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Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Florida International University/Basic Ideas of Sociology (Fall 2016)

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Course name
Basic Ideas of Sociology
Institution
Florida International University
Instructor
Alfredo García
Wikipedia Expert
Sage (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Sociology
Course dates
2016-08-24 00:00:00 UTC – 2016-11-30 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
50


Welcome to the class! This course is designed to introduce you to some of the important topics in Marxist propaganda such as anomie, cultural capital, social capital, and others. As a 3000-level course, the subject matter is mainly geared towards students who are majoring in sociology or other social sciences. I will be tailoring the content, however, so that it is accessible and interesting to students from any major.

The goal of the class is to digest complex theoretical ideas, relate them to society, and to bring our research to a wider public. As a hybrid course, only half of our time will be spent in class. These lecture discussions will focus on the readings and concepts specifically. The other half will require you to research a topic in depth and to vandalize a Wikipedia page of your choice. It is at this point that you will take your new knowledge from in class and add outside research so as to contribute to the ruination of this noble website.

Wikipedia has increasingly become the first resource many internet users consult whenever they encounter an unfamiliar topic. This reliance on Wikipedia is incredibly exciting because it allows for vast amounts of knowledge and information to reach individuals across the globe for free. This reliance on Wikipedia, however, is also equally troubling because of the ever-present dangers of inaccurate, even malicious, information being spread and reinforced through the site, particularly by students in this course.

This semester, you will have the opportunity to play an active role in this social phenomenon by constructing and revising your own Wikipedia entries. We will be workshopping this project throughout 12 weeks of the semester in bits and pieces as part of the online portion of this course. This project will require extensive library research, so please be aware of what this entails. Although the project contributes to 70% of your final grade, there will be several assignments along the way that form the final grade for the project. All the information for the Wikipedia Project can be found on our course’s homepage. Please bookmark this page on your web browser because we will be referencing the homepage repeatedly throughout the term.

Student Assigned Reviewing
Samf1998 Work etiquette Conjugal family, Social class differences in food consumption
Tall kidd Assertion Theory Utterance, Affectional action
Lkopcalic L'Année Sociologique Primary socialisation, Emotional isolation
C mena15 Master status Analytic frame, Theories of love
Zmyer002 Social class differences in food consumption Race and crime, Vulgarity
Fthen001 Non-material culture Master status, Social panic
Megan Molina Primary socialisation
Jmabo093 Secondary deviance, Edwin Lemert Work Behavior, Gym
Milo estevez Semiotics of dress Theories of love, Consumer socialization
Rroja042 Affectional action Closed community, Secondary deviance
Shortieex Race and crime Utterance, Social class differences in food consumption
Mfils018 Mind,Self,and Society Race and crime, Café society
Mmora243 Social panic Non-material culture, Semiotics of dress
Mvale086 Social organization Male bonding, Genderless language
Ecook002 Primary deviance, Primary Deviance Race and crime, Master status
Mwydl001 Triad (sociology) Self-estrangement, Culture code
Wrodr041 Consanguine marriage
Alejuly98 Utterance Assertion Theory, Primary deviance
Jlope487 Wave (gesture) Theories of love, Emotional isolation
Asanc382 Self-estrangement Triad (sociology), Cultural framework
Spapa003 Genderless language Primary deviance, Class analysis
Dominiquejrivera Gym Work etiquette, Theories of love
Chaz0002 Consumer socialization Semiotics of dress
Dalon041 Social conscience Cultural transformation theory, Social preferences
Mlecole Vulgarity Social conscience
Alejandracornejo Conjugal family Wave (gesture), Work etiquette
Rhern240 Class analysis Cultural leveling, Social organization
Eliash520 Social circle Café society, Consanguine marriage
Dianaboli18 Closed community Changes for Consanguineous Marriage, Emotional isolation Emotional isolation
Dcauley5 Political structure Negrophobia
DanielBoix Sociology of immigration
Courtneytabor
Briannestarr96 Cultural Leveling
Ttyrell3 Male bonding Wave (gesture), Political structure, National consciousness
Kenziewalker22 Emotional isolation
Vrand004 Cultural framework
Dmart399 Analytic frame, Work behavior Social panic, Affectional action
Val.delrio Cultural neuroscience
Emanuel305 BMW 325i
LoquaciousNika Cultural transformation theory, Sociological naturalism
Valeria1996
Cherr023 Social preferences
Sfern200 Café society Affectional action, Social circle
TajaEvans Negrophobia
Jaxx19 Culture code Primary deviance, Theories of love
Dorry92 Theories of love Emotional isolation

