Help:Introduction to policies and guidelines/neutrality quiz: Difference between revisions

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Can you guess which of the following passages comply with Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Neutral point of view|Neutral Point of View policy]]?

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In 1958, [[Mao Zedong]] launched the [[Great Leap Forward]] that aimed to rapidly transform China's economy from [[Agrarian society|agrarian]] to [[Industrial society|industrial]]. However, his cruel disregard for the lives of his citizens led to the [[Great Chinese Famine|deadliest famine in history]] and the deaths of 20–46 million people between 1958 and 1962.

{{editing exercise

|1=Answer

|2=[[File:No Cross.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Not neutral'''. The information here is fine, but the characterization of Mao is not. {{!xt|cruel disregard for the lives of his citizens}} is an opinion and should not be stated as fact.

}}

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'''Michael Phelps''' (born June 30, 1985) is an American former competitive swimmer and the [[list of multiple Olympic medalists|most decorated Olympian of all time]] with a total of 28 medals. He has encountered legal trouble on several occasions. At age 19 in November 2004, he was arrested for [[drunk driving]] in [[Salisbury, Maryland]].<ref>{{cite Inweb February|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521064922/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/olympic-champ-sentenced-for-dui/ 2009,|title=Olympic aChamp photographSentenced ofFor PhelpsDUI using- aCBS [[bong]]News went|date=November viral;8, this2004 resulted|website=CBS inNews the loss of the [[Kellogg Company]] as a sponsor and a three|access-monthdate=May suspension by [[USA Swimming]]. In September 201421, he2024 was arrested again, this time on charges of drunk driving and speeding in [[Baltimore]], Maryland.}}</ref>

In February 2009, a photograph of Phelps using a [[bong]] went viral; this resulted in the loss of the [[Kellogg Company]] as a sponsor and a three-month suspension by [[USA Swimming]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521072055/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/sports/othersports/06phelps.html|title=Phelps Disciplines Over Marijuana Pipe Incident|date=February 5, 2009 |website=The New York Times|access-date=May 21, 2024}}</ref> In September 2014, he was arrested again, this time on charges of drunk driving and speeding in [[Baltimore]], Maryland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521073259/https://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/30/justice/michael-phelps-dui/index.html |title=Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps Arrested on DUI Charges |date=September 30, 2014| website=CNN |access-date=May 21, 2024}}</ref>

Extensive investigation into [[vaccines]] and [[autism]] has shown that there is no relationship between the two, causal or otherwise, and that vaccine ingredients do not cause autism.

{{editing exercise

|1=Answer

|2=[[File:YesNo Check CircleCross.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''NeutralNot neutral'''. WikipediaAn does not givearticle [[WP:UNDUEBALASP|should not give undue]] weight to [[Wikipedia:Fringe theories|fringeminor theoriesaspects]] notof supportedits bysubject. reliableWhile sources,Phelps likehas theindeed ideaencountered thatlegal vaccinestrouble causeon autism.several Thisoccasions, passageit iswould anbe appropriateinappropriate summaryto devote such a large portion of the scholarshipopening onparagraph theof this article to those topicoccasions.

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Extensive investigation into [[vaccines]] and [[autism]] has shown that there isfound no relationship between the two, causal or otherwise, and there is no evidence that vaccine ingredients do not cause autism.

The [[New York Yankees]] are one of the greatest baseball teams in history.

{{editing exercise

|1=Answer

|2=[[File:Yes Check Circle.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Neutral'''. Wikipedia does not give [[WP:UNDUE|undue]] weight to [[Wikipedia:Fringe theories|fringe theories]] not supported by reliable sources, like the idea that vaccines cause autism. This passage is an appropriate summary of the scholarship on the topic.

|2=[[File:No Cross.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Not neutral'''. {{!xt|Greatest}} is an example of [[WP:PEACOCK|peacock language]], which it is best to avoid. You should show instead of tell, using verifiable facts; it would be much better to instead write {{xt|The [[New York Yankees]] have won 26 [[World Series]] championships—almost three times as many as any other team.}}

}}

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'''Earth''' is the third [[planet]] from the [[Sun]] and the only [[astronomical object]] known to harbor [[life]]. While many people [[Spherical Earth|think that the Earth is spherical]], more and more people are coming to agree [[Modern flat Earth beliefs|that the Earth is actually flat]].

In 2017, Facebook partnered with fact checkers from the [[Poynter Institute]]'s International Fact-Checking Network to identify and mark false content, though most ads from political candidates are exempt from this program. Critics of the program accuse Facebook of not doing enough to remove false information from its website.

{{editing exercise

|1=Answer

|2=[[File:No Cross.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Not neutral'''. This is an example of [[Wikipedia:FALSEBALANCE|false balance]]. This sentence is true ([[modern flat Earth beliefs]] are indeed growing), but this phrasing is highly misleading as it leads the reader to think that there is substantive disagreement about the shape of the Earth. In reality, [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] have an overwhelming consensus on the shape of the Earth, to the point where the spherical Earth perspective is treated by Wikipedia as fact, and the flat Earth perspective is considered [[WP:FRINGE]], meaning it generally doesn't need to be mentioned.

|2=[[File:Yes Check Circle.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Neutral'''. This is a good example of how to note that a prominent point of view exists (appropriate) without taking that point of view in Wikipedia's voice (inappropriate).

