The debate over accuracy on/of the Internet can be summarized in one word: Wikipedia.

Robert McHenry, a former editor of Encyclopedia Brittanica, describes the philosophy behind Wikipedia:

“1. Anyone, irrespective of expertise in or even familiarity with the topic, can submit an article and it will be published.

2. Anyone, irrespective of expertise in or even familiarity with the topic, can edit that article, and the modifications will stand until further modified.

Then comes the crucial and entirely faith-based step:

3. Some unspecified quasi-Darwinian process will assure that those writings and editings by contributors of greatest expertise will survive; articles will eventually reach a steady state that corresponds to the highest degree of accuracy. ”

Local criticism includes CU professors who panned the source’s citing of the “Flying Spaghetti Monster.”

Wikipedia aside, some very reputable newspapers make huge booboos. By far, the best site for debunking Internet myths and urban legends is snopes.com.

For next class (Wed.), find and edit a Wikipedia post. In your blog, link to the edited item and describe your changes. Visit this link for complete Wiki instructions.

For your group project, due March 8, your group must collaborate to write a thorough, 600-word or more post about a topic related to the Auraria campus with at least two sub-topics of 300 words each. A logical path would be an entry about St. Cajetan’s or the Tivoli Brewery. Your post must have at least three photos, and complete links to other Wikipedia items and external resources. For your presentation, prepare to discuss your methods of research, resources you used – both primary and secondary - and a list of the people your group talked to. You may want to produce a Powerpoint presentation for class so that you can include more photographs (Wikipedia may limit the number).  Link to your entries from your individual blogs. This project is 20 percent of your grade.