User:Sabub/NMAC 3108 Journal

May 30, 2019: Introduction

My name is Savannah Breeze and I am a New Media and Communications major at MGA. I plan to graduate later this year at the end of the fall semester. Though I am almost finished with school, I am still deciding what exactly I would like to do. I am currently stuck between something in the design field or working in editing for film/television. I decided to take this course because I thought it would be beneficial since digital writing is a major way we both share and gain information today. My goal for the semester is to learn how to use Wikipedia properly so that I can contribute to the community that has provided me with so much information over the years. I hope everyone can learn a lot and do well in this course.

@Sabub: Welcome. I like your goal for the semester — certainly achievable. —Grlucas (talk) 12:17, 5 June 2019 (UTC)

May 30, 2019: Starting the Wikipedia Journey

I have been an avid user of Wikipedia for as long as I can remember, but when it comes to contributing to the site, I'm a total novice.

Though I am just beginning in this endeavor, I have already learned so much about what a Wikipedian is supposed to do. So far, I have created my Wikipedia account and have linked it to my WikiEdu account. I have also learned the core rules of Wikipedia, why notable topics are important, and how to interact with other Wikipedia users. I believe this last point is one of the most important things for me, and others, to know. Proper communication will make learning how to edit articles easier, while also allowing me to give feedback to others so we can make the best product possible.

June 5, 2019: Article Evaluation

I decided to do my article evaluation on Collaborative editing since it relates to what we will be doing on Wikipedia this semester. When reading through this article, I found that there were quite a few aspects that could use improvement. Through my evaluation, I focused on the content, organization, and how reputable the sources were.

What I first noticed about the article is that it is very short, only containing an overview section. I think it is understandable that the article would not be too long but considering the number of sources, I think it would be possible to include more information. When reading through the article, I noticed much of the content contained examples of platforms that allow collaborative editing. Only a few sentences were dedicated to what it actually is. I think it is good to include examples, but it would be better to at least separate the information into different sections. Also, the article mostly refers to collaboration through online means. I think it would be good to include how collaborative editing was/is done through other means, if possible. In some places, there was information that did not really match the rest and would perhaps fit better in other articles. I think in some places the article may have not been so neutral because of how things were worded. An example being when Wikipedia's large-scale editing was referred to as "good and bad" when I think it could have been said differently. I also found that while the sources were reputable, the majority were outdated, as they came from the 90s and early 2000s. Since much has changed since then I think it would be better to update the sources. I also went through the talk page and saw there was not much discussion on the page, with the last post being in 2017. It's kind of funny that there was not much collaboration on the collaborative editing page. I believe this page could definitely use some improvement.

@Sabub: Please add the article you evaluated to the WikiEdu dashboard. Try to summarize your main points at the beginning — called the inverted pyramid — to make your text a bit more screen-friendly. —Grlucas (talk) 15:11, 10 June 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: One possibility for adding content to the article could be a focus on the theory behind collaborative editing. I agree that the article needs additional content and headers. Its current "Overview" section implies that there would be deeper content.TSchiroMGA (talk) 18:47, 10 June 2019 (UTC)

June 6, 2019: Neutrality

When going through the readings this week, I paid special attention to the NPOV tutorial that was assigned. Though I have of course been assigned to write in a neutral point of view before, I realized I still get caught up in my own opinions. I usually don't have problems when I write articles for the school newspaper because I get facts first hand and use direct quotes to tell the story. However, when I write about a certain topic and have to do in-depth research, I sometimes catch myself inserting my own thoughts in on the subject. That may be the influence of all the media courses I've taken that encourage opinion. I'm glad that I have become more aware of this, though. When writing on Wikipedia this semester I will be sure to check myself seriously so I can write neutral and unbiased articles.

