As a college graduate, I was taught by professors that we should always be aware of what we are reading, whether it is an academic work or in an entertainment reading material. It was ingrained in me for the four years in college and one cannot forget it if it was hammered in them for that long. I was brainwashed by the American college system and the skill became a part of me till now.
On January 15, Wikipedia turned 15. I can still remember the first time using Wikipedia back in high school over a decade ago. I was new to using the internet (or World Wide Web) so Wikipedia was definitely a challenge to navigate. Before using Wikipedia, I had to flip through rows of encyclopedia books in the library whenever there is a research paper assigned; my comprehension in English was minimal so it was definitely a challenge to have to read all those thick and dusty volumes of books that might have contained out-dated information. And besides it was time consuming while I could use that time for reading or sleeping and preparing for the next day of school.
Over the years, Wikipedia gained popularity and many college students depend on it for the quick and current information that it provides. Opponents say it is cheating to use the website and that the information can be incorrect. After using the website for over a decade, I beg to differ on the criticisms that it has been getting for the past decade of its existence. Here are the reasons why we should continue to use Wikipedia:
1. It is free. Shall I explain more?
2. It is useful. We can find any information on it and use it in conversations in social gatherings, school projects, and our daily life.
3. The information is generally accurate. Of course, there will be time where the information may not reflect reality and this is why we always have to be aware with what we are treading into. Also just because an information is in a academic work, it does not mean it is correct. Every piece of writing is prone to error and our job as a critical thinker is to recognize it when we run into it and to always take any information in with a grain of salt.
4. Best of all, it saves us time from looking up the information. Why spend the time flipping through books and random internet websites when the information is just a click away?
I am not working for Wikipedia or endorsing it in anyway. The above writing is from my own personal experience and I hope it can shed a better light on a resource hat has helped me survive in my daily life and academic work for the past decade.
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