User:Whiteghost.ink/WTC Assignment



WRITING THE CITY

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Assignment
One of the genres available to writers is "encyclopaedia". Wikipedia contributors write and edit articles in this genre for an online encyclopedia, which is a free, accessible first port of call for people from all over the world who seek information about a topic. It has a great reach and a strict set of editorial policies. While its usefulness to the reader is obvious, it is also useful for a writer because it:
 * provides a productive way of learning about a topic, not least because linking articles deepens any original understanding;
 * is a good place to keep (and share) the facts and references that can be used later for writing for other genres and tasks;
 * helps to impart "an understanding of how media and publishing works".

Learning goals

 * Work collaboratively to meet the expectations of a specific publication and its editorial guidelines
 * Develop sufficient knowledge and skills to produce an article to a standard publishable on Wikipedia
 * Distinguish between the requirements of the encyclopaedic genre and an opinion piece or research paper
 * Engage with the whole process: researching - writing - editing - publishing
 * Gain understanding of the work of a curator - overseeing the management, relationships and interpretation of individual items within a collection.

Task
1) Prepare an article in your Wikipedia sandbox over the course of the semester on a notable topic from the list below related to the physical aspects of Sydney with the goal of its meeting the standard for publication on the encyclopaedia by the end of the course. Interact with classmates and the Wikipedia community to improve it collaboratively, in accordance with the encyclopaedia's style and policies.

2) Write a short account/reflection (100-200 words) of the experience and submit it at the end of the course.

Notes Marking criteria
 * Wikipedia articles are works-in-progress that develop over time. Some are much easier than others but to be publishable the article must be on a notable topic, be written with a balanced and neutral point of view, and cite sources for any claim it makes. Red links show articles that do not yet exist and probably should. For example, there is as yet no article on Building Code of Australia.
 * The Wikipedia style is known as "summary style". It is fact-based, neutral and like a report on a topic. Readers are seeking information. The lead paragraph should: (a) state what the topic of the article is; (b) set out its claim to notability (e.g "x is known for ...") and (c) summarise the contents of the article content.
 * Collaboration is expected but all contributions must be made using your own account.
 * Avoid conflicts of interest. Do not write articles about yourself, your relatives, your employer or your organisation.
 * For copyright reasons, images used can only be your own or from Wikimedia Commons.
 * Policy (adherence to editorial guidelines - neutral tone, meets reader expectations)
 * Design (layout, style, structure, images)
 * Content (accuracy, depth, quality)
 * Information sources (reliability, range, reference layout)
 * Curation (inbound and outbound links, infoboxes, updates/improvements to related articles)

Editing and writing help

 * Contributing to Wikipedia
 * User Guide for "Visual Editor"
 * https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:VisualEditor/User_guide#Editing_images_and_other_media_files
 * Wikipedia: Training for students
 * Teahouse
 * The "Talk/Discussion" pages of your own User page and/or the article page
 * Manual of Style/Visual arts
 * How to improve your writing

A few good sources useful for references

 * The Dictionary of Sydney Buildings and Structures
 * Australian Dictionary of Biography
 * Design and Art Australia Online
 * The Conversation (architecture)

Examples of articles
Here are some examples of different types of articles that are in various stages of development.

Buildings and structures
 * Ian Thorpe Aquatic and Fitness Centre: This is a start class article that incorporates a section on "critical reception".
 * Dr Chau Chak Wing Building: This article has a gallery of good pictures.
 * Central Park, Sydney: This start article could be developed and its component parts made into their own articles.
 * 1 Bligh Street: This article has a very good "infobox"  and is linked to Ingenhoven Architects.
 * UTS Tower: Another stub article that needs to be developed.
 * St Philip's Church, Sydney: This "start class" article can be compared with St James' Church, Sydney, which is a Featured Article.
 * Paddington Town Hall: This is an undeveloped article. There are many missing Town Hall articles listed in the template.

Materials Art works Objects
 * Sydney sandstone This article is about a specific variety - there are other articles about different varieties.
 * Cloud Arch A stub-level article about a proposed public artwork in Sydney.
 * Statue of Queen Victoria, Sydney This mid-level quality article is about the statue in front of the QVB.
 * Nasturtiums (E. Phillips Fox) This article is about a specific painting, one of millions that are notable enough for its own article.
 * Sydney punchbowls This article is about a rare pair of art objects.

Lists Journals Historic urban developments Current urban developments and theory Historic urban events
 * List of public art in the City of Sydney
 * List of tallest buildings in Sydney This list article contains a helpful sortable table.
 * List of Art Deco buildings in Sydney This list article contains many red links, each of which could be its own article.
 * The Home This article needs development.
 * Great Stink This is a Featured Article (FA) - that is, the highest quality. (Note that this level of quality is certainly not expected and takes a long time to achieve.)
 * Cogeneration This article includes information on "Trigeneration" which could be developed into a daughter article.
 * WestConnex An article about a planning development.
 * Urban acupuncture This article explains the application of a (relatively) new theory
 * 1907 Sydney bathing costume protests This article contains links to Wikisource (a free library of original source documents)

Biographies

Note: Biographies of living people have stricter requirements. Do not choose a biography of living person if you are a new editor.
 * Norman Selfe Another Featured Article. It contains red links to specific Royal Commissions that could be made developed into their own articles.
 * Florence Mary Taylor architect
 * Florence Violet Mackenzie engineer