This peer review discussion has been closed.
I've listed this article for peer review because… I have as of late become interested in the Middle East, and would like to know where the article could be improved.
Thanks, Master&Expert ( Talk) 09:19, 2 November 2008 (UTC)
Comments from Aude - I've made a bit of contributions to the article, some time ago, but holding off for now as I know it's a significant time investment to bring it up to FA quality. Getting it to GA quality seems feasible in the short term.
The key thing with a topic like this is that so much has been written about the Middle East. Thus, I really doubt that several of the websites used as sources are really the best sources available, for example, this European Jewish Congress webpage [1], the Progressive Policy Institute [2]. I would argue that the CIA Factbook [3] is also insufficient as a source. Maybe it would work for general facts/statistics like population, but it's definitely not suitable where it gives a historical or economic overview, since much better sources are available. The article cites a number of books and scholarly journal articles, which is good, and the article needs more of that. Though care is needed, since there is garbage out there in book form too. Books published through reputable publishers would be good.
The other thing is that the Middle East article needs to be a summary of the various subarticles, per WP:SUMMARY, and if the subarticles are a mess or poor quality, than I don't think summary style can be followed very well. I suggest looking at the subarticles, such as History of the Middle East, and also work to improve those at the same time the History section of the main Middle East article is improved.
A general comment is that I think there are too many pictures, in relation the amount of text. I would get rid of a bunch of them and take the gallery out. -- Aude ( talk) 15:38, 2 November 2008 (UTC)
This peer review discussion has been closed.
I've listed this article for peer review because… I have as of late become interested in the Middle East, and would like to know where the article could be improved.
Thanks, Master&Expert ( Talk) 09:19, 2 November 2008 (UTC)
Comments from Aude - I've made a bit of contributions to the article, some time ago, but holding off for now as I know it's a significant time investment to bring it up to FA quality. Getting it to GA quality seems feasible in the short term.
The key thing with a topic like this is that so much has been written about the Middle East. Thus, I really doubt that several of the websites used as sources are really the best sources available, for example, this European Jewish Congress webpage [1], the Progressive Policy Institute [2]. I would argue that the CIA Factbook [3] is also insufficient as a source. Maybe it would work for general facts/statistics like population, but it's definitely not suitable where it gives a historical or economic overview, since much better sources are available. The article cites a number of books and scholarly journal articles, which is good, and the article needs more of that. Though care is needed, since there is garbage out there in book form too. Books published through reputable publishers would be good.
The other thing is that the Middle East article needs to be a summary of the various subarticles, per WP:SUMMARY, and if the subarticles are a mess or poor quality, than I don't think summary style can be followed very well. I suggest looking at the subarticles, such as History of the Middle East, and also work to improve those at the same time the History section of the main Middle East article is improved.
A general comment is that I think there are too many pictures, in relation the amount of text. I would get rid of a bunch of them and take the gallery out. -- Aude ( talk) 15:38, 2 November 2008 (UTC)