Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/University of the Fraser Valley/CMNS 125 AB6 (Fall 2018)

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Course name
CMNS 125 AB6
Institution
University of the Fraser Valley
Instructor
Linda Howell
Wikipedia Expert
Shalor (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Workplace Communications
Course dates
2018-09-05 00:00:00 UTC – 2018-12-05 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
25


This course is an introduction to general principles of technical and professional communications. Emphasis is on the communication process, in particular, direct, indirect, and persuasive messages and presentations. Document design and electronic messages are also studied and practiced.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

  1. Create messages for specific purposes, audiences, and media.
  2. Apply the writing process, including planning, drafting, revising, editing, and proofing.
  3. Write direct, indirect, and persuasive messages in a variety of lengths and formats.
  4. Produce a research writing assignment for a professional or academic audience.
  5. Use summary, paraphrasing, and citation techniques for an academic or professional

audience.

  1. Use source material ethically and critically in written communication.
  2. Demonstrate the basic techniques of document design.
  3. Develop and deliver effective and professional presentations.

Wikipedia is used in this course to help us learn about all the course outcomes, but especially numbers 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8.

Timeline

Week 3

Course meetings
Wednesday, 19 September 2018
In class - Introduction to the Wikipedia assignment

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.

Your course has been assigned a Wikipedia Expert. You can reach them through the Get Help button at the top of this page.

Resources:

Assignment - Get started on Wikipedia

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.)

Milestones

This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.

Week 4

Course meetings
Wednesday, 26 September 2018
Assignment - Evaluate Wikipedia

Exercise

Evaluate an article

Week 5

Course meetings
Wednesday, 3 October 2018
In class - Discussion

What's a content gap?

Week 6

Course meetings
Wednesday, 10 October 2018
Assignment - Add to an article

Exercise

Add a citation

Week 7

Course meetings
Wednesday, 17 October 2018
Assignment - Start drafting your contributions

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, pages 7–9

Milestones

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 8

Course meetings
Wednesday, 24 October 2018
Assignment - Peer review an article

Guiding framework

In class - Discussion

Thinking about Wikipedia

Milestones

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

Week 9

Course meetings
Wednesday, 31 October 2018
Assignment - Respond to your peer review

You probably have some feedback from other students 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

Course meetings
Wednesday, 7 November 2018
Assignment - Begin moving your work to Wikipedia

Now that you've improved your draft based on others' feedback, it's time to move your work live - to the "mainspace."

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 13

Week 11

Course meetings
Wednesday, 14 November 2018
Assignment - Continue improving your article

Exercise

Add links to your article

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.

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 12

Course meetings
Wednesday, 21 November 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!
In class - In-class presentation

Guiding questions

Week 13

Course meetings
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Milestones

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