Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Vanderbilt University/African Politics (Spring 2022)

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Course name
African Politics
Institution
Vanderbilt University
Instructor
Kristin Michelitch
Wikipedia Expert
Ian (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Political Science
Course dates
2022-01-17 00:00:00 UTC – 2022-05-16 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
35


This course introduces students to key topics in African Politics. Students have a "term project" to individually improve wikipedia regarding African politics topics in their assigned African country.

Student Assigned Reviewing
Emma.Fagan Angola–China relations Refugees from Ivory Coast
Laylaadeyahmed Environmental Issues in Somalia Military coups in Nigeria
Ppowers2001 Malian Family Code Child marriage in Cameroon
Huandrew1 Moro Nuba people Catholic Church in colonial Rwanda
Ognextdoor Human trafficking in Liberia, Child Soldiers in Liberia Human trafficking in Mozambique
Richa Amin Child marriage in Cameroon Malian Family Code, Taxation in Ethiopia
SparkeWIKI Democratization in Senegal #ThisFlag Movement
Rh915119 Refugees from Ivory Coast Angola–China relations
PoliSciMajor321 Taxation in Ethiopia Child marriage in Cameroon
Rebeccamweintraub Women in Burundi Domestic Violence in Uganda
Kylemorin23 Catholic Church in colonial Rwanda Moro Nuba people
Vsrddy92 Violence against women in Uganda Women in Burundi
Ttanc2 China–Tanzania relations Kamerun
Michael.c.gallego Sierra Leone Constitution Constitution of Lesotho
Clarabellewatson
Safashahzad Women's rights in Djibouti Taxation in Ethiopia
Aspang23 #ThisFlag Movement, ThisFlag Movement Democratization in Senegal
Patelrn33 Health Disparities in South Africa Environmental Issues in Somalia
CoryWurtenberger User:CoryWurtenberger/Choose an Article, Constitution of Lesotho Sierra Leone Constitution
Shreyakon Environmental Policy in Madagascar Education in Namibia
Procyon1101 Human trafficking in Mozambique Human trafficking in Liberia
SejinKim0108 Education in Namibia Environmental Policy in Madagascar
Kxngsultan Military coups in Nigeria Environmental Issues in Somalia
Ethanmcg Kamerun Health Disparities in South Africa

Timeline

Week 1

Course meetings
Friday, 21 January 2022
Milestones

This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.  (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.)

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:

In class - Start investigating existing Wikipedia entries in your interest area

What types of pages exist regarding African politics in a few countries you are interested in? One way to think about this is to examine what pages exists for on politics in prominent countries in the Global North, where pages are more developed and compare to your country/countries of interest. It might be helpful to have a few ideas in mind for the library session, so you can follow along the librarian with some of those topics to see if resources exist.

Week 2

Course meetings
Monday, 24 January 2022   |   Wednesday, 26 January 2022   |   Friday, 28 January 2022
Assignment - Get started on Wikipedia
Guide(s) for writing articles in your topic area

Biographies

History

Political Science

Women's Studies

Week 3

Course meetings
Monday, 31 January 2022   |   Wednesday, 2 February 2022   |   Friday, 4 February 2022
In class - Library Training Session with Frank Lester (Wed Feb 2)
Assignment - Evaluate Wikipedia

Exercise

Evaluate an article

Assignment - Tips on finding your article

Exercise

Choose a topic

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 6

Week 4

Course meetings
Monday, 7 February 2022   |   Wednesday, 9 February 2022   |   Friday, 11 February 2022
Assignment - 1-2 page memo listing 2-3 topic ideas

For each idea, list at least 4 scholarly resources that you could use to create your page; also list why it is important to do the topic for the country, and why it is a good topic based on building on your personal interests. Instructors will give you individual feedback to help you settle on a topic.

Assignment - Editing an Article
Assignment - Adding a citation to an article

Exercise

Add a citation

In class - Discussion

What's a content gap?

Week 5

Course meetings
Monday, 14 February 2022   |   Wednesday, 16 February 2022
Receive feedback on your topic from Instructors (sometime this week)
Assignment - Finalize your topic (assign yourself your article)

Finalize your topic / Find your sources

Week 6

Course meetings
Wednesday, 23 February 2022   |   Friday, 25 February 2022
Assignment - Start drafting your contributions

Reach out to your Wikipedia Expert if you have questions using the Get Help button at the top of this page.

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, pages 7–9

Milestones

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 7

Course meetings
Monday, 28 February 2022   |   Wednesday, 2 March 2022   |   Friday, 4 March 2022
Continue Working on your article

Week 8

Course meetings
Monday, 14 March 2022   |   Wednesday, 16 March 2022   |   Friday, 18 March 2022
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

Week 9

Course meetings
Monday, 21 March 2022   |   Wednesday, 23 March 2022   |   Friday, 25 March 2022
Assignment - Add links and images

Exercise

Add links to 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.

In class - Peer review

Guiding framework

Milestones

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

Week 10

Course meetings
Monday, 28 March 2022   |   Wednesday, 30 March 2022   |   Friday, 1 April 2022
In class - Discussion

Thinking about Wikipedia

Polish your work - consider writing studio appointments

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 11

Course meetings
Monday, 4 April 2022   |   Wednesday, 6 April 2022   |   Friday, 8 April 2022
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.
Assignment - Make sure article checks off for Wikipedia and grading reqs

Make sure to have a great (finalized? almost finalized?) draft article ready for your presentations.

  • 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 the class Wikipedia Expert from Wikiedu at any time!
Polish your work - consider writing studio appointment

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
Monday, 11 April 2022   |   Wednesday, 13 April 2022   |   Friday, 15 April 2022
Reflective essay - due before class on the day of your presentation - 1-2p

Guiding questions

In class - In-class presentations

Guiding questions

Week 13

Course meetings
Monday, 18 April 2022   |   Wednesday, 20 April 2022   |   Friday, 22 April 2022
In class - In-class presentations

Week 14

Course meetings
Monday, 25 April 2022   |   Wednesday, 27 April 2022   |   Friday, 29 April 2022
In class - In class presentations

Week 15

Course meetings
Monday, 2 May 2022   |   Wednesday, 4 May 2022   |   Friday, 6 May 2022

Week 16

Course meetings
Monday, 9 May 2022   |   Wednesday, 11 May 2022   |   Friday, 13 May 2022
Assignment - Final Article Due
Milestones

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