Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/New York University Shanghai/China Encounters the World (Spring 2023)

This is a seminar course focusing on how “China” (中国), the country with the world’s largest population and one of the longest and most continuous histories, has encountered the outside world since around the 17th century, with an emphasis on the late 19th and 20th centuries. When “China” is used to describe the people, land and civilization that form the historical and civilizational foundation of China today as a modern national-state of multinationalities, we fully realize the complications involved in such a description. This will be a major topic of discussion in this course. In particular, we will analyze the age-old Chinese “Central Kingdom” self-image and how the image was overturned during modern times in face of Western and Japanese challenges and China’s inability to cope with their consequences. We will also explore the Chinese “victim mentality”—a collective “belief complex” in that it was the political incursion, economic exploitation and military aggression of foreign imperialist countries that had undermined the “Central Kingdom’s” historical glory and had reduced it to a victimized member of modern international community—and the mentality’s impact on the Chinese experience in dealing with other parts of the world. The course will concentrate on China’s external relations, but foreign policy issues will be examined in the context of China’s political, economic, social and cultural developments in broader terms. The course will also pay special attention to the role of “human agencies” in the shaping of historical processes. The course provides a chronological account of main historical events, but its purpose is not just to impart information; it also aims to cultivate a basic understanding of the significance of the Chinese experience in the age of globalization and worldwide modernization.

No prerequisites for students to take this course. However, the students are strongly encouraged to study Chinese, if they do not already know the language. The students need to prepare carefully for each session before the class, including going over the readings and marking up questions on points that they do not fully understand; listen attentively and participate actively during the class, including raising thought-provoking questions, generating focused discussions, and providing thoughtful feedbacks to peer classmates; complete and submit after-class assignments on time.

Week 1
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.

Week 2
This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.

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.)

Week 3
Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 6

History

Political Science

Week 6
Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, pages 7–9

Week 8
Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed by your group peers and as well as the instructor

Week 9
You have received some feedback from other students, your instructor, 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.

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