Wikipedia:WikiProject United States Public Policy/Courses/Spring 2011/Public Relations Seminar (Marlene Fine)

Course description
PR Seminar focuses on the strategic choices organizations (profit, non-profit, governnment) and individuals make in manging their communication with their publics. Topics include public relations ethics, media relations, consumer relations, entertainment, community relations, employee relations, government relations, financial relations, international public relations, and crisis communications. The course uses case analysis as the primary method of learning.

Assignment overview
Each student will research, write, and edit a Wikipedia entry on a public policy issue that is integral to a case study of crisis communications that she selects.

Assignment timeline
January 21


 * Introductory readings about Wikipedia
 * Read "Welcome to Wikipedia" brochure
 * Read the page "Five pillars" on Wikipedia
 * Read Chris Wilson, "Jesus of Wikipedia" on http://www.slate.com/id/2281294/
 * Read Marshall Poe, "The Hive" on ''http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/09/the-hive/5118/

January 26


 * In class
 * Campus Ambassadors introduce Wikipedia
 * Basics of editing
 * Tips & recommendations for best articles to work on for the class assignments
 * HANDOUT: "Creating an account" handout, "Evaluating Wikipedia Article Quality" brochure


 * Assignments for students (due Feb 2)
 * Create a Wikipedia user account, create a user page, and add your name to the course page's list of students below (or click here)
 * Contact an Online Ambassador (via his/her Wikipedia user talk page) as a mentor. Mentors will be available to offer advice and assistance as you start editing.
 * Select a mentor from the list of available mentors at WikiProject United States Public Policy/Online Ambassadors.
 * To practice the editing features of Wikipedia, leave a message for a few classmates on their user talk pages.
 * Read: "Ten Simple Rules for Editing Wikipedia," in PLoS Computational Biology
 * Read "Evaluating Wikipedia article quality" handout

Feb 2


 * In class
 * Anatomy of Wikipedia articles, what makes a good article, how to distinguish between good & bad articles
 * Campus Ambassadors introduce content guidelines and referencing rules for Wikipedia articles
 * Basics of editing

[Professor evaluates students' article selections, by Feb 16]
 * Assignments for students (due Feb 9 Feb 14)
 * Read: "Citing sources Wikipedia"
 * Critically evaluate an existing Wikipedia article related public policy, and leave suggestions for improving it on the article's discussion page.
 * You should make at least one edit to the article itself. It may be a simple grammar fix, but it may also be a more extensive change addressing some of the problems you observed.
 * Research and list 3-5 articles on your Wikipedia user page that you will consider working on as your main project. Ask your Online Ambassador mentor for comments.

Feb 16


 * In class
 * Campus Ambassadors introduce students to IRC (online chat system where students can get live support; channel name: #wikipedia-en-classroom) and discuss how to interact with the Wikipedia community

[Professor evaluates the compiled bibliography, by Mar 2]
 * Assignments for students (due Feb 23)
 * Choose article you will work on and list it on the course page below.
 * Begin researching the topic and compile bibliography of relevant sources on a sandbox page.

Mar 2


 * In class
 * Campus Ambassadors introduce editing on Wikipedia and discuss Wikipedia sandboxes and etiquette/culture


 * Assignments for students (due Mar 16)
 * Write a 3-4 paragraph summary of your article (with citations) in your Wikipedia sandbox
 * Begin working with your mentor to polish starter article and fix major transgressions of Wikipedia norms
 * Continue research for expanding your article

Mar 16


 * In class
 * Campus Ambassadors hold Q&A session for students
 * HANDOUT: "Moving article from sandbox into main space" handout (to be made), "Did You Know nominations" handout (to be made)


 * Assignments for students (March 23)
 * Move your sandbox article into Wikipedia's main space (live articles)
 * Nominate your article for "Did You Know" status, and monitor the nomination for any issues identified by other editors.
 * Begin expanding your article into a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Mar 23


 * In class; place TBA
 * Campus Ambassadors lead Wikipedia lab/workshop on article ratings and adding images


 * Assignments for students (due Mar 30)
 * Expand your article into an initial draft of a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Mar 30


 * In class
 * Professor holds Q&A with student students


 * Assignments for students (due April 6)
 * Peer-review two classmates' articles:
 * Leave suggestions and comments on those classmates' article discussion pages.
 * Copy-edit peers' articles.

April 6


 * In class
 * Activity: open discussion with Campus Ambassadors around the concepts of neutrality, media literacy, and the impact and limits of Wikipedia


 * Assignments for students (due April 27)
 * Revise your article based on peers' feedback.
 * Nominate your article for "Good Article" status.
 * Prepare for in-class presentation about your Wikipedia-editing experiences.

April 27


 * In class
 * Students give in-class presentations about their experiences editing Wikipedia (Campus Ambassadors attend).


 * Assignments for students (due May 6)
 * Add final touches to your Wikipedia article.
 * Write a reflective essay on your Wikipedia contributions and editing experiences.

May 6


 * In class

FINAL VERSION OF ARTICLE DUE.

Students
This is a list of the students in your class (or rather their Wikipedia usernames), along with their Wikipedia articles (which students will select at the appropriate time).


 * Professor:


 * Campus ambassadors: ("John") and


 * Students: