User:Acrotty/Choose an Article

Article Selection
Please list articles that you're considering for your Wikipedia assignment below. Begin to critique these articles and find relevant sources.

Option 1

 * Article title: First War of Scottish Independence - Wikipedia
 * Article Evaluation: When reading this article, I came across a few issues with it that need addressing.
 * It is also stated on the talk page that this article discusses this as if it was one war, but in reality it was more like two wars. As mentioned on the talk page the first war for independence ended in 1304 and the second war for independence started in 1306, but this article states that the "first" war for Scottish independence lasts 32 years which is absurd. The article should be split into two articles.
 * - The article is written neutrally, but it is mentioned on the talk page that many people had issues with the language used in the article that may suggest slight biases that are "inappropriate for a neutral encyclopedia".
 * - There seems to be a lack of in text citations to go along with a stout list of references. I think they need more direct examples from the text to better support the history they are discussing in this article to help build credibility.
 * - They do have a stout list of 10 sources, but my main concern is that there are very few links to said sources, so it is rather hard to look them up to check for credibility.
 * - The article is rated as a C-Class and High Importance article so I came to believe that it could use some editing.
 * Sources
 * -Maxwell Herbert. Making of Scotland: Lectures on the War of Independence, Delivered in the University of Glasgow. Glasgow, J. Maclehose.
 * -Blumberg, Arnold. “Scotland’s First War of Independence: Historical Introduction.” Medieval Warfare 4, no. 3 (2014): 6–8.
 * -Maxwell Herbert. Making of Scotland: Lectures on the War of Independence, Delivered in the University of Glasgow. Glasgow, J. Maclehose.
 * -Blumberg, Arnold. “Scotland’s First War of Independence: Historical Introduction.” Medieval Warfare 4, no. 3 (2014): 6–8.

Option 2

 * Article title: Battle of Bannockburn - Wikipedia
 * Article Evaluation: There Seem to a few issues with this article that need to be addressed in order to improve its rating.
 * - The numbers regarding the size of the armies is a large problem with this source and is hotly debated on the talk page of the article and I hope my sources below will help me narrow down the numbers to make the article more accurate.
 * - One thing I did not like from the wikipedia article is that they provided references to the movie Braveheart which is known to be wildly inaccurate in terms of Historical accuracy.
 * -I really like that they use a long list of sources and each reference matches a source
 * -I do not like that they are few links to the sources which I find to be a red flag, but they are all scholarly sources.
 * Sources- Mackie, J. D. “The Battle of Bannockburn.” The Scottish Historical Review 29, no. 108 (1950): 207–10. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25526068.
 * -Brown, Michael. Bannockburn : The Scottish War and the British Isles 1307-1323 . Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008. Accessed February 4, 2022. ProQuest Ebook Central.
 * Sources- Mackie, J. D. “The Battle of Bannockburn.” The Scottish Historical Review 29, no. 108 (1950): 207–10. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25526068.
 * -Brown, Michael. Bannockburn : The Scottish War and the British Isles 1307-1323 . Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008. Accessed February 4, 2022. ProQuest Ebook Central.

Option 3

 * Article title: William Wallace - Wikipedia
 * Article Evaluation: It has plenty of sources although the article is missing a bit of information.
 * - It seems to paint Wallace as a pure hero that could no wrong; seems biased
 * -Talk page has mentions where it does not mention in great detail exactly what Wallace's war crimes against civilians were. Which is definitely valued information in order to be true to history.
 * -The references match,
 * -It stays relevant to the topic.
 * -Most of the sources have provided links where you can fact check the authors.
 * - I wish it talked more about Wallace's early years to get more of a biography feel from the article. It seems to almost completely skip over his childhood/ education
 * - I like that it also mentioned that the movie Braveheart is criticized for historical inaccuracies, so if anyone was to watch it to learn a bit about Sir Wallace, they would at least get the forewarning.
 * - I wish it mentioned more about Wallace's impact on Scottish society and culture today. Just the lasting impact he has had besides movies, etc.
 * Sources: Dean, Sidney. “Scottish Profiles in Leadership: William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.” Medieval Warfare 6, no. 2 (2016): 51–55. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48578559.
 * - Morton, Graeme. “The Most Efficacious Patriot: The Heritage of William Wallace in Nineteenth-Century Scotland.” The Scottish Historical Review 77, no. 204 (1998): 224–51. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25530836.
 * Sources: Dean, Sidney. “Scottish Profiles in Leadership: William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.” Medieval Warfare 6, no. 2 (2016): 51–55. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48578559.
 * - Morton, Graeme. “The Most Efficacious Patriot: The Heritage of William Wallace in Nineteenth-Century Scotland.” The Scottish Historical Review 77, no. 204 (1998): 224–51. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25530836.

Option 4

 * Article title: Brian Boru - Wikipedia
 * Article Evaluation- The first issue with the article is that "Brian Boru" in many Irish texts has his proper name of Brian Boruma which I find necessary to be added in parentheses next to the name Brian Boru
 * -Talk pages discusses many issues with his official title being Imperator Scottorum and its translation. Many are arguing over if he even had the title or whether or not he should just be called the High King.
 * -Seems to be lacking a legacy section or just a section devoted to his impact on Irish History.
 * -References all match
 * -Good list of sources that are scholarly
 * -Does not seem to be very biased in the language of the article.
 * -Although it does seem to have a tinge bit of Pro-Irish and anti-Norse people sentiment going in the article in my opinion so I believe it could be redone a little better in a few sections.
 * Sources- MacShamhráin, Ailbhe. “Brian Bóruma, Armagh and High Kingship.” Seanchas Ardmhacha: Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society 20, no. 2 (2005): 1–21. https://doi.org/10.2307/29742749.
 * -O’Halloran, Clare. “The Triumph of ‘Virtuous Liberty’: Representations of the Vikings and Brian Boru in Eighteenth-Century Histories.” Eighteenth-Century Ireland / Iris an Dá Chultúr 22 (2007): 151–63. http://www.jstor.org/stable/30071495.
 * -CASEY, DENIS. “POLITICS: LIFE AFTER BRIAN: The High-Kingship.” History Ireland 22, no. 2 (2014): 34–37. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23631083.
 * -Downham, Clare. “The Battle of Clontarf in Irish History and Legend.” History Ireland 13, no. 5 (2005): 19–23. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27725330.
 * HURRELL, NANCY. “The ‘Brian Boru’ Harp.” History Ireland 22, no. 2 (2014): 49–49. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23631089.
 * -Downham, Clare. “The Battle of Clontarf in Irish History and Legend.” History Ireland 13, no. 5 (2005): 19–23. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27725330.
 * HURRELL, NANCY. “The ‘Brian Boru’ Harp.” History Ireland 22, no. 2 (2014): 49–49. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23631089.

Option 5

 * Article title: Battle of Sauðafell - Wikipedia
 * Article Evaluation- Very little information on the battle
 * -There is no background information as to why this battle occured.
 * -There are only four sources. Two of them being written by the same person which I do not like.
 * - There are no links to the sources which is terrible for anyone that wants more information than is provided. Which is minimal.
 * - The article all related to one topic.
 * -Also only on source is referenced in the entire article
 * -At least it mentions a few names of who was involved.
 * -There was barely any kind of talk page because of how little was written in this article.
 * Sources: KER, W. P. “JÓN ARASON.” Saga-Book 8 (1913): 149–71. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48611694.
 * Sources: KER, W. P. “JÓN ARASON.” Saga-Book 8 (1913): 149–71. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48611694.
 * Sources: KER, W. P. “JÓN ARASON.” Saga-Book 8 (1913): 149–71. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48611694.