Preparing For Your Wikipedia Assignment

CSC 104 The How and Why of ComputingNovember 16, 2012

Michael De Braga, Learning StrategistJoanna 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

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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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia#Quality_of_writing 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

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:• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming_controversy

• Wii U• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_U

Comparing Title Pages

Comparing Tables of Contents

Wii UClimate Change Controversy

Comparing Visuals

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Enso-global-temp-anomalies.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wii_U_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)• You are leading your readers to an overview of a topic, with

sources.

• Aspects of format:• Definition• Topic-specific section headings

• Section management• TOC• References & related links

• Follow WP Manual of Style in matters of format, markup, style and grammar

What Wikipedia 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

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

Steps to Neutral Writing

• Wikipedia policies that affect you• No original research (NOR)• Verifiability (V)• Neutral point of view (NPOV)

• Opinion-based vs. research-based writing

• Begin with strong research!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:New_contributors%27_help_page

Sandbox: Experiment with Editing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Sandbox

Important Features of A Page

Important Features of An Article

Time-lapse page comparisonNovember 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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:SOURCES#What_counts_as_a_reliable_source

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

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re to

Fin

d So

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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 earlyMichael De Braga, Learning Strategistmichael.debraga@utoronto.ca

Joanna Szurmak, Science Librarianjoanna.szurmak@utoronto.ca

“Too much data” by Arnpor Snaer on flickr

Help with writing

Help with finding sources