Wikipedia

Today, many people use Wikipedia for getting information. Wikipedia is very useful for getting information. It has a lot of information. However, it does not always offer us the right information. In spite of that fact, many people still rely on the site. Also, many students rely on the site when they write papers. There are three big problems if students are allowed to use or cite Wikipedia. Wikipedia gives students wrong information, makes lazy students, and makes students use similar reports. Therefore, schools should ban the use of Wikipedia for papers and exams.

First, students use or cite the information for their papers or exams even if its information form Wikipedia is wrong. According to Martin’s article, it is possible to post wrong and vicious information because anyone can write and edit at any time free (2008).” If someone writes or edits the wrong information on the site, students who want to get the information for their paper or exams may learn the information from Wikipedia. Then, students will use the wrong information on the report or exams. It may be a big problem. They will get a low score because of the wrong information from Wikipedia.

Second, Wikipedia makes students too lazy to search for the information. According to Lengel, “The Internet will never like the school library. No should it be. Its value as a communication medium lies in its openness and diversity. But these same aspects make it problematic for our students. They, like many of us, were brought up trust what we read in a library book, or in the newspaper, or on television. These communication channels were for the most part well-medicated, and so over the users developed a respectable authority” (2002, para. 12). Students should learn many things from their searching. Wikipedia is easy to search for information from. Students do not try to search anymore. They will be satisfied with the papers with only information from Wikipedia.

Finally, Wikipedia make students write similar reports. There is limited information on even Wikipedia to offer students for their papers. If every student gets the information from Wikipedia, every student will write similar papers. Students will not write unique papers. Wikipedia may easy to get a lot of information but it is not good for students when they search for information. Students cannot get a variety of information.

In conclusion, Wikipedia is not good for students. Students may get wrong information, become lazy, or write similar reports. Wikipedia is not appropriate for students when they search for information. Schools should demand that students to get the information from various sources such as books, newspaper, or articles.

Research

Lengel, J. (2006, February 7). Authority. Teaching with Technology. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from http://www.powertolearn.com/articles/teaching_with_technology/article.shtml?ID=12

Martin, N. (2008, January 21). Wikipedia clamps down on ‘unreliable’ editors. Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/20/wiki120.xml