Wikipedia:School and university projects/Piotrus course intro boilerplate: Difference between revisions

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This is a boilerplate wiki-[[syllabi]] for any course which is going to ask students to do something on Wikipedia. It is divided into several sections. First, [[#Introduction for students|'Introduction for students']] which introduceintroduces them to Wikipedia. Second, [[#Assignment|'Assignment']], outlines instruction specific to a working paper assignment (to be written by a group of students as a major assignment). Third, [[#Stages and deadlines|'Stages and deadlines']], describes the stages and deadlines as applicable for a short, 1.5-month term (if you are teaching during a regular term, just spread the deadlines around...). Fourth, [[#Important tips|'Important tips']] contains various tips for the students. Fifth, [[#Grading|'Grading']] explains my grading policy, elements of which you may find useful (in particular, the checklist for article quality). The last sections contain the list of students and articles they are working.

This is a revised, LONGER version of [[Wikipedia:School and university projects/Piotrus course intro boilerplate/old|my old boilerplate syllabus]]. This boilerplate is designed for courses where students work in groups and have several weeks to improve an article to a [[WP:GA|good article status]]. If you just want your students to do a few smaller edits, you may still find the information in its [[Wikipedia:School_and_university_projects/Piotrus_course_intro_boilerplate/old#Exercises_for_students|'Exercises']] section of use, but otherwise, I consider it obsolete.

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This will create a new page at [[Wikipedia:School and university projects/your course name]] or [[User:your username/your course name]] (if you followed the instructions, automatically replacing the generic text with, well, your course name and username, when applicable). Whether you want to create your course page in the WP:SUP space or your userspace is totally up to your preference.

The created page will be empty, fill it in with this template by copying and pasting it there. To do so, click 'edit this page' and copy this boilerplate (from introduction to category) to your project page prior to using it in a specific page. When you are done, save the page. This assumes some basic wiki-editing competency without which you should really not be here... but don't worry, it is a skill easy to gain - just spend few minutes at [[Wikipedia:Tutorial]] and come back here.

Either way, once you are done, go to [[Wikipedia:School and university projects]] and follow the instructions there to add your course to the official listing (while not obligatory ''per se'', it is good form and you may find that interested editors will volunteer to help you). If you would like to use this syllabus but find the instructions too confusing, asask for help at [[Wikipedia talk:School and university projects]].

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[[Wikipedia:Tutorial]] is the best place to start your adventure with this [[wiki]]. Please familiarize yourself with [[Wikipedia:School and university projects - instructions for students|instructions for students]] and if you have any questions, check the [[Wikipedia:FAQ/Editing]] or [[Help:Contents]] and if you cannot find what you are looking for, ask the friendly people at [[Wikipedia:Help desk]] - or just <[[User_talk:Piotrus|contact me]] - '''replace Piotrus with instructor username here'''>.

Before making any major edits, it is recommended that you [[Special:Userlogin|create an account]] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WP_tutorial_en_New_user_account.ogg video tutorial]). You '''definitely need to have an account''' before attempting to do any wiki-related coursework (otherwise we will be unable to confirm if you have completed the exercise). After you create an account, if you know your group already, add your name [[#Editors in SOC0438|to the relevant section of this page]].

Remember that Wikipedia is not a project limited only to [[University of Pittsburgh|our university]]. We are guests here and we should all behave accordingly. Please make sure you read [[Wikipedia:Wikiquette]]. Please try to think what impression you want other Wikipedians to have of our university — and of yourselves.

You should expect that the course lecturer, other students, your friends, and even (or especially) other Wikipedia editors (not affiliated with our course) will [[Wikipedia:Talk page|leave you various messages]] on your [[Wikipedia:Talk page|talk pages]]. When working on the exercises below, you should log in to Wikipedia and check your messages as often as you check your email (I strongly recommend you read 'as often' as 'at least daily'). Whenever you have a new message and are logged to Wikipedia, you will see a large orange message, 'You have new messages', on every Wikipedia page you access. To make this message disappear, you should click on it and read the message. Note that it is customary to leave new messages at the bottom of the talk/discussion pages, and to reply to somebody's messages on their talk pages. If you want to leave somebody a message, make sure you are editing their talk page, not their [[Wikipedia:User page|user page]]. Remember to [[Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages|sign your talk and discussion messages]] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Talkpages.ogg you may want to watch this tutorial on using talk pages]).

