User talk:Zechengding/sandbox

Article evaluation
The 2011 South Sudanese independence referendum article is overall a well-developed article in that it has a well-developed structure that divides the contents into different segments under different headings and subheadings. The result of doing so is that it creates a logically organized framework that makes it easy for future development. In its current state, I think there's a need to expand on the reaction part. More information needed to be provided in terms of how do the various ethnic groups in the region, as well as the international communities, reacted to the result of the referendum and the creation of the new state. Furthermore, the post-electoral issues section needs more information on it in order to inform the readers about the event's complex consequences on the people and politics in the region and, to a larger extent, the political momentum on the African continent, especially in those countries where a secessionist force exists. The tone of the article is fairly neutral and the perspectives are well balanced in that all the involving parties have their voice heard. Most of the references used are scholarly resources that are of high credibility.

Article Selections
I want to pick "Debt Trap Diplomacy" as the topic to develop on. After reviewing the existing contents, I found there's a lack of both structure and content especially for the section regarding African countries. Kenya is the only African country being mentioned, and the entire content has only three lines in length. I want to develop this topic in a fashion that touches on both the African financial crisis during the 70s and 80s as well as the new round of debt crisis in Africa in more recent times. The research will be likely to focus on the similar and different factors underlying the debt issue during these two periods, as well as the old and new external actors that hold a stake in the development of this trend. All of these contents will be presented from a neutral perspective, and opinions from different sides will be provided as well.

Zechengding's Peer Review by Vicentia Gyau
I liked how your addition to the article seems to have a clear focus, especially how you talk about the effects of the debt trap in African countries and divide them into positive and negative effects. It would be great if you could add more evidence of the effects of the debt trap in Africa.

I also like the fact that you chose to edit this article since it has such little content. It is great that you are adding a section about the debt trap in Africa.

Where I see room for development is in the area of citation and sources. You make very good points, but you do not have sources to back them. An example is the first sentence, which reads; "China is a major stakeholder in Africa’s economy and also impacts the continent’s politics in several ways"[from Zechengding sandbox]. Since this is a Wikipedia article, it is important to mention facts, and back the facts with sources/evidence. Other examples of claims that need citations include: "African countries owed China $10 billion in 2010." and "The debt, however, increased to $30 in 2016."

Another area that needs improvement is the tone of your addition to the Wikipedia article you are working on. Wikipedia articles should have a neutral tone, Wikipedia articles steer away from the academic writing style that most students are used to. I think you should use more neutral language and structure, where you state facts in a clear and concise manner. Also, you do not have to indent your edits/writing, as you would in an academic paper.

A way to improve the article is to give a brief history of how many African countries were able to borrow from China, and how these African countries found themselves in debt trap relations with China. This will improve the article by giving a background on the origin of debt relations between China and Africa since this will help readers of the article, have a better understanding of the how these relations came to be, and the effects as well.

I see a similarity between your article and mine (Development aid), in that China seems to be offering aid in the form of loans to most African countries, and this idea of foreign aid is not new to Africa and has been very problematic for the developmentof Africa.

Since the article seems to focus on China, it would be great for me as a reader to read more about China's economy and how they are able to lend to so many African countries. There is a section in the article that is titled "China"; however, there is little information on China in that section.

Vicentiagyau (talk) 06:06, 7 April 2019 (UTC)

Vicentia's Wikipedia Peer Review Article Confusion
Hi Zecheng,

I trust that you are well. I kindly write to inform you that you peer reviewed the wrong article for the Wikipedia peer review. The articles you peer reviewed were for another class I took two semesters ago. The article I am working on for the African Politics Class is Development aid.

I sincerely apologize if I did not make the article for peer review clear enough. The article I am improving for the African Politics class can be found in my sandbox under the section "Wikipedia Draft - African Politics (PS 146) Spring 2019". I would be extremely grateful if you could provide me with feedback on my edits.

Thank you and once again, I sincerely apologize for the confusion and for any inconvenience caused.

Vicentiagyau (talk) 07:08, 7 April 2019 (UTC)

Chander's Peer Review
I like the expansion for Africa that you are doing for this article. This article does a good job of breaking down China's role in debt-trap diplomacy in other countries but does not do a good job of breaking down its role in Africa.

You can improve your citations for the section you are adding to this article. I am seeing the "citation needed" indicator for some sentences in your section. Additionally, I would focus on writing some of the sentences in an even more neutral and concise manner. I have found that shorter sentences work best when summarizing a point clearly.

I would also suggest breaking down the sections to clearly state each point. Perhaps separating the negative and positive ways that Chinese investment has affected Africa into different paragraphs would help. Figuring out a solid structure to the article is something that I am working through myself with my article due to the amount of information I will be adding.

I would love to read more about the beginnings of Chinese investment in African countries and perhaps the reasons for why. I would also love to read more about the result of these investments within different countries. For example, did the leaders of the countries receiving the investments use the funds for public benefit or personal gain?

Adding citations
Zimbabwe, under Robert Mugabe, ceded massive national assets, including some strategic industries, to China upon default of its debt[1].

1.Porcaro, James (2009). "China's Engagement in Africa and Its Economic and Political Consequences" (PDF): 11. Retrieved 16 March 2019.