Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Williams College/Contemporary African Politics (Spring 2022)

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Course name
Contemporary African Politics
Institution
Williams College
Instructor
Elizabeth Wellman
Wikipedia Expert
Ian (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Political Science
Course dates
2022-02-04 00:00:00 UTC – 2022-05-20 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
25


Course Description: This course is an introduction to the contemporary politics of Africa, with the aim of sparking a life-long interest in the affairs of the region. Comprised of nearly 50 countries and home to over 1 billion people, sub-Saharan Africa is remarkable in its diversity, particularly in regards to a number of outcomes central to the study of political science: how do institutions of the past shape current dynamics of political competition and economic growth? Why are some countries stable democracies while others struggle with military coups or authoritarian rule? What sparks political violence and how can countries emerge from conflict? Our focus is both contemporary and comparative, organized thematically around common political experiences and attributes across the region. We begin with the legacies of colonialism, the slave trade, and the politics of liberation. We then interrogate dynamics central to political life in Africa over the 60 years since independence: the role of ethnic diversity in shaping competition, the prominence of patronage politics, and the evolution of elections. We next assess major dimensions that have historically shaped the study of African politics, including conflict and violence, economic development, and foreign aid. The final section takes a comparative approach to some of the most pressing issues in Africa today: health crises, migration and mobility, technological revolution, climate change, and the emerging power of women and youth.

Students will be asked to expand and/or create a wikipedia page related to a political event or topic in an African country underrepresented in Wikipedia (for systemic biases in wikipedia in political science and African politics, see Michelitch and Ackerly, forthcoming and Michelitch and Wilfahrt, fortcoming). They will be supported by the Williams library as well as engage in peer review to produce notable, well-cited contributions to help address knowledge gaps on Wikipedia.

Student Assigned Reviewing
Shemley1823 2016 Senegalese constitutional referendum, Right of expatriates to vote in their country of origin East African Federation, Yamoussoukro Decision
KeeganmQuack National Assembly (Botswana) 2011–2012 Mauritanian protests, Sande society
Jamesrjb7 2021 Kenyan constitutional referendum attempt Sande society, Hussein Mwinyi
Gclarke2103 Women in Chad Pan-African Parliament, Humanitarianism in Africa
AngusLi6 Yamoussoukro Decision 2016 Senegalese constitutional referendum, East African Federation
NateLentz Pan-African Parliament Humanitarianism in Africa, Women in Chad
Daniel.chun.ernn.kam. China–Kenya relations Hussein Mwinyi, Property Rights in Ghana
Mattkandel Elections in Burkina Faso Social Welfare Programs in South Africa, Widow inheritance
Yonakrug Women in Nigeria Robert Sobukwe, Portuguese Gold Coast
Javij-s Mercenaries in Post Colonial Africa Pan-Africanism, 2002 Malagasy political crisis
GRogers3 Portuguese Gold Coast Robert Sobukwe, Women in Nigeria
PatrickTheveny East African Federation 2016 Senegalese constitutional referendum, Yamoussoukro Decision
Ellanapack Widow inheritance Elections in Burkina Faso, Social Welfare Programs in South Africa, 2021 Kenyan constitutional referendum attempt
RQWill 2002 Malagasy political crisis Pan-Africanism, Mercenaries in Post Colonial Africa
Rosenberg22 Humanitarianism in Africa Women in Chad, Pan-African Parliament
Max41022 2011–2012 Mauritanian protests National Assembly (Botswana), Sande society
RthB4 Social Welfare Programs in South Africa Elections in Burkina Faso, Widow inheritance
Jeremytorres1151 Pan-Africanism 2002 Malagasy political crisis, Mercenaries in Post Colonial Africa
Kbrenya Property Rights in Ghana China–Kenya relations, Hussein Mwinyi
Kchiuc Robert Sobukwe Women in Nigeria, Portuguese Gold Coast
Owen.maier Hussein Mwinyi China–Kenya relations, Property Rights in Ghana, 2021 Kenyan constitutional referendum attempt
MaximilianP23 LGBT rights in Liberia 2016 Senegalese constitutional referendum, 2021 Kenyan constitutional referendum attempt
Arkpear12 Sande society National Assembly (Botswana), 2011–2012 Mauritanian protests

Timeline

Week 3

Course meetings
Tuesday, 22 February 2022   |   Friday, 25 February 2022
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 4

Course meetings
Tuesday, 1 March 2022   |   Friday, 4 March 2022
Assignment - Evaluate Wikipedia
In class - Discussion

Week 5

Course meetings
Tuesday, 8 March 2022   |   Friday, 11 March 2022
Assignment - Review the rules for health topics
Assignment - Choose possible topics

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 6

In class - Discussion

Week 6

Course meetings
Tuesday, 15 March 2022   |   Friday, 18 March 2022
Assignment - Add to an article
Assignment - Finalize your topic and find sources
Guide(s) for writing articles in your topic area

Political Science

Milestones

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 7

Course meetings
Tuesday, 5 April 2022   |   Friday, 8 April 2022
Assignment - Drafting your article

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

In class - Discussion

Week 8

Course meetings
Tuesday, 12 April 2022   |   Friday, 15 April 2022
Assignment - Peer Review Two Articles

Guiding Peer-Review Framework

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 9

Course meetings
Tuesday, 19 April 2022   |   Friday, 22 April 2022
In class - 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 10

Course meetings
Tuesday, 26 April 2022   |   Friday, 29 April 2022
In class - 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!

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, 3 May 2022   |   Friday, 6 May 2022
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!
Milestones

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

Week 12

Course meetings
Tuesday, 10 May 2022   |   Friday, 13 May 2022
In class - In Class Presentation
Assignment - Reflective Essay