@Sabub: I think that it absolutely can be difficult to refrain from inserting your own opinion into something that you're writing. Maybe this is the reason that there are "Republican news channels" or "Democratic news channels". That's something a lot of our New Media and Communication classes have focused on- being an unbiased source when you need to be, but we also focus on angles a lot, as well!LynzeeWhite (talk) 14:39, 6 June 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub:I agree with you. It is hard to keep our opinions out of the words we write. I would like to improve that on my writing, and also conversations. Neutrality gives a chance to everyone's opinion to be respected Ysabella Escalona (talk) 01:16, 8 June 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub:Hi! Very well-stated. I could not agree with you more. It is difficult eliminating bias. As long as you have enough eliminated I think it's fine. --AmaniSensei (talk) 18:14, 8 June 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub:I believe everyone struggles to remain impartial, even those who must write neutrally for a living. I can certainly say that I struggle with it at times in minor slips, such as inserting "I think" into statements. It gets even more complicated when you have to cover the opinions of others, as no matter how much you may disagree with someone you still have to write on it without discounting it. I think it's super interesting to hear your thoughts on it, and I'm sure we'll both do great improving upon our writing this semester if we continue to practice this kind of self-reflection and thoughtful mentality! 1-800-OWLZ (talk) 18:29, 8 June 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub:Yes. Strong-willed and opinionated people can certainly struggle with being neutral. It's like being attached to something your entire life and then having your privileges taking away from you. This sounds kind of bad but it's important that articles are strictly information and not opinion-based.Tionnetakala (talk) 00:21, 10 June 2019 (UTC)

June 13, 2019: Article Selection

When researching which article I would like to edit I was having trouble finding ones that I thought would be good to add to. Many of the articles related to Macon seemed like they weren't notable enough, or already had enough sources that I wouldn't be adding much to them. I eventually narrowed my options down to the Grand Opera House (Macon), the Rose Hill Cemetery, and the International Cherry Blossom Festival.

The first two articles, the Grand Opera House and Rose Hill Cemetery, are both rated stub-class under WikiProject Georgia (U.S. state). This means they still have information and sources that could be added to make a base article. I thought these would be good choices so I can make a bigger contribution than just moving information around. The articles also have some reliable sources, but also rely a bit on the websites dedicated to their respective topics. This would need to be changed a bit so there is more neutrality in the articles. I think the articles could benefit from the addition of more history. In the case of the Grand Opera House article, I think adding more details on its restoration and who has performed there would also add to its importance.

The International Cherry Blossom Festival is rated as start-class under the Georgia WikiProject. This article has a bit more sources and information, but I think there could be more information added since the subject seems very notable. I think I will be able to more articles on the festival's history and events to give the article more substance.

I have already done some basic research on each of these topics so that I could find reliable sources. Based on my research, I think I will be choosing between the Grand Opera House and the International Cherry Blossom Festival for which article I will edit. These two had more reliable sources than the Rose Hill Cemetery. My final decision will be based on whether I can access the books I found on the Cherry Blossom Festival.

@Sabub: Excellent choices! I believe of the two you have in contention that the International Cherry Blossom Festival is the better choice. As the page is a start-class, you have more information to start off of, making it easier to branch out and find new information simply by utilizing the sources already there. The event is also extremely relevant, so there are likely more sources that are up-to-date. Overall, these would all make great choices, and I think any of them would be an excellent choice. 1-800-OWLZ (talk) 02:52, 16 June 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: You have narrowed your options down to some great ones. Personally, I would be interested in learning more about the history and background of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Depending on the availability of reliable sources, you could potentially add a section for notable guests, like when delegates from Macon's sister cities have participated. Another potential header could be statically information, like recorded attendance, or how much income is generated in tourism for the city. Those are just a few thoughts I have to share with you. I wish you luck on your article.

@Sabub: Good. I would strongly recommend going to Washington Library to get your hands on some original documents. This is where you could really add to these articles. —Grlucas (talk) 20:13, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

June 13, 2019: Research and Decisions

As a continuation of sorts on my Article Selection entry, I wanted to talk more about my experience of researching Wikipedia article topics. Before I started, I didn't realize how difficult the search for an article to edit would be. Since I am so used to writing papers and articles from scratch, I didn't realize the challenge of adding information to an article that already exists. It made me think deeper about what information would be good to add. Many of the articles I read seemed to already say enough, even though I realize now that wasn't true. Since the articles were always rated stub or start-class, that means there was room for improvement. I think it was also a challenge to find actual sources. Since I had to find something related to Macon, I was confused about whether some sources would be considered reliable or not. Hopefully, as I continue my research, it will become more understandable.

