User talk:Hksuddut


 * The article that I have chosen is titled "Light as a feather, stiff as a board." This article has not been worked on since 2008, and it suffers from a few drawbacks, which I intend to attempt to correct. My main concern is to fix the citations and add proper citations to the article. This is because the citations on the article are very dated, meaning some links do not work and others are trapped behind paywalls-- besides this, some citations are also invalid or not representative of proper citations. My plan for these citations is to update them with more current sources, and remove those that do not have reasonable evidence.


 * Next I plan to work on some of the grammar used in the article to make sure the language is more consistent and appropriate. I will attempt to remove any and all slang and replace it with highly specific words.


 * I may add a new section to discuss the validity of the "'Light as a feather, stiff as a board" phenomenon. Here I will summarize and paraphrase source content which discusses the phenomenons associated with this children's game. I will attempt to paint both sides of the picture, with views from the side which supports the phenomenon and views from the side that believe the phenomenon can be explained with science.

Research To-Do List

 * 1) Find sources using the UM Library regarding the history of the game
 * 2) Use google to help find explanations for the phenomenons associated with the game
 * 3) Find scholarly material (if possible) to help support opposing viewpoints of the phenomenons.
 * 4) Use google scholar and UM library search to help find old sources linked in this article
 * 5) Update sources accordingly

Example Article

 * Ring a Ring o' Rosie []


 * This article is well-documented and the flow of information is much more natural than in the article I am working on. I hope to get my article on track to look similar to this article.

Issues Found During Research

 * Samuel Pepys does not seem to be the primary source of the information. His friend, Mr. Brisband, seems to be the primary observer. Also, the sighting of the four girls occurred in France, not London. []
 * Article may be focusing on the wrong phenomenon. Light as a feather, stiff as a board is just a name for a specific type of children's levitation play. This article should define levitation play, its components, and then delve into light as a feather, stiff as a board. Levitation citation. []
 * One of the focal points for this game is the idea that the liftee or actor is dead-- the children's chants usually confirm this idea and the levitation is supposed to represent resurrection or ascendance.
 * This ritual or game does not have any clear or identifiable rules or regulations-- it seems that it is different each time it is played. Maybe provide 3-5 citations to YouTube videos that show the trick is different each time.