User:Dls224/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: Highland dance :
 * Article Evaluation:
 * The content of the article provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of Highland dancing, covering its history, development, styles, competitions, and various types of dances associated with it. It is written in a neutral tone, presenting information without bias. Most of the claims made in the article are not directly cited, but general information about Highland dancing is widely known and accepted. However, specific historical anecdotes and details could benefit from more precise citations to enhance the article's credibility. The citations provided in the article include references to Scottish Gaelic dictionaries, historical accounts, and dance organizations. These sources appear to be reliable and relevant to the topic.  Regarding equity gaps, the article mentions the feminization of Highland dancing over time, with more females participating in the sport. While the article provides information on the historical context and development of Highland dancing, it doesn't explicitly address equity gaps or underrepresented populations within the dance form.  In summary, the article is relevant to the topic, written neutrally, contains citations (though some claims could be more specifically referenced), and includes information from a variety of reliable sources. However, addressing equity gaps more explicitly could enhance the article's completeness.
 * Sources:
 * The Scottish Highland Dancing Tradition by Catriona Mairi Scott
 * The Hidden History of Highland Dance by Michael Newton
 * The History of Highland Dance https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/Highland-Dancing/
 * Scottish Highland Dancing Tradition https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/6920
 * Scottish Highland Dancing Tradition https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/6920

Option 2

 * Article title: Puirt à beul :
 * Article Evaluation:
 * The article provides a comprehensive overview of Puirt à beul, a traditional form of song in Scotland that sets Gaelic lyrics to instrumental tune melodies. It explains the term's meaning, its historical usage for dance accompaniment, and its relation to mouth music in other Celtic traditions. The content appears relevant to the topic, covering the origin, characteristics, and regional variations of Puirt à beul. The article is written in a neutral tone, presenting information without apparent bias.
 * Claims are generally supported by citations, referencing sources such as dictionaries, books on Gaelic bagpiping, and scholarly articles. The citations seem reliable, including references to authoritative dictionaries, academic publications, and historical documents.
 * The article doesn't explicitly address a specific equity gap, but it contributes to the documentation of Gaelic cultural practices, potentially helping to preserve and share knowledge about a tradition that may be less widely known.
 * Overall, the article appears well-researched and adheres to Wikipedia's standards for neutrality and verifiability.:
 * Sources:
 * Puirt-a-Beul: An Ethnographic Study of Mouth Music in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=5341403
 * Keith Norman MacDonald’s Puirtà-Beul: The Vocal Dance Music of the Scottish Gaels
 * Reeling Roosters and Dancing Ducks: Celtic Mouth Music
 * Puirt-a-Beul: An Ethnographic Study of Mouth Music in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=5341403
 * Keith Norman MacDonald’s Puirtà-Beul: The Vocal Dance Music of the Scottish Gaels
 * Reeling Roosters and Dancing Ducks: Celtic Mouth Music

Option 3

 * Article title: Reels :
 * Article Evaluation:
 * The article provides relevant information about reels, describing them as devices used to store elongated and flexible materials like yarns, cables, and hoses by wrapping them around a cylindrical core known as a spool. It discusses the construction of reels, mentioning factors that affect core size, and provides examples of reel usage in various contexts, such as hose storage, fishing reels, film reels, and more. The content seems to be written in a neutral tone, presenting factual information about the topic. However, the article lacks citations to support some of its claims. For example, the section on construction mentions factors affecting core size without providing specific sources. Adding citations would enhance the article's credibility and help readers verify the information. The article also acknowledges the need for additional citations in its introduction, indicating a commitment to improving its reliability. The citations included in the article are from sources like news, newspapers, books, and JSTOR, which are generally reliable. However, the article could benefit from more direct citations to specific references, especially in sections where claims are made without a clear source.  The article primarily focuses on the technical aspects of reels and does not appear to directly address any equity gaps related to historically underrepresented or misrepresented populations or subjects. It is more centered around providing information on the functional aspects of reels and their usage.  In summary, while the article contains relevant content and is generally neutral in tone, it could be improved by adding more specific citations to support its claims and enhancing the visibility of reliable sources. Additionally, addressing any potential equity gaps would contribute to a more comprehensive and inclusive coverage of the topic.
 * Sources:
 * Focus: Scottish Traditional Music by Simon McKerrell
 * Rantin' Pipe and Tremblin' String: A History of Scottish Dance Music by George S. Emmerson
 * Keeping it Reel: The Origins of the Reel in a Scottish Gaelic Context
 * Keeping it Reel: The Origins of the Reel in a Scottish Gaelic Context

