Wikipedia: Writing for the World

The article, written by Tardy (2010), depicts an “approach to introducing the skills of academic writing for L2 writers through the process of composing an article for the web-based encyclopedia site Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org)” (p.13). As Tardy (2010) states, “the term wiki refers to a collaborative web-based space that can be modified by any user” (p. 13), and Wikipedia is one of the most recognized wikis in the world.

Producing a piece of writing for Wikipedia is a great opportunity for Language 2 (L2) students to acquire academic literacy skills. Different skills have to be developed and several steps have to be followed in order to compose and publish Wikipedia articles.

Before writing, there must exist a suitable understanding of the website itself; general guidelines and kinds of topics should be closely examined. The second and third steps consist in gathering information and creating an outline. The fourth step is the creation of a first draft. Peer review is the fifth step, in which each student receives feedback on content, clarity, and style. Once revision has taken place, citation has to be considered in order to “avoid plagiarism”, as Keck (2006) claims (as cited in Tardy, 1993, p. 12). The next step is the final proofreading, in which close attention to spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation must be paid. In this stage, several phrases or words may be hyperlinked. Finally, the piece of writing is published for a global audience, and any reader may then add, change, or delete content.

            Tardy (2010) emphasizes that “in producing a text for Wikipedia, students gain a real sense of audience and enjoy the satisfaction of seeing their work published on a high-traffic global website” (p. 18). Academic writing seems to be challenging for L2 students who are eager to develop their academic skills.

References

Tardy, C. (2010). Writing for the world: Wikipedia as an introduction to Academic Writing. English Teaching Forum, 1, pp. 12-19, 27.