Using Wikipedia in Research

If you’ve ever had to do a research paper before, the title of this article may surprise you. We’re all told in school that Wikipedia is never a good source to use for research because it is a wiki space that anyone can edit. This is true, but I’m going to tell you that you’ve been using Wikipedia all wrong, and it is in fact an excellent source to find information on a topic.

If you don’t know what a wiki is, it’s basically a site the gives information on a specific topic that anyone can edit at any time. This poses a problem for Wikipedia because it makes it an invalid source of information in research. However, it always surprises me how few people actually know how to use Wikipedia properly. If you scroll down to the bottom of any Wikipedia article, you’ll see a references section. This is the bibliography that denotes every single source from which the information in the article was derived. You can click on those links and read the books listed there to find the information you’re looking for. In this way, Wikipedia becomes less of a wiki and more of a search engine. This applies not only to Wikipedia, but to any wiki, really.

This method of research is absolutely great for writing assignments in school or just for research in general. There are, in some cases, articles that do not have anything listed in the references section. These are the articles you’ll want to be careful of. If the author hasn’t provided a source to prove his information correct, it’s probably not an article you should take very seriously. There may also be a “see also” section following the article. In many cases, this can be very helpful also in finding information on sub topics pertaining to your research.

Please pass this information on. I hate to see people struggle with research when a perfectly good source of information is staring them in the face, just because their teacher or professor told them Wikipedia is a “banned” website.

Choose Better Words #2

Synonymy of 'important':

Crucial, Imperative, Serious, Significant, Urgent

What should I write about? (Nonfiction)

Hi everyone! I'm back again with that article on nonfiction inspiration finding - just like I promised :)

Coming up with ideas for nonfiction works is a bit less stressful. If you're writing an essay for college, you probably already have a topic to write about, so this is more geared toward people who want to write and publish a nonfiction work. Now there's something you should know about nonfiction. There are two basic writing styles in nonfiction. Possibility A: you're writing a paper in which you have to do research about a topic in order to formulate some sort of research paper, maybe for school or work. Possibility B: you already know a lot about a topic and want to write an ebook (or something of that nature) to teach people what you know. Maybe, even, you want to do blog.

Let's talk about scenario A first. In this case, there is good chance you already know what it is you want to research, but if not, just choose something that interests you. I happen to be really passionate about English and have hopes of one day being an English teacher, so I started this blog to do that. Think about those things that interest you and write about them! You can turn almost any topic into a nonfiction essay topic. Want to spend your time writing an essay on video games instead of on the physiological effects of longterm isolation in 3rd world countries? No problem! You can write an essay on how video games affect the brain and the affect they have on a person's life. Don't hear the term “research paper” and instantly get bummed out. I see this happen way too often. A student is given an assignment to write a paper on a topic of their choosing, and they instantly make the project miserable for themselves. Don't be that person. Write about what you love, and you won't go wrong. In fact, it will probably come out better than an essay on a topic you've never even heard of until now.

Let's now talk about scenario B. Writing ebooks, starting blogs, YouTube channels, and other ways of expressing one's self are become very popular these days. So let's assume there is something you already know lots about – like video games, for example. There is a bit of a problem posed in this case that was not apparent in the first scenario, and that is: will people really want to read your ebook on video games? Of course not. Why read a book about games when I can just go play one? This is why, in this situation, you have to make your audience want to read you work. You can do this a number of way. The most popular way is to combine your passion with something people want to read. Think of it this way. I don't want to read a report on the growth of watermelon, but I would love to read a report on recipes using watermelon for a party I'm throwing. That is where you, as the writer, come in. Anyone can write about something they know, but it takes time to turn what you know into something people would love to see.

I really hoped this helped you guys. I know this article may seem a bit more boring than the previous, but that's just how nonfiction goes. It can be a bit more “blah” than fiction. I'll be uploading an article next week on how to conduct research for a nonfiction work. It will be way more interesting. Trust me :)

Choose Better Words #1

Synonyms of 'Different':

Contrasting, Varying, Diverse, Distinct, Contrary

A Quick Update

This is just a quick update to let you guys know about a couple things. Firstly, new blog posts will be uploaded every Saturday. Secondly, I'm starting something I'm calling “Choose better words”. It will be a way for me to provide you with synonyms for commonly overused words. I would say I have a rather expansive vocabulary that stems from my experience writing. I want to share that with everyone else. In my endeavor to strengthen you vocabulary, I'll be posting these CBW posts every Thursday.

