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Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Texas State University/Introduction to public administration (Fall 2016)

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Course name
Introduction to public administration
Institution
Texas State University
Instructor
Emily Kay Hanks
Wikipedia Expert
Ian (Wiki Ed)
Subject
public administration
Course dates
2016-09-09 00:00:00 UTC – 2016-12-07 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
35


Course description: The organization and management of the machinery for executing public policies, with particular emphasis upon the Federal bureaucracy.

Student Assigned Reviewing
Aam156 National Partnership for Reinventing Government Rational-legal authority
B p145 Hollow state POSDCORB
Mirandaminer Issue network Rational-legal authority
Korina-NP Rational-legal authority Issue network
Ese.agho POSDCORB National Partnership for Reinventing Government
Samanthareds Issue network New Public Administration
AnthonyP11 New Public Administration Hollow state
Genepride Zero-based budgeting Rational-legal authority
Tstamp2 Hollow state National Partnership for Reinventing Government
D h200 Hollow state Rational-legal authority
B j36 National Partnership for Reinventing Government Zero-based budgeting
Williamskel4 Issue network New Public Administration
Ejcadena95 POSDCORB Zero-based budgeting
Austintxguy02 National Partnership for Reinventing Government New Public Administration
Jkell96 Hollow state Issue network
PerlaPerez1 New Public Administration Hollow state
Hulkhoganpantera Issue network New Public Administration
WilliamCadman Issue network Rational-legal authority
Alexandralopez324 Rational-legal authority National Partnership for Reinventing Government
Mackenziediaz11 New Public Administration National Partnership for Reinventing Government
Edwin Valverde Zero-based budgeting POSDCORB
Maa198 Zero-based budgeting POSDCORB
Kaleplumlee New Public Administration Hollow state
Ljcarrillo7 National Partnership for Reinventing Government Zero-based budgeting
Jeremy099 POSDCORB Rational-legal authority
Drewvilla2 Rational-legal authority Hollow state
Krposton4 Hollow state Issue network
SpencerCard National Partnership for Reinventing Government POSDCORB
Torijay1466 New Public Administration Issue network
Dewhirsta Zero-based budgeting New Public Administration
Commmajor20 Zero-based budgeting National Partnership for Reinventing Government
Senniavarelat Rational-legal authority Zero-based budgeting

Timeline

Week 1

Course meetings
Friday, 16 September 2016
In class - Introduction to the Wikipedia project

Welcome to the Wikipedia project's course timeline. 

This page will guide you through the Wikipedia project for your course. It breaks down writing a Wikipedia article into a series of steps, or milestones. You should use the information contained here in conjunction with the assignment descriptions on our TRACS page.

 This week, please review the following readings: 


Assignment - Get connected with a Wikipedia account / enroll on Wikipedia course page
  • Create an account and join this course page, using the enrollment link your instructor sent you.
  • Assignment instructions are located on our TRACS page.
  • Be sure to complete before coming to class on 9/16.
Milestones

This week, everyone should gain a basic understanding of the project and how it fits into the course, have a Wikipedia account, and be enrolled on our course page. 

Week 2

Course meetings
Friday, 23 September 2016
In class - Identifying your topic / Joining a team

This week you'll start working as part of a team. We'll begin by discussing what research tells us about groups, including the process of becoming a team. In class, you will develop a team charter--a document that sets forth your group's goals and expectations about participation and performance.

This week, please review the following readings:

  • All teamwork readings are posted on our TRACS page .


Assignment - Team charter

The team charter is completed during class by the entire team and initialed by each team member to indicate she or he is in agreement with the expectations delineated in the charter. For specific instructions on drafting the team charter, view the assignment description on TRACS.

Assignment - Article selection

It's time to choose an article and assign it to yourself.

  • Find an article from the list of available articles on TRACS and sign up for it.
  • After you have signed up  for an article on TRACS, go to the Articles tab on this course page, find your article on the list of "Available Articles" and Select to assign it to yourself.
  • Be sure to complete this assignment before class on 9/23.
Milestones

All students have selected an article that they want to research and have met with their teams to discuss group expectations.

Week 3

Course meetings
Friday, 30 September 2016
Assignment - Practicing the basics

It's time to dive into Wikipedia. Below, you'll find the first set of online trainings you'll need to take. New modules will appear on this timeline as you get to new milestones. Be sure to check back and complete them! Incomplete trainings will be reflected in your grade.

In class - Wikipedia basics

Now that the project is officially underway, you should make a habit of signing in to Wikipedia before you begin any work. If you don’t login, your contributions are not linked to your Wikipedia user id and could result in you not receiving credit for the assignment.

Our course has been assigned a Wikipedia Content Expert. Check your Talk page for notes from them. You can also reach them through the "Get Help" button on this page. 

 This week, please review the following handouts: 

Milestones

Everyone has completed 2 of the online training sessions and practiced editing.

Week 4

Course meetings
Friday, 7 October 2016
In class - What makes a good Wikipedia article?

It's time to think critically about Wikipedia articles. This week, you'll evaluate your Wikipedia article, and make suggestions for improving it on your sandbox. 

