Wikipedia. The first result that comes up when you do a search in Google. Teachers frown upon it and students relish in its abundance of information.
So what is the deal with Wikipedia? Is it okay to use as a source?
As a rule of thumb, you should NEVER cite Wikipedia as a written source. If you didn't already know, Wikipedia can be changed by ANYONE so you can't trust the information. I promise you there are better websites (and books) out there on the topic you're researching.
Now that I stressed to you that you shouldn't use Wikipedia as a written source, it is okay to use the images. They are public domain, meaning the copyright has expired or the author has allowed use by others. But, you should still cite the image.
Wikipedia can be used for their source list/bibliography (external links). Many times they have quality websites, but you should still give it the CRAP test (Is it current? Is it reliable? Are the authors reputable? Is it biased?).
Remember, DO NOT cite Wikipedia for its written material, but it is okay to use for its images and source lists.
As always, if you have a question about a website's credibility, please see me in the library. I can help you out!
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