User:Smithali21/Evaluate an Article

Which article are you evaluating?
I am evaluating the article on United States' Containment Policy during the Cold war.

Why you have chosen this article to evaluate?
I chose this article because it is relevant to our coursework and a topic I don't know much about, yet I find interesting. This topic matters because it was a prevalent strategy employed by the United States against the spread of communism, impacting many geopolitical choices that were made in the Cold War. My preliminary impression of this page is that it appears well researched and thorough.

Evaluate the article
Lead Section:


 * The introductory sentence was concise, well thought out, and accurately summarized the topic of the article.
 * The lead section also clarified alternative meanings of the term, and connections to other concepts that may be related, which would help provide specificity and clarity to users.
 * The section is not too long, and all aspects covered in the lead correspond to sections in the article where they are explored in more depth.

Content:


 * Content was all applicable and thorough with no significant gaps or omissions.
 * Information is up to date and being updated regularly over multiple years as more research on the topic is done.

Tone and Balance:


 * Neutral tone, devoid of emotion or persuasion; no references to "most authors" etc., specific examples employed and used.
 * Some sections, such as the sections on Cuba or Afghanistan, seemed to be disproportionately smaller than the others than I would expect (although I am not a master of the subject). This may just reflect the available information or applicability of the subject, however. Likely does not reflect any personal biases.

Organization and Writing Quality:


 * Clearly and logically organized article that was easy to follow.
 * No identifiable grammar or spelling errors.

Images and Media:


 * Few images included with one image I find slightly irrelevant (image of a nuclear explosion to represent nuclear war. Not directly linked to containment specifically and wouldn't contribute to a visual learner's comprehension of containment).
 * Many links to associated articles for more information, which is helpful.

Talk page discussion:


 * Many important distinctions made in the talk page, such as the absence of Latin America in the article despite their importance. ￼
 * Many conversations about irrelevant information that may not need be included.
 * Some past claims about non-neutrality in the writing that has been rectified, as Reagan's role in the fall of the USSR remains disputed among historians. ￼

Overall impressions:


 * Well researched, concise, and interesting article.
 * The use of peer review and the talk page function is integral to the maintenance of an accurate and up to date Wiki Page. The popularity of the topic of containment likely contributed to rigorous editing and analysis that smaller, less known articles might not have.
 * A great starting place to begin one's inquiry into US foreign policy in the Cold War period.