Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Palm Beach State College/Honors Fundamentals of Speech Communication (Fall)

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Course name
Honors Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Institution
Palm Beach State College
Instructor
Megan Jameson
Wikipedia Expert
Shalor (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Communication
Course dates
2017-08-24 00:00:00 UTC – 2017-12-14 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
15


Student Assigned Reviewing
ChyTC Affect display Pathos
Vsusy89 Intercultural competence Group attribution error
Destiel552 Relational dialectics Intercultural competence
T15311327 Communication accommodation theory Mediated communication
YherChu Group attribution error Social Penetration Theory
Mckeandrp Pathos Affect display
Helenamcharles Self-verification theory Relational dialectics
Big Añu Mediated communication Communication accommodation theory
Vwagner17 Social Penetration Theory Communication apprehension
Melindaelena Uncertainty avoidance Social Penetration Theory
Angela.P.E Communication apprehension Halo Effect
NicoletteLynne Halo effect Uncertainty avoidance

Timeline

Week 1

Course meetings
Tuesday, 29 August 2017   |   Thursday, 31 August 2017
In class - Introduction to the Wikipedia project

Welcome to your Wikipedia project's course timeline. This page will guide you through the Wikipedia project for your course. Be sure to check with your instructor to see if there are other pages you should be following as well.

This page breaks down writing a Wikipedia article into a series of steps, or milestones. These steps include online trainings to help you get started on Wikipedia.

Your course has also been assigned a Wikipedia Content Expert. Check your Talk page for notes from them. You can also reach them through the "Get Help" button on this page.

To get started, please review the following handouts:


Assignment - Create your account & take introductory trainings
  • Create an account and join this course page, using the enrollment link your instructor sent you.
  •  It's time to dive into Wikipedia. Below, you'll find the first set of online trainings you'll need to take. New modules will appear on this timeline as you get to new milestones. Be sure to check back and complete them! Incomplete trainings will be reflected in your grade. 
  •  When you finish the trainings, practice by introducing yourself to a classmate on that classmate’s Talk page. 


In class -
Milestones

This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.

Week 2

Course meetings
Tuesday, 5 September 2017   |   Thursday, 7 September 2017

Week 3

Course meetings
Tuesday, 12 September 2017   |   Thursday, 14 September 2017
In class - Discussion
Thinking about Wikipedia
  • What do you think of Wikipedia's definition of "neutrality"?
  • What are the impacts and limits of Wikipedia as a source of information?
  • On Wikipedia, all material must be attributable to reliable, published sources. What kinds of sources does this exclude? Can you think of any problems that might create?
  • If Wikipedia was written 100 years ago, how might its content (and contributors) be different? What about 100 years from now?

Week 4

Course meetings
Tuesday, 19 September 2017   |   Thursday, 21 September 2017
Assignment - Choose possible topics
  • Review page 6 of your Editing Wikipedia guidebook.
  •  Choose 3–5 potential articles that you can tackle, and post links to them on your Wikipedia user page. For articles that already exist, check the Talk page to see what other Wikipedians might be doing. Finally, present your choices to your instructor for feedback. 


Assignment - Critique an article

 It's time to think critically about Wikipedia articles. You'll evaluate a Wikipedia article, and leave suggestions for improving it on the article's Talk page. 


  • Complete the "Evaluating Articles and Sources" training (linked below).
  • Read the following Wikipedia articles: 
  • While you read, consider the following questions (but don't feel limited to these): 
    • Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference?
    • Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?
    • Is the article neutral? Are there any claims, or frames, that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?
    • Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted?
    • Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?
    • Check a few citations. Do the links work? Is there any close paraphrasing or plagiarism in the article?
    • Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added?
  • Create a section in your sandbox space where you leave your notes & your critique.  
  • Choose at least 2 questions relevant to the article you're evaluating. Leave your evaluation on the article's Talk page. Be sure to sign your feedback with four tildes — Tomeijam (talk) 15:25, 14 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Week 5

Course meetings
Tuesday, 26 September 2017   |   Thursday, 28 September 2017
In class - Discussion
What's a content gap?

Now that you're thinking about what makes a "good" Wikipedia article, consider some additional questions.

  • Wikipedians often talk about "content gaps." What do you think a content gap is, and what are some possible ways to identify them?
  • What are some reasons a content gap might arise? What are some ways to remedy them?
  • Does it matter who writes Wikipedia?
  • What does it mean to be "unbiased" on Wikipedia? How is that different, or similar, to your own definition of "bias"?


In class - Finalize your topic
  • On the Students tab, assign your chosen topic to yourself.
  •  In your sandbox, write a few sentences about what you plan to contribute to the selected article. 
    •  Think back to when you did an article critique. What can you add? Post some of your ideas to the article's talk page, too. 
    •  SYNOPSIS: For 9/28 bring in/email a 200 word synopsis summarizing your topic and major issues/problems of the article.

Week 6

Course meetings
Tuesday, 3 October 2017   |   Thursday, 5 October 2017
In class - Find your sources

Tuesday: We will meet in the library and start researching the topics.

Thursday: We will discuss the sources you found and future research that needs to be conducted.