Option 4

 * Article title: Step dance :
 * Article Evaluation:
 * The article discusses step dance as a generic term encompassing dance styles where footwork holds primary importance, and limb movements and styling are either limited or considered irrelevant. It provides examples such as clog dancing, Irish stepdance, tap dancing, and traditional English step dancing. The inclusion of these various forms broadens the scope of the topic and provides a comprehensive overview of step dance styles. It could use some information specifically about Cape Breton step dance. The content appears neutral, presenting information without evident bias.
 * However, the article acknowledges the need for additional citations for verification, indicating an awareness of potential gaps in information. While there are citations provided, the article recognizes the necessity for more sources to support its claims.
 * The mention of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the African roots of stepping addresses a dimension of step dance that is historically significant within the African American tradition, contributing to a more inclusive representation of dance forms.
 * Overall, the article is relevant to the topic, generally neutral, acknowledges citation needs, and addresses historical and cultural aspects, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of step dance.:
 * Sources:
 * ‘Putting the dirt back in’: an investigation of step dancing in Scotland by Mats Melin
 * Closer to the floor: reflections on Cape Breton step dance by Pat Ballantyne
 * Step Dancing in Cape Breton and Scotland: Contrasting Contexts and Creative Processes by Mats Melin
 * ‘Putting the dirt back in’: an investigation of step dancing in Scotland by Mats Melin
 * Closer to the floor: reflections on Cape Breton step dance by Pat Ballantyne
 * Step Dancing in Cape Breton and Scotland: Contrasting Contexts and Creative Processes by Mats Melin

Option 5

 * Article title: Strathspeys :
 * Article Evaluation:
 * The article on the Strathspey dance appears to be relevant to the topic, providing information about the characteristics of the dance tune, its historical context, and its variations in different cultural traditions. The content is written in a neutral tone, presenting information without apparent bias. However, the article notes that it needs additional citations for verification, which could be a potential concern for the reliability of the information presented. While the article does make claims about the characteristics of Strathspeys, such as their rhythm and historical origins, not all of these claims are accompanied by citations. For example, the statement that Strathspeys mimic the rhythms of Scottish Gaelic song is mentioned without a direct citation. Additionally, the article mentions the hypothesis that Strathspeys are occasionally transmitted as canntaireachd, a style of singing, but it lacks a specific citation for this claim. The citations provided in the article include references to scholarly works, such as William Lamb's article in Scottish Studies and George S. Emmerson's book on Scottish dance music. These sources suggest a level of reliability, but the article would benefit from more direct citations for specific claims to ensure transparency and credibility.  Regarding equity gaps, the article does not explicitly address issues related to underrepresented populations or subjects. It focuses on providing information about the Strathspey dance and its variations in different cultural traditions, but there is no indication of efforts to include perspectives or contributions from historically marginalized communities within the context of Strathspeys. Therefore, the article does not appear to tackle a specific equity gap.  In summary, while the article is relevant and written in a neutral tone, there is a need for additional citations to enhance the reliability of the content. It does not overtly address equity gaps in coverage.
 * Sources:
 * Reeling in the Strathspey: The Origins of Scotland’s National Music
 * Grafting Culture: On the Development and Diffusion of the Strathspey in Scottish Music
 * The strathspey in Scottish music
 * The origins of strathspey by Michael Newton
 * The origins of strathspey by Michael Newton