[WikiEN-l] Re: Crappy prose isn't the main "quality" problem.

[Wikiacc]

On 10/24/05, Daniel P. B. Smith <dpbsmith at verizon.net> wrote:
> The quality problem in our articles isn't "crappy prose." Sure, a
> sentence like
>
> "Implicit order means a system has hidden information which is not
> apparent based solely on direct observation."
>
> makes me wince.
>
> But improving the quality of an article is more than just rewriting
> crappy prose. Or checking facts. Or adding references. Or fixing
> typos. Or removing inaccuracies.
>
> As the -paedia root implies, a good encyclopedia article should
> teach. That means it should go beyond Gradgrind, facts, facts, facts.
> It should convey not data, not information, but knowledge. It should
> integrate and synthesize; it should be comprehensible to a wide range
> of readers, for example by having a progressive structure that gives
> the basics quickly without sacrificing detail later. It should be
> well balanced, giving suitably proportioned weight to all aspects of
> its subject. It should be analytical.
>
> It takes a _lot_ of work to do that.
>
> If you look at the Guardian criticisms, Mike Barnes complains that
> some of the writing in an article is "unhelpful." He thinks
> encyclopedia articles should be helpful.
>
> Alexandra Shulman complains that an article "inaccurate and unclear"
> and that "every value judgment it makes is wrong." She thinks
> encyclopedia articles should be not only accurate but clear, and that
> they _should present value judgements--sound ones._
>
> Mark Kurlansky complains of some factual details. No comment on the
> prose.
>
> Anthony Julius complains that an article is "purely factual and not
> in any way analytical." He thinks encyclopedia articles should be
> analytical.
>
> Claire Tomalin complains of minor accuracies, complains more about
> major _omissions_, and by the failure of the article to comment on
> the literary merit of Pepy's diary. She thinks an encyclopedia should
> provide balanced coverage of a topic. Like Shulman, she thinks  it
> should present sound value judgements.
>
> Derek Barker indeed complains of prose style.
>
> Robert McHenry complains that an article shows "no understanding of
> the cultural and historical contexts involved. In other words, it is
> a school essay, sketchy and poorly balanced."
>
> Most complain of inaccuracies, but characterize them as minor.
>
> Only one complains of bad prose.
>
> The others complain of articles that fail to be helpful; clear;
> present sound value judgements; be analytical; and provide balanced
> coverage of their subject.
>
>
> --
> Daniel P. B. Smith, dpbsmith at verizon.net
> "Elinor Goulding Smith's Great Big Messy Book" is now back in print!
> Sample chapter at http://world.std.com/~dpbsmith/messy.html
> Buy it at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1403314063/
>
>
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Well said.

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