Some other useful tips: whenever you are done with an edit and want to save a page, fill out the [[Wikipedia:Edit summary|edit summary box]] and [[Wikipedia:Show preview|view a preview of the page after your edit]] to make sure it looks as you actually want it to look. Only then click the "Save Page" button. You may find the [[Wikipedia:Page history|page history tool]] and [[Wikipedia:Watchlist help|watchlist tools]] to be very useful when you want to check what changes by other editors have been made to the article(s) you are working on.

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''Project overview:''

Your456154654Your assignment is to choose an underdeveloped <'''your course area'''>-related subject to research and write about on Wikipedia. You will perform a literature search on that insect, and work with an assigned group to create a new article or expand an existing one, '''following any and all Wikipedia standards first and foremost'''. During the active project phase, you will monitor and respond to feedback on your article, and assist other groups by reading and commenting on their work.

''Project details:''

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You are welcome to use [[Wikipedia:Peer Review]] and related tools (see tips section below) and seek creative comments on your article. In other words, if you can get other Wikipedia editors to help you, I am totally fine with that.

Once you begin writing your article, you are required to respond to any comments on your paper and act accordingly (make proper changes, defend your choices, etc.). These comments will give you substantial feedback on your work, and allow you to make your final product better. (Besides, I'm going to spend the semester reading your work and commenting on it--if you listen to my feedback, you'll end up with a much better grade. It's like I'm pre-grading it for you! Who's the greatest? Yep, me.)

Finally, you will read and evaluate/comment on your classmates' articles. Please make your comments constructive and useful. You will not get credit for such comments as "good article!" or "I liked it!" Suggest something that can be realistically improved, compare their article to yours and see if your group has learned any tricks that can help them. Also refrain from any abusive or inappropriate language. Remember, you are the face of our University for the semester--make us proud.

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# A print out of constructive comments you made on your own group article's talk page, and on the talk pages of other editors (if relevant). Label that page(s) as: Communication during our group work. Note that only on-wiki communication is accepted, off-wiki communication like emails and such will not be graded.

# Each member of the groups should fill out the group percentages form to grade the other members of the group. Fill out the form (anonymously) and either place it in the folder, or hand it to me personally. Make sure you have your groups number on the form!

==Stages and deadlines==

<'''replace all dates with dates for your course, I am leaving the dates below to give you an idea of a time ranges I used for a course in which students had slightly over a month to work on this assignment. Also, keep in mind that this list of deadlines is very specific with regards to particular sub-assignments, and contains some grading elements'''>

* On Monday, May 10, we will have a segment introducing this assignment. Students who by that time have created a Wikipedia account and made at least one constructive edit to Wikipedia will receive an {{fontcolor|green|extra credit}} point (1P) (please share this edit with the class during the lecture, after I introduce the Wiki assignment)

* '''Start'''. Get familiar with wikipediaWikipedia. Make some trial edits, however minor. Demystify the process. Leave behind any sense of intimidation. As wikipediaWikipedia puts it, learn to '''[[Wikipedia:Be_bold|be bold]]'''. Learn [[Wikipedia:Cheatsheet|basic editing skllls]]. The three students who have made the highest amount of constructive edits to Wikipedia before next Monday (the 17th) (mainspace edits or constructive talk page comments count) will receive an extra two credit points (2P).

* ByBefore Monday, May 17, everyone should have [[Wikipedia:Why create an account?|created a Wikipedia account]] (1P), finished the [[WP:TUTORIAL|Wikipedia Tutorial]] (including making an edit in the WikipeidaWikipedia Tutorial Sandbox) (1P), made at least one constructive edit to a Wikipedia article (outside the sandbox - subject doesn't matter) (1P), make a constructive comment to a Wikipedia's article discussion page (1P) (make sure to add a constructive [[WP:EDITSUMMARY|edit summary]]), [[#Editors in course|joined a group (that includes adding yourself to the linked section below)]] <'''you will want to replace the word course in the preceedingpreceding link with your course name if you change the "Editors in course" section name below'''> (1P) and informed the course instructor <(Piotr Konieczny - [[User:Piotrus]] ([[User_talk:Piotrus]]) '''replace Piotrus with instructor username here'''> about your account name, which group you've joined and the edit(s) you made (1P). Don't forget to [[WP:SIGNATURE|sign your posts]] on talk and discussion pages properly. You should do so bybefore leaving a message on the course instructor [[WP:TALKPAGE|talk page]]. '''Finishing this assignment on time is worth 5% of the course grade.''' If you successfully post a [[Help:Diff|diff of your edit]] to <[[User talk:Piotrus|the instructor's Wikipedia talk page]] '''replace Piotrus with instructor username here'''>you will earn one {{fontcolor|green|extra credit}} point (1P).

