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Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/West Virginia University/Technical Writing (Spring 2021)

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Course name
Technical Writing
Institution
West Virginia University
Instructor
Krista Sarraf
Wikipedia Expert
Ian (Wiki Ed)
Subject
English
Course dates
2021-01-20 00:00:00 UTC – 2021-04-30 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
22


English 305, Technical Writing, is designed to introduce students to strategies for translating between discipline-specific knowledge and interested outsiders. While this may include topics traditionally understood as “technical,” such as those in engineering, architecture, and computer science, technical writing encompasses any topic which must be explained to an involved, but not expert, audience. Students will create instructional manuals, job materials, and edit a Wikipedia article.

Student Assigned Reviewing
ZBTfui Clara Smith World War Memorial (Kimball, West Virginia)
FWZ BHR Sam Pancake Rural diversity
Jed11134 Rhonda Childress Carter G. Woodson
PCBWV Sam Pancake Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Eliza7784 Ma Rainey Rhonda Childress
Kate1470! Chet Pancake Sam Pancake
Beaminglights Johnstown Flood National Memorial World War Memorial
Cwr4911 Mary Wharton Chet Pancake
Nate0023 Johnstown Flood National Memorial Mary Wharton
TheEffect1776 Frank X Walker Johnstown Flood National Memorial
H703D Rural diversity Clara Smith
Mickeyssurfboard Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh Ma Rainey
Bravestofbrave Carter G. Woodson Frank X Walker
PatFusty Johnstown Flood National Memorial World War Memorial (Kimball, West Virginia)
911skittles Rural diversity
Sam254254 World War Memorial (Kimball, West Virginia) Carter G. Woodson
Skiv99! Rural diversity Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Mal0037 World War Memorial (Kimball, West Virginia) Rhonda Childress
LumpyRee World War Memorial Sam Pancake, World War Memorial
Sayed120989 Rural diversity World War Memorial

Timeline

Week 2

Course meetings
Thursday, 28 January 2021
In class - Introduction to the Wikipedia assignment

Welcome to your Wikipedia assignment's course timeline. This page guides you through the steps you'll need to complete for your Wikipedia assignment, with links to training modules and your classmates' work spaces.

Your course has been assigned a Wikipedia Expert. You can reach them through the Get Help button at the top of this page.

Resources:


Assignment - Get started on Wikipedia

Create an account and join this course page, using the enrollment link your instructor sent you. (Because of Wikipedia's technical restraints, you may receive a message that you cannot create an account. To resolve this, please try again off campus or the next day.)

Milestones

This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.

Week 3

Course meetings
Tuesday, 2 February 2021   |   Thursday, 4 February 2021
Assignment - Evaluate Wikipedia

Week 4

Course meetings
Tuesday, 9 February 2021
Assignment - Review the rules for health topics
Guide(s) for writing articles in your topic area

Art History

Biographies

History

Women's Studies

Week 5

Course meetings
Tuesday, 16 February 2021   |   Thursday, 18 February 2021
Assignment - Add to an article
Assignment - Start drafting your contributions

Reach out to your Wikipedia Expert if you have questions using the Get Help button at the top of this page.

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, pages 7–9

Milestones

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 6

Course meetings
Tuesday, 23 February 2021   |   Thursday, 25 February 2021
Assignment - Peer review an article

Guiding framework

Milestones

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


Assignment - Respond to your peer review

You probably have some feedback from other students and possibly other Wikipedians. Consider their suggestions, decide whether it makes your work more accurate and complete, and edit your draft to make those changes.

Resources:

  • Editing Wikipedia, pages 12 and 14
  • Reach out to your Wikipedia Expert if you have any questions.

Week 7

Course meetings
Thursday, 4 March 2021
Assignment - Begin moving your work to Wikipedia

Now that you've improved your draft based on others' feedback, it's time to move your work live - to the "mainspace."

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 13


Assignment - Continue improving your article

Now's the time to revisit your text and refine your work. You may do more research and find missing information; rewrite the lead section to represent all major points; reorganize the text to communicate the information better; or add images and other media.


Assignment - Polish your work

Continue to expand and improve your work, and format your article to match Wikipedia's tone and standards. Remember to contact your Wikipedia Expert at any time if you need further help!