Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Purdue University/BTNY111 (Spring 2020)

Students who wish to get honours credit for BTNY111 will be asked to complete this Wikipedia assignment for extra credit. Click the "Timeline" link to get a sense of what the semester will look like for this honours assignment. It will require a bit more work, and a meeting each week for discussion and to check progress. If you are interested, contact Dr. McNickle with any questions, and get the passcode required to enroll here.

Here are some examples of previous work by BTNY111 students to get a sense of what your final "paper" should look like:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteroblasty_(botany)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megagametogenesis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turgor_pressure

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizosphere

Course description: BTNY111 is an introduction to fundamental biological concepts designed to prepare students for more specialized study. Lectures and laboratory exercises will cover mechanisms and processes of genetics, physiology, and ecology. Our goal is to convey how these levels of organization all contribute to the relative success of organisms within and across environments. Throughout the course, emphasis will be made on the means by which scientific data is collected and interpreted, and key experiments performed in the lab component will be used to illustrate this process.

Student	Assigned	Reviewing
Z.neff07	Biomass partitioning	Ruderal Species

Timeline

Week 3

Course meetings

Monday, 27 January 2020 | Wednesday, 29 January 2020 | Friday, 31 January 2020

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 - 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.)

In class - Discussion: Thinking about Wikipedia

Good writing uses references as sources of information. What makes a good source Why? Universities consider plagiarism to be the most serious academic offence. Have you ever thought about why? What is plagiarism exactly? Consider these questions and come prepared to discuss.

Thinking about Wikipedia

Milestones

This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.

Week 4

Course meetings

Monday, 3 February 2020 | Wednesday, 5 February 2020 | Friday, 7 February 2020

Assignment - Assignment: Evaluate and edit Wikipedia

Exercise

Evaluate an article

Exercise

Add a citation

This must be an article that has something to do with plants!

In class - Discussion: What's a content gap?

We need to think about what makes a "good" Wikipedia article, consider the questions below before we meet, and come prepared for a discussion about these ideas.

What's a content gap?

Week 5

Course meetings

Monday, 10 February 2020 | Wednesday, 12 February 2020 | Friday, 14 February 2020

Assignment - Assignment: Choose possible topics

Exercise

Choose a topic

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 6

In class - Discussion: Thinking about sources and plagiarism

Thinking about sources and plagiarism

Week 6

Course meetings

Monday, 17 February 2020 | Wednesday, 19 February 2020 | Friday, 21 February 2020

Assignment - Assignment: Identify content gaps in your article

You've picked a topic and found some sources. Now it is time to start thinking about the content gaps in your assigned article. This week's assignment is described below.

Move the source code for your assigned article into your sandbox for editing. Contact the instructor if you need help doing this.
Identify some things that you think might be missing from the current form of the article. This will probably be informed by the sources you found last week. Think back to the skills you learned while critiquing an article. Make notes for improvement in your sandbox.
Keep searching for and reading your sources, too. This will help you identify content gaps, and get ideas for how to organise the article.

Resources: Editing Wikipedia pages 7–9

In class - Discussion: Introduce your topic and gaps to the group

This week we will simply discuss your topic, and the content gaps you found. Come prepared to describe your topic to the group, and describe some of the things you think are missing from the article. We will all work together to think about additional gaps.

Assignment - Exercise

Finalize your topic / Find your sources

Week 7

Course meetings

Monday, 24 February 2020 | Wednesday, 26 February 2020 | Friday, 28 February 2020

Assignment - Assignment: Lead paragraph & table of contents draft

You've picked a topic and found some sources. Now it is time to start thinking about the content gaps in your assigned article. This week's assignment is described below.

Move the source code for your assigned article into your sandbox for editing. Contact the instructor if you need help doing this.
Identify some things that you think might be missing from the current form of the article. This will probably be informed by the sources you found last week. Think back to the skills you learned while critiquing an article. Make notes for improvement in your sandbox.
Keep searching for and reading your sources, too. This will help you identify content gaps, and get ideas for how to organise the article.

Resources: Editing Wikipedia pages 7–9

In class - Discussion: Table of contents

We will work together to develop your table of contents as a group.

What are the important ideas in your topic?
Are the existing ideas adequate? Are there any new or different categories you can add?
What is the best way to organise those ideas for readers?

Guide(s) for writing articles in your topic area

Chemistry

Ecology

Environmental Sciences

Genes and Proteins

Science Communication

Species

Milestones

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 8

Course meetings

Monday, 2 March 2020 | Wednesday, 4 March 2020 | Friday, 6 March 2020

Assignment - Assignment: Draft TWO content sections

You've identified content gaps in your assigned article, written a lead that defines and summarises the topic, and decided on a table of contents structure for your article. Now it's time to start drafting content.

Choose any TWO of your table of contents categories and begin expanding the details of those sections. This can be in rough point form. The objective is to start to fill in the important pieces of information for each category.
Include sources for each point. This will help you later.
Later you will write the sections in detail. Right now we just want ideas and information.
Continue searching for sources and reading new articles.
Reread your lead paragraph. Does it still define and summarise the scope of your topic? Revise if needed.

Resources:

Editing Wikipedia pages 10-12
Wikipedia page: Draft document.

In class - Discussion: Checking In

This week we will just check in on everyone's progress and address any concerns, questions or issues that might have arisen.

Week 9

Course meetings

Monday, 9 March 2020 | Wednesday, 11 March 2020 | Friday, 13 March 2020

Assignment - Assignment: Draft TWO more content sections

You've identified content gaps in your assigned article, written a lead that defines and summarises the topic, and decided on a table of contents structure for your article. Now it's time to start writing content.

