Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Memorial University/Introduction to International Politics (Winter)

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Course name
Introduction to International Politics
Institution
Memorial University
Instructor
Sarah Martin
Wikipedia Expert
Shalor (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Political Science
Course dates
2018-01-04 00:00:00 UTC – 2018-04-23 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
80


The study of global politics aims to make sense of the complex political worlds in which we all live. We will study concepts that are crucial to understanding global politics such as security, conflict, economics and finance. We will explore the various ways we think, talk and write about the world (sometimes called theory) and ‘real’ world events (sometimes called practice). We will critically reflect on how ideas and global events are presented and how scholars explain these events.

The course is guided by a number of questions that are designed to help you learn about key global issues and actors. In the first part of the course you will be introduced to the tools and theoretical frameworks that have been developed to explain past world orders, relations and events. The second part of the course will explore more recent issues and events such as the impact of environmental change, economic globalization, and the changing nature of global security. Armed with theoretical tools, students will apply their knowledge to political questions in both group work and written assignments. By the end of the course you should have acquired a knowledge of key contemporary questions and issues, and the critical awareness of the different ways to approach these problems.

Student Assigned Reviewing
Brigidmartin MasterCard Foundation
Li yifei
Mdpinksen Chile-Mexico Free Trade Agreement Child Rights Information Network
Shreyahurrymun25 Comparative economic systems Chile–Mexico Free Trade Agreement
Aharriot96 Dirty subsidy
Dkhc03 Peace of Westphalia International Arctic Science Committee
Davyani123 Biofuelwatch Nuclear fuel cycle information system, World Food Council
Christian Winsor Aquaculture Stewardship Council Orderly marketing arrangement
Tristancater08 Forever war List of the largest trading partners of China, Seeds of hope
Evy703 UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Seeds of hope
Shouston1220 Child Rights Information Network Dirty subsidy
Lpf028 International Arctic Science Committee African Court of Justice and Human Rights, Biofuelwatch
Kateaubrey
Taylerfrench Dirty subsidy
Hayleydrohan Jebel Ali Free Zone
Piledriver Waltz Peace of Westphalia Rio Group
Tw3280 Nuclear fuel cycle information system MasterCard Foundation
Jwt717 Supraorganization
Katherinemariem Forever war
Felicitycrane Helsinki Watch Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Dirty subsidy
Coltonroberts4
Vacdy MasterCard Foundation
Boluwatife lydia Japan–South Korea relations African Court of Justice and Human Rights
Gkm460 Nuclear fuel cycle information system World Food Council
Mmurphy17 United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative
Wenbo wan List of the largest trading partners of China Helsinki Watch, Japan–South Korea relations
Hollystyles16 Orderly marketing arrangement
Atp226
Intouchwithtag Child Rights Information Network Dirty subsidy
AustinPage Forever war Peace of Westphalia
KristenKeating1 Peace of Westphalia
Kaitlynalyssaviolet Aquaculture Stewardship Council Orderly marketing arrangement
Jsp138 MasterCard Foundation
Chris Cleary Aquaculture Stewardship Council Orderly marketing arrangement
Wyattroberts25
Natashacobb Child Rights Information Network Dirty subsidy
Hicfox Westfailure Feminist constructivism, UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force
Hanju Bae Japan–South Korea relations Comparative economic systems
Hmc842 United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property
Nghynes World Food Council
JohnFarrell5 Biofuelwatch UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot
Thomas Predham Quaker United Nations Office
Nickn99 Seeds of hope International Council on Mining and Metals
Mjclark999 Seeds of hope MasterCard Foundation
Alisonsheppard Dirty subsidy Helsinki Watch
Ca7663 International Maritime Bureau
PreciousM.Fam Aquaculture Stewardship Council
Zack Doyle000
Adri354 UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force World Food Council
ZacharySheppard International Council on Mining and Metals
Tkennie Seeds of hope International Maritime Bureau
Bnb223 UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force
Peter Osborne44
Caledelong Dirty subsidy
Jventura03 Rio Group Chile-Mexico Free Trade Agreement
Ercorkum United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative
Editforgetit Westfailure
DominicMullaly Biofuelwatch Westfailure, Chile–Mexico Free Trade Agreement
O.oleghe Seeds of hope Infrastructure debt
Nishanthan456 Child Rights Information Network World Food Council
Rpmcdonald Helsinki Watch Rio Group, The African Court of Justice Evaluation
Thalia101 African Court of Justice and Human Rights United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot, International Arctic Science Committee
Morganslade000 Seeds of hope World Food Council
DavidACourtenay
ARTHUR17 List of the largest trading partners of China
Tinomungoni United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot African Court of Justice and Human Rights
Gavinmaxpower International Maritime Bureau
Maw774 Helsinki Watch Biofuelwatch, Turkish Red Crescent
Nnaimthe1 Forever war List of the largest trading partners of China
Ajcutler Turkish Red Crescent MasterCard Foundation, Rio Group
Codyhutchings Child Rights Information Network
Jordan.bartlett Orderly marketing arrangement
Oao434 Aquaculture Stewardship Council
Dms152 Dirty subsidy Helsinki Watch
Dahr26.dh UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force World Food Council
Liamcareen List of the largest trading partners of China
SteveG777
Cwjh61
Ibidienye Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
Ib.moe
Zhaojiuzhi123456 List of the largest trading partners of China
Sseamusobry Feminist constructivism
Kavwoodley
Bfh1996

Timeline

Week 2

Course meetings
Tuesday, 9 January 2018   |   Thursday, 11 January 2018
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.


