Wikipedia:WikiProject United States Public Policy/Courses/Spring 2011/Public Policy Making (Ellen Rosell)

POL4422 Public Policy Making

Dr. Ellen Rosell, Troy University
MSCX 337 (The Inferno)
Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM

Course description

An introduction to the processes by which American public policy is formulated, implemented, and evaluated and to the roles of policy analysts in solving various public problems.

Student Learning Objectives:

• To define, explain, and correctly use terms and concepts used by the political system and its participants in the United States to develop, implement, and evaluate public policy.
• To explain the models for public policy analysis models and their differences.
• To identify the decision making activities in the policy-making process.
• To research public policy issues by applying the appropriate analytical policy analysis model, terms, and concepts.
• To improve communication skills: oral, written, listening, and computer.
• To demonstrate understanding of public policy concepts and models and research and communication skills by writing articles for Wikipedia.
• To enhance interest and participation in politics and government as knowledgeable citizens.

Assignment overview

This describes the assignment. It is intended for both students and Wikipedians, to explain in broad strokes what the students will be doing on Wikipedia, and what related assignment activities will happen outside of Wikipedia.

Assignment timeline

BY January 26, 2011

Every student must

Read available at POL4422 Blackboard > Course Documents

• "Wikipedia: Five pillars"
• Welcome 2 WP Wikipedia
• Introduction to free licenses
• WP's Plagiarism Handbook
• Evaluating WP Article Quality

Browse

• Wikipedia Manual of Style available at POL4422 Blackboard > Assignments

Jan 26, 2011

Class Visit Campus Ambassador – Introduction to Wikipedia

• Discusses basics of editing.
• Discusses anatomy of Wikipedia articles, what makes a good article, how to distinguish between good & bad articles.
• Provides tips & recommendations for best articles to work on for the class assignments.
• Shows students how to contact Online Ambassador mentors.
• Provides handouts:
  • "Creating an account" handout
  • "Evaluating Wikipedia Article Quality" brochure
  • “Referencing on Wikipedia” handout
• Answers questions

BY Jan 31, 2011

Every Student must

• Create a Wikipedia user account
• Create a User page
• Add you name to the course page’s list of students
• Practice the editing features of Wikipedia by leaving a message for team members on their user talk pages.

BY Feb 9, 2011

Every Student must

• Critically evaluate one existing Wikipedia article related to policy by leaving suggestions for improving it on the article's discussion page and emailing suggestions to Dr. Rosell.
• Research and list 3-5 articles on your Wikipedia user page that you will consider working on as your team’s main project. Send the list to your team captain and to Dr. Rosell.
• Ask your Online Ambassador mentor for comments regarding your article selections.

Feb 9, 2011

Class Visit - Campus Ambassador

• Introduces students to IRC, the online chat system where students receive live support.
• Discusses Wikipedia sandboxes and Wikipedia culture/etiquette.
• Answers questions.

Feb 21, 2011

Every Team Must

• Decide which article to work on and list it on the course page.
• Compile a bibliography of relevant sources and begin researching the topic.

Feb 23, 2011

Class Visit - Campus Ambassador

• Discusses Wikipedia sandboxes and Wikipedia culture/etiquette.
• Provides HANDOUT:
  • "Moving article from sandbox into main space."
  • "Did You Know nominations."
• Answers questions.

March 21, 2011

Due from every Team

• Post 1st draft of the team’s article, five (5) paragraphs, with citations in your Wikipedia sandbox.
• Email 1st draft to Dr. Rosell.
• Begin working with Online Ambassador mentor to polish your 1st draft article and fix any major transgressions of Wikipedia norms.
• Continue research in preparation for expanding your article.

March 23, 2011

Class Visit - Campus Ambassador

• Discusses article ratings on Wikipedia and how to get there.
• Discusses uploading images onto Wikipedia articles.
• Answers questions.

March 28, 2011

Due from every Team

• 2nd Draft of team’s article - Move sandbox article into Wikipedia's main space (live articles).
• Email 2nd draft to Dr. Rosell.
• Nominate your article for "Did You Know" status.
• Monitor the nomination for any issues identified by other editors.
• Begin expanding your article into a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

April 4, 2011

Due from every student

Peer-review two teams’ articles:

• Leave suggestions and comments on those teams' article discussion pages.
• Email suggestions and comments for each article to Dr. Rosell.
• Copy-edit team articles.

April 4-11, 2011

Teams

• Revise your article based on peers' feedback.
• Nominate your article for "Good Article" status.
• Prepare for article for in-class presentation.

April 11 & 13, 2011

Team Presentations of Articles

April 18 & 20, 2011

Team Presentations of Articles

April 25, 2011

Due from every Team - Final version of article.

Students

This is a list of the students in your class (or rather their Wikipedia usernames), along with their Wikipedia articles (which students will select at the appropriate time).

• Michael Patrick (talk) 18:26, 22 January 2011 (UTC) - This is Michael
• Kaitlin Conway (talk · contribs) Hello :D
• TheUncleRyRy (talk · contribs) This is Ryan
• Kyle Wilborn (talk · contribs) Hello
• Alishamhooker (talk) 21:41, 24 January 2011 (UTC) hey
• Bethany Mead (talk) 21:42, 24 January 2011 (UTC) Hey guys!
• Kay king (talk) 21:50, 24 January 2011 (UTC) hey