1. What is Wikipedia?

Definition: Wikipedia is a free, multilingual, online encyclopedia created and edited by volunteers worldwide.

Key Features

• ✔ Free to use – No paywalls or subscriptions
• ✔ Open editing – Most articles can be edited by anyone
• ✔ Neutrality policy – Articles must be unbiased
• ✔ Community-driven – Managed by volunteer editors and administrators

2. How Wikipedia Works

A. Editing & Contributing

Who Can Edit?

• Anyone can edit most articles (even without an account)
• Registered users get more privileges (e.g., creating new pages)
• Administrators (admins) have extra tools to block vandals, delete pages, etc.

How to Edit?

1. Click "Edit" (or "Edit source" for advanced changes)
2. Make changes (fix errors, add citations, improve wording)
3. Add a summary (e.g., "Fixed typo" or "Added reference")
4. Publish changes

Wikipedia's Core Policies

• Neutral Point of View (NPOV) – No bias; just facts
• Verifiability – All claims must have reliable sources (books, news, journals)
• No Original Research – Only summarize existing knowledge, not personal opinions
• Notability – Topics must have significant coverage in independent sources

B. How Articles Are Created & Maintained

1. Drafting: A user writes a new article or expands an existing one
2. Peer Review: Other editors check for accuracy, neutrality, and sourcing
3. Discussion: Controversial edits are debated on the article's "Talk" page
4. Protection: High-risk pages may be semi-protected (only registered users can edit)

C. Handling Vandalism & Disputes

• Reverting edits: Bad changes can be undone quickly
• Blocking users: Repeated vandals are blocked
• Arbitration Committee (ArbCom): Resolves major disputes

3. Is Wikipedia Reliable?

Strengths ✅

• Quick access to general knowledge
• Good for overviews of well-established topics (science, history, etc.)
• Transparent editing – All changes are logged in the "View history" tab

Weaknesses ❌

• Not always 100% accurate (errors can slip in before being fixed)
• Biases may exist in controversial topics (politics, religion, etc.)
• Not a primary source – Should be cross-checked with books, journals, or news

When to Trust Wikipedia?

• For general facts (e.g., "When was World War II?")
• As a starting point (check references for deeper research)
• Avoid for medical/legal advice or breaking news (may be outdated)

4. How to Use Wikipedia Effectively

For Readers

• 🔹 Check references at the bottom of articles
• 🔹 Look for warnings like [citation needed] or [disputed]
• 🔹 Compare across languages (some non-English Wikipedias have more details)

For Editors

• 🔹 Create an account (to build credibility)
• 🔹 Start small (fix typos, add citations)
• 🔹 Join WikiProjects (teams focusing on specific topics)

5. Wikipedia vs. Traditional Encyclopedias

6. Interesting Facts About Wikipedia

• 📌 No ads – Funded by donations, not advertising
• 📌 Bots help maintain – Fixing typos, reverting vandalism
• 📌 Wikipedia is not social media – Discussions must stay factual
• 📌 Some schools ban it (due to reliability concerns, but many allow it as a starting point)

7. How to Cite Wikipedia

Since Wikipedia can change, it's better to cite its original sources (listed in references). If citing Wikipedia itself:

APA Style

MLA Style

8. Conclusion: Should You Use Wikipedia?

• ✅ Yes, for general knowledge and quick facts
• ❌ No, as a sole source for academic/medical/legal decisions
• 💡 Best practice: Use Wikipedia as a starting point, then verify with books, journals, or news