Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Boston University/Public Writing (SPRING 2023)

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Course name
Public Writing
Institution
Boston University
Instructor
Gwen Kordonowy
Subject
Writing
Course dates
2023-01-19 00:00:00 UTC – 2023-05-04 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
16


BU has a long tradition of connecting what goes on in our classrooms, labs, and libraries to some of the most pressing concerns in the wider world beyond. This class will prepare you to do just that. You will learn about the growing call for scholars to communicate with the public and, through course readings and regular short writing exercises, study and practice the genres that academic researchers and other serious thinkers use to shape public discourse. You will also have the opportunity to explore the immediate relevance of an academic research project you are passionate about and “translate” it to reach a public audience. You will read and write in several public genres (Wikipedia entry, multimedia presentation, commentary article), workshop drafts, incorporate digital elements, and pitch a story. We will consider: How are the scholarly and the public complementary? Why does your area of growing academic expertise matter to the public? How can you use different modes of communication to reach diverse audiences?

The Wikipedia article is a key component in students' exploration of a single research topic through several genres over the course of the semester. As they become experts in their topics, they'll be working to bring their expertise to the public in different ways: through the NPOV in Wikipedia and persuasively in the commentary piece.

Timeline

Week 3

Course meetings
Thursday, 2 February 2023
Milestones

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:

Week 4

Course meetings
Tuesday, 7 February 2023   |   Thursday, 9 February 2023
Assignment - Homework due
Assignment - Homework due
In class - In-class activity, 9/30

I don't know why this is tagged as "due Oct. 8th"! It's not--we will do this together in class on 9/30. You'll use your article selection page to choose a few options for moving forward.

Week 5

Course meetings
Tuesday, 14 February 2023   |   Thursday, 16 February 2023
Assignment - Homework due
Assignment - Homework due

Read: Manual of style