User:Tiffygc1/Urban Sociology

Course Description Why study urban sociology? One of the most relevant reasons to study metropolitan areas is that most people in the United States and other countries around the world live in them. Second, urban areas have long been the center of trade, economic activity, and the arts. This course introduces you to historical, theoretical, and empirical perspectives on urban development and urban life. More specifically, we will examine (a) sociological theories and of “urbanization” and “urbanism”, (b) impact of race, gender, immigration,education, health, and social policies and politics (c) the nature of urban and suburban life, (c) urban structures and populations, and (d) the politics and policies that attempt to cope with contemporary trends and conflicts.

assignment and articles TBD

Week 1 Jan 21/ Jan. 23:  Wikipedia essentials

 * Overview of the course
 * Introduction to how Wikipedia will be used in the course
 * Handout: Editing Wikipedia (available in print or online from the Wiki Education Foundation)

Read Five pillars, an explanation of Wikipedia’s basic rules and principles and start the Wikipedia Training For Students online tutorial completing "Welcome" and "The Core" sections, as well as "Getting Started" in the "Editing" section. Read the Tutorial/Registration page and create your account.

Week 2 Jan 28/Jan.30 : Editing basics

 * Basics of editing
 * Anatomy of Wikipedia articles, what makes a good article, how to distinguish between good and bad articles
 * Handouts: Using Talk Pages handout and Evaluating Wikipedia brochure


 * Complete the online training for students. During this training, you will make edits in a sandbox and learn the basic rules of Wikipedia. You can skip the "Medical Topics" section.


 * 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 to any Wikipedians helping your class (such as a Wikipedia Ambassador), and leave a message for a classmate on their user talk page.


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

Week 3 Feb 11/Feb.14 : Exploring Boston Neighborhoods

 * Overview of LibGuide for research and citation help
 * Handouts: Choosing an article and How to get help

•	Locate one news story from the Boston Globe or a community newspaper OR one scholarly article OR one US Census fact with useful content relevant to your neighborhood. Briefly describe your source on the article talk page and explain why you recommend it.

•	Outline for neighborhood article improvements (think new headings and subheadings) posted on your USER TALK PAGE.

Week 4 Feb.25/ Feb.27 : Using sources and choosing articles to add to your Neighborhood

 * Continuing LibGuide session on research and citation
 * Searching for images and proper use/citation
 * Handouts: Citing sources on Wikipedia and Avoiding plagiarism on Wikipedia


 * Identify a section of your neighborhood article that would benefit from illustration, create or find an appropriate photo, illustration, or audio/video, and add it to your user TALK page.
 * All media uploaded to Wikipedia must fall under a "free license," which means they can be used or shared by anyone. Examples of media you can use are photos that you take yourself, images and text in the public domain, and works created by someone else who has given permission for their work to be used by others. For more information about which types of media can be uploaded to Wikipedia, see Help desk. You can also visit Uploading images for more information
 * To add your own media file to your TALK page (and eventually an article), you must first upload it to Wikimedia Commons. For instructions on how to upload files to Commons, refer to Illustrating Wikipedia. This brochure will also provide you with detailed information about which files are acceptable to upload to Wikipedia and the value of contributing media to Wikipedia articles.

Week 6 Mar 4/ Mar 6:  Sandbox Intro and Drafting articles for Boston Neighborhood Page

 * Talk about Wikipedia culture and etiquette, and review the concept of sandboxes and how to use them.
 * Start work in USER sandboxes!


 * 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 (3–4 paragraphs) should summarize, very briefly, each of the main aspects of the topic that will be covered in detail in the rest of the article.

Since you are improving an existing article, draft a new lead section reflecting the content the article will have after it's been improved and post this in your USER SANDBOX. Also write a brief description of your plans for editing your page on your USER TALK PAGE. (This will expand upon your previously posted outline).


 * Continue research in preparation for writing the body of the article. Independent work on Friday. (Librarian available by appointment). MINIMUM 10 sources for your three required article sections!


 * All students have started editing drafts on Wikipedia.

Week 7 March 11/ March 13:  Building Your Boston Neighborhood Wiki
In Class


 * Library lab on Wednesday, independent work on Friday. (Librarian available by appointment).
 * Share experiences and discuss problems.
 * Continue to research, write, and cite.


 * Expand your neighborhood edits into an initial draft of a more comprehensive entry.
 * Begin working with classmates and other editors (Adam) to polish your lead section and fix any major issues - be sure to post on at least two classmates' USER TALK PAGES.
 * Select two classmates’ articles that you will peer review and copyedit. (You don’t need to start reviewing yet.)

Week 8 March 25 / March 27 Getting and Giving Feedback
In Class


 * Library lab on Wednesday, independent work on Friday. (Librarian available by appointment).
 * Continue to research, write, and cite.
 * 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.


 * Peer review two of your classmates’ articles. Leave suggestions on their USER talk pages.

Week 9 April 1/April 3 : Responding to feedback

 * Open discussion of the concepts of neutrality, media literacy, and the impact and limits of Wikipedia.
 * As a group, have the students offer suggestions for improving one or two of the students’ articles/pages, setting the example for what is expected from a solid encyclopedia article.


 * Copy-edit the two reviewed articles. (Make edits to your article based on peers’ feedback.)


 * All articles have been reviewed by others. All students have reviewed articles by their classmates.

Week 10 April 8/April 10 :  RESPONDING TO FEEDBACK

 * Open discussion of the concepts of neutrality, media literacy, and the impact and limits of Wikipedia
 * Handout [| polishing your article]

Make edits to your article based on peers’ feedback.


 * Add final touches to your Wikipedia article.


 * Write a reflective essay (2–5 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions.

Week 11 April 15/ April 17 : WE GO LIVE

 * Library lab Wednesday, regular class Friday.
 * Handout: Moving out of your sandbox


 * Move sandbox articles into main space.


 * Optional: For qualifying expansions of stub articles, compose a one-sentence “hook,” nominate it for “Did you know,” (see detailed instructions) and monitor the nomination for any issues identified by other editors. Wiki Education Foundation staff and/or Wikipedia Ambassadors can provide support for this process.


 * Students have finished all their work on Wikipedia that will be considered for grading.