Project:Sourcing
Proper sourcing of information is important to ensure the accuracy of this wiki. Sourcing, also called referencing or citing, means providing a place where information can be verified, such as a link to a website, a page or chapter of a book, or even a sign located somewhere on campus.
Finding sources
Where you go to look for sources will depend on what needs sourcing. The Warwick website is a good place to start for many things. The Boar website is good for current news items. For historical events, try older issues of The Boar (or its predecessors, Campus and Giblet). Many issues are available online, and are also contained in the University of Warwick Archive at the Modern Records Centre, along with many other useful publications, photos and documents: check their online catalogue.
How to source
Once you have found a suitable source, it should be inserted into the page between <ref> tags using the {{citation}} template. In the source editor, this will look like:
This is a statement that needs to be sourced.<ref>{{citation|title=A Source|...}}</ref>
Then, at the bottom of the page, do
== References ==
{{reflist}}
Overall, this produces the following (the heading has been replaced with a false heading to prevent it appearing in the table of contents):
This process is a bit different in the visual editor. The <ref> tags will be generated automatically using the "Cite" option in the toolbar, and the {{citation}} template can be inserted using the "Insert" menu in the resulting pop-up. The "References" section with the {{reflist}} template will still need to be added manually at the bottom of the page.
Citations can also be named and reused. In the source editor, name a citation by using a name attribute in the opening <ref> tag, so like
<ref name="named-citation">{{citation|title=A Source|...}}</ref>
This can then be reused using <ref name="named-citation"/>.
In the visual editor, this option is also available in the "Cite" menu.
Reliable sources
It is quite important that sources are reliable and can be trusted. Avoid using social media posts from unofficial, meme or gossip accounts, and always use a source such as an official website or professional publication where possible.
Multiple sources
While you don't want to go overboard with too many sources, it can often be beneficial to have a few. An example of when this might be appropriate is if there's one very reliable, but somewhat innacessible, source, and another less reliable but very easy to access source.
Cases where there are no sources
In some unusual cases, articles may be written around topics for which there are no good sources or documentation, requiring original research and possibly some educated guessing. In these cases, it is acceptible to ommit sources, but it is suggested that you explain your reasoning as thoroughly as possible. These cases may include
- documenting Warwick's technical infrastructure and systems;
- explaining the locations of rooms and nearby facilities.
Marking unsourced statements
If you encounter a statement that is unsourced but that you think should be sourced, mark it with the {{citation needed}} template.
