Thursday, July 06, 2006

Rules in a knife fight*

Interesting piece in Wired Campus about a professor who has given his students written directions for when they can cite Wikipedia.

[A] Wikipedia citation can be an appropriate convenience when the point being supported is minor, noncontroversial, or also supported by other evidence. In addition, Wikipedia is an appropriate source for some extremely recent topics (especially in popular culture or technology) for which it provides the sole or best available synthetic, analytical, or historical discussion.
He goes on to say it's unacceptable to use Wikipedia for any argument that is controversial or complex. And, of course, any citation absolutely must include the date/time when the quote was taken.

Pedagogy at its finest -- take a problem and turn it into a teaching moment. What are we looking for in a source to cite? (HINT: How would I use my Uncle Henry's analysis of the Vietnam War in a paper?) Why do we include citations? (HINT: try finding the 'government report' you saw mentioned in Newsweek)....



*From "Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid." The full line is something like 'Rules! Everybody knows there's no rules in a knife fight.' Sadly, this was not one of AFI's Top 100 Movie Quotes

3 comments:

Susan Payne said...

Ah...but it's in IMDB....copy and pasted (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064115/quotes):

Harvey Logan: Guns or Knives?

Butch Cassidy: Neither?

Harvey Logan: Pick.

Butch Cassidy: I don't want to shoot with you Harvey.

Harvey Logan: [Draws a big knife] Anything you say, Butch.
[Butch walks over to Sundance]

Butch Cassidy: [in a low voice] Maybe there's a way to make a profit in this. Bet on Logan.

Sundance Kid: I would, but who'd bet on you?

Harvey Logan: Sundance, when we're done, and he's dead, you're welcome to stay.

Butch Cassidy: [low voice, to Sundance] Listen, I don't mean to be a sore loser, but when it's done, if I'm dead, kill him.

Sundance Kid: [low voice to Butch] Love to. [waves to Harvey and smiles]

Butch Cassidy: No, no, not yet. Not until me and Harvey get the rules straightened out.

Harvey Logan: Rules? In a knife fight? No rules.
[Butch immediately kicks Harvey in the groin]

Butch Cassidy: Well, if there aint' going to be any rules, let's get the fight started. Someone count. 1,2,3 go.

Sundance Kid: [quickly] 1,2,3, go.
[Butch knocks Harvey out]

Flat Nose Curry: I was rooting for you all along, Butch

Butch Cassidy: Well, thank you, Flatnose. That's what sustained me in my time of trouble.

Woodson said...

Thanks for finding that. It is a wonderful scene -- even if he doesn't really say there are no rules in a knife fight. Would that we all had a Flatnose to sustain us.

Susan Payne said...

Amen to that...