}}

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The [[New York Yankees]] are one of the greatest baseball teamsteam in history.

According to [[Simon Wiesenthal]], the [[Holocaust]] was a program of extermination of the Jewish people in Germany, but [[David Irving]] disputes this analysis.

{{editing exercise

|1=Answer

|2=[[File:No Cross.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Not neutral'''. DavidCalling Irvingsomething {{!xt|the greatest}} is aan Holocaustexample denierof [[WP:PEACOCK|peacock language]], ain fringethis viewpointcase expressing an opinion that can't be supported by reliable sources. You should notshow instead of telling, using verifiable facts; it would be givenmuch better to instead write {{xt|The [[WP:PARITY|parityNew York Yankees]] withhave thewon 26 [[World Series]] championships — almost three times as many consensusas amongany respectedother historiansteam.}}

}}

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[[William Shakespeare]] is widely considered to be one of the greatest authors in the English language.

[[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess Diana]] died in a Paris hospital in 1997 after being injured in a tragic car crash.

{{editing exercise

|1=Answer

|2=[[File:Yes Check Circle.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Neutral'''. This is a proper description of a [[WP:REPUTATIONAESTHETIC|reputation]],. althoughCrucially, it is only possiblevalid because many high-qualityreliable sources have notedactually stated that Shakespeare has this reputation. The phrase {{xt|widely considered}} is important – while it is a fact that he is ''considered'' one of the greatest, it would be an opinion to directly callsay himthat he ''is'' one of the greatest.

|2=[[File:No Cross.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Not neutral'''. Even though her death is almost universally considered tragic, using the word {{!xt|tragic}} is still an inappropriate instance of [[WP:EDITORIAL|editorializing]]. Instead, use facts to convey the public response, such as {{xt|Media attention and public mourning were extensive after her death, and an estimated 2.5{{nbsp}}billion people watched her [[Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales|televised funeral]]}}.

}}

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{{editing exercise

|1=Answer

|2=[[File:Yes Check Circle.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Neutral'''. Wikipedia describes reputations, indicating the relative prominence of different viewpoints. When reputations are bad, Wikipedia should say so, without employing [[WP:FALSEBALANCE|false balance]].

For example, {{!xt|Critic A reviewed Cats positively, praising X, while critic B reviewed Cats negatively, criticizing Y}} is verifiably true, but still not acceptable as it isn't neutral. Writing that would be [[WP:FALSEBALANCE|false balance]], as it inaccurately summarizes an overwhelmingly negative critical reception as if it were evenly mixed between positive and negative reviews.

}}

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According to [[Simon Wiesenthal]], the [[Holocaust]] was a program of extermination of the Jewish people in Germany, but [[David Irving]] disputes this analysis.

Donald Trump has made [[Veracity of statements by Donald Trump|many false or misleading statements]] during his campaign and presidency, to a degree unprecedented in American politics. Many of his [[Racial views of Donald Trump|comments and actions]] have been characterized as racially charged or racist.

{{editing exercise

|1=Answer

|2=[[File:No Cross.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Not neutral'''. This phrasing puts these ideas side-by-side, presenting the Holocaust as a matter of opinion rather than historical fact. This is not neutral because David Irving's position of Holocaust denial is a [[WP:FRINGE|fringe viewpoint]] that should not be given [[WP:PARITY|equal standing]] with the consensus among respected historians.

|2=[[File:Yes Check Circle.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Neutral'''. Wikipedia's content should reflect that of reliable sources, even when it differs from a view held by a large portion of the general public.

When discussing David Irving, a neutral phrasing might look like this: {{xt|The [[Holocaust]] was a program of extermination of the Jewish people in Germany. [[David Irving]] is a [[Holocaust denier]], meaning he holds the false belief that the Holocaust did not occur.}}

}}

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'''Michael Phelps''' (born June 30, 1985) is an American former competitive swimmer and the [[list of multiple Olympic medalists|most decorated Olympian of all time]] with a total of 28 medals. He has encountered legal trouble on several occasions. At age 19 in November 2004, he was arrested for [[drunk driving]] in [[Salisbury, Maryland]]. In February 2009, a photograph of Phelps using a [[bong]] went viral; this resulted in the loss of the [[Kellogg Company]] as a sponsor and a three-month suspension by [[USA Swimming]]. In September 2014, he was arrested again, this time on charges of drunk driving and speeding in [[Baltimore]], Maryland.

{{editing exercise

|1=Answer

|2=[[File:No Cross.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Not neutral'''. An article [[WP:BALASP|should not give undue weight to minor aspects]] of its subject. While Phelps has indeed encountered legal trouble on several occasions, it would be inappropriate to devote such a large portion of the opening paragraph of his article to those occasions.

}}

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[[William Shakespeare]] is widely considered to be one of the greatest authors in the English language.

{{editing exercise

|1=Answer

|2=[[File:Yes Check Circle.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Neutral'''. This is a proper description of a [[WP:REPUTATION|reputation]], although it is only possible because many high-quality sources have noted that Shakespeare has this reputation. The phrase {{xt|widely considered}} is important – while it is a fact that he is considered one of the greatest, it would be an opinion to directly call him one of the greatest.

}}

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|2=[[File:No Cross.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] '''Not neutral'''. [explanation about [[WP:MANDY]]]

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[[Category:Wikipedia quizzes]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}