User:Awr2727/Evaluate an Article

Which article are you evaluating?
(Provide a link to the article here.)

Dixon Ticonderoga

Why you have chosen this article to evaluate?
(Briefly explain why you chose it, why it matters, and what your preliminary impression of it was.)

The Dixon Ticonderoga #2 pencil is a superior writing instrument that I have enjoyed for the better part of two decades. I was surprised at the brief nature of the entry for such a fine writing implement.

Lead

 * Does the Lead include an introductory sentence that concisely and clearly describes the article's topic?
 * The introductory sentence is does a good job capturing the essence of the Dixon Ticonderoga Company.
 * Does the Lead include a brief description of the article's major sections?
 * No, the lead paragraph is only 1 sentence and a partial sentence describing the other holdings of the Dixon Ticonderoga Company.
 * Does the Lead include information that is not present in the article?
 * No, both the first sentence and the partial sentence are addressed later in paragraph or list form.
 * Is the Lead concise or is it overly detailed?
 * The lead here is quite concise.

Lead Evaluation

''The lead is effective at conveying the intentions of the article. It may be expanded after further research, but for the time being, it is effective.''

Guiding questions

 * Is the article's content relevant to the topic?
 * Yes.
 * Is the content up-to-date?
 * The most recent reference is 2013. There is likely some sort of update that could be performed.
 * Is there content that is missing or content that does not belong?
 * The article is relatively short, but seems to contain the basic framework.
 * Does the article deal with one of Wikipedia's equity gaps? Does it address topics related to historically underrepresented populations or topics?
 * No.

Content evaluation
''The content is good. I would like to have seen a further expansion of the history and forces driving Dixon and the various acquisitions over the years.''

Tone and Balance

 * Guiding questions


 * Is the article neutral?
 * Yes. It does seem generally favorable toward the company, but not overly biased.
 * Are there any claims that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?
 * No
 * Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?
 * The Ticonderoga pencil, made by the Dixon Ticonderoga Company, is a centerpiece of the article and deservingly so.
 * Does the article attempt to persuade the reader in favor of one position or away from another?
 * No.

Tone and balance evaluation
''The tone is fine, but a bit forced in a couple of instances. The sentence about Lee Corso could be reorganized for a more fluid reading experience.''

Sources and References

 * Guiding questions


 * Are all facts in the article backed up by a reliable secondary source of information?
 * No, many of the sources, especially about the quality of Dixon products, are from Dixon themselves.
 * Are the sources thorough - i.e. Do they reflect the available literature on the topic?
 * No. There are plenty of other trade articles and professional pencil review articles about the products that could be integrated.
 * Are the sources current?
 * Latest source is from 2013 and could be updated.
 * Are the sources written by a diverse spectrum of authors? Do they include historically marginalized individuals where possible?
 * No evidence.
 * Check a few links. Do they work?
 * Yes.

Sources and references evaluation
The sources are predominantly taken directly from the Dixon Ticonderoga Company.

Organization

 * Guiding questions


 * Is the article well-written - i.e. Is it concise, clear, and easy to read?
 * This article is clear, but could use some reworking of the sentence structure.
 * Does the article have any grammatical or spelling errors?
 * There are a couple of odd sentences that seem forced.
 * Is the article well-organized - i.e. broken down into sections that reflect the major points of the topic?
 * Yes.

Organization evaluation
''The article is organized, but a bit short. There could be additional resources outside of Dixon added.''

Images and Media

 * Guiding questions


 * Does the article include images that enhance understanding of the topic?
 * Yes, but could be better.
 * Are images well-captioned?
 * They are sufficiently captioned.
 * Do all images adhere to Wikipedia's copyright regulations?
 * I believe so.
 * Are the images laid out in a visually appealing way?
 * No, the composition of the image was terrible. The pencils are laying on a loose leaf notebook and the picture is taken from a distance.

Images and media evaluation
The images associated with this article are subpar, especially for the amazing subject matter.

Checking the talk page

 * Guiding questions


 * What kinds of conversations, if any, are going on behind the scenes about how to represent this topic?
 * Lots of chatter about a joke link and a bit of discussion about addressing the political nature of the move from the US to China/Mexico for production of one line of pencil.
 * How is the article rated? Is it a part of any WikiProjects?
 * This article is within the scope of WikiProject Companies, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of companies on Wikipedia. It is rated mid importance and start class.
 * How does the way Wikipedia discusses this topic differ from the way we've talked about it in class?

Talk page evaluation
''It might be nice to add the various cultural references that the pencil has generated, should there be sufficient numbers of them. I would have to verify some of the talk comments.''

Overall impressions

 * Guiding questions


 * What is the article's overall status?
 * It seems to be just getting started, but has been around for some time. The PR arm of Dixon Ticonderoga Company seem to be involved in some of the article modifications.
 * What are the article's strengths?
 * It seems to be factual.
 * How can the article be improved?
 * It could use some expansion in the history section and some outside sources brought in. I would personally be curious to read more about the various business decisions that drove the company to this point.
 * How would you assess the article's completeness - i.e. Is the article well-developed? Is it underdeveloped or poorly developed?
 * It is a medium from me.

Overall evaluation
It is an article that could use some improvement. I would like to contribute to that improvement. The Ticonderoga deserves better.