Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/The College of Wooster/Modern Latin America (Spring 2020)
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- Course name
- Modern Latin America
- Institution
- The College of Wooster
- Instructor
- Katie Holt
- Wikipedia Expert
- Ian (Wiki Ed)
- Subject
- History
- Course dates
- 2021-01-18 00:00:00 UTC – 2021-05-03 23:59:59 UTC
- Approximate number of student editors
- 25
This course provides a thematic approach to the history of Latin America since the wars of independence. Themes include the consolidation of political rule after independence; the negotiation of abolition and the persistence of racial inequalities; Latin America’s integration into the world economy; populism and mass political mobilization; authoritarianism and human rights; changing patterns of social and gender relations; and international migration and the re-construction of national identity. The majority of the readings will be drawn from primary sources. We’ll emphasize how historians practice historical empathy through the analysis of multiple, often contradictory viewpoints to build an understanding of the past.
Timeline
Week 2
- Course meetings
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- Monday, 25 January 2021 | Wednesday, 27 January 2021 | Friday, 29 January 2021
- In class - Introduction to the Wikipedia Project
In ClassWelcome to your Wikipedia project's course timeline. This page will guide you through the Wikipedia project for History 216 Modern Latin American. This schedule is *not* a replacement for our class syllabus, but to provide you more detailed structure for the Wikipedia assignments.
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:
- Editing Wikipedia pages 1–5
- Evaluating Wikipedia
- Milestones
This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account & has completed basic editing training.
Week 3
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 1 February 2021 | Wednesday, 3 February 2021 | Friday, 5 February 2021
Week 4
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 8 February 2021 | Wednesday, 10 February 2021 | Friday, 12 February 2021
- Assignment - Practicing the Basics
- Create an account and join this course page, using the enrollment link posted on Moodle.
- It's time to dive into Wikipedia. Above, you'll find the first set of online trainings you'll need to take; complete them before class on Friday. 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.
Week 5
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 15 February 2021 | Wednesday, 17 February 2021 | Friday, 19 February 2021
- Assignment - Add to an article
Exercise
[[../../../training/students/add-to-article-exercise|Add a citation]]Familiarize yourself with editing Wikipedia by adding a citation to an article. There are two ways you can do this:
- Add 1-2 sentences to a course-related article, and cite that statement to a reliable source, as you learned in the online training.
- The Citation Hunt tool shows unreferenced statements from articles. First, evaluate whether the statement in question is true! An uncited statement could just be lacking a reference or it could be inaccurate or misleading. Reliable sources on the subject will help you choose whether to add it or correct the statement.
Week 6
- Course meetings
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- Monday, 22 February 2021 | Wednesday, 24 February 2021 | Friday, 26 February 2021
- Assignment - Planning Your Wikipedia Article Improvement
- Pick an article related to your research project that needs improvement.
- In class - Discussion
- What is 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 7
- Course meetings
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- Monday, 1 March 2021 | Wednesday, 3 March 2021 | Friday, 5 March 2021
- Assignment - Share your plans for improving your article
- On your article's talk page, create a new heading to introduce your proposed edits.
- On the talk page, write a few sentences about what you plan to contribute to the selected article, and why these additions are important. Think back to our discussions of content gaps, Wikipedia's 5 Pillars, and the American Historical Association article.
Reach out to your Wikipedia Expert if you have questions using the Get Help button at the top of this page.
Resource: Editing Wikipedia, pages 7–9
Week 8
- Course meetings
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- Monday, 8 March 2021 | Wednesday, 10 March 2021 | Friday, 12 March 2021
- Start Drafting Your Article
Tips for starting your Wikipedia improvements:
- 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!
- Milestones
Everyone has identified high-quality sources and begun writing their article drafts.
Week 9
- Course meetings
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- Monday, 15 March 2021 | Wednesday, 17 March 2021 | Friday, 19 March 2021
- Assignment - Polished First Draft Due
- Your complete, polished first draft is due (posted to the article mainspace) before class on Wednesday, March 17. Make sure your work is ready for peer-review.
- Make sure that your new content includes citations and links. 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.
- Assignment - Peer Review & Copy Edit
- Full Articles
Peer review your assigned classmates' drafts.
You will share your critique and suggestions in two ways:
- By making real, live edits on the Wikipedia page to improve communication, formatting, grammar (strongly encouraged).
- By leaving notes in our Moodle Forum for your assigned articles (Required). Make sure to focus on:
- ### In what ways does the entry show the student's historical research skills and use of clear/specific examples?
- Does the new content follow Wikipedia's guidelines for neutral tone and clear communication?
- Would the new section be stronger with more links, headers, or other additions?
- how does the new material improve Wikipedia's coverage of Latin American history?
- What is the strongest part of their work?
- What would you focus on for improvement?
- ### In what ways does the entry show the student's historical research skills and use of clear/specific examples?
As you review, make spelling, grammar, and other adjustments. Pay attention to the tone of the article. Is it encyclopedic?
Week 10
- Course meetings
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- Monday, 22 March 2021 | Wednesday, 24 March 2021 | Friday, 26 March 2021
- Assignment - Final article
It's the final week to develop your article (due before class on Friday, March 26).
- Read Editing Wikipedia page 15 to review a final check-list before completing your assignment.
- Look at our Wikipedia grading rubric. How would you evaluate your work?
- Don't forget that you can ask for help from your Wikipedia Expert at any time!
- Assignment - Wikipedia Project Memo
Write a reflective project memo (500-750 words, about 2 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions and upload it to Moodle before class on Friday, March 26.
This 2-page memo should devote a paragraph to each of the following six questions:
- Why did you select this article to create or improve? What is the larger historical significance of this entry, and how does your work make it better?
- What state was it in before your intervention?
- How did you improve this entry and bring it to “good” status? Why did you choose to intervene in these ways?
- How does your work show your skills performing historical research?
- How did you shape your edits to meet the Wikipedia community guidelines (5 Pillars)
- What, if any, interactions did you have with other Wikipedia editors?