By Sunday: Compile a list of relevant, reliable books, journal articles, or other sources. Post that bibliography to the talk page of the article you'll be working on, and in your sandbox. Make sure to check in on the Talk page to see if anyone has advice on your bibliography. 

Week 7

Course meetings
Tuesday, 10 October 2017   |   Thursday, 12 October 2017
Assignment - Draft your article plan

You've picked a topic and found your sources. Now it's time to start writing.


Improving an existing article?


  •  Identify what's missing from the current form of the article. Think back to the skills you learned while critiquing an article. Make notes for improvement in your sandbox


Submit a Summary Plan (Due Sunday on in your sandbox)


  • In at least 700 words, identify the major changes and additions you plan to make. This should be more specific than your synopsis. You need to address:
    • What sources you will add and how you will incorporate them into the text of your article or how they will function as citations to verify information
    • What subsections you are adding (if any)/what subsections you are deleting
    • What parts of the article you are focusing on and why?
    • What are your plans for improving those sections?
      • Biased language
      • Adding more credible sources
      • Making language more accessible
      • Adding background information that is lacking 
        • These are only suggestions. You can go beyond these bulletpoints.

Keep reading your sources, too, as you prepare to write the body of the article.


Resources: Editing Wikipedia pages 7–9


Week 8

Course meetings
Tuesday, 17 October 2017
In class - Individual Meetings for Project

Set up meeting with professor to discuss summary plan and finalize editing/writing decisions before moving on to the formal writing process. Use this link to set up a meeting: [https://calendly.com/tomeijam/wikipedia-meeting/10-23-2017 https://calendly.com/tomeijam/wikipedia-meeting/10-23-2017
]


Week 9

Course meetings
Tuesday, 24 October 2017   |   Thursday, 26 October 2017
Milestones

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 10

Course meetings
Tuesday, 31 October 2017   |   Thursday, 2 November 2017
Assignment - Expand your draft
  • Keep working on transforming your article into a complete first draft. Get draft ready for peer-review. 
  • If you'd like a Content Expert to review your draft, now is the time! Click the "Get Help" button in your sandbox to request notes.

Week 11

Course meetings
Tuesday, 7 November 2017   |   Thursday, 9 November 2017
Assignment - Peer review and copy edit
  • First, take the "Peer Review" online training.
  •  Select two classmates’ articles that you will peer review and copyedit. On the Articles tab, find the articles that you want to review, and then assign them to yourself in the Review column. 
  • Peer review your classmates' drafts. Leave suggestions on the Talk page of the article, or sandbox, that your fellow student is working on. Other editors may be reviewing your work, so look for their comments! Be sure to acknowledge feedback from other Wikipedians. 
  •  As you review, make spelling, grammar, and other adjustments. Pay attention to the tone of the article. Is it encyclopedic? 

Week 12

Course meetings
Tuesday, 14 November 2017   |   Thursday, 16 November 2017
Assignment - Respond to your peer review

You probably have some feedback from other students and possibly other Wikipedians. It's time to work with that feedback to improve your article!


  • Read Editing Wikipedia pages 12 and 14.
  •  Return to your draft or article and think about the suggestions. Decide which ones to start implementing. Reach out to your instructor or your Content Expert if you have any questions. 

Week 13

Course meetings
Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Milestones

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


Assignment - Begin moving your work to Wikipedia

 Once you've made improvements to your article based on peer review feedback, it's time to move your work to Wikipedia proper - the "mainspace." 


Editing an existing article?


  • NEVER copy and paste your draft of an article over the entire article. Instead, edit small sections at a time.
  • Copy your edits into the article. Make many small edits, saving each time, and leaving an edit summary. Never replace more than one to two sentences without saving!

Week 14

Course meetings
Tuesday, 28 November 2017   |   Thursday, 30 November 2017
Assignment - Continue improving your article

Do additional research and writing to make further improvements to your article, based on suggestions and your own critique.


  •  Read Editing Wikipedia page 12 to see how to create links from your article to others, and from other articles to your own. Try to link to 3–5 articles, and link to your article from 2–3 other articles. 

Week 15

Course meetings
Tuesday, 5 December 2017   |   Thursday, 7 December 2017
Milestones

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

Week 16

Course meetings
Tuesday, 12 December 2017   |   Thursday, 14 December 2017
In class - In-class presentations

Present about your Wikipedia editing experience.


Consider the following questions as you reflect on your Wikipedia assignment:


  • Critiquing articles: What did you learn about Wikipedia during the article evaluation? How did you approach critiquing the article you selected for this assignment? How did you decide what to add to your chosen article? 
  • Summarizing your contributions: include a summary of your edits and why you felt they were a valuable addition to the article. How does your article compare to earlier versions? 
  • Peer Review: If your class did peer review, include information about the peer review process. What did you contribute in your review of your peers article? What did your peers recommend you change on your article? 
  • Feedback: Did you receive feedback from other Wikipedia editors, and if so, how did you respond to and handle that feedback? 
  • Wikipedia generally: What did you learn from contributing to Wikipedia? How does a Wikipedia assignment compare to other assignments you've done in the past? How can Wikipedia be used to improve public understanding of our field/your topic? Why is this important?