Before completing the article evaluation assignment, be sure to:

  • Complete the trainings "Evaluating Articles and Sources" and "Sandboxes and Mainspace" (linked below).
  • Read Evaluating Wikipedia.


Assignment - Article evaluation

After reading "Evaluating Wikipedia" and completing the online trainings, "Evaluating Articles and Sources" and "Sandboxes and Mainspace," evaluate the quality of your existing Wikipedia article.

Consider some questions below (but don't feel limited to these): 

  • Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference?
  • Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?
  • Is the article neutral? Are there any claims, or frames, that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?
  • Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted?
  • Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?
  • Check a few citations. Do the links work? Is there any close paraphrasing or plagiarism in the article?
  • Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added?

Once you have evaluated the article, leave your comments on your Wikipedia sandbox. Be sure to begin your entry with the heading: "Article evaluation." 

Week 5

Course meetings
Friday, 14 October 2016
In class - Finding sources

On Wikipedia, all material must be attributable to reliable, published sources. What kinds of sources does this exclude?
Discussion: Thinking about sources and plagiarism

  • Blog posts and press releases are considered poor sources of reliable information. Why?
  • What are some reasons you might not want to use a company's website as the main source of information about that company?
  • What is the difference between a copyright violation and plagiarism?
  • What are some good techniques to avoid close paraphrasing and plagiarism?

Week 6

Course meetings
Friday, 21 October 2016
Assignment - Annotated bibliography

bibliography to the talk page of the article you'll be working on, and in your sandbox. Make sure to check in on the Talk page to see if anyone has advice on your bibliography.

  •  Compile a list of relevant, reliable books, journal articles, or other sources. Post that bibliography to the talk page of the article you'll be working on, and in your sandbox. Make sure to check in on the Talk page to see if anyone has advice on your bibliography. 
  • Use the heading "Annotated bibliography."
Milestones

Week 7

Course meetings
Friday, 28 October 2016
In class - Developing a project proposal

Week 8

Course meetings
Friday, 4 November 2016
Assignment - Project proposal

In your sandbox, write a few sentences about what you plan to contribute to the selected article. 

  •  Think back to when you did an article critique. What can you add? Post some of your ideas to the article's talk page. 
  •  Identify what's missing from the current form of the article. Think back to the skills you learned while critiquing an article. Make notes for improvement in your sandbox


 
 

Keep reading your sources, too, as you prepare to write the body of the article.

Week 9

Course meetings
Friday, 11 November 2016
Milestones

at this point all teams have a clear game plan on how to proceed

Assignment - Team meeting / Group evaluation

feedback from me. sign up in class for date (either 11/9 or 11/11).

Week 10

Course meetings
Friday, 18 November 2016
In class - Moving your work to Wikipedia

Before moving your work to Wikipedia proper - the "mainspace" keep in mind the following advice on editing an existing article:

  • NEVER copy and paste your draft of an article over the entire article. Instead, edit small sections at a time.
  • Copy your edits into the article. Make many small edits, saving each time, and leaving an edit summary. Never replace more than one to two sentences without saving!
Milestones

all groups have begun editing their article and placed edits on articles mainspace

Assignment - Initial revisions

You've picked a topic and found your sources. Now it's time to start writing.

  • Keep working on transforming your article into a complete first draft. Get draft ready for peer-review. 
  • If you'd like a Content Expert to review your draft, now is the time! Click the "Get Help" button in your sandbox to request notes.
  •  Read Editing Wikipedia page 12 to see how to create links from your article to others, and from other articles to your own. Try to link to 3–5 articles, and link to your article from 2–3 other articles. 

Week 11

Course meetings
Friday, 25 November 2016
Assignment - Peer review
  • First, take the "Peer Review" online training.
  •  Select a classmates’ article that you will peer review and copyedit. On the Articles tab, find the article that you want to review, and then assign it to yourself in the Review column. 
  •  Peer review your classmate's draft. Leave suggestions on the Talk page of the article, or sandbox, that your fellow student is working on. Other editors may be reviewing your work, so look for their comments! Be sure to acknowledge feedback from other Wikipedians. 
  •  As you review, make spelling, grammar, and other adjustments. Pay attention to the tone of the article. Is it encyclopedic? 
Milestones

Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.

Week 12

Course meetings
Friday, 2 December 2016
Milestones

Everyone should have finished all of the work they'll do on Wikipedia, and be ready for grading.

Assignment - Polishing your article / Final article revisions

Do additional research and writing to make further improvements to your article, based on suggestions and your own critique.

  •  Return to your draft or article and think about the suggestions. Decide which ones to start implementing. Reach out to your instructor or your Content Expert if you have any questions. 
  •  Re-read Editing Wikipedia page 12 to see how to create links from your article to others, and from other articles to your own. Try to link to 3–5 articles, and link to your article from 2–3 other articles. 
  • Re-read Editing Wikipedia page 15 to review a final check-list before completing your assignment.
  • Don't forget that you can ask for help from your Content Expert at any time!

Week 13

Assignment - In class presentation
  • on either 12/5 or 12/7
  • Present about your Wikipedia editing experience.