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Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Marshall University/Biological Sciences Seminar II (Spring 2017)

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Course name
Biological Sciences Seminar II
Institution
Marshall University
Instructor
Marcia Harrison-Pitaniello
Wikipedia Expert
Ian (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Biological Sciences - graduate level
Course dates
2017-01-09 00:00:00 UTC – 2017-05-05 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
15


Presentation of individual topics by graduate students.

Student Assigned Reviewing
BOUDIANA Trace fossil Animal migration tracking
Kvkaplan Stingray Species translocation
Cantrell39 Animal migration tracking Eastern box turtle
Osborne147 Eastern box turtle Trace fossil
Alh583 Aquatic predation Stingray
Murrmanders Cumberland Plateau salamander Endoplasmic reticulum
Kenneth.leep Heterochrony Rectilinear locomotion
Zach.ross Rectilinear locomotion Extremozyme
Boyles24 Endoplasmic reticulum Mussel
Leahc 10 Environmental DNA Heterochrony
Jungen87 Species translocation Cumberland Plateau salamander
Johnbarry93 Extremozyme Environmental DNA
Slegg101 Mussel Aquatic predation

Timeline

Week 1

Course meetings
Monday, 9 January 2017   |   Wednesday, 11 January 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:

Milestones

This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.

Week 2

Course meetings
Wednesday, 18 January 2017
Assignment - Practicing the basics
  • 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.


Assignment - Things to consider
What's a content gap?

 Now that you're thinking about what makes a "good" Wikipedia article, consider some additional questions. Answers to these questions do not need to be handed in - just points to think about as you begin to select an article to review and edit.

  • 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 3

Course meetings
Monday, 23 January 2017   |   Wednesday, 25 January 2017
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.  Choose an article that you wish to edit and improve.  On the Students tab, assign your chosen topic to yourself, and check that it shows up in an "Assigned Article" 

  • Complete the "Evaluating Articles and Sources" training (linked below).
  • Choose an article, and consider some 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?
  •  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 — Marciaharrison (talk) 14:26, 13 February 2017 (UTC)[reply]


Assignment - Review the rules for medical topics

If your topics is related to medicine and human health, review Wikipedia's rules for topics related to medicine, human health, and psychology.

Week 4

Course meetings
Monday, 30 January 2017   |   Wednesday, 1 February 2017
Assignment - Add to an article

Familiarize yourself with editing Wikipedia by adding a citation to your assigned article. There are two ways you can do this:

  • Add 1-2 sentences to a the 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. 


Assignment - Finalize your topic / Find your sources
  • For your selected article, go to your sandbox, write a few sentences about what you plan to contribute to the 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. 
    •  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 5

Course meetings
Monday, 6 February 2017   |   Wednesday, 8 February 2017
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


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?

Week 6

Course meetings
Monday, 13 February 2017   |   Wednesday, 15 February 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.


Assignment - Peer review and copy edit
  • First, take the "Peer Review" online training.
  • The article that you will be reviewing has been assigned to you in the Review column. 
  •  Peer review your classmate's draft. 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? 
  • Feel free to review other classmate's drafts, as well.
Milestones

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


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 7

Course meetings
Monday, 20 February 2017   |   Wednesday, 22 February 2017
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!


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 8

Course meetings
Monday, 27 February 2017
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 Content Expert at any time!
Milestones

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