User:JKobrien1/Evaluate an Article

Which article are you evaluating?
Digital rhetoric

Why you have chosen this article to evaluate?
I am evaluating this article because it is the same one we will be working with as a class. The content is relevant to our course and will be used as a supplementary learning tool, so it is important to make sure the Wikipedia page is of quality.

Evaluate the article
Lead Section

I feel like the lead section did a really good job at addressing such a broad topic (rhetoric) in a streamlined manner. Though, I don't think this section necessarily outlined the rest of the article's sections, so more of that information could be beneficial to include in future revisions. I also appreciate how concise the opening section is, as it gives potential readers a solid overview of the topic in an accessible manner.

Content

Like I mentioned, digital rhetoric is a slightly abstract topic, so I think the editors thus far have done a really great job at touching on many aspects, including technofeminism, which is an essential part of our class. Though, it seems like some of the content could be updated to address current more issues, because the digital sphere is changing daily. A section on the pandemic's effects could be relevant.

Tone and Balance

The article is written from an unbiased, objective perspective, which should definitely be maintained in future edits. I could see how it somewhat comes across as very pro digital rhetoric, but I think that is simply because online spaces have been an essential part of living in recent times. Some sections seem less objective by nature since they are describing the concept of rhetoric itself, but anybody editing should be cautious of coming off as too passionate about the subject. Neutrality is key.

Sources and References

Well, the fact that there are over 100 sources cited is a really great sign! It seems like almost all of the sources are legitimate in terms of credibility. There is a diverse range of authors and perspectives credited, and it appears that every source is from a scholarly journal or website. I do think it is always important to keep checking databases periodically for new scholarly research on the topic, so new editors should definitely continue to add new information, especially pertaining to the pandemic.

Organization and Writing Quality

For such a broad topic, the article is actually quite easy to follow. Splitting up the topic into so many specific sections helps readers to really understand all of the areas that digital rhetoric encapsulates. I also appreciate how the writing style can make sense to the every day reader without sounding too informal. The quality of writing is also consistent throughout the entire article, which helps with clarity and flow.

Images and Media

There are a few photos featured throughout the article, but I don't know if I would necessarily agree that most of the photos enhance the content of the article. The photo of the tweet, for example, has small text that is difficult to read. The Xbox photo could also probably be switched to a photo including some newer game consoles. None of the images appear copyrighted at first glance, which is another good sign. I think the main key with the media is finding some updated photos that seem relevant in 2022.

Talk Page Discussion

The talk page is very civil and respectful, and clearly a lot of students have put effort into the page. I think it's interesting that some of the conversations are debating what political content would be relevant or appropriate to include, because it must be hard to differentiate between fact and bias sometimes. Also, with such a broad topic, editors have definitely had discussions about what subtopics should be included or skipped, which is always hard to figure out. I'm excited to see all of the academics involved in editing!

Overall Impressions

The article is much more straightforward and easy to read than I expected initially. I think the framework for a reliable article is definitely up to standards, especially because editors have cited so many scholarly sources. The main challenge would honestly be keeping up with the speed of internet culture to ensure the article remains up-to-date. Some of the examples provided to explain topics and the media chosen could be adjusted to reflect some more contemporary examples. I am excited to collaborate with other students, as the talk page is very respectful, and the article was a fun read.