Wikipedia talk:Education program archive/CUNY, Brooklyn College/THEA 7213X Theater History from 1642 (Spring 2015)/Course description

In this course, we will explore theater practice and drama from the Restoration to postmodernism, examining scripts, theory, audiences, theater architecture, scenic and costume design, and acting styles in light of the social and cultural conditions that influence theatrical literature and performance.

Overview and Outcomes
Over the course of the semester, you will create or substantially edit one or more pages on Wikipedia.com about significant individuals, historical periods, and/or aesthetic movements in theater history, drawing on at least ten secondary sources. Wikipedia has become a “go-to” resource for people looking for information about various subjects. But since Wikipedia entries are written and peer-reviewed by a wide range of people (not all of whom are scholars), their accuracy and quality ranges widely. During this project, you will draw on your research in order to improve substantially at least one Wikipedia article, thereby increasing access to accurate information about theater history. After completing this project:
 * 1) You will have increased your knowledge about several topics in theater history
 * 2) You will be better able to assess and critically read information posted on the Internet
 * 3) You will be more familiar with the social/editorial conventions, formatting, and programming associated with wikis generally and Wikipedia specifically
 * 4) You will be a better writer—the transparency and flexibility of wiki technology allows you to see the strengths and weaknesses in your own writing, to hone your skills as a researcher and editor, and to give and receive help from other members of the Wikipedia community.

Wikipedia Project: Strategies for Success

 * Be sure you’re logged in when editing Wikipedia. Anyone can make an anonymous contribution to Wikipedia (in such cases, the IP address is listed in the “History” page of the article); but if you are not logged into your Wikipedia account, you cannot document the work you have completed, and therefore will not get credit for it. Be sure to maintain a “paper trail” of your contributions.
 * Set aside time every week to make headway on this project. We will be completing this project in stages, and there are tasks you must complete every week, on time, in order to receive full credit for your work. Some of the steps are wholly technical (e.g., learning how to format text in a wiki, how to use your “Sandbox”). The earlier you begin editing text, the easier this project will be.
 * Make use of your work on other assignments. For example, you need to do an in-class presentation about a primary source in this course (15% of grade). To maximize your efficiency and manage your time well, you could select one or more Wikipedia articles to create/edit that are somehow related to the subject of your presentation. Remember, all topics must be approved by me, but I encourage you to make choices that will allow you to do thorough and valuable work.
 * Get help and advice from others. Your classmates, Online Ambassador, and instructor are resources you can draw on whenever you get lost or stuck. And, the Wikipedia community is full of generous people who can answer questions, review your work, and so forth.

([ Click to return to your main course page and continue.])