1. Preparing For Your Wikipedia Assignment CSC 104 The How and Why of Computing Joanna Szurmak, Liaison Librarian Martha Harris, Learning Strategist

2. Goals for Today Identify tasks your assignment requires Define the principles of Wikipedia Interpret a sample Wikipedia entry Identify types of sources Determine how to find sources

3. Your Objectives Two Wikipedia pages Specs – 3-4 pages – Define your topic – Relate to CSC topic – Researched material Looking for… – Well-rounded entry – Neutral writing – Clear expression of debates or controversy – Links & footnotes

4. The Wikipedia Format What a Wiki article does: – Informs readers – Provides consensus Well-researched and verifiable! Aspects of format: – Definition – Topic-specific headers – TOC – References – Related Links Sample page: 1 & 212

5. The Wikipedia Format A Wiki entry is NOT: – A dictionary – Original research – A “soapbox” – A data repository – A directory – A manual – A FAQ How do we avoid mistakes? – The Five Pillars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:What_Wikipedia_is_not

6. The Five Pillars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:5P Encyclopedia with verifiable acccuracy Neutral point of view Free, editable content Work to find consensus No firm rules outside the pillars

7. Example: Windows Vista Definition What is important? Vista at Wikipedia Another Perspective? Another Perspective Apple at Wikipedia

8. 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!

9. Sources of Information 12/2/2015 Newspapers Encyclopedias Wikipedia Books Magazines Journal Articles Websites

10. Where to Find Them

11. CSC104 Sources Books Web pages Encyclopedias

12. Types of Sources Primary Secondary Tertiary Scholarly Non-scholarly Refereed (peer- reviewed)

13. Sort Your Sources Scholarly Non-Scholarly 12/2/2015 Websites Books Newspapers Wikipedia Magazines Journal Articles Primary Secondary and Tertiary Encyclopedias

14. How to Use Your Sources? Cite your sources Why? So that others can find your source and verify what you have said.

15. Recognizing Good Sources Authoritative (author, publisher) Current So-called “reliable sources”reliable sources Peer-reviewed

16. Putting It All Together Consult the “Five Pillars” Identify the important issues – What should your reader learn? Identify your support – What references have you used? Research, outline, draft, edit, revise