Thanks! I plan on expanding this blog more in the future. I hope you are enjoying yourself so far. If you've come across this site via Google or other means, be sure to spread the word. It really helps grow the blog and its community. Also, don't be afraid to take a moment to leave a comment. It helps me know what you guys want to see. Thanks again!

What should I write about? (Fiction)

Hello all! Logan here. Today is the first official post on the blog. YAY! In this article, I'll be covering how to start a story. I don't know about you, but when I first began writing for fun back when I was a child, the biggest obstacle I always faced was how to being. In fact, this was for just about anything I ever wrote as a child. If you're in that boat, never fear! I'm here to tell you that it's easier than you think! You just have to know the technique.

First, I'll cover how to start a story in a fiction work. Obviously, the first thing you need to do when getting ready to write a piece of fiction is to get an idea of what to write about. Before you can do that, though, you need to find some source of inspiration. A good writer always writes about themselves, in a way. Use your emotions and your personal experiences to craft an idea. Everyone leads a different life, and everyone has different experiences under their belt, so using your emotions a source of inspiration really helps you create a unique work. Also, if you're writing using what you really feel on the inside, your writing is sure to strong and have a very influential effect on your readers.

So now you know that good writing comes from your emotions and experiences. “But Logan! That doesn't give any ideas to write about!” I hear you cry. Not to worry – that's where other pieces of literature come in. It seems a bit ironic that you would resort to reading someone else's story to get an idea for your own, but truth be told, it really is a good and reliable way. Now of course I'm not saying you should copy it, that's not fun. It's also illegal. But try to think about how you change the story if you got the chance.

I'm sure we've all had that experience while reading a book where we think on thing is going to happen, and then something totally different happens. Every time that happens, take note of it. Realize it or not, you're writing a story in your head when you do that. So hold on to those thoughts, because they could serve as wonderful ideas for when you're writing your own story. You can use this same technique for movies and television shows as well. It really is a good way to get some good ideas. Also, when you're looking for something to write about, try listening to music. Maybe you've heard this one before, but it really does help. Good writing comes from your heart. If you really want to create a sad seen in a work, put on sad music and get yourself into the mood. That always works for me.

If you find yourself unable to come up with ideas, even after doing these things, don't worry. You're normal! It takes time to come up with good ideas and you shouldn't rush yourself. A good exercise it to just write about random things that you come across. Look up from your computer (or phone). Whatever you see, may it be a book, a person, a picture, or even a dirt sock, write about it! You might find that as you begin to write about this seeming random object, your brain starts to come up with ideas on its own. And that's a good way to get ideas for a story as well. Maybe don't write a book about that dirty sock, but use some of the ideas you got while writing about it. You never know when those random ideas might come in handy. A good writer is always ready to write down an idea that comes to mind. Keep your journal handy :)

I'll be uploading a second entry next week on how to generate ideas for a nonfiction paper.

An Introduction

Salut! Guten tag! Hola! Hello! Welcome to this amazing blog of epic proportions! My name is Logan. A writer from Louisiana, I’m here to help you improve your writing skills in any way I can. Writing is such a critical part of our lives – both for cultural reasons and business reasons – that having a grasp on the English language and how to use it is becoming more and more important as time goes on. We live in a world where the art of creative writing is a light fading on the horizon. Now more than ever, having the ability to write a piece of literature, may it me fiction or nonfiction, is growing difficult. This why this blog now exists. I hope to communicate with aspiring writers who share my passion for literature, and help them grow their skills into something amazing. So welcome. Welcome to a place dedicated to keeping the art of literature alive. Welcome to a place devoted to you, fellow literature enthusiasts. Welcome to Write with Wits.

It is my goal to post at least one article per week. These articles will be geared towards both seasoned writers and those new to this whole “writing” thing. I will also be structuring them in such a way that they will cover methods for both fiction and nonfiction composing. As I’m currently in school, one article per week is all I can manage at the moment, but as this blog and its community grow, I’ll be making it my responsibility to devote more time to providing regular content and keeping my readers happy. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor – it really means a lot to me.