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User:JonahmoosALD/Intensive English Program Special Topics: Becoming a Wikipedian

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Course name
Intensive English Program Special Topics: Becoming a Wikipedian
Institution
Saint Michael's College
Instructor
Jonah Moos
Subject
ESOL
Course dates
2015-01-20 – 2015-03-13
Approximate number of student editors
15


Becoming a Wikipedian (Academic Reading & Writing on the Internet)

This class will focus on using Wikipedia as a model for writing and doing research. Students will choose an area of interest on which they wish to focus, analyze and correct relevant articles, add new content to existing articles, and develop a deeper understanding of collaborative scholarship. Students will develop knowledge in their chosen area of interest by conducting research, compiling a list of sources and adding to existing articles or developing new articles. The final project will be to create a Wikipedia portfolio, and give an oral presentation on their experience. (Adapted from: http://en.wiki.x.io/wiki/Education_Program:New_College_of_Florida/Become_a_Wikipedian_(January_2015))


Timeline

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Week 1 (2015-01-19): Wikipedia essentials, Editing basics, Exploring the topic area

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Course meetings
Tuesday, 20 January 2015   |   Thursday, 22 January 2015
In class
  • Overview of the course
  • Introduction to how Wikipedia will be used in the course
  • Wikipedia is a community: a brief overview of its rules, expectations, and etiquette
  • Handout: Editing Wikipedia (available in print or online from the Wiki Education Foundation)
  • Basics of editing
  • Anatomy of Wikipedia articles, what makes a good article, how to distinguish between good and bad articles
  • Collaborating and engaging with the Wiki editing community
  • Tips on finding the best articles to work on for class assignments
  • Handouts: Using Talk Pages handout and Evaluating Wikipedia brochure
  • Explore topics related to your topic area to get a feel for how Wikipedia is organized. What areas seem to be missing? As you explore, make a note of articles that seem like good candidates for improvement. Use the "choosing an article" handout for guidance.
  • Handouts: Choosing an article and How to get help


Assignment (due Week 2)
  • Create an account and then complete the online training for students. During this training, you will make edits in a sandbox and learn the basic rules of Wikipedia.
  • Create a User page, and then click the "enroll" button on the top left of this course page.
  • To practice editing and communicating on Wikipedia, introduce yourself on the user talk page of one of your classmates, who should also be enrolled in the table at the bottom of the page.
  • Evaluate an existing Wikipedia article related to the class, and leave suggestions for improving it on the article's talk page.
    • A few questions to consider (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 biased 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?


  • Choose one article, identify ways in which you can improve and correct its language and grammar, and make the appropriate changes. (You do not need to alter the article's content.)
Milestones
  • All students have Wikipedia user accounts and are listed on the course page.

Week 2 (2015-01-26): Using sources and choosing articles

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Course meetings
Tuesday, 27 January 2015   |   Thursday, 29 January 2015
In class


Assignment (due Week 3)
  • Add 1–2 sentences of new information, backed up with a citation to an appropriate source, to a Wikipedia article related to the class.
  • Your instructor has created a list of potential topics for your main project. Choose the one you will work on.
For next week
  • Instructor evaluates student's article selections, by next week.

Week 3 (2015-02-02): Finalizing topics and starting research, Drafting starter articles

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Course meetings
Tuesday, 3 February 2015   |   Thursday, 5 February 2015
In class
  • Discuss the range of topics students will be working on and strategies for researching and writing about them.
  • Talk about Wikipedia culture and etiquette, and (optionally) revisit the concept of sandboxes and how to use them.
  • Q&A session with instructor about interacting on Wikipedia and getting started with writing.


