TPO 6 integrated essay

The article and the lecture are both about the use of communal online encyclopedias. While the author focuses on several problems that make online encyclopedias less valuable than traditional one, the speaker presents the views that the advantages of these online encyclopedias outweigh its disadvantages.

First, while the lecturer agrees with the writer that the communal encyclopedias can be inaccurate in some cases due to the lack of academic credentials, he also claims that the traditional encyclopedias are not perfectly accurate either. That being said, if readers are to look for comprehensive references, they won't find what they need in neither online nor offline encyclopedias. Moreover, it is actually easier to find and correct mistakes on digital encyclopedias whereas errors on a printed encyclopedia book can remain intact for decades.

Second, the reading passage discusses the possibility that information on online encyclopedias can be fabricated or deleted by vandals and hackers without no one notices. The professor rebuts this argument when he cites two methods of protecting information on such sites. One is to put crucial information and facts in a special format that allows no one to make change to it. The other way is to designate special editors to check on information changes and prevent malicious hacking.

Third, it is believed by the author that the communal encyclopedias can form false impression of what is important since they focuses on a variety of topics, both trivial and popular. However, the speaker doesn't view this as a problem but rather one of their strengths. He further explains since online encyclopedias are not limited by space like their paper-based counterparts, they are capable of offering a wide range of topics that reflect the diverse interests of users.