365:? Primary-source opinion pieces take many forms, including editorials and op-eds, advice columns, book and film reviews, press releases, position statements, speeches, autobiographical content, interviews, legal testimony, marketing or activism materials, and overly personalized instances of investigative journalism. Such content often appears in publications that otherwise provide the kinds of secondary-source material on which Knowledge (XXG) mostly relies, such as newspapers.
376:, or other conglomeration and summarization of material from numerous other sources. Such works are often not written by experts, contain material that is already obsolete by the time the work is published, gloss over important distinctions and limitations in previously published research conclusions, and may reflect a strong editorial bias. Tertiary sources are better than no sources, but they do not stand up to challenge from secondary ones.
111:
32:
209:(e.g. in a sandbox page or a text editor), in wiki markup and in sentences, or at least easily reusable sentence-fragment form, and already carefully rewriting to avoid plagiarism. Start with the first sentence and work your way down. It might look something like this, including square-bracketed notes based on sources already cited in the article:
349:
provisionally cited in
Knowledge (XXG), with attribution (e.g. to the author, the research team, or to the paper); a secondary source should also be provided when available, as primary claims are always suspect – current research is constantly being overturned by newer research. For science material, the usual secondary source is a
151:, on the domestic cat breed, like most cat (and dog, and horse, and orchid, etc.) variety articles needed a lot of work as of late 2011. In particular, even though it linked to many current breed standards, it was missing information on the early history of the variety. Google Books actually turns out to be very useful for old "
95:
369:
changing views of the topic over time). A general rule of thumb in research is that very old sources, or sources close in time to an event (i.e. "old" after a few months have passed and more analysis has been done by other writers) should be treated as if they are primary sources like eye-witness accounts and opinion pieces.
195:
Attention was first drawn to this chapter because of its mention of similar cats in
Cornwall and Crimea, details other sources so far had not discussed. But there is actually a quite large number of facts (i.e., in Knowledge (XXG) terms, nontrivial statements of fact from an independent, non-fringe,
368:
The work is outdated and does not reflect current expert consensus about the matter at hand. In such a case, the newer sourcing should be used. Include the contrary viewpoint, attributed to its author, only if it seems pertinent to continue including it (e.g. to highlight a controversy, or to cover
178:
The suppression of the tail constitutes one of the characteristic features of the breed. Manx cats by no means breed true to type, any more than the bob-tailed sheep-dog or schipperke does, and if the aborted caudal appendage is removed, it makes the cat quite as good as though it had been born with
130:
of a single fact in an article. Most often the editor has found this source via a search engine, or perhaps even a library visit, seeking a source for a detail in an article, some pesky tidbit without a citation. This common approach tends to miss many opportunities to improve both the content and
356:
The item you want to use is a subjective opinion. You may still be able to use it, as a primary source, if you attribute the claim directly, either to the author(s) of the piece you are citing (if notable, e.g., "According to Jane Q. McPublic ..."), or to its publisher (e.g., "According to a 2017
310:
As this simple test case demonstrates, even sources that appear to be near-trivial in their brevity can often, if they are reliable, be used to source far more material than they seem capable of at first glance, especially if they relate (negatively or positively) to material in other sources (so
340:
The work is a specialist piece by an expert on a particular topic, but the detail you wish to use is from a completely different field, and the author, with no credentials in that field, doesn't provide a source. This arises frequently in non-fiction books. Look for corroborating material from
348:
journals, such material mostly takes the form of the newly-collected data and results/conclusions material in the article or paper (and the summary of this material in the abstract); there may be many pages of secondary-source material leading up to and supporting it. Primary research is often
134:
This tutorial offers a very short but real-world example of how to "mine" a source– to really work it like a pocket of ore for every last bit of verifiability gold. In addition to noticing facts in your source that are missing from the article, and noticing that your source can also provide a
323:
Care must be taken not to apply this approach to works that are not actually reliable sources for the material in question. A source is mainly about one thing or two, but it may have other points that can be used to expand an article. This must, however, be done within allowable limits of the
336:
The work is a magazine article or other piece of lower-end journalism, mentioning something in passing or as a side comment, without any indication what the ultimate source is. Many "factoid" sidebars and tables in regular news articles are also in the "low-end journalism" category, as they
204:
It is tempting to simply skim this source and edit the article for a point or two and move on, but it's quite easy to miss something (indeed, the fact that Manx cats were thought of by Barton as scarce and possibly even declining was missed until preparation of this essay). It is best to
103:
Sources are rarely plundered for all they are worth, and articles with "citation needed" tags often already have sufficient sources that simply have been under-utilized. Most new sources added for a detail or two can also be dug into for additional sourcing
353:. We like to have both, because secondary sources indicate acceptance by other experts and are more understandable by more readers, while primary ones provide details and are especially useful to university students and experts using Knowledge (XXG).