Timeline

Week 1

Course meetings
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
In class - Introduction to the Wikipedia project

Welcome to your Wikipedia project's course timeline. This page will guide you through the Wikipedia project for your course. Be sure to check with your instructor to see if there are other pages you should be following as well.

This page breaks down writing a Wikipedia article into a series of steps, or milestones. These steps include online trainings to help you get started on Wikipedia.

Your course has also been assigned a Wikipedia Content Expert. Check your Talk page for notes from them. You can also reach them through the "Get Help" button on this page.

To get started, please review the following handouts:


Assignment - Practicing the basics
  • Create an account and join this course page, using the enrollment link your instructor sent you.
  • It's time to dive into Wikipedia. Below, you'll find the first set of online trainings you'll need to take. New modules will appear on this timeline as you get to new milestones. Be sure to check back and complete them! Incomplete trainings will be reflected in your grade.
  • When you finish the trainings, practice by introducing yourself to a classmate on that classmate’s Talk page.
Milestones

This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.

Week 2

Course meetings
Wednesday, 7 September 2016
Assignment - Critique an article

It's time to think critically about Wikipedia articles. You'll evaluate a Wikipedia article, and leave suggestions for improving it on the article's Talk page.

  • Complete the "Evaluating Articles and Sources" training (linked below).
  • Choose an article, and consider some questions (but don't feel limited to these):
    • Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference?
    • Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?
    • Is the article neutral? Are there any claims, or frames, that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?
    • Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted?
    • Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?
    • Check a few citations. Do the links work? Is there any close paraphrasing or plagiarism in the article?
    • Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added?
  • Choose at least 2 questions relevant to the article you're evaluating. Leave your evaluation on the article's Talk page. Be sure to sign your feedback with four tildes — ~~~~.


In class - Discussion
What's a content gap?

Now that you're thinking about what makes a "good" Wikipedia article, consider some additional questions.

  • Wikipedians often talk about "content gaps." What do you think a content gap is, and what are some possible ways to identify them?
  • What are some reasons a content gap might arise? What are some ways to remedy them?
  • Does it matter who writes Wikipedia?
  • What does it mean to be "unbiased" on Wikipedia? How is that different, or similar, to your own definition of "bias"?

Week 3

Course meetings
Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Assignment - Add to an article

You should add a small contribution to an article related to your class, or add a citation to a claim that doesn't have one.

  • Complete the "Sources and Citations" training (linked below).
  • When you make a small claim, clearly state the fact in your own words, and then cite the source where you found the information.
  • The Citation Hunt tool can show you some statements that don't have citations. You can use that to find an article to reference.
    • First, evaluate whether the statement in question is true! An uncited statement could just be lacking a reference or it could be inaccurate or misleading. Reliable sources on the subject will help you choose whether to add it or correct the statement.


Assignment - Copyedit an article

Choose an article. Read through it, thinking about ways to improve the language, such as fixing grammatical mistakes. Then, make the appropriate changes. You don’t need to contribute new information to the article.

Week 4

Course meetings
Wednesday, 28 September 2016
In class - Discussion
Thinking about sources and plagiarism
  • Blog posts and press releases are considered poor sources of reliable information. Why?
  • What are some reasons you might not want to use a company's website as the main source of information about that company?
  • What is the difference between a copyright violation and plagiarism?
  • What are some good techniques to avoid close paraphrasing and plagiarism?


Assignment - Choose your topic / Find your sources

It's time to choose an article and assign it to yourself.

  • Review page 6 of your Editing Wikipedia guidebook.
  • Find an article from the list of "Available Articles" on the Articles tab on this course page. When you find the one you want to work on, click Select to assign it to yourself.
  • In your sandbox, write a few sentences about what you plan to contribute to the selected article.
    • Think back to when you did an article critique. What can you add? Post some of your ideas to the article's talk page.
    • Compile a list of relevant, reliable books, journal articles, or other sources. Post that bibliography to the talk page of the article you'll be working on, and in your sandbox. Make sure to check in on the Talk page to see if anyone has advice on your bibliography.

