Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Middle Tennessee State University/Historical Research Methods (Fall 2022)
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- Course name
- Historical Research Methods
- Institution
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Instructor
- Suzanne Sutherland
- Wikipedia Expert
- Ian (Wiki Ed)
- Subject
- History
- Course dates
- 2022-08-22 00:00:00 UTC – 2022-12-12 23:59:59 UTC
- Approximate number of student editors
- 8
This course is an introduction to the work of the historian. We’ll explore how historians find sources (primary sources) and then analyze and interpret those sources. We’ll examine how historians engage in a conversation with other historians by reading, analyzing, and citing their books (secondary works), and how multiple interpretations contribute to a broader and deeper understanding of the past. We’ll talk about what makes historical research different from other kinds of research and we’ll examine the ethical and professional obligations of the historical researcher. To do this, each of you will complete a research project that fits with your academic interests (it may be part of your thesis), has easily accessible primary sources, has an easily identifiable historiography, and can be completed by the end of the semester. Each of you will also edit or create a Wikipedia article on a topic related to the same research.
Timeline
Week 2
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 12 September 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:
- Editing Wikipedia, pages 1–5
- Evaluating Wikipedia
- 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 3
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 19 September 2022
- Assignment - Evaluate Wikipedia
- In class - Discussion
Week 4
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 26 September 2022
- Assignment - Choose possible topics
Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 6
- In class - Discussion
Week 5
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 3 October 2022
- Assignment - Add to an article
- Assignment - Exercise
- Assignment - Exercise
Week 6
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 17 October 2022
- Assignment - Start drafting your contributions
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
- Guide(s) for writing articles in your topic area
- Milestones
Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.
Week 7
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 24 October 2022
- Assignment - Peer review an article
- In class - Discussion
- Milestones
Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.
Week 8
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 31 October 2022
- 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
-
- Monday, 7 November 2022
- Assignment - 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
-
- Monday, 14 November 2022
- 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.
- 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 Wikipedia Expert at any time if you need further help!
Week 11
- Course meetings
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- Monday, 21 November 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!
- Assignment - Original analytical paper
Write a paper going beyond your Wikipedia article to advance your own ideas, arguments, and original research about your topic.
Week 12
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 28 November 2022
- Milestones
Everyone should have finished all of the work they'll do on Wikipedia, and be ready for grading.