* '''Plan'''. But minor edits alone won't get us much closer towards [[WP:GA|Good Article status]]. We need to have a sense of what more needs to be done, and an overall plan for the article. Look at [[Wikipedia:GA#Social_sciences_and_society|models]] and guidelines (e.g. [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style|Manual of Style]] or the [[Wikipedia:Guide for nominating good articles|Guide for nominating good articles]]). What sections are required? What will be the article structure? What information is needed? Who in your group will write what?

*Research and list 3–5 articles on your Wikipedia user page that you think would make good articles for your group main assignment. Link them (so they are [[WP:BTW|blue links like this one]]). Share them with your other group members by posting the link to your userpage on their talk pages, and ask your instructor for comments. Posting this question to your instructor and all other group members on their talk pages (don't forget to [[WP:SIGN|sign]] and [[WP:BTW|link your userpage]]) is worth one {{fontcolor|green|extra credit}} point (1P)

*By Monday, May 24, each group should have an article selected. You should inform the instructor of your article selection (you can email the instructor or post a message to his talk page, or talk to him before or after the class). Make sure it is listed next to your group in the [[#Articles edited|Articles edited]] section of our wiki page. '''Finishing this assignment on time is worth 5% of the course grade.'''

*Before Monday, May 24, each group should have an article selected. You should inform the instructor of your article selection (you can email the instructor or post a message to his talk page, or talk to him before or after the class). Make sure it is listed next to your group in the [[#Articles edited|Articles edited]] section of our wiki page. (2P) Also, find a Wikipedia article that is missing one or more [[Wikipedia:Inline citation|inline reference]] (different from the article your group is working on; and don't forget about the edit summary); find and add a [[WP:RS|reliable]] inline reference to it (2P). The citation you add should have at minimum the following elements: author's name, title, publishing venue, date, link (if it is online). At that point I am assuming you have already done [[Wikipedia:Tutorial/Citing sources|the citing sources part of the Wikipedia tutorial]]. Finally, you should post some constructive suggestions on how to improve the article further on the article talk page (1P). '''Finishing this assignment on time is worth 5% of the course grade.'''

*ByBefore Wednesday, May 26, you should have a plan (who will read what, who will work on what aspects of the article) in place. You should post a preliminary "to-do" list on article's discussion page and inform the instructor that you have done so. The "to do" list should consist of a list of what points you will cover in your article, how it will be structured, who will work on what sections, and a short list of resources. This list should be about one page in length if you need a yardstick. ''Each'' group member should participate in creation of that list, describing their own tasks. If the article does not exist, you should [[WP:STUB|stub (start)]] it (see [[Wikipedia:SUBSTUB#Differences_between_a_stub_and_a_substub|what makes a good stub]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:How_to_create_a_Wikipedia_article_-_Right_to_science_and_culture.ogv you may want to watch this "article creation" tutorial]). '''Finishing this assignment on time is worth 5% of the course grade.'''. Groups which create very good to do lists and stubs may receive up to 2 {{fontcolor|green|extra credit}} points (2P).

* As another {{fontcolor|green|extra credit}} 2P activity, post a constructive question, related to your project, to [[Wikipedia:Reference desk]]. Report what answer you got on your article talk page and notify the instructor about your report with a diff. (Note: it may take a day or so for a reply to be posted to your question at the reference desk)

* '''Share'''. You will need to divide up the tasks that we've identified in the planning stage. Who is going to do what and when?

* '''Research'''. This is vital. A wikipedia article is worth nothing unless it comprises verified research, appropriately referenced. This will entail going to the library, as well as surfing the internet!

* '''Assemble''' and '''copy-edit'''. As the referenced research is added to an article, we need to ensure that it does not become baggy and disorganized, though there will be moments when it is obviously in a transitional stage.

* As yet another {{fontcolor|green|extra credit}} 5P (!) activity, before Wednesday, June 1, you can nominate your article for [[Wikipedia:Did you know]]. All group members who were involved with significantly improving the article up to this point will receive 5P each IF the article is approved by the Did You Know reviewer. You are more than welcome to see me during the office hours to talk about how to get your article passed for the Did You Know. Getting an article to appear on the front page is ''cool'', and it has been done many times by [[Wikipedia:Ambassadors/Courses/Trophy case 2011|your peers]]. Why not give it a try? ([http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Classroom_handout_-_Submitting_an_article_to_the_Did_You_Know_process.pdf Here] is a link to a useful handout])

* '''Informal Reviews'''. By Saturday, June 5, each of your members should look at an article being developed by others, review it on that article's talk page, and write a summary for your own group (on your own article's talk page) saying whether anything that group has done is valuable for you. You should try to review different articles if possible. '''Finishing this assignment on time is worth 5% of the course grade.'''