139:, having two rarely hurts, can provide a cushion if something is found faulty with the other source and it is deemed unreliable or its link goes dead, and can provide backup sourcing if a third, questionable, source challenges the first.
135:
citation for more facts already in the article than the one(s) you were most concerned about, you can also often double-up citations on a fact that already has one source cited. While the average fact in an article
159:(1903) with a detailed if short chapter on the Manx. This piece was "mined" first, and the Knowledge (XXG) article vastly improved with it, but this was too rich and complex an example to make a good case study.
188:
If a short tail is present, it should be removed whilst the kitten is a few days old, and there is no doubt that many spurious Manx cats exist, as the result of this simple operation, practised for deception.
315:
is followed carefully). This remains true long after they are cited, since a newly "discovered" source may re-open a dynamic between the earlier, already-mined sources and the article as it evolves.
520:
131:
the sourcing of articles; it's akin to stopping at a grocery store for bread and nothing else, rather than "working" the store for an hour with a long shopping list and an eye for bargains.
179:
a total absence of tail. It is the absence of tail that gives the peculiar appearance to the Manx Cat, being akin to that of the rabbit in the hinder part, owing to the length of the limbs.
274:
Black was the most common color of the original, native Manx breed being written about at the turn of the last century, before controlled breeding of cats became a big deal.
175:
The Manx cat—the origin of which is involved in obscurity—chiefly exists in the Isle of Man, and has been found also in the Crimea and
Cornwall. Few specimens are now found.
515:
155:" like the Manx, because it tends to have the full text of sources that are no longer covered by copyright. One such source was Charles Henry Lane's
468:
391:
in which the editor is deciding what is and isn't true and warping
Knowledge (XXG) content and citations to fit this personal pre-conceived notion.
302:
After all of this is worked into the article, it's good to re-read the source; often a salient point will have been missed the first time around.
480:
171:
by Frank
Townend Barton (1908). Since it is out of copyright, and quite short, we can just quote the full text of his "The Manx Cat" here:
48:
344:
The claim you want to cite is a novel conclusion reached by the author of the piece; this makes it a primary source for that claim. In
505:
446:
17:
451:
40:
510:
257:
of partially-tailed Manx, though he later also specifically states that this is sometimes done for fraudulent purposes.
500:
283:
Docking was sometimes performed for fraudulent purposes, to pass off regular cats as Manx by cutting their tails off.
463:
485:
441:
380:
337:
frequently misinterpret and misrepresent the data on which they are based. Look for the real sources of the data.
182:
With reference to colour of coat, the Manx may be of any colour, but probably black is most frequently met with.
277:
Barton is actually quite hostile to the breed, and his derogatory remarks are worth quoting directly in full.
167:
A more appropriate example for this page's purpose was found a bit later. It is a much shorter chapter, from
185:
There is nothing whatever to recommend the breed, whilst the loss of the tail in no way enhances its beauty.
52:
21:
383:" by only citing sources (or parts of sources) that agree with the claim you want to include. This is a
136:
62:
287:
A quick scan shows that what we can glean from and source to this article – what we can determinedly
244:; i.e. not every pure-bred individual exhibits all defining traits of the breed, like taillessness.
384:
325:
312:
292:
373:
350:
329:
119:
254:
247:
This is also true of various, though not all, other pure-bred varieties of domestic animal.
388:
196:
apparently reliable, professionally published work) to be dug like gems from this source.
47:
It explains concepts or processes used by the
Knowledge (XXG) community. It is not one of
362:
123:
192:
Yep, that's the entire chapter. At first glance, it hardly seems worth bothering with.
110:
262:
Tail suppression is the most visually obvious of the breed's defining characteristics.
127:
494:
157:
Rabbits, Cats and Cavies: Descriptive
Sketches of All Recognized Exhibition Varieties
16:"WP:MINE" redirects here. For the Knowledge (XXG) policy on page possessiveness, see
231:
As of 1908, the breed was uncommon. Barton implies clearly that they are declining.
410:
291:
from it – is, in combination with other facts that have to be connected (without
122:, such as to a newspaper or magazine article, a book chapter, or other hopefully
345:
299:! And that's before we've written it out in reader-friendly, explanatory prose.
234:
One of the defining characteristics of the breed is "suppression" of the tail.
241:
268:
With short or no tail and long legs they thus have a rabbit-like rear half.
114:
Mining information requires the right reliable source and lots of hard work.
361:
article ..."). If neither are notable, are you sure the source is actually
152:
148:
332:, because a case of misuse of material can arise for multiple reasons:
280:
Docking of non-rumpy specimens was performed not long after birth.
330:
the distinctions between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources
295:) to and weighed against the details in this source, actually
89:
26:
409:
Barton, Frank
Townend (1908). "The Siamese—Abyssinian—Manx".
372:
The work is a tertiary source, like a topical encyclopedia,
237:
It is not the only defining characteristic of the breed.