Choose TWO more of your table of contents categories and begin expanding the details of those sections. This can be in rough point form. The objective is to start to fill in the important pieces of information for each category.
Include sources for each point. This will help you later.
Later you will write the sections in detail. Right now we just want ideas and information.
Continue searching for sources and reading new articles.
Reread your lead paragraph. Does it still define and summarise the scope of your topic? Revise if needed.
Reread the sections you drafted last week. Do they flow well with your new material? Did you learn anything new that you might want to add to last week's sections?

Resources:

Editing Wikipedia pages 10-12
Wikipedia page: Draft document.

In class - Discussion: Checking In

We will meet to discuss any concerns and progress on your article. We will all work together to make improvements.

Week 10

Course meetings

Monday, 23 March 2020 | Wednesday, 25 March 2020 | Friday, 27 March 2020

Assignment - Draft the rest of your contents sections

You've begun a draft of two sections. Now it's time to finish your rough draft for peer review.

For the remaining table of contents categories and begin expanding the details of those sections. This can be in rough point form. The objective is to start to fill in the important pieces of information for each category.
Include sources for each point. This will help you later.
Later you will write the sections in detail. Right now we just want ideas and information.
Continue searching for sources and reading new articles.
Reread your lead paragraph. Does it still define and summarise the scope of your topic? Revise if needed.
Reread the sections you drafted over the last two weeks. Do they flow well with your new material? Did you learn anything new that you might want to add to last week's sections?

Resources:

Editing Wikipedia pages 10-12
Wikipedia page: Draft document.

In class - Discussion: Thinking about peer review

Peer review is a very important part of science.

Who is a peer?
What is peer review?
Why is it important?

Resources:

Wikipedia page: Peer review.

Week 11

Course meetings

Monday, 30 March 2020 | Wednesday, 1 April 2020 | Friday, 3 April 2020

Assignment - Peer review an article

Guiding framework

Assignment - Respond to your peer review

You will have some feedback from the instructors, classmates 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.
Remember that reviewers always mean well. They are trying to help you, so don't take any critiques personally. Instead, use them as an invitation to improve and learn!
Reviewers don't know as much about your topic as you do. So, sometimes, comments will seem confusing or wrong to you. If that is the case, trust your expertise! Confusing or wrong reviewer comments are not because the reviewer is lazy or stupid, instead assume you were not clear enough and your writing confused them. Look for ways to prevent future readers from getting confused and edit accordingly. :)
Use the suggestions to revise your draft.
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. Wikipedia is here to help you, so take advantage of their services!
If you'd like to meet with the instructor(s) about your draft. We are here to help too!

Review:

Peer review training module.

In class - Discussion: Checking in about peer review

We will meet to discuss any concerns and progress on your article and peer review. We will all work together to make improvements.

Milestones

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

Week 12

Course meetings

Monday, 6 April 2020 | Wednesday, 8 April 2020 | Friday, 10 April 2020

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

Assignment - Assignment: Work from your rough draft and start writing TWO sections.

You have a rough draft, and comments from peer review. Now it's time to start taking your rough draft and fleshing it out in essay format. Now grammar and spelling count. You should be doing this on the wikipedia mainspace now! No more sandbox!

It is very important that you format your article to match Wikipedia's tone and standards. Remember to contact your Content Expert or instructor at any time if you need further help!

Choose any TWO of your table of contents categories and begin expanding the details of those sections in essay format.
Include sources as necessary, and also link to existing wikipedia articles as necessary.
Continue searching for sources and reading new articles.
Reread your lead paragraph. Does it still define and summarise the scope of your topic? Revise if needed.

Wikipedia basics.

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!

Resources:

Editing Wikipedia

In class - Discussion: Checking in and Wikipedia

We will meet to discuss any concerns and progress on your article. We will all work together to make improvements.

We'll also talk about moving your draft from the sandbox to the Wikipedia mainspace, and address any questions about this part of the assignment.

Week 13

Course meetings

Monday, 13 April 2020 | Wednesday, 15 April 2020 | Friday, 17 April 2020

Assignment - Assignment: Work from your rough draft and start writing TWO more sections.

Last week you wrote two sections for your article. This week do the same thing for two more sections. By the end of this week you should have FOUR sections written. Continue to work in the Wikipedia mainspace, no more sandbox!

It is very important that you format your article to match Wikipedia's tone and standards. Remember to contact your Content Expert or instructor at any time if you need further help!

Choose TWO MORE of your table of contents categories and begin expanding the details of those sections in essay format.
Include sources as necessary, and also link to existing wikipedia articles as necessary.
Continue searching for sources and reading new articles.
Reread your lead paragraph. Does it still define and summarise the scope of your topic? Revise if needed.
Reread the sections you wrote last week. Did you learn anything new? Does the organisation still flow well? Revise if needed.

Wikipedia basics.

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!

Resources:

Editing Wikipedia

In class - Discussion: Checking in

We will meet to discuss any concerns and progress on your article. We will all work together to make improvements.

Week 14

Course meetings

Monday, 20 April 2020 | Wednesday, 22 April 2020 | Friday, 24 April 2020

Assignment - Assignment: Finish your article!

Exercise

Add links to 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.

If you had more than four sections write the remaining sections. Spend some time rereading and revise your other sections if necessary.

Check your lead paragraph. You've learned a lot by now! Does it need revision?

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

Wikipedia basics.

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!

Resources:

Editing Wikipedia pages 10-12

In class - Discussion: Assignment feedback

We want feedback from you on this assignment.

What did you like?
What didn't you like?
How can we improve it for next year?

Milestones

Wow, congratulations, you've written a Wikipedia article that will help thousands of people!