 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 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 - Get started on Wikipedia
  • 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. 
  • Finally, we introduce Intertwine, a video conferencing tool where you can will create your own User page and User Talk Page with peer editors enrolled in other courses. Sign up for a sessionhere or using the Intertwine training module below. 
Milestones

By the end of this week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account. 

Week 3

Course meetings
Tuesday, 16 January 2018   |   Thursday, 18 January 2018
Assignment - Evaluate Wikipedia

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

  • Complete the "Evaluating Articles and Sources" training (linked below).
  • Create a section in your sandbox titled "Article evaluation" where you'll leave notes about your observations and learnings.
  • Choose an article on Wikipedia related to your course to read and evaluate. As you read, consider the following questions (but don't feel limited to these):
    • 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?
    • Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?
    • Check a few citations. Do the links work? Does the source support the claims in the article?
    • Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference? Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted?
    • Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added?
    • Check out the Talk page of the article. What kinds of conversations, if any, are going on behind the scenes about how to represent this topic?
    • How is the article rated? Is it a part of any WikiProjects?
    • How does the way Wikipedia discusses this topic differ from the way we've talked about it in class?
  • Optional: Choose at least 1 question relevant to the article you're evaluating and leave your evaluation on the article's Talk page. Be sure to sign your feedback with four tildes — ~~~~.


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"?

Week 4

Course meetings
Tuesday, 23 January 2018   |   Thursday, 25 January 2018
In class - Discussion
Thinking about sources and plagiarism
  • Blog posts and press releases are considered poor sources of reliable information. Why?
  • What are some reasons you might not want to use a company's website as the main source of information about that company?
  • What is the difference between a copyright violation and plagiarism?
  • What are some good techniques to avoid close paraphrasing and plagiarism?


Guide(s) for writing articles in your topic area

History

Political Science

Week 5

Course meetings
Tuesday, 30 January 2018   |   Thursday, 1 February 2018
Assignment - Choose your topic / Find your sources

It's time to choose an article and assign it to yourself.

  • Review page 6 of your Editing Wikipedia guidebook.
  • Find an article from the list of "Available Articles" on the Articles tab on this course page. When you find the one you want to work on, click Select to assign it 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.
    • 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.


Best practices for working in groups
  • Once your group has a Wikipedia article to work on, make sure everyone in the group is assigned to that article on the Students tab of this course page.
  • Select one group member whose Sandbox space you'll all share to draft your article. (It will be titled something like User:Diderot/sandbox.) Each person should link to that shared Sandbox from their own Sandbox page. A sandbox is like any other page on Wikipedia, and anyone can edit it.
  • Wikipedia doesn't handle multiple people editing from different devices at the same time very well. If you're working together in person, one person should add the work to the Sandbox. If you are all working independently, make small edits and save often to avoid "editing conflicts" with classmates. Make sure that you're logged in under your own Wikipedia account while editing in your classmate's sandbox to ensure your edits are recorded.
  • Don't create a group account for your project. Group accounts are prohibited.


Assignment - Draft your article

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

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


Resources: Editing Wikipedia pages 7–9

Again, we introduce Intertwine,  a video conferencing tool where you will do an hour-long edit-a-thon to improve a fun Wikipedia article with peer editors enrolled in other courses. Sign up for a session here using the Intertwine training module below. 

Milestones

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 6

Course meetings
Tuesday, 6 February 2018   |   Thursday, 8 February 2018
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?


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 Wikipedia Expert to review your draft, now is the time! Click the "Get Help" button in your sandbox to request notes.

Week 7

Course meetings
Tuesday, 13 February 2018   |   Thursday, 15 February 2018
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 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? 
  • Not only your classmates, but also a broader group of Wikipedia student editors can benefit from peer review! Here, we introduce Intertwine one more time. You will do an hour-long peer review session with peers from other courses. Sign up for a sessionhere using the Intertwine training module below. 
Milestones

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

Week 8

Course meetings
Tuesday, 27 February 2018   |   Thursday, 1 March 2018
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 Wikipedia Expert if you have any questions.

Week 9

Course meetings
Tuesday, 6 March 2018   |   Thursday, 8 March 2018
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!
  • Be sure to copy text from your sandbox while the sandbox page is in 'Edit' mode. This ensures that the formatting is transferred correctly.

Creating a new article?


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.
  • Consider adding an image to your article. Wikipedia has strict rules about what media can be added, so make sure to take Contributing Images and Media Files training before you upload an image.

Week 10

Course meetings
Tuesday, 13 March 2018   |   Thursday, 15 March 2018
Assignment - Did You Know
  • Optional: For new articles or qualifying expansions of stubs, compose a one-sentence “hook,” nominate it for “Did you know,” (see the DYK instructions handout) and monitor the nomination for any issues identified by other editors. Wiki Education staff can provide support for this process.



Handout: "Did You Know" submissions


Assignment - Polish your work

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

Course meetings
Tuesday, 20 March 2018   |   Thursday, 22 March 2018
Assignment - Final article

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

Course meetings
Tuesday, 27 March 2018   |   Thursday, 29 March 2018
Assignment - Reflective Paper 2

Write a reflective essay (1500 words) on your Wikipedia contributions.


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: 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? 
Milestones

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