CHOOSING SOURCES
In general, the layers of editorial review guarantee that IMSA instructors will find value in your source. The one exception will be Wikipedia entries, where anyone can post content and the adherence to accuracy as defined by a body of experts remains in question. Articles, books, and essays from university presses or that have undergone editorial scrutiny or peer review are acceptable. Websites are acceptable only where they possess a semblence of editorial credibility. Scrutiny of sources is a learned process and no easy set of parameters will hold here.
WHY WIKIPEDIA IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOURCE
IMSA students frequently bemoan criticisms of Wikipedia. What follows is a compendium of critiques of Wikipedia that explain why it cannot be used a source on IMSA research papers.
Wikipedia Founder Criticizes Wikipedia
A Study of Wikipedia's Accuracy
A Historian Critiques Wikipedia's Historical Content
Tech whiz David Winer criticizes Wikipedia
Falsifying History on Wikipedia
IF YOU BELIEVE EVERYTHING IN WIKIPEDIA . . .