Welcome!

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Hi Jwyj, and welcome to Wikipedia! I've written some advice for past students in a similar class at Longy School of Music which you might find helpful. You'll find it here. If you need help, check out Wikipedia:Questions, ask me on my talk page (User talk:Voceditenore), or place {{helpme}} here on your talk page, ask your question, and another editor will come along to help. You might also be interested in WikiProject Classical music and WikiProject Composers. They have various guidelines for articles in this area and talk pages where you can ask advice from editors experienced in writing articles on classical music and related subjects. You'll find these guides particularly useful: WikiProject Composers: Guide to online research and WikiProject Composers: Copyright guidelines. Happy editing and best wishes, Voceditenore (talk) 07:05, 29 June 2013 (UTC)Reply

Dear Voceditenore, I just figured out how to reply a post. Thank you for your warm welcome. I had to contribute to an existing article (Mark Chan) as part of a school project. I did a lot of research for my article (references are provided in the article) but it is now flagged as being biased, written like an opinion essay, and showing a close connection to the composer I wrote about. I would appreciate any assistance, please. Thank you very much, and I hope you are enjoying Italy! Jwyj (talk) 16:08, 9 August 2013 (UTC)Reply
Dear Voceditenore, I just wanted to update you that the issues with my article have been resolved. Thanks to your recommendation, I was assisted by kind editors from the Teahouse and beyond. Have a good time in Italy. Travel safe, Jwyj (talk) 03:43, 11 August 2013 (UTC)Reply

The Teahouse

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Me again. I'll be in Italy where I'll have very limited internet access for all of August. So I wanted to let you know about Wikipedia's Teahouse. It's a place providing great support for new editors. You can ask questions (no question is too basic) and get helpful answers and advice from experienced editors. Best, Voceditenore (talk) 07:05, 29 June 2013 (UTC)Reply

Looking terrific!

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Hi Jwyj! Congratulations on your article in your sandbox. It is looking mighty fine! L142sEnToSa (talk) 02:08, 5 August 2013 (UTC)Reply

  • Thanks, L142sEnToSa! I really appreciate your help so far. Wikipedia has been hard! I've been asking for help about my article and hopefully all the issues on it will be rectified soon. Jwyj (talk) 18:08, 9 August 2013 (UTC)Reply

Help me, please!

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I had to contribute to an existing article (Mark Chan) as part of a school project. I did a lot of research for my article (references are provided in the article) but it is now flagged as being biased, written like an opinion essay, and showing a close connection to the composer I wrote about. I would appreciate any assistance, please. Thank you very much. Jwyj (talk) 15:58, 9 August 2013 (UTC)Reply

Hi Jwyj! One of the most important parts about writing for Wikipedia is to make additions that are as neutral as possible, that is, we must ensure that what we write is from a point of view that is totally and completely unbiased. If what you wrote was tagged as biased, just go back and read it again as if you were a news reporter who writes about the words you wrote. When we really like someone notable, it can be very difficult to be "objective" about them, but that is exactly what we must be. Give it another try and see if you don't make it better and better! Joys! – Paine Ellsworth CLIMAX! 22:20, 9 August 2013 (UTC)Reply
Dear Paine Ellsworth, thank you for invaluable advice. I re-read my article and edited it so that only the bare facts remain. Could you have a look again and tell me how else I can improve on it, please? Thank you again. Jwyj (talk) 01:57, 10 August 2013 (UTC)Reply
You're welcome, Jwyj! To be honest, I really don't have a lot of experience critiquing articles. So be sure to take this into account. I read the article just now, and the thing that really jumped out at me is that there is so much about Chan from Chan himself. That really doesn't fly on Wikipedia. A quote or two at most from the article's subject is about all an article needs. This article still lacks objectivity because it needs much more balance from other sources, which means it must answer the question, "What do books, magazines and newspapers say about Chan?" instead of "What does Chan say about Chan." So in my humble opinion, you need to continue to improve the article so it doesn't sound as if Chan is writing the article about himself. Oh! and feel free to respond here, because I will check back periodically. And yet, if it's been awhile, don't hesitate to post a message on my talk page. Joys! – Paine Ellsworth CLIMAX! 08:16, 10 August 2013 (UTC)Reply
Congratulations on getting the hang of what was wanted so quickly, Jwyj. I wish I could say I was that quick on the uptake. There's a page on a Chan production here: http://www.newvisionfestival.gov.hk/2012/eng/music_bird.php which refers to him as a 'renowned Singaporean composer'. Afraid it doesn't tell us any more about the production than you already have from other sources, but at least it's a 'gov.hk' release - so it's not Chan calling himself 'renowned', it's the Hong Kong government.RLamb (talk) 15:09, 10 August 2013 (UTC)Reply
Wow, RLamb and Paine Ellsworth! Thank you so much. I will make the changes right now. I'll take out the quotes and use the gov.hk reference. Do you know how I can get Wikipedia editors to change the "multiple issues" box at the top of the article if my changes meet their requirements? Thank you!
Great work, my friend! The Banner talk 17:06, 10 August 2013 (UTC)Reply
Thank you, The Banner! Wiki has been hard, but it's nice to know there are kind editors such as yourself, RLamb and Paine Ellsworth who are willing to help newbies like me. Could you review my article to see if it still warrants a multiple issues warning, please? With appreciation, Jwyj (talk) 20:37, 10 August 2013 (UTC)Reply

A barnstar for you!

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  The Half Barnstar
For your recent teamwork in improving an article via a courteous discussion at the Teahouse. You can find the other half at User talk:Cullen328.

Good on the rest of you, too! I'd leave you guys barnstars, but who ever heard of a barnstar with more than two halves?   – Philosopher Let us reason together. 23:19, 10 August 2013 (UTC)Reply

Thank you, Philosopher! This is a pleasant surprise. I appreciate it very much.Jwyj (talk) 03:47, 11 August 2013 (UTC)Reply