User:RyanMurphey/Evaluate an Article

Evaluate an article
I will be evaluating the Computer memory article. This articles large size might cause me to miss something and not cover everything that could be included.

I am a computer science major so I have covered computer memory in multiple classes. Using the article finder tool I found out that Computer memory was rated with S for beginners. After a quick glance the article seemed like it could be improved.

The article has such a wide topic that it can not be effectively condensed into a singular sentence. To effectively cover the topic of computer memory the entirety of about 100 years of scientific work and discovery in the technology fields would need to be explained. This is why the article has a 3 paragraph lead. however the articles lead can definitely be condensed. For example, there are two places in the lead where the article mentions,“addressable semiconductor memory, i.e. integrated circuits consisting of silicon-based MOS transistors,”. There is also some information in the lead that is not covered in the article and could be cut out. For example, the third paragraph is almost entirely not covered by the article. The lead also leaves out an introduction to the sections under management.

The content covered by the article does effectively cover the topic. However, As mentioned earlier this topic is simply too large to know if everything is  entirely covered. Meaning the article covers all relevant main points up to date, but there could be something smaller that might need adding.

Moreover, The article does have multiple cases throughout where words like often, most, and usually are used. Words like these cause the author to sound unsure about the information resulting in a loss of credibility with the reader. An example of this is the first paragraph sentence,”The term "memory" is often synonymous with the term "primary storage".” Coincidentally, this sentence is also an example of contradiction in the article. There are multiple places where the article defines memory differently. Throughout the article there are multiple sections where the author says things that could be considered to be an opinion and not fact. This can be seen by the sentence, “Nearly everything computer programmers do requires them to consider how to manage memory.”

Overall the sources cover the information in the article with relevant and up to date citations. There are a few areas in the article that could use a few more inline citations from the references at the bottom. In particular the sections of management and volatile memories are lacking on citations. The article does have one reference  number seven that does not work.

Furthermore, The general layout, grammar, and media of the article is well done. The article does not seem to have any spelling or grammar errors and is laid out in an effective way. There is also multiple images that reflect the topic on the side of the article.

The articles talk page has not been used for over a year. The article is rated S for beginners on the article finder.

In conclusion, The article computer memory is overall well on its way to being completed. The article has all the information it needs, is laid out well, and mostly written well. However the article does have a few basic things that could be fixed to take its rating from an S to probably a B rating.