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Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/University of Puget Sound/Evolution and Biology of Sex (Fall 2020)

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Course name
Evolution and Biology of Sex
Institution
University of Puget Sound
Instructor
Stacey Weiss
Subject
Course dates
2020-09-01 00:00:00 UTC – 2020-12-18 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
16


Biology 102 is a non-majors introductory biology course with lab. The primary goals of the course are to 1) introduce students to important biological concepts and approaches of study, 2) have students apply those concepts in the context of questions about sexual reproduction, and 3) have students develop a deeper understanding of natural systems and an appreciation for the incredible and wonderful diversity of sex in the natural world. By the end of the course, I hope that students will have the study of biology as one of the many lenses with which they can view important issues in life.

From the standpoint of the evolution and biology of sex, we examine the following topics: scientific inquiry, evolutionary thought, the central dogma of molecular biology, basic genetics and inheritance, development, behavioral ecology, population growth, and more. We take a decidedly comparative approach, utilizing information from many different species while emphasizing that humans are a small but representative branch on the tree of life. Sample topics include: Why have sex at all? How does fertilization work? How is sex determined? How do sex organs develop and function? What conditions favor monogamy, polygamy, promiscuity, etc.? How do mate preferences evolve? How do individuals or their gametes compete with each other during reproduction? What are the evolutionary implications of homosexuality?

Throughout the course, we apply critical thinking skills and the scientific method to these questions about sex. The course emphasizes active learning, group discussion, and student involvement during both lecture and lab sessions.

Timeline

Week 2

Course meetings
Wednesday, 9 September 2020   |   Thursday, 10 September 2020
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 3

Course meetings
Tuesday, 15 September 2020   |   Wednesday, 16 September 2020   |   Thursday, 17 September 2020
Assignment - Evaluate Wikipedia
In class - Discussion

Week 4

Course meetings
Tuesday, 22 September 2020   |   Wednesday, 23 September 2020   |   Thursday, 24 September 2020
Assignment - Review the rules for health topics
Assignment - Choose possible topics

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 6


Assignment - Add to an article
In class - Discussion

   Share your article ideas with the class

Week 5

Course meetings
Tuesday, 29 September 2020   |   Wednesday, 30 September 2020   |   Thursday, 1 October 2020
Assignment - Email instructor
will you be working independently or as group? With whom?
Assignment - Exercise

Week 6

Course meetings
Tuesday, 6 October 2020   |   Wednesday, 7 October 2020   |   Thursday, 8 October 2020
Assignment - Start drafting your contributions

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, pages 7–9


Milestones

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 7

Course meetings
Tuesday, 13 October 2020   |   Wednesday, 14 October 2020   |   Thursday, 15 October 2020
Assignment - Continue drafting

Week 8

Course meetings
Tuesday, 20 October 2020   |   Wednesday, 21 October 2020   |   Thursday, 22 October 2020
In class - Peer review two articles

Guiding framework

Milestones

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

Week 9

Course meetings
Tuesday, 27 October 2020   |   Wednesday, 28 October 2020   |   Thursday, 29 October 2020
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
Tuesday, 3 November 2020   |   Wednesday, 4 November 2020   |   Thursday, 5 November 2020
Assignment - Continue improving 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.

Week 11

Course meetings
Tuesday, 10 November 2020   |   Wednesday, 11 November 2020   |   Thursday, 12 November 2020
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


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
Tuesday, 17 November 2020   |   Wednesday, 18 November 2020   |   Thursday, 19 November 2020
In class - In-class presentation

Week 13

Course meetings
Tuesday, 1 December 2020   |   Wednesday, 2 December 2020   |   Thursday, 3 December 2020
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 14

Course meetings
Tuesday, 8 December 2020   |   Wednesday, 9 December 2020
Assignment - Reflective essay
Milestones

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