Hello @Sabub: Yes Proofreading is important. We are all learning that is why we are taking this class! I try to give positive feedback to my classmates. I point out the good in what I see. I see countless mistakes in journals including yours. However, I see good topics and points that my fellow classmates make and that is what I try to focus on!-Acm2625 (talk) 19:31, 14 June 2019 (UTC)Acm2625

@Sabub: I feel somewhat intimidated by this experience. I am trying my best to do well. I notice that most of my assignments I read over the prompts to cover the material properly but my feedback always indicates where I did something incorrectly. I hope things become clearer for you with your research. I am going to try to continue to give my best. I hope you don't feel alone in this experience. Kehli.west (talk) 02:13, 16 June 2019 (UTC)

@Kehli.west: I definitely get what you mean about being intimidated. I am constantly questioning if I have done what I was supposed to or if I am making sense when doing assignments. I really appreciate your response. I am sure if we both continue to work hard and ask questions when we need to, we can do better. I wish you the best of luck!— Sabub (talk) 02:33, 16 June 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: There are many aspects of this course that are completely new to me. As you mentioned in your journal post, adding information to an article that already exists appears challenging as it is not something we are used to. That being said, as long as we research our topic thoroughly and through reliable sources, we will be able to tackle this assignment successfully! Atallent (talk) 13:22, 16 June 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: You may also want to consider locating a subject that has no article on Wikipedia at all. This can help to broaden your options for fulfilling the assignment.TSchiroMGA (talk) 11:53, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: Adding to Acm2625‘s comment, I feel like making sure the resources you use are as important as the information given. Proofreading is just as important when it comes to these articles. I feel like in the past, especially with English classes, I would just use whatever sources I could find and scramble it into my essay. Wikipedia is open to everyone though and multitudes of people use it to find information. Making sure the sources you use are credible and reliable are a huge part in how people will accept the information on the page. Strasburg7312 (talk) 15:01, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

June 21, 2019: Citations and Copyediting

While doing the copyediting and citation practice, I had an easy time doing the tasks. Adding citations is easy, as Wikipedia does most of the work. Copyediting takes a bit more my attention since I have to look out for mistakes, big or small. I have begun to use both Grammarly and the Hemingway App to help me catch as many mistakes as possible. As of now, I have not made many edits to my article since I was focusing on fixing what was already there. I have added links to other articles and corrected errors in wording and spelling. I have also added a source that I have found that could support information already present. I will continue to find sources and will begin to add my own information to my assigned article.

@Sabub: I haven't been editing articles as I should. I've had several issues with the adding citations which is obviously pretty easy to my understanding now. Currently, I'm working on searching for reliable sources to support my Wikipedia article's content.Tionnetakala (talk) 19:49, 23 June 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: I also felt like the copyediting was fairly easy. When citing sources, Wikipedia is super helpful. I wish adding citations to my essays was that easy during English 1101 and 1102! Strasburg7312 (talk) 03:20, 24 June 2019 (UTC)

June 21, 2019: Cherry Blossom Festival Research

While searching for more sources, I realized how much more difficult it is to find reliable sources for local topics. The article that I am working on is the International Cherry Blossom Festival. Since this festival is well known, I assumed there would be more sources available. Yet, I found that most of the information leads back to the site. Even when I find articles, they mainly cite the Cherry Blossom website. My search hasn't come up completely empty though. I took Dr. Lucas' advice and went to the Washington Memorial Library in Macon. There I was able to find a book all about the Cherry Blossom Festival and some files on the festival as well. I'm not sure if I will be able to use the files though since most were either pictures of items from past festivals or articles that did not have a clear source. The book has definitely given me a lot of information though. I will continue to find as many sources as I can before adding new information. I also wanted to ask a question to anyone who happens to read this journal. What would be the best way to find a study done by the University of Georgia? I found an article referencing a study that pertains to the Cherry Blossom Festival, but I haven't been able to find it.