Assignment (due Week 4)
  • Mark your article's talk page with a banner to let other editors know you're working on it. Add this code in the top section of the talk page:
{{course assignment | course = User:JonahmoosALD/Intensive English Program Special Topics: Becoming a Wikipedian | term = Spring 2015 }}
  • Compile a bibliography of relevant, reliable sources and post it to the talk page of the article you are working on. Begin reading the sources. Make sure to check in on the talk page (or watchlist) to see if anyone has advice on your bibliography.
  • If you are starting a new article, write an outline of the topic in the form of a standard Wikipedia lead section of 3–4 paragraphs in your sandbox. Wikipedia articles use "summary style", in which the lead section provides a balanced summary of the entire body of the article, with the first sentence serving to define the topic and place it in context. The lead section should summarize, very briefly, each of the main aspects of the topic that will be covered in detail in the rest of the article. If you are improving an existing article, draft a new lead section reflecting your proposed changes, and post this along with a brief description of your plans on the article’s talk page. Make sure to check that page often to gather any feedback the community might provide.
  • Begin working with classmates and other editors to polish your lead section and fix any major issues.
  • Continue research in preparation for writing the body of the article.
Milestones
  • All students have started editing articles or drafts on Wikipedia.

Week 4 (2015-02-09): Moving articles to the main space

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Course meetings
Tuesday, 10 February 2015   |   Thursday, 12 February 2015
In class


Assignment (due Week 5)
  • Move sandbox articles into main space.
    • If you are expanding an existing article, copy your edit into the article. If you are making many small edits, save after each edit before you make the next one. Do NOT paste over the entire existing article, or large sections of the existing article.
    • If you are creating a new article, do NOT copy and paste your text, or there will be no record of your work history. Follow these instructions on how to move your work.


  • Begin expanding your article into a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Week 5 (2015-02-16): Building articles, Creating first draft, Getting and giving feedback

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Course meetings
Tuesday, 17 February 2015   |   Thursday, 19 February 2015
In class
  • As a group, have the students offer suggestions for improving one or two of the students' articles, setting the example for what is expected from a solid encyclopedia article.


Assignment (due Week 6)
  • Select five classmates’ articles that you will peer review and copyedit. (You don’t need to start reviewing yet.)
  • Expand your article into an initial draft of a comprehensive treatment of the topic.
  • Peer review five of your classmates’ articles. Leave suggestions on the article talk pages.
  • Copy-edit the five reviewed articles.
Milestones
  • Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.

Week 6 (2015-02-23): Responding to feedback, Continuing to improve articles

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Course meetings
Tuesday, 24 February 2015   |   Thursday, 26 February 2015
In class
  • Open discussion of the concepts of neutrality, media literacy, and the impact and limits of Wikipedia.
  • Continue discussing how the articles can be further improved. Come up with improvement goals for each article for next week.


Assignment (due Week 7)
  • Make edits to your article based on peers’ feedback. If you disagree with a suggestion, use talk pages to politely discuss and come to a consensus on your edit.
  • Return to your classmates' articles you previously reviewed, and provide more suggestions for further improvement. If there is a disagreement, suggest a compromise.
  • Do additional research and writing to make further improvements to your article, based on your classmates' suggestions and any additional areas for improvement you can identify.
  • Prepare for an in-class presentation about your Wikipedia editing experience.
Milestones
  • Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.

Week 7 (2015-03-02): Finishing touches

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Course meetings
Tuesday, 3 March 2015   |   Thursday, 5 March 2015
In class
  • Students give in-class presentations about their experiences editing Wikipedia.


Assignment (due Week 8)
  • Add final touches to your Wikipedia article. You can find a handy reference guide here.
  • Write a reflective essay (2–5 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions.
Milestones
  • Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.

Week 8 (2015-03-09): Due date

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Course meetings
Tuesday, 10 March 2015   |   Thursday, 12 March 2015
Milestones
  • Students have finished all their work on Wikipedia that will be considered for grading.

Grading

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  5%  
   Completion of Wikipedia training
  15%  
   Early Wikipedia exercises
  20%  
   Quality of bibliography and outline
  30%  
   Peer reviews and collaboration with classmates
  20%  
   Quality of your main Wikipedia contributions
  10%  
   Vocabulary Log
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