User:Wilsonk05/Evaluate an Article

Evaluate an Article: Effects of Hurricane Irene in New York

Which article are you evaluating?
Effects of Hurricane Irene in New York

Why you have chosen this article to evaluate?
I chose this article as I am from NY and hurricanes was one of the topics that a course I took this semester discussed.

Lead section
A good lead section defines the topic and provides a concise overview. A reader who just wants to identify the topic can read the first sentence. A reader who wants a very brief overview of the most important things about it can read the first paragraph. A reader who wants a quick overview can read the whole lead section.


 * Does the lead include an introductory sentence that concisely and clearly describes the article's topic?
 * Yes, the first sentence states that the article will discuss the effects and the impact that the hurricane had on different areas in NY.
 * Does the lead include a brief description of the article's major sections?
 * there is a content section
 * Does the lead include information that is not present in the article? (It shouldn't.)
 * No
 * Is the lead concise or is it overly detailed?
 * The lead section is concise, however it could tie in some of the other components of the content section so it provides a better summary of the overall article.

Content:
 * Is the article's content relevant to the topic?
 * All of the content is relevant to the topic. Showing in the economic and social impacts of the hurricane.
 * Is the content up-to-date?
 * Not all content is up to date as the orange county shows section shows it needs to be updated.
 * Is there content that is missing or content that does not belong?
 * There are some missing citations in this article. I would have wished to read about the health effects of the hurricane and how those who face homelessness were effected. Also how large the shelters were for people.
 * Does the article deal with one of Wikipedia's equity gaps? Does it address topics related to historically underrepresented populations or topics?
 * This article did not mention the vulnerable groups that were effected by the hurricane, but if this information were to be added it would strengthen the article.

Tone and Balance
Wikipedia articles should be written from a neutral point of view; if there are substantial differences of interpretation or controversies among published, reliable sources, those views should be described as fairly as possible.


 * Is the article neutral?
 * yes
 * Are there any claims that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?
 * no
 * Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?
 * no
 * Are minority or fringe viewpoints accurately described as such?
 * no
 * Does the article attempt to persuade the reader in favor of one position or away from another?
 * no

Sources and References
A Wikipedia article should be based on the best sources available for the topic at hand. When possible, this means academic and peer-reviewed publications or scholarly books.


 * Are all facts in the article backed up by a reliable secondary source of information?
 * not all the information has sources
 * Are the sources thorough - i.e. Do they reflect the available literature on the topic?
 * yes
 * Are the sources current?
 * yes, sources were current from the years before and after the hurricane
 * Are the sources written by a diverse spectrum of authors? Do they include historically marginalized individuals where possible?
 * the article does not discuss the vulnerable populations affected by the hurricane and this could increase the diversity of authors contributing to this article.
 * Check a few links. Do they work?
 * yes

Organization and writing quality

 * Is the article well-written - i.e. Is it concise, clear, and easy to read?
 * It is easy to read, not much difficult jargon
 * Does the article have any grammatical or spelling errors?
 * I did not see any grammatical or spelling errors
 * Is the article well-organized - i.e. broken down into sections that reflect the major points of the topic?
 * the sections of the article are neatly organized and flow nicely for one to understand

Images and Media

 * Does the article include images that enhance understanding of the topic?
 * yes and it includes a short video
 * Are images well-captioned?
 * yes
 * Do all images adhere to Wikipedia's copyright regulations?
 * yes
 * Are the images laid out in a visually appealing way? yes

Overall impressions

 * What is the article's overall status?
 * This article is a nice base, but more information could be added to strengthen the article.
 * What are the article's strengths?
 * The organization and media in the article are great
 * How can the article be improved?
 * More information regarding the health effects of the hurricane, how long cleanup efforts took and those involved with them, and vulnerable communities that were impacted. Also total number of deaths that were from the hurricane. Maybe add a section on the short and long term (if any) effects of the hurricane
 * How would you assess the article's completeness - i.e. Is the article well-developed? Is it underdeveloped or poorly developed?
 * Underdeveloped