* Also, revisit your first edits. Have they been retained? Have they been improved by others? Post a report on your userpage, and notify the instructor for another {{fontcolor|green|extra credit}} point (1P). If you improve the edit yourself and discuss it with other editors that might have disagreed with it previously, you may receive another {{fontcolor|green|extra credit}} point (1P).

* '''''[[Wikipedia:GAN|Good article nomination]]'''''. By Monday, June 7, at the latest as there's a backlog of articles to be reviewed, and because a nomination can easily be put on hold until the article is improved in line with a reviewer's suggestions.

* '''Informal Reviews'''. ByBefore Saturday, June 54, each of your members should look at an article being developed by others, review it on that article's talk page, and write a summary for your own group (on your own article's talk page) saying whether anything that group has done is valuable for you. You should try to review different articles if possible. '''Finishing this assignment on time is worth 5% of the course grade.'''

* You should read and comment on the feedback your article received. Incorporate constructive suggestions into your article.

* '''''[[Wikipedia:GAN|Good article nomination]]'''''. ByBefore Monday, June 76, at the latest as there's a backlog of articles to be reviewed, and because a nomination can easily be put on hold until the article is improved in line with a reviewer's suggestions.

:*'''''This means your article should be mostly finished by then! But it doesn't mean your work is done, FAR FROM IT! You are responsible for keeping daily track of comments by reviewers (which will include the instructor), answering them and addressing them (if they are reasonable, when in doubt, ask the instructor).''''' Here are some sample Good Article reviews and related discussions: [[Talk:United States Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in Labor and Management/GA1|example1]], [[Talk:Mount Kenya/GA1|example2]], [[Talk:Gaza/GA1|exampe3]]. '''Finishing this assignment on time AND subsequent interaction with Good Article reviewer is worth 5% of the course grade.'''

* Course instructor (Piotr Konieczny) <'''replace with your name'''> will do the final assessment of your work after Monday, June 2120 (beginning of the finals week).

Note: total amount of {{fontcolor|green|extra credit}} you can get from the activities listed above is 16 (16%). Extra credit is added, unweighted, to your final course score.

==Important tips==

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;Talk pages

Whenever editing a talk page, add four tildes <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> to the end of all comments you make on talk pages. This will let people know who is talking. You can also just press the [[:Image:button_sig.png|signature button]] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Talkpages.ogg you may want to watch this tutorial on using talk pages]).

;Selecting an article

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;Plagiarism and copyvio warning

Plagiarism is not only against university's and course policies, it is also against Wikipedia policies (see [[WP:PLAGIARISM]]). And attributing somebody doesn't mean [[cut and paste]] jobs are allowed ([[WP:COPYVIO]]). Violations of plagiarism/copyvio policies will result in lower grade and other sanctions (per university's policy). Please note that the course instructor is not the only person checking constantly for plagiarism and copyright violations; the Good Article reviewer will do so as well, and Wikipedia has a specialized group of volunteers specializing in checking new contributions for those very problems (you don't want your work to appear [[Wikipedia:Suspected copyright violations|here]] or [[Wikipedia:Copyright problems|here]]!). In particular, note that extensive quoting is not allowed, and changing just a few words is still a copyvio (it doesn't matter if you attribute the source). Bottom line, you are expected to read, digest information, and summarize it in your own words (but with a source). For more info see: [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/PlagiarismHandout.pdf this plagiarism handout], [[Wikipedia:Copy-paste]], [[Wikipedia:Quotations]], [[Wikipedia:Close paraphrasing]], [http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/619/01/ a guide from Purdue University].

;Getting extra help

You can always ask the course instructor (me) or [[Wikipedia:Ambassadors]] for help. You should not hesitate to ask your fellow students from other groups for help, for example if you see they have mastered some editing trick you have yet to learn. Wikipedia volunteers are often active in [[Wikipedia:Ambassadors/IRC|this chat help channel]]. We are here to collaborate, not compete. If you can lobby and get help/assistance/advice from other editors to improve your work (for example by using [[Wikipedia:New contributors' help page]], [[Wikipedia:Requests for feedback]], [[Wikipedia:Peer review]], [[Wikipedia:Help desk]] or [[Wikipedia:Reference desk]]), I am perfectly fine with it. Be bold and show initiative, it usually helps. See also [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Classroom_handout_-_How_to_get_help.pdf "how to get help" handout].

