User:Alfgarciamora/Rel 2011 - Religion: Analysis and Interpretation

This class is an introduction to religion course at Florida International University (FIU): one of the largest universities in South Florida. Instead of teaching one massive lecture course, FIU instead offers the intro class as a small seminar-style course. Students are able to select a course time and location that best fits their busy schedule, and courses are typically composed of 20 students.

We will be covering several broad topics in religion that can be universally applied to religions across the globe: the sacred, theism, theodicy, ritual, etc. For their Wikipedia project, however, students will be required to find and research a particular topic in depth so that they can add useful content to its Wikipedia page. It will be a different kind of research project: instead of a long paper with a thesis, students will be required to do excellent research and write it up effectively so as to contribute to a wider readership. Students will get to choose the topics they will research under the guidance of the professor.

Week 1 (2015-08-24):  Wikipedia essentials

 * Overview of the course
 * Introduction to how Wikipedia will be used in the course
 * Understanding Wikipedia as a community, we'll discuss its expectations and etiquette
 * Handout: Editing Wikipedia (available in print or online from the Wiki Education Foundation)

Week 2 (2015-08-31):  Editing basics

 * 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


 * 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.
 * 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 mental note of articles that seem like good candidates for improvement.


 * All students have Wikipedia user accounts and are listed on the course page.

Week 3 (2015-09-07):  Exploring the topic area

 * Be prepared to discuss some of your observations about Wikipedia articles your topic area that are missing or could use improvement.
 * Handouts: Choosing an article


 * Review pages 4-7 of the Evaluating Wikipedia brochure. This will give you a good, brief overview of what to look for in other articles, and what other people will look for in your own.


 * 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 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?

Week 4 (2015-09-14):  Using sources and choosing articles

 * Handouts: Citing sources on Wikipedia and Avoiding plagiarism on Wikipedia.
 * Be prepared to explain close paraphrasing, plagiarism, and copyright violations on Wikipedia.


 * Add 1–2 sentences of new information, backed up with a citation to an appropriate source, to a Wikipedia article related to the class.


 * Research and list 3–5 articles on your Wikipedia user page that you will consider working on as your main project. Look at the talk page for existing topics for a sense of who else is working on it and what they're doing. Describe your choices to your instructor for feedback.


 * For next week
 * Instructor evaluates student's article selections, by next week.

Week 5 (2015-09-21):  Finalizing topics and starting research

 * Discuss the topics students will be working on, and determine strategies for researching and writing about them.


 * Select an article to work on, removing the rest from your user page. Add your article to the class’s course page.


 * By the start of our next class, find an article you want to work on and mark the article's talk page with a banner to let other editors know you're working on it. To add the banner, add this code in the top section of the talk page:


 * Add a link to your selected article to the table at the bottom of this course page.
 * 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.

Week 6 (2015-09-28):  Drafting starter articles

 * 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.


 * If you are starting a new article, write a 3–4 paragraph summary version of your article—with citations—in your Wikipedia sandbox. If you are improving an existing article, create a detailed outline reflecting your proposed changes, and post this for community feedback, along with a brief description of your plans, on the article’s talk page. Make sure to check back on the talk page often and engage with any responses.
 * Begin working with classmates and other editors to polish your short starter article and fix any major issues.
 * Continue research in preparation for expanding your article.


 * All students have started editing articles or drafts on Wikipedia.

Week 7 (2015-10-05):  Moving articles to the main space

 * We'll discuss moving your article out of your sandboxes and into Wikipedia's main space.
 * Handout: Moving out of your sandbox
 * A general reminder: Don't panic if your contribution disappears, and don't try to force it back in.
 * Check to see if there is an explanation of the edit on the article's talk page. If not, (politely) ask why it was removed.
 * Contact your instructor or Wikipedia Content Expert and let them know.


 * Move your 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 8 (2015-10-12):  Building articles, Creating first draft

 * Demo uploading images and adding images to articles.
 * Share experiences and discuss problems.
 * Handouts: "Illustrating Wikipedia" (pgs 4-7) and "Evaluating Wikipedia article quality" (handed out originally earlier in the course)


 * Select a classmate's article that you will peer review and copyedit. On the table at the bottom of this course page, write your username next to the article you plan to review. (You don’t need to start reviewing yet.)


 * Expand your article into an initial draft of a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Week 9 (2015-10-19):  Getting and giving feedback

 * As a group, offer suggestions for improving one or two other students' articles, based on your ideas of what makes a solid encyclopedia article.


 * Peer review your classmate's article. Leave suggestions on the article talk page.
 * Copy-edit the reviewed article.


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

Week 10 (2015-10-26):  Responding to feedback

 * Open discussion of the concepts of neutrality, media literacy, and the impact and limits of Wikipedia.


 * 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.


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

Week 11 (2015-11-02):  Continuing to improve articles

 * Continue discussing how the articles can be further improved. Come up with improvement goals for each article for next week.


 * 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.

Week 12 (2015-12-05):  Finishing touches

 * Students give in-class presentations about their experiences editing Wikipedia.


 * 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.


 * Put together a Wikipedia portfolio.


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

Week 13 (2015-11-30):  Due date

 * Students have finished all their work on Wikipedia that will be considered for grading.
 * Students will give final presentations of all their work and experiences.