User:RedEpsilon117/Evaluate an Article

Which article are you evaluating?

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Why you have chosen this article to evaluate?

I have chosen this article to evaluate because I have an interest in American literature, and having read the book, I have some background knowledge on which to help me evaluate this article.

Evaluate the article

(Compose a detailed evaluation of the article here, considering each of the key aspects listed above. Consider the guiding questions, and check out the examples of what a useful Wikipedia article evaluation looks like.)

The lead section appears to be well organized. It begins with the title of the novel/article, making it easy for readers to know what they are reading at a glance. The author is also immediately mentioned. The paragraph as a whole is balanced between cursory background information, a brief overview of the plot, and the novel's reception and legacy in American culture.

The summary of the plot is well detailed but not crowded. However, there is no section on analysis or interpretations of themes taken from the text; rather, there is only one sentence talking about "the concept of boyhood" within the section "Significance," but this does not actually discuss the themes of youth and maturity that run throughout the novel. Also within this section is a reference to a picture display created by the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Arts, Prints and Photographs, but it is not clear if these prints were made with explicit connection to the novel or what the impact of the display was to warrant its mention here (as opposed to further on in "Adaptations and Influences"). Other than these issues, the article sections appear to be complete. The tone presented is authoritative and neutral.

There are forty-one sources listed at the end of the article with information on everything from the novel itself to the ballet adaptations. For the most part, these sources seem reputable and trustworthy, ranging from academic journals to books, though there are some simple websites, such as "u-s-history.com". There is also a decently sized list of extended reading sources on the topic for those who wish to know details beyond the scope of the Wikipedia article. Similarly, there are links to editions of the book, which is available through public domain.

The writing quality is overall very good, though there are some instances of unclear phrasing or clunky wording. For instance, the part of the summary that describes Injun Joe's murder of Dr. Robinson makes it seem as though Injun Joe kills Potter after Potter is knocked unconscious by Robinson, when in fact this is not the case. Also, the section discussing differing editions of the novel should be revised to make the subject more clear, as it does not clarify which two editions it is talking about until further on in the paragraph.

There are a total of four images within the article, each with a well-detailed caption. The amount of images seems appropriate for the length and subject material of the article. They are well spaced throughout.

The Talk page reflects some of the issues mentioned above, specifically the shortcomings of the "Significance" section, which is lackluster and confusing. Others have also noted the lack of discussion on themes and analysis. Others have pointed out a lack of discussion on the satirical elements of the novel, which are an integral piece of Twain's writing.

Overall, I would say that this article is good, but could be better. Seeing as it is lacking some major elements, such as themes and satire, as well as some poor phrasing or misplaced items, there is definitely room for improvement. However, the plot summary and introduction sections, which would arguably be the most important pieces for a casual reader, are solid. If the aforementioned issues are fixed, then I believe the rest of the article would be up to the that first half's standard.