<'''your policies towards getting extra help may differ...'''>

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* remember its a collaborative assignments. Work with your colleagues from the first day on a single wiki-draft. Groups whose members work alone and try to combine their parts a day or so before the final submission don't do very well.

* don't focus solely on your own sections. Help your teammates by proofreading their section, see if they have trouble with things you've figured out.

* image questions? See [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/UploadingImagesHandout.pdf this image uploading handout], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikipedia_basics_-_Uploading_files_to_Wikimedia_Commons.ogv this uploading image video tutorial], [[Wikipedia:Images]], and in particular, the [[Wikipedia:Finding images tutorial]] and the [[Wikipedia:Picture tutorial]]. Try to avoid looking for images on "the web", focus on the Wikipedia's sister project, [[Wikimedia Commons]], which has millions of images that can be used on Wikipedia without any restrictions.

* reference questions? SeeRevisit the [[Wikipedia:Tutorial/Citing sources]] and watch [[:File:RefTools.ogv|a video tutorial]] on how to add footnotes and proper references to your article. Or see [[Wikipedia_talk:School_and_university_projects/User:Piotrus/Fall_2009#Using_templates_and_.3Cref_name.3D_.3E_makes_it_much_easier|here]] onif howyou toare addnot footnotesafraid andof propera referenceslittle to your articlecoding.

==Grading==

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Getting an article assessed as a good article by the Wikipedia good article reviewer guarantees the group the unweighted 25% score from this assignment. If you have [[WP:GAC|submitted your article for GA assessment]] on time but your article didn't finished going through the assessment process in time, due to the failure of the external Wikipedia reviewer to react promptly, or if I think the reviewer treated you too harshly and I am happy with your work, you may still get the unweighted 25%. If the article is assessed below the GA class, the unweighted score will be lower (see table below):

[[:Template:Grading scheme|Here is a description]] of quality classes for an article. What we are aiming isat is the GA-class (or above, but the GA-class will guarantee you max points). Read carefully what the lower classes (B, C, start, stub) lack and make sure your article is better!

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"

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The grade for this assignment is further modified as follows:

* you can get up to 25% unweighted score points by finishing the five 5% worth stages [[#Stages_and_deadlines|described above]] on time.
* Thisso, canthe 25% from finishing the five stages on time and 25% from getting the Good Article potentially earnearns the group the full unweighted 50% score for this assignment, HOWEVER

* the 50% will than be weighted based on individual students participation, incorporating the number and quality of that students edits to Wikipedia, and how each other member of that student group valued his or her input and contribution. The weight is calculated as follows: 75% is based on my impression of your work, 25% on the assessments of your colleagues.

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It is therefore '''NOT''' recommended that some group members specialize in tasks such as library research or off-wiki writing, which the instructor cannot verify.

Here is a checklist for article quality. If your article follows those guidelines, even if the the official Wikipedia reviewer fails to pass it as a Good Article, you may get your unweighted 25%:

* Paper is on one of the subject that was approved by the instructor

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* I will grade your activity based on two primary factors:

:* Whether you contributed to your paper on a regular basis (every few days) or not

:* Whether you were active on the article's talk page. This means that I see that attempted to address and fix any and all comments/suggestions given by me, your colleagues, the reviewer and the Wikipedia community. If the change was not made, adequate explanation was given (which did not include "this is for ana research assignment, so leave us alone")

How to fail the assignment:

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* letting others do all the work and hoping you can still get some points

* missing deadlines

* logging in an editing only at the very end of the course, where you discover you are not sure how to edit Wikipedia, and that your contribution does not really fit ththe earticlesarticles your other members were working on

* not participating in the talk page discussions

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'''Group 1'''

# {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} ()

'''Group 2'''

# {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} ()

'''Group 3'''

# {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} (), {{user|?}} ()

== Articles edited ==

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Some highlights:

* {{user|?}} (): {{article|}}

== Questions? ==

Post them at the discussion page of this article and/or email your course instructor!

== Copyright notice ==

[[Wikipedia:License|Wikipedia copyright]]: by taking this course, you agree that your work on Wikipedia will be contributed to under a free and open license used by that project.

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[[pl:Wikipedia:Projekty szkolne i akademickie/Szablon wykładu]]

[[pt:WikipediaWikipédia:Projetos/Escolares escolares e universitários/Modelo Piotrus]]