Wikipedia

User:Cdummitt/HIST 3758 History of Western Canada

< User:Cdummitt
Course name
HIST 3758 History of Western Canada
Institution
Trent University
Instructor
Christopher Dummitt
Subject
History and Canadian Studies
Course dates
2014-01-02 – 2014-04-30
Approximate number of student editors
25


This course offers an in-depth exploration of the creation of western Canada as a part of Canada in the mid to late nineteenth century. We will cover the ‘pre-Canadian’ history of indigenous peoples, Métis, and fur traders in the area before moving on to explore the pivotal decades from the 1860s to the 1880s when much of the area that is now the prairie provinces became part of the country of Canada. Topics include the Riel and Métis rebellions/resistance movements of 1869 and 1885, the push of the Canadian state into the west (through the North West Mounted Police, the Numbered Treaties, immigration, and the Railway), the impact of this upon indigenous peoples as well as their strategies of resistance and accommodation, and the ecological impact on the peoples and animals of the west.

For the Wikipedia assignment students will create new articles, or substantially add to existing, articles in Wikipedia. The process will be broken down into small steps so that everything is clear and achievable. You will learn about Wikipedia, including its culture and editing techniques.

We will choose from a pre-selected list of articles that I have already identified as needing work.


Timeline

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Week 1 : Wikipedia essentials

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In class
  • Overview of the course
  • Introduction to how Wikipedia will be used in the course
  • Handout: Editing Wikipedia (available in print or online from the Wiki Education Foundation)

Week 2 : Editing basics

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In class
  • Basics of editing
  • Anatomy of Wikipedia articles, what makes a good article, how to distinguish between good and bad articles
  • Handouts: Using Talk Pages handout and Evaluating Wikipedia brochure
Assignment (due Week 3 (5%))
  • Create an account and then complete the online training for students. During this training, you will make edits in a sandbox and learn the basic rules of Wikipedia.
  • Create a User page, and then click the "enroll" button on the top left of this course page.
  • To practice editing and communicating on Wikipedia, introduce yourself to any Wikipedians helping your class (such as a Wikipedia Ambassador), and leave a message for a classmate on their user talk page.
Milestones
  • All students have Wikipedia user accounts and are listed on the course page.

Week 3 : Exploring the topic area

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In class
Assignment (due Week 4 (5%))
  • Critically evaluate an existing Wikipedia article related to the class, and leave suggestions for improving it on the article's talk page.
  • Sign up to one of the articles from the list provided.


Week 4 : Using sources and choosing articles

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Assignment (due Week 5 (5%))
  • Add 1–2 sentences of new information, backed up with a citation to an appropriate source, to a Wikipedia article related to the class.


Week 5 : Finalizing topics and starting research

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In class
  • Discuss the range of topics students will be working on and strategies for researching and writing about them.
Assignment (due Week 6)
  • In groups compile a bibliography of relevant reliable sources.
  • If you are starting a new article, write a 3–4 paragraph summary version of your article—with citations—in your Wikipedia sandbox. If you are improving an existing article, create a detailed outline reflecting the content the article will have after it's been improved, and post this along with a brief description of your plans on the article’s talk page.


Reading Break

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Week 6 : Drafting starter articles

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In class
  • Talk about Wikipedia culture and etiquette, and (optionally) revisit the concept of sandboxes and how to use them.
  • Q&A session with instructor and/or Wikipedia Ambassadors about interacting on Wikipedia and getting started with writing.
Assignment
  • Begin working with classmates and other editors to polish your short starter article and fix any major issues.
  • Continue research in preparation for expanding your article.
Milestones
  • All students have started editing articles or drafts on Wikipedia.

Week 7 : Moving articles to the main space

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In class
Assignment (due Week 8)
  • Move sandbox articles into main space.
  • Begin expanding your article into a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Week 8 : Building articles

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Workshop in class or outside of class
Assignment (due Week 9)
  • Expand your article into an initial draft of a comprehensive treatment of the topic.
  • Select two classmates’ articles that you will peer review and copyedit. (You don’t need to start reviewing yet.)

Week 9 : Getting and giving feedback

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In class
  • We will review and offer suggestions for improving the articles, using solid encyclopedia articles as examples.
Assignment (due Week 10)
  • Peer review two of your classmates’ articles. Leave suggestions on the article talk pages.
  • Copy-edit the two reviewed articles.
Milestones
  • All articles have been reviewed by others. All students have reviewed articles by their classmates.

Week 10 : Responding to feedback

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In class
  • Open discussion of the concepts of neutrality, media literacy, and the impact and limits of Wikipedia.
Assignment (due Week 11)
  • Make edits to your article based on peers’ feedback.
  • Prepare for an in-class presentation about your Wikipedia editing experience.

Week 11 : Class presentations

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In class
  • Students give in-class presentations about their experiences editing Wikipedia.
Assignment (due Week 12)
  • Add final touches to your Wikipedia article.
  • Write a reflective essay (2–5 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions.

Week 12 : Due date

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Milestones
  • Students have finished all their work on Wikipedia that will be considered for grading.

Grading

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  20%  
   Completion of Wikipedia training and Early Wikipedia exercises
  10%  
   Quality of bibliography and outline
  10%  
   Classroom Presentation
  60%  
   Quality of your main Wikipedia contributions (considered in light of reflective essay
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