@Sabub: Yes, I have been struggling finding articles on a courthouse from my hometown. Then I remembered that an old job that I worked at called the "Historical Society" has so many books and articles on Taliaferro County Courthouse. A reliable source for you may be The Cherry Blossom Webpage . It has a lot of current information. Maybe Galileo has a journal or article on it's history and origins. And for your last question: It may be a good idea to set an appointment with a librarian for help. They will be able to guide you to the article that you found. Tionnetakala (talk) 19:56, 23 June 2019 (UTC

@Sabub: Is it a study on how the festival impacts Macon's economy? If so, I found a Telegraph article that mentions a UGA study about the festival. It might not be the study you're looking for but you could email the writer and ask for where he found the information. I hope this helps! Good luck in your search! --Sara Kathryn 05:03, 24 June 2019 (UTC) (talk)

June 29, 2019: Peer Reviews

After doing a peer review for a classmate and reading a review of my own article, I learned a bit more about how to make my own article better. I have been so focused on finding sources to add to my article that I have sort of been neglecting what the most important information to have would be. I didn't even think to add the specific parts of where the festival is held! I have also been focused on trying to find sources that support every detail that is already present in the article. While this is important, I didn't really think about the fact that if there isn't a source to back the information up, it probably isn't notable enough to be in the article. Also, LynzeeWhite mentioned in the peer review of my article that there are many news articles about the festival that I could use. I suppose I was so focused on finding journals and books, I pushed those articles to the back burner. I'll be taking a better look at those while still being selective about it. The peer review assignment has definitely made me open my eyes a bit more to what I should be doing as I continue working on my article.

@Sabub: It is interesting that Wikipedia allows the use of biased articles as a valid source. The primary concern is that the source's bias does not bleed into the Wikipedia article itself. This reminds us that it is important to decipher the facts that sources offer for our article content while being sure to filter out any emotions in which the source is presenting us with.—TSchiroMGA (talk) 10:45, 1 July 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: I'm glad the process was helpful. With Wikipedia, it's a constant learning experience if you're doing it right. —Grlucas (talk) 12:11, 1 July 2019 (UTC)

June 29, 2019: Sandbox

Though we learned about the sandbox a while ago, I didn't realize just how important it was to editing until recently. While copy editing my article I copied and pasted what I wanted to change into a separate editor because I thought it would be easier. However, that led to me making a mistake that I later had to fix. After I read through the Editing Wikipedia page on using the sandbox, I realized that using other word processors can paste weirdly into Wikipedia. I was also making the mistake of editing paragraphs when I should have been doing one or two sentences at a time. I thought I was avoiding issues when I was really causing them. I decided to do a little practice with just the sandbox and I realized it simplified the process. Since I was taking my time and the formatting remained the same, I avoided making the mistakes I made before. It is important to utilize the editing tools that Wikipedia provides us with because it reduces errors when working on articles. I should have been less stubborn about using the sandbox in the first place since it is a very helpful tool. Also, another important editing tip I learned was checking the minor edit box. I did not realize I should have been using it until after I listened to this week's audio feedback. I still have trouble remembering to check it, but I will be sure to pay more attention as to make things easier to look through.

@Sabub: Yes yes yes. 👍🏼👍🏼 —Grlucas (talk) 12:12, 1 July 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: I remember learning about the sandbox at the beginning of the course as well and never took the time at first to dive into it. After going in depth in our articles, I’ve realized how important it is to make sure you start there and draft there. It’s extremely helpful since you can export from your sandbox straight to the new article page. Strasburg7312 (talk) 13:13, 1 July 2019 (UTC)

July 6, 2019: Social Media Plan

I did not develop a social media plan, but I did learn more about social media and public relations in general after doing the reading this week. I've known the basics of social media's role in public relations since I do use it often, but I haven't paid as much attention to the specific tactics used. I thought the "eye on the game, not the ball" section was very interesting. I didn't realize how just giving attention and being nice on twitter could have such a big affect on a brand or companies image. I think what I have learned this week will be be very useful to me in both my academic and professional life. I am planning on taking public relations next semester so I already am ahead in that course. Also, though I have not created a social media plan now, I do plan on doing it in the near future so I can share my work (artwork and writing) and hopefully get it noticed.

