User:HAFNER'S HOMEWORK/New Literacy & Academic Writing

Week 1 (2015-08-31):  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 (2015-09-07):  Editing basics

 * Basics of editing
 * Anatomy of Wikipedia articles, what makes a good article, how to distinguish between good and bad articles (in the aspect of structure)
 * 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 (2015-09-14):  Exploring the topic area

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


 * 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.)
 * Prepare a brief report on the decided entry in which you shall identify the part you can continue to improve.

Week 4 (2015-09-21):  Finalizing topics and starting research

 * Discuss the topics students will be working on, and determine strategies for researching (with searching engines of Google scholar and Electric database)
 * Compare the similarities and differences between Literature Review section in the academic writing with Wikipedia entry
 * Probe into what a well-writen Wikipedia entry looks like


 * By the start of our next class, decide 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 5 (2015-09-28):  Using sources appropriately and avoid plagiarism

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


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

Week 6 (2015-10-12):  Drafting starter articles

 * Knowledge about source organization.
 * Knowledge about source analysis.
 * 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 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.


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

Week 7 (2015-10-19):  Moving articles to the main space

 * Language knowledge about clarity in sentence structure, advanced grammar in academic writing.
 * 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 (2015-10-26):  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 (2015-11-02):  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 (2015-11-09):  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.


 * 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 11 (2015-11-23):  Finishing touches

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


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