Hi, I am a college student majoring in Nursing. I am currently in a Virology course and as part of our assignment, we are to create a new article in Wikipedia or expand a stub article. After looking through numerous topics available on Wikipedia related to Virology, I've decided to focus on the beet curly top virus. After learning more about Wikipedia, I am excited to become a Wikipedian and see how I can contribute to this website.
Summary of the Five Pillars
editThere are five standards, also known as the five pillars,[1] that Wikipedia follows by. The first pillar is that Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, which means that it is a place for referenced works and not for personal opinions. Wikipedia is based on a combination of encyclopedias, almanacs, and gazetteers. Wikipedia should not be used as a dictionary or newspaper. The second pillar is that Wikipedia is written from a neutral point of view and shouldn't be used to share personal experiences, interpretations, or opinions. Information that are posted up on Wikipedia should be presented in a balanced and fair manner. The third pillar is that Wikipedia is free content that anyone can edit, use, modify, and distribute, meaning that Wikipedia editors shouldn't place any rights on an article they're writing about. When collecting information from other sources, always cite and never plagiarize. The fourth pillar is that Editors should interact with each other in a respectful and civil manner, which means that you should still respect other Wikipedians even when you don't agree on a topic. Pursuing personal attacks on other fellow Wikipedians is not the correct way to go about a disagreement. Be open to discuss the problem in a respectful manner and find solutions for it on the talk page. Last but not least, the fifth pillar is that Wikipedia does not have firm rules. There are rules and guidelines available but they aren't set in stone. In order to improve Wikipedia, changes are needed and that is why Wikipedia's guidelines and rules are not permanent. Be brave, but not reckless, when it comes to updating articles and don't be afraid to make mistakes. These are the five pillars that Wikipedia stands behind.
Summary of characteristics of target article
editAn article between a B and GA quality should meet most of Wikipedia's criteria. The article should contain a reference list of sources used, in-line citations, and internal links. The most important thing to remember when putting information on Wikipedia is to avoid plagiarizing by citing. Any short phrases or close paraphrasing are still considered plagiarism and should always be cited. By citing your sources, it help other editors and Wikipedia users to locate where you got your information from.
Article Selection Rationale
editI chose the Beet curly top virus as part of my article choice because I felt like this is an important topic since this virus affects many crops that we depend on. As consumers, most of our food comes from farms so it's important to know how our crops are grown, what are some things that can affect the growth of it and how they're affected. Nowadays, many people are growing their own crops so this topic will help them learn more about it and seek out solutions to this problem.
References
edit- ^ "Wikipedia:Five pillars".
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