@Sabub: I very much related to this entry. I also had a very similar misconception about the lack of necessity for social media and public relations given that Wikipedia is an online community encyclopedia. However I realized after reading Chapter 9, that I was too focused on the encyclopedia part and not so much on the online community part. I understand now that both are just 2-sides of the same coined. An obvious example of this, is the Talk Page, which is designed specifically for this exact use of social communication and public relation between the writer and the reader.Ousainou Adeniyi (talk) 16:44, 6 July 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: I did not create a social media plan either. I think that it is very useful for keeping an audience interested in your product or brand. I think this will be very beneficial for promoting your artwork and writing. Branding is so important and a social media plan will help implement this.Kehli.west (talk) 21:39, 13 July 2019 (UTC)

July 6, 2019: Article Progress

I have made slight progress on my article for the International Cherry Blossom Festival. So far I have done some rearranging and added some new information to the article. I am still planning on a layout since I want to add more on the history and possibly the economic impact of the festival, if I can find some good sources for that. I know that we will be adding pictures next week so I will be working on that as well. I believe I have some pictures from this past festival and I may ask a friend if they have any they can upload to the Wikimedia Commons. If that doesn't work out, I will take a trip to Macon to take some pictures of landmarks relating to the festival. While I haven't made as much progress as I would have liked, I will try to keep adding more information everyday. I'm sure by this time next week I will have made a much greater contribution.

@Sabub: Have you talked to anyone at the Macon-Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau yet? I'm sure if you contact them they can provide you with the information you need regarding the economic impact.Jkoplin1 (talk) 19:41, 7 July 2019 (UTC)Jkoplin1

@Sabub: Looking at the page now, I think the picture already present adds context to the event and improves the overall quality of the article. Since this is such a big event, pictures would be of good use to those who have never been and are looking for more information about it. The addition of your pictures will also help in this process. Atallent (talk) 20:58, 7 July 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: I did my journal this week on the Wikipedia commons and I wish I could find pictures to use in there. I live about 1 1/2 hours away from Macon so it's a bit out of the way to try and go get pictures. It is extremely convenient to be able to go an grab the pictures you need if you are close to Macon. Strasburg7312 (talk) 01:29, 8 July 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: Good work. Please cite Carroll correctly by using a reference. Also, check your dates on these last two entries. —Grlucas (talk) 12:44, 8 July 2019 (UTC)

July 13, 2019: Field Trip

This week I did not go on a field trip. Instead, I dug through some pictures I had taken this past spring that relate to the Cherry Blossom Festival. I have narrowed some of the pictures down, but I decided to message our Wiki Ed staff to make sure that they would be okay to use. Until I get a response, I'll hold off on posting them. I wish I had gotten some pictures from the actual festival when it was going on, but I'll just have to use what I have. In the meantime, I have made progress on my Wikipedia article and think I will be able to finish it up soon. I know everyone is busy with their own articles, but if anyone has recommendations on what to add or change, I would really appreciate it.

@Sabub: I'm also having difficulty with my photo field trip adventure. I was actually politely chased off by a suspicious staff member when she saw me taking pictures of an elementary school. Ousainou Adeniyi (talk) 17:10, 13 July 2019 (UTC)

July 14, 2019: Continued Progress

I decide to add one of the images I had to my article since I wasn't sure when the Wiki Edu instructor would get back to me. I would like to add a picture of a the historical marker for William A. Fickling but I am not sure yet if it is okay to use. While it is a historical marker, it also has the Cherry Blossom Festival's logo on it. I wasn't sure if that was okay, but if anyone knows for sure I would really appreciate some help. Other then that, I think I can add a little bit more information to my article. I just need to think a bit more about what is worth being included. While I would like to add as much information as possible, I think the quality is much more important than the quantity. I want the article be long enough that readers can get information, but not so long that they get tired of reading. This is something I am trying to work on after learning from both the reading this semester and Dr. Lucas.

