as a source
from which to cite. Professors are concerned that students will be relying on a
source that is not credible. Why? Well, anyonecan post on
Wikipedia. In addition, anyone can post erroneous information on
Wikipedia. The information posted sometimes changes from day
to day. More importantly, professors ask college students to engage with
sources that have a bit more complexity than those found in an encyclopedia.
College professors are interested in hearing from experts within the particular
field that is being studied.
So,
using Wikipedia as a source is generally a very bad idea in a college level
writing course.
Are
there productive ways to use Wikipedia to explore a topic?
Assignment:
Please read the following:
.umuc.edu/d2l/common/dialogs/quickLink/quickLink.d2l?ou=54162&type=content&rcode=UMUC-246004″>Chapter 13, Wikipedia Is Good for You!?
Identify
Purdy’s (2010) 3 main ways to use Wikipedia when researching. Using the
Wikipedia strategies and your chosen research topic, please write a short
description of how you used Wikipedia for â1. ideas, 2. links
to other texts, and 3. search termsâ (Purdy, 2010). Please note any places
where your research went in a different direction because of your use of
Wikipedia.
Image
by Flickr user .flickr.com/photos/umjanedoan/497374910/”>umjanedoan /
Creative Commons licensed
Purdy,
J. (2010). Chapter 13 Wikipedia Is Good for Y fou!?. In L. Charles & P.
Zemliansky (Eds.), Writing Spaces:Readings on Writing (Vol. 1,
p. 209). Retrieved from
https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/le/content/18529/viewContent/555339/View
Q-200 word
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One
of the foundations of a good essay is a strong and focused thesis
statement. Generally, I think of a thesis as a claim that is supported by
reasons. Each of the reasons corresponds to the sections of your essay. The
claim is the position that you want to take on the issue. It is your brief, one
sentence answer to your issue question. It needs to be supported by reasons and
evidence. A reason is a subclaim that supports your main evidence. A reason is
often linked to a claim with the words because, therefore, so,
consequently, and thus. Does that make sense?
In
addition, I often like to say that thesis statements should have tension. That
is, thesis statements should not be bare recitations of fact but they should
expand the readers’ expectations. You might phrase a thesis with tension in the
following manner:
While
many people believe X, Yis true because of 1, 2, and 3.
Of
course, there are many ways to effectively frame thesis statements. Here are
some links to help you as you develop thesis statements:
.umuc.edu/~jbooth/ewpjim/thesis_conundrum.htm”>http://polaris.umuc.edu/~jbooth/ewpjim/thesis_conundrum.htm
.umuc.edu/~jbooth/ewpjim/thesisdicoguide2.htm”>http://polaris.umuc.edu/~jbooth/ewpjim/thesisdicoguide2.htm
In addition,
this general page of video tutorials on basic essay formulas may be
helpful as it includes discussion of the thesis statement:
.umuc.edu/ewc/web/basic_essay_formulas.html”>http://polaris.umuc.edu/ewc/web/basic_essay_formulas.html
Task:
After
watching and taking notes on the videos provided, please view the following
tutorial from UMUC’s Effective Writing Center.
.umuc.edu/ewc/web/thesis.html”>http://polaris.umuc.edu/ewc/web/thesis.html
After
viewing the final tutorial, please post your answers to the following
questions:
What
is the name of the article that you are critiquing? What is your position on
that article? What claim are you making about the article? State your answers
clearly in a thesis sentence that helps to map your response for the reader.
Cham,
Jorge (1997-2013). Caution: Thesis Writing In Process.
[Cartoon]. Retrieved from http://http://phdcomics.com/comics.php