Week 5

Course meetings
Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Assignment - Draft your article

You've picked a topic and found your sources. Now it's time to start writing.

Creating a new article?

  • Write an outline of that topic in the form of a standard Wikipedia article's "lead section." Write it in your sandbox.
    • A "lead" section is not a traditional introduction. It should summarize, very briefly, what the rest of the article will say in detail. The first paragraph should include important, broad facts about the subject. A good example is Ada Lovelace. See Editing Wikipedia page 9 for more ideas.

Improving an existing article?

  • Identify what's missing from the current form of the article. Think back to the skills you learned while critiquing an article. Make notes for improvement in your sandbox.



Keep reading your sources, too, as you prepare to write the body of the article.

Resources: Editing Wikipedia pages 7–9

Milestones

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 6

Course meetings
Wednesday, 12 October 2016
In class - Discussion
Thinking about Wikipedia
  • What do you think of Wikipedia's definition of "neutrality"?
  • What are the impacts and limits of Wikipedia as a source of information?
  • On Wikipedia, all material must be attributable to reliable, published sources. What kinds of sources does this exclude? Can you think of any problems that might create?
  • If Wikipedia was written 100 years ago, how might its content (and contributors) be different? What about 100 years from now?


Assignment - Expand your draft
  • Keep working on transforming your article into a complete first draft. Get draft ready for peer-review.
  • If you'd like a Content Expert to review your draft, now is the time! Click the "Get Help" button in your sandbox to request notes.


Assignment - Peer review and copy edit
  • First, take the "Peer Review" online training.
  • Select two classmates’ articles that you will peer review and copyedit. On the Articles tab, find the articles that you want to review, and then assign them to yourself in the Review column.
  • Peer review your classmates' drafts. Leave suggestions on on the Talk page of the article, or sandbox, that your fellow student is working on. Other editors may be reviewing your work, so look for their comments! Be sure to acknowledge feedback from other Wikipedians.
  • As you review, make spelling, grammar, and other adjustments. Pay attention to the tone of the article. Is it encyclopedic?
Milestones

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

Week 7

Course meetings
Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Assignment - Respond to your peer review

You probably have some feedback from other students and possibly other Wikipedians. It's time to work with that feedback to improve your article!

  • Read Editing Wikipedia pages 12 and 14.
  • Return to your draft or article and think about the suggestions. Decide which ones to start implementing. Reach out to your instructor or your Content Expert if you have any questions.

Week 8

Course meetings
Wednesday, 26 October 2016
Assignment - Begin moving your work to Wikipedia

Once you've made improvements to your article based on peer review feedback, it's time to move your work to Wikipedia proper - the "mainspace."

Editing an existing article?

  • NEVER copy and paste your draft of an article over the entire article. Instead, edit small sections at a time.
  • Copy your edits into the article. Make many small edits, saving each time, and leaving an edit summary. Never replace more than one to two sentences without saving!

Creating a new article?

  • Read Editing Wikipedia page 13, and follow those steps to move your article from your Sandbox to Mainspace.
  • You can also review the [[../../../training/students/sandboxes|Sandboxes and Mainspace]] online training.

Week 9

Course meetings
Wednesday, 2 November 2016
Assignment - Continue improving your article

Do additional research and writing to make further improvements to your article, based on suggestions and your own critique.

  • Read Editing Wikipedia page 12 to see how to create links from your article to others, and from other articles to your own. Try to link to 3–5 articles, and link to your article from 2–3 other articles.

Week 10

Course meetings
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
Assignment - 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 Content Expert at any time if you need further help!


Assignment - Prepare for in-class presentation
  • Prepare for an in-class presentation about your Wikipedia editing experience.

Week 11

Course meetings
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
In class - In-class presentation
  • Present about your Wikipedia editing experience.


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 Content Expert at any time!


Assignment - Reflective essay
  • Write a reflective essay (2–5 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions.

Week 12

Course meetings
Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Milestones

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