h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Getting Around in Chicago,Coping With Hassles. - A1923914
Author: dizzygillespiefromcrystallake - U207889

I'm not sure if this is to scattershot

You've got a decent start here, but as one who has been to Chicago enough to consider myself part of it (I grew up in the Chicago Land area, and between school outings and a few jobs that my parents had there, I grew pretty comfortable in the environment), I can think of a few things worth including here.

You covered pedestrian travel pretty well (though there is the nuisance of the occasional burned-out walking signal). But are there any hassles on busses or Taxis that one should know about? Is there a certain time of the day that one should avoid travelling (aside from Rush Hour?) ?


Aside from covering those types of things, I'd suggest writing this in the third person rather than in the first. Nothing wrong with first person, but it can help the readability of the text. Also, the mention of the Art Institute (a favorite place of mine as well ) is a bit out of context. If this were a more general entry on Chicago that covered places to visit, cheap ways to travel around, and good sites to see then that would fit in pretty well. You've got a more focussed article than that, however, so the reference may be a bit out of place.

Quite frankly, it's not a bad article IMHO. Certainly better than the first article that I tried to edit on h2g2 (over Michigan City, Indiana....I was such a lousy writer back then....)

This is looking rather like a one-stop entry. dizzygillespiefromcrystallake hasn't make a posting since this entry was put in Peer Review.

Are you there, dizzygillespiefromcrystallake?

*Waits with baited breath*

dizzy wil be passing the two-month barrier tomorrow.

I propose moving this to the Flea Market, unless you want to pick it up from here Afgncaap5?


Geggs

I think for the sake of form it should go to the FM anyway, and Afgncaap5 can pick it up from there if required.

So that's a second Second... again, can you send the email - as I said in the other place just now, I have trouble doing so with being away from my usual ISP...

I'd like to volunteer, but my knowledge of Chicago is a bit rusty these days. Along with that, I've not had time for much in the way of entry writing for quite some time now due to college work, etc.

Off to the Flea Market this goes, I suppose.

If Friar's not too busy he would be a good person to write it, or psychocandy if she's still around.

Failing all that I'd be willing to take it on. In case I should miss it could someone post when it's been moved?

Mea culpa,mea culpa, I just got a chance to check on my entry for the first time in a while. I had revised it twice with no replies and now all I've got is "shuffle it off to the flea market". Please ! Some constructive criticism. Thanx

Post 2?

Thanx for the speedy reply. Yes I would very much like to add this to the geographic entries. I'd be damn proud to add this,more info please.

An interesting entry, I have only been to Chicago once when I had to change planes at O'Hare. A few points;

1) You need to change this to third person per the Writing Guidelines, when this gets into the Edited Guide it will be there for many years and may need to be updated as things change and you personal experience may not apply to the person doing the update.

2) You mention downtown and Michigan Ave. It might be good to mention a few of the other areas for those who know nothing about the city.

3) you mention the busses and rapid transit but you don't say how often they run or hours of operation.

4) I do drive but when in a strange city I prefer using public transport when practical, so what is the best way to get into town from the airports? This is often the hardest thing to learn in a new city as you don't have a chance to check into things quickly. For instance I have been places where a $30 taxi ride can be replaced by a $3 train or subway ticket.

I'm not trying to be hard on you, only make this a good guide entry.

F S

Hello dizzyg...

This is a really good start. I agree with FS: you need to comply with the Writing Guidelines on A53209 to get this picked for the Edited Guide.

If you can face it, also worth looking at how to write in GuideML (not essential, but makes the sub-editors' job easier once it is picked) on A264520

Also, trundle along to the Members' Bar of the Geog Soc and have a look at some of the entries already picked for the Edited Guide. That'll give you an idea of the style of entries that seem to go down well here. Particularly good are Gnomon's entries on Cairo (don't have the links, but you can find them in Search - eventually!)

It won't take you long to work out how things work around here. People are really interested in new entries and suggestions that they make are to help create a better entry - not because they think they can do any better themselves!!


Frenchbean

Constructive criticism... here goes

Regarding your last paragraph, my own experiences of driving in Chicago (or rather, attempting to) have revealed that *all* times are peak times.

This will be a very useful entry, if executed properly. Right now it tries to cover too many topics, and none of them thoroughly. Nearly a third of your entry concerns your experience of the finer points of two museums even though you've titled your piece "Getting Around in Chicago". All of the personal experience bits need to go (as first person isn't generally allowed in the edited guide), as do any mention of museums since that isn't the focus of your entry.

On the transportation subject, I would focus on one type of transportation - for instance: public transportation - and leave off the driving and commuter bits. The Chicago highway system could definitely comprise an entire entry of its own just as, I'm sure, commuter options could.

The subway system needs some in-depth expansion including how the lines run, when they operate, where you can obtain a map (essential!) and perhaps a mention of passes, or the fact that CTA fares are good on busses and subways interchangably.

You could, if you like, include mention of some major attractions (Sears Tower, Navy Pier, Field Museum, Wrigley Field) and how best to reach them using the public transportation system.

If you wanted to expand this to include 'tourist' transportation, you could mention the trolleys, particularly the Navy Pier one, and the availability of taxis (with a fair warning to the faint of heart - A trolley driver once told me that the numbers on the tops and trunks of cabs in Chicago represent the number of accidents they've caused )

Good luck with this, I'd really like to see this kind of entry in the Guide

Hi dizzyg...

Here are some links that you might like to look at:
A1286921 is the h2g2 Royal Geographical Entry Society's Map Room, where we've gathered together some advice for people wanting to write a geographical entry
A1310329 is the Links Page, with links to good examples of various kinds of geographical entry
A1355195 - Hitchhiking Your Way Into the Edited Guide - is a good place to get some advice on writing your first entry, and somewhere else where you can get help
The Writing-Guidelines explain what the editors are looking for when it comes to entries to go into the Edited Guide

Now, there are a couple of things you'll have to change to meet the Guidelines, mainly taking out the first person 'I' references. Then you've got a choice of making it into an all-in article about the transportation system in Chicago, or alternatively there isn't actually an Edited Guide entry on Chicago itself, so you could expand it into an all-in entry on the Windy City.

A2082818 is Gnomon's entry on Cairo, a good example of an entry on a city as mentioned by Frenchbean
A48502 is the collective entry on the London Underground, talking about London's transport system.

I hope all this helps, and gives you a good idea of the kind of thing the Guide's looking for!

Finally, a piece of advice on using PeerReview. The best way of getting feedback is to respond to it, and post again when you've updated the article - otherwise it's not easy for people to notice when you've made changes. Also, if there's not much feedback coming in, it doesn't hurt to pop back and say 'hey, anyone got anything else to say?'. That also bumps the entry up to the top of Peer Review where it will more easily be noticed by people looking for articles to review. You can also do this just by popping in and posting the smiley.



Cheers,
Number Six

Thanx for the reply. You make several good points and I think I will be revising the entry extensivly. Hope you will glance at it when it's revised.

Thanx fr the reply. All of you that have replied have made good points about the entry. I especially appreciate the tips about what to look at for examples of a proper entry. I will revise and repost,hope you will peruse the result.

Hello dizzyg....

Just post here when you've done the changes to let us know to have a look... no worries!


F/b

You know, there are so many ignorant and ungrateful so-and-so's on here that abuse or ignore you when you try and provide some helpful advice that it's absolutely wonderful when someone comes back and says 'thanks'!



Glad to be of use! Let us know when you've changed it a bit...

Be seeing you,
Number Six

How did this end up in the Flea Market? dizzy's still working on it, right?