412:
The Cat: Its Points and
Management in Health and Disease
169:
The Cat: Its Points and
Management in Health and Disease
118:
It is very common for Knowledge (XXG) editors to add a
77:
70:
521:
Knowledge (XXG) essays about building the encyclopedia
219:
Similar cats were also found in Cornwall and Crimea.
297:
more material than the entire full text of the source
216:Most specimens were then found on the Isle of Man.
20:. For WikiData's ContentMine-based project, see
226:Cornwall is not very far from the Isle of Man.
8:
469:Knowledge (XXG):Identifying reliable sources
481:Knowledge (XXG):Reliable sources checklist
415:. London, England: Everett & Co. p. 31
341:actual experts in that other discipline.
109:
49:Knowledge (XXG)'s policies or guidelines
401:
213:The Manx's ultimate origin is unknown.
447:Knowledge (XXG):Neutral point of view
328:. One must be aware in particular of
326:Knowledge (XXG) core content policies
200:Mining this source for all it's worth
18:Knowledge (XXG):Ownership of articles
7:
516:Knowledge (XXG) essays about editing
452:Knowledge (XXG):No original research
51:, and may reflect varying levels of
14:
93:
30:
387:approach, a fallacious form of
265:Manx also have long back legs.
464:Knowledge (XXG):Citing sources
22:Wikidata:Wikidata:WikiFactMine
1:
506:Knowledge (XXG) how-to essays
486:Knowledge (XXG):Cherrypicking
442:Knowledge (XXG):Verifiability
153:natural or traditional breeds
137:does not need seven citations
271:Manx are of any coat color.
319:A caution on misapplication
537:
60:
15:
128:source the verifiability
101:This page in a nutshell:
511:Knowledge (XXG) sources
501:Knowledge (XXG) how-to
250:Barton actually twice
190:
115:
199:
173:
113:
207:make a list of facts
39:This help page is a
116:
389:original research
374:coffee-table book
351:literature review
108:
107:
88:
87:
528:
424:
423:
421:
420:
406:
126:publication, to
97:
96:
90:
80:
73:
34:
33:
27:
536:
535:
531:
530:
529:
527:
526:
525:
491:
490:
433:
428:
427:
418:
416:
408:
407:
403:
398:
363:reliable at all
321:
308:
293:novel synthesis
202:
165:
145:
143:Example article
94:
84:
83:
76:
69:
65:
57:
56:
31:
25:
12:
11:
5:
534:
532:
524:
523:
518:
513:
508:
503:
493:
492:
489:
488:
483:
472:
471:
466:
455:
454:
449:
444:
432:
429:
426:
425:
400:
399:
397:
394:
393:
392:
381:cherry-picking
377:
370:
366:
359:New York Times
354:
342:
338:
320:
317:
307:
304:
298:
290:
285:
284:
281:
278:
275:
272:
269:
266:
263:
260:
259:
258:
253:
248:
238:
235:
232:
229:
228:
227:
224:
222:
217:
214:
201:
198:
164:
163:Example source
161:
144:
141:
106:
105:
98:
86:
85:
82:
81:
74:
66:
61:
58:
46:
45:
37:
35:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
533:
522:
519:
517:
514:
512:
509:
507:
504:
502:
499:
498:
496:
487:
484:
482:
479:
478:
477:
476:
470:
467:
465:
462:
461:
460:
459:
453:
450:
448:
445:
443:
440:
439:
438:
437:
430:
414:
413:
405:
402:
395:
390:
386:
382:
378:
375:
371:
367:
364:
360:
355:
352:
347:
346:peer-reviewed
343:
339:
335:
334:
333:
331:
327:
318:
316:
314:
305:
303:
300:
296:
294:
288:
282:
279:
276:
273:
270:
267:
264:
261:
256:
251:
249:
246:
245:
243:
239:
236:
233:
230:
225:
223:
221:
220:
218:
215:
212:
211:
210:
208:
197:
193:
189:
186:
183:
180:
176:
172:
170:
162:
160:
158:
154:
150:
142:
140:
138:
132:
129:
125:
121:
112:
102:
99:
92:
91:
79:
75:
72:
71:WP:SOURCEMINE
68:
67:
64:
59:
54:
50:
44:
42:
36:
29:
28:
23:
19:
474:
473:
457:
456:
435:
434:
417:. Retrieved
411:
404:
358:
322:
309:
301:
286:
240:Manx do not
206:
203:
194:
191:
187:
184:
181:
177:
174:
168:
166:
156:
147:The article
146:
133:
117:
100:
41:how-to guide
38:
458:Guildelines
252:recommended
495:Categories
419:2011-11-18
396:References
385:fraudulent
306:Conclusion
242:breed true
379:You are "
63:Shortcuts
53:consensus
431:See also
313:WP:SYNTH
311:long as
149:Manx cat
124:reliable
120:citation
436:Policy:
255:docking
78:WP:MINE
475:Essays
104:value.
289:mine
497::
422:.
55:.
43:.
24:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
