KNOW IT ALL

In KNOW IT ALL Can Wikipedia conquer expertise? by Stacy Schiff, the topic of the use and creation of Wikipedia is discussed in great detail. Authority is defined as the trustworthiness, reliability, and appropriateness of something. In Schiff’s critique she ties in with Internet authority through her idea that there is error in Wikipedia through the Internet use of a wiki allowing everyone to share his or her information. The authority of the Britannica encyclopedia contains errors as well but the authority in this book is claimed to, “have a reputation not for unattainable perfection but for strong scholarship, sound judgment, and disciplined editorial review” (Schiff). The fact that anybody can make changes on the Internet steers it away from having authority. “there is no way to know which facts in an entry to trust”(Cauz). The Internet can be trusted to an extent but there is no verification of what specifically can be trusted without checking it amongst other sources other than the Internet. Knowledge Authority is held by anybody that has information no matter who they are, if it is correct and based upon an area that they know a lot about. For example I will know more about myself than anybody else, so I have the authority for that subject even though I am not a brilliant researcher. “a system that does not favor the Ph.D. over the well-read fifteen-year-old” (Schiff). All that matters is the knowledge that a person has and that it is correct, the person delivering the information doesn’t matter. Especially as the names of the people can be anonymous on Wikipedia the person behind the information could be anybody.

They Say I Say Readings

Chapter Two: “Her Point Is” The Art of Summarizing

There are a few reasons why summarizing is avoided, either an author doesn’t want to take time to go back and look deep at the text or they don’t want their ideas to be pushed to the side. Sometimes summarizing can be done n the wrong way and sound like a list, boring the reader from the beginning. Unless the summary is of a satirical nature, a good balance between the original authors writing and the writer’s point of view. It’s important to be able to summarize without putting your point of view on it just yet because otherwise it will be biased. A summary shouldn’t be too brief, if it is then it seems as if the author hasn’t actually paid attention to what they are talking about. Another situation that may happen when you can’t put yourself in the other person’s shoes is that you may begin to make assumptions and lump their point of views in with something they’re not. Although you should summarize by representing the author’s view you must also consider where you are trying to go with it. There are a variety of verbs that may be used to help specify what the author’s emotions or intentions are behind it.

Chapter Three: “As He Himself Puts It” The Art of Quoting

Quoting the exact words of somebody can be very powerful, more powerful than a summary if done correctly because it gives more credibility. Sometimes people may quote too much or too little, it’s important t find a good medium for your writing. A quote must be very relevant to your topic or point and it needs to be surrounded by information so that it’s not just left without any direction or relevance. Writing may change very rapidly so quotes should be checked throughout the process to ensure they maintain their relevance. Surrounding the quote should be an introduction and after the quote their should be an explanation of its worth and meaning. When using quotes, don’t rely solely on it, blend the author’s meaning and apply it to your own thoughts.