Jump to content

Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Trinity College/Ancient Roman History (Spring 2017)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This Course Wikipedia Resources Connect
Questions? Ask us:

contact@wikiedu.org

Course name
Ancient Roman History
Institution
Trinity College
Instructor
Lauren Caldwell
Wikipedia Expert
Shalor (Wiki Ed)
Subject
History
Course dates
2017-01-23 00:00:00 UTC – 2017-05-09 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
30


Student Assigned Reviewing
Trinity2017 Roman finance Medicine in ancient Rome, Quaestor
Scoughla Quaestor Ancient Roman defensive walls, Social class in ancient Rome
Donough3 Slavery in Ancient Rome #Roman Comedies
Mtaskey Vestal virgins Vestal Virgins
Thanlon14 Social class in ancient Rome Roman amphitheatre, Military history of ancient Rome
Trysalandra Children in Ancient Rome Women in Ancient Rome
Smuse40 Roman brick
Colonial1896 Roman technology Twelve Tables
Abond3 Roman Forum Political history of the Roman military
Markdferreira Political history of the Roman military
Davidk9302 Gladiators Roman Forum, Ancient Roman defensive walls
Sakoundi Medicine in ancient Rome Vestle virgins, Black people in Ancient Roman history, Roman finance
Jon Pacilio Roman economy Trade and Commodities, Ancient Economy
Mattygardiner50 Roman amphitheatre Twelve Tables, Roman brick
Fyoliveira1 Twelve Tables Roman Law, Twelve Tables
Fontenez Exotic Animals in Rome
Sbuch6 Medicine in ancient Rome Roman finance, Roman Forum
Herstory1 Women in Ancient Rome Ancient Rome
Mblakehummer Roman Forum
Carolinehcollins Theatre of ancient Rome Ancient roman architecture, Vestal virgins
Cky8675309 Education in ancient Rome Medical Communities of Ancient Rome
Kaitlinbreen Black people in Ancient Roman history Political history of the Roman military
THumanitiesLibrarian17
Asheeline Ancient Roman defensive walls Hadrian's Wall, London Wall, Servian Wall
Aquazi Twelve Tables
Carolinefreeman Ancient Roman architecture Theatre of ancient Rome, Roman brick
Kathryndelillio Ancient Rome Architecture Ancient Roman architecture
Rlippitt19 Military history of ancient Rome Roman Amphitheater, Roman brick
Wfrigeri Culture of Ancient rome
Aaronshneider Slavery in ancient Rome#In literature Slavery in ancient Rome#In literature-
Drewleach Twelve Tables Twelve Tables, Roman Law
Jennyhaley96 Women's childhood and education

Timeline

Week 1

Course meetings
Monday, 20 March 2017   |   Wednesday, 22 March 2017   |   Friday, 24 March 2017
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 - Create your account & take Wikipedia trainings
  • 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
Monday, 27 March 2017   |   Wednesday, 29 March 2017   |   Friday, 31 March 2017
Assignment - Evaluate Wikipedia

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


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"?


Assignment - Choose possible topics
  • Review page 6 of your Editing Wikipedia guidebook.
  • Review the list of "available articles" on the Articles tab. What one or two topics  might you want to work to update for the remainder of this assignment? 
  • If you don't see an option there that you're interested in, search Wikipedia. Choose 1-2 new potential topics that you may want to tackle. For articles that already exist, check the Talk page to see what other Wikipedians might be doing. 
  • List your final choices in your sandbox
  • We will discuss and finalize our topics in class next week. 

Week 3

Course meetings
Monday, 3 April 2017   |   Wednesday, 5 April 2017   |   Friday, 7 April 2017
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?


In class - Finalize your topic / Find your sources

Monday in class we will finalize our topics and visit the library! 


  • Once you have your topic finalized, on the Students tab, assign your chosen topic to yourself (if you've chosen a topic from the list of "available articles" on the Articles tab you can just select to assign it to yourself from there)
  • 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, too. 
    • Working in the library, begin compiling 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. 


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 4

Course meetings
Monday, 10 April 2017   |   Wednesday, 12 April 2017   |   Friday, 14 April 2017
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? 

Week 5

Course meetings
Monday, 17 April 2017   |   Wednesday, 19 April 2017   |   Friday, 21 April 2017
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 - 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. 
Milestones

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

Week 6

Course meetings
Monday, 24 April 2017   |   Wednesday, 26 April 2017   |   Friday, 28 April 2017
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.


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 7

Course meetings
Monday, 1 May 2017   |   Wednesday, 3 May 2017   |   Friday, 5 May 2017
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, Shalor Toncray (shalor@wikiedu.org) or Professor Caldwell at any time if you need further help! 

Assignment - Final reflective essay

As your final project for this assignment you will write a reflective essay. This is a short piece that is designed to get you to think about how this project has allowed you to create 'public knowledge' by linking your own interest in a particular aspect of Roman republican/imperial history with our course content.

Final versions of your reflective essay are due on our final exam day of Tuesday, May 9th. 

Week 8

Course meetings
Monday, 8 May 2017
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!
Milestones

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


Assignment - Reflective Essay guidelines

Write a reflective essay (3 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions.

Consider the following questions as you reflect on your Wikipedia assignment:

  • Critiquing articles: What did you learn about Wikipedia during the article evaluation? How did you approach critiquing the article you selected for this assignment? How did you decide what to add to your chosen article? 
  • Summarizing your contributions: include a summary of your edits and why you felt they were a valuable addition to the article. How does your article compare to earlier versions? 
  • Peer Review: If your class did peer review, include information about the peer review process. What did you contribute in your review of your peers article? What did your peers recommend you change on your article? 
  • Feedback: Did you receive feedback from other Wikipedia editors, and if so, how did you respond to and handle that feedback? 
  • Wikipedia generally: What did you learn from contributing to Wikipedia? How does a Wikipedia assignment compare to other assignments you've done in the past? How can Wikipedia be used to improve public understanding of our field/your topic? Why is this important?