Loads of information, but double check the facts (wikipedia.org)

Member Name: lunarc

Product:	wikipedia.org
Date:	08/09/09 (7 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Pages for just about anything - and you can get involved in writing and maintaining!

Disadvantages: So many sources means it's a lot harder to check accuracy

Wikipedia is an enormous online encyclopaedia which is created and maintained by its users. It covers pretty much any topic you can imagine; from individual people to places to movies to legends to animals to technology ... and everything in between! It's often the first place I turn to when I begin to research something for an article, although it's important to remember that it can't always be 100% trusted as a reliable source of evidence! Bearing in mind that it's maintained by its users, it's a lot more difficult to determine how accurate the information is, as there are so many different sources. It's now commonplace for Wikipedia contributors to cite the sources of their information, which does help when it comes to validating information. In terms of using the website, it's incredibly straightforward - you just use the search box to enter whatever you are looking for. The information pages are usually split neatly into different sub-headings such as "History" which makes it easy to find the information you need. At the bottom you'll find references for the information you've been reading. My verdict: a great starting point for research (and often one of the first results in a Google search anyway!) but don't rely on it entirely!

Summary: Wikipedia is a great starting point for research, but be sure to double check your sources!