Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Bridgewater State University/International Relations (Fall 2022)

The study of international relations (IR) is an attempt to understand the circumstances under which conflict and cooperation occur in the world. If we can determine the causes of these events, we might learn to control them. This course offers a broad introduction to international relations – assuming no prior knowledge. It is structured to provide a balance between empirical applications on the one hand, and theoretical underpinnings on the other.

We will cover several widely used theories that help to explain recurring patterns in international relations, including realism, liberalism, Marxism, constructivism, and feminism. In tandem with these theories, we will explore the different ways we can analyze basic problems of international relations—conflict or cooperation—whether by studying the “big picture,” or the international system, the inner workings of the state, or the inner workings of the human mind.

Students will be given the opportunity to apply seemingly esoteric scholarship to the “real world,” which will hone critical thinking skills and help students see current international events in a different light. We will also discuss many of the defining events of the 20th century, such as World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and the collapse of the Cold War order. The course will introduce institutions that have been pillars of world order since World War II, such as the United Nations, the Bretton Woods monetary system, and the world trading system. The final section of the course considers a variety of contemporary challenges for international governance, including humanitarian interventions in the post-Cold War era, trade liberalization, terrorism, environmental degradation, and public health management and crises.

As part of this class experience, students will work together in small groups of 3 to 4 people throughout the semester to create a new Wikipedia page on an international relations theory, concept, treaty, organization, speech, historical event, or public figure that does not already have an entry (pages that only consist of “stubs” are up for grabs too).

Week 2
Welcome to your Wikipedia assignment's course timeline. This page guides you through the steps you'll need to complete for your Wikipedia assignment, with links to training modules and your classmates' work spaces.

Your course has been assigned a Wikipedia Expert. You can reach them through the Get Help button at the top of this page.

Resources:


 * Editing Wikipedia, pages 1–5
 * Evaluating Wikipedia

Create an account and join this course page, using the enrollment link your instructor sent you. (Because of Wikipedia's technical restraints, you may receive a message that you cannot create an account. To resolve this, please try again off campus or the next day.)

This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.

Week 4
Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 6

Week 6
Resource: Editing Wikipedia, pages 7–9

History

Political Science

Women's Studies

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 8
Guiding framework

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

Week 9
You probably have some feedback from other students and possibly other Wikipedians. Consider their suggestions, decide whether it makes your work more accurate and complete, and edit your draft to make those changes.

Resources:


 * Editing Wikipedia, pages 12 and 14
 * Reach out to your Wikipedia Expert if you have any questions.

Now that you've improved your draft based on others' feedback, it's time to move your work live - to the &quot;mainspace.&quot;

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 13

Week 10
Now's the time to revisit your text and refine your work. You may do more research and find missing information; rewrite the lead section to represent all major points; reorganize the text to communicate the information better; or add images and other media.

Continue to expand and improve your work, and format your article to match Wikipedia's tone and standards. Remember to contact your Wikipedia Expert at any time if you need further help!

Week 11
It's the final week to develop your article.


 * Read Editing Wikipedia page 15 to review a final check-list before completing your assignment.
 * Don't forget that you can ask for help from your Wikipedia Expert at any time!

Week 12
Everyone should have finished all of the work they'll do on Wikipedia, and be ready for grading.