Preparing For Your Wikipedia Assignment CSC 104 The How and Why of Computing November 16, 2012 Michael De Braga, Learning Strategist Joanna Szurmak, Science Librarian “Too much data” by Arnpor Snaer on flickr

Goals for Today Identify assignment tasks Define the principles of Wikipedia Interpret sample Wikipedia entries Determine how to find sources for your pages

Your Objectives Two Wikipedia pages Specs: 3-4 pages Define your topic Structure you entry Find peer-reviewed sources for the CS topic Provide references for each topic based on: What’s in Wikipedia? Mapping Topics and Conflict Using Socially Annotated Category Structure CS.UMN.edu. Aniket Kittur, Carnegie Mellon University. Ed H. Chi, Bongwon Suh, Palo Alto Research Center. April 8th, 2009 What’s in Wikipedia? Mapping Topics and Conflict Using Socially Annotated Category Structure

Your Objectives Looking for… Balanced entry Neutral writing Clear composition Links and footnotes Not essential… Elaborate Web design

Wikipedia Evaluation Group Exercise Split class into groups of 2-3 people. Groups report after 3 min what are the: Main features. How is the page constructed? What are the strengths and weaknesses? Global Warming Controversy: Wii U

Comparing Title Pages

Comparing Tables of Contents Wii U Climate Change Controversy

Comparing Visuals _controller_illustration.svg

Comparing References Climate Change Controversy Wii U

The Wikipedia Format A Wikipedia page: Informs & provides consensus Is verifiably researched Is like a literature review (but not a critical or analytical one)literature review You are leading your readers to an overview of a topic, with sources. Aspects of format: Definition Topic-specific section headingssection headings Section management TOC References & related links Follow WP Manual of Style in matters of format, markup, style and grammarWP Manual of Style

What Wikipedia is NotWikipedia is Not A place for publishing original research A “soapbox” A data repository A manual Consult the Five Pillars of Wikipedia to avoid making mistakes

The Five Pillars Encyclopedia with verifiable acccuracy Neutral point of view Free, editable content Work to find consensus No firm rules outside the pillars

Steps to Neutral Writing Wikipedia policies that affect you No original research (NOR) No original research Verifiability (V) Verifiability Neutral point of view (NPOV) Neutral point of view Opinion-based vs. research-based writing Begin with strong research!

Sandbox: Experiment with Editing

Important Features of A PageFeatures

Important Features of An Article

Time-lapse page comparison November 2011 November 2012

What sources will you need? For CS Wiki Article 5 scholarly sources, preferably peer- reviewed At least one CS, math, engineering or technical journal At least one online source For Topic of Your Choice You may have unique information or skills Need sources from the internet, the popular press, academic journals or technical journals.

Reliable Sources

Why peer-reviewed articles? Takes care of the verification required by Wikipedia (see “Reliable sources”) The peer review process: thorough evaluation to ensure correctness, good research methods, and reproducibility

Where to Find Sources

How to Find Your Sources? Start with a database, as you did for the review. Use thesaurus, if available, to help find good terms. Do a search. Examine article abstract. Check Ulrich’s Periodical Directory to see whether the journal is scholarly and/or peer reviewed:

Putting It All Together Consult the “Five Pillars” Identify the important issues What should your reader learn? Identify your support What reliable sources (verifiable, peer reviewed) have you used? Research, outline, draft, edit, revise

Get help early Michael De Braga, Learning Strategist Joanna Szurmak, Science Librarian “Too much data” by Arnpor Snaer on flickr Help with writing Help with finding sources