@Sabub: Generally, anything you take in public places is fair game and can be posted. The worst thing that can happen is it gets taken down. Also, you are correct: quality should be emphasized over quantity. Good thinking. —Grlucas (talk) 11:46, 15 July 2019 (UTC)

July 22, 2019: Reflections

At the beginning of this semester, I wasn’t sure how much I would gain from this class. The idea of writing for Wikipedia didn’t seem like it would teach me too much about digital writing. The more I worked on Wikipedia and completed assignments for the course, I began to realize just how beneficial the experience was to me. I learned much more than I ever thought I would, not just about writing and the Wikipedia platform, but also online collaboration, editing and identifying important information.

Critiquing articles

Critiquing the International Cherry Blossom Festival article before I started editing was a beneficial first step for me. When doing my initial critique, I followed the module, Evaluating sources and articles to decide what the article’s strengths and weaknesses were. I looked at the lead section, structure, content, neutrality and sourcing. Breaking down the article by these sections made it easier to identify what I should work on when it was my time to edit. I found with my article that the neutrality, lead, and the structure was already in a good place, so I focused more on adding more content and sources. I learned that Wikipedia is very helpful in identifying articles quality with its quality ratings. The ratings help give an idea as to where the article is at so we can see what should be added to it.

Contributions

I made quite a few contributions to my article. Originally, the article only had a small history section and events section. I decided to add a bit more to the history and events section. I gave more details about the very first festival since I thought that would be some important information. I added some details about how the festival is organized since the National Cherry Blossom Festival article had some information on that.  I also added sections on International relations, economic impact, and awards since those seemed to be the most notable topics associated with the festival. Since the festival does bring in a lot of money to Macon, I thought it would be important to know. Since the festival is international, I also thought that noting its international visitors would support the notability of the topic. I also decided to break down information into smaller sections for better readability. I also added two pictures I took relating to the festival so people could have more visuals to support the article. Compared to how the article was before, it now has a lot more information. I would like to add more information after the next festival when more sources and picture opportunities are available.

Peer review

I did a review on a peer’s article for the Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary. I found that the article needed more information overall, so I suggested that they add more amount the history and the notable animals. I also pointed out a dead source and suggested some sources that could be helpful to the article. I also received a few peer reviews. I was given some source recommendations that I found helpful and was able to use. My peers were able to suggest some ideas of what to add like the festival’s connection with Japan and what parts of Macon the festival takes place. I found this peer review process helpful because I was able to get ideas for my article that I hadn’t thought of before.

Feedback

I received feedback from my peers in many different forms. Some gave me simple proofreading advice while others gave recommendations on how to improve my article. I appreciated all the feedback I received. Even if I did not respond to their feedback directly, I made sure to keep everyone’s suggestions in mind. A lot of my peer’s feedback opened my eyes things I had not considered before, so it was great to have different perspectives on my work.

Wikipedia Overall

Working on Wikipedia was a new experience for me. I have never done any assignments like the ones I have done this semester. I feel that through Wikipedia I have gotten a taste of working in a more professional environment rather than a school one. Since anyone can see my contributions it forced me to pay closer attention to what I was writing. I think I have become a better writer in the sense that I am thinking more about what I am putting out into the world. I think Wikipedia can be used to learn more about the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival and maybe lead them to learning more about Macon. In an even broader scale, I think Wikipedia can improve public understanding in any subject if they become involved in the editing process. Just working on the Cherry Blossom festival article, I have learned so much about an event that I live so close to, but never really knew much about. Also, working on Wikipedia, in general, has taught me how to collaborate and communicate with others better. I think is important for everyone to learn since we are living in a society that spends a lot of time online.

I have learned more than I thought I would when I first started this course eight weeks ago. I never thought working on Wikipedia would teach me more about writing and editing than the research essays I have done throughout the years. As a New Media and Communications major, I wish there more courses that gave the real-life writing experiences that this one did. Although I struggled a bit throughout the semester, I think I have become better because of it.

@Sabub: You did a fabulous job. Your final post and project are exemplars of thoughtful and precise additions to both your writing and Wikipedia. Well done. —Grlucas (talk) 11:57, 22 July 2019 (UTC)

@Sabub: Thank you so much, I can't tell how many times viewing your style of writing help me over my own confusion and difficulty this course. Ousainou Adeniyi (talk) 03:41, 24 July 2019 (UTC)