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WikipediaEng 352
Prof. Lipuma
Librarian, Davida Scharf
scharf@NJIT.edu 973-642-4397
My office is in the Van Houten Library, ground floor
Summer 2009 http://library.njit.edu/docs/Wikipedia.ppt
D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009
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How to begin
1. Watch the videoWikipedia: Beneath the Surface http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=372672
2. Read carefully the Wikipedia Welcome page:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Welcoming_committee/Welcome_to_WikipediaExplore linked pages on how to navigate, register and edit. Also, familiarize yourself with Wikipedia policies and guidelines under “Our rules.”
D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009
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Read about each of the five pillarshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Five_pillars
• Wikipedia is an encyclopedia
• Wikipedia has a neutral point of view,
• Wikipedia is free content that anyone may edit.
• Wikipedia has a code of conduct:
• Wikipedia does not have firm rules
D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009
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How to begin
3. Sign up as an editor & get familiar with how editing works—try the sandbox
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Tutorial
3. Browse some content of interest to you
4. Try to begin your assignment
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See ‘About Wikipedia’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About
Including: Wikipedia in brief
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_in_brief
Read carefully what makes a good article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:The_perfect_article
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Becoming an editor
• Setting up an Account
• Editing and creating articles
• Finding an article or topic to write about
• Documenting your sources
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Create an account
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Why Register?
If not, it uses your IP address—different address every timeIt may be blocked, is associated with vandalismMostly it is makes it easier to edit. You can• Watch pages• Easily add an external link• Upload images• Create a new page• Customize your interface• Use email• Mark edits as minor• Edit an article that is semi-protected against vandalism• Move or rename an article
D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009
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Set up your user page
Click the red link at the top with your user name
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Teach yourself the basics
Wikipedia: TutorialNew Contributors Help
Cheatsheet
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How I found a gap to fill
• I picked up a New Book from the library shelf – lobby of Van Houten.
• Understanding Bridge Collapses by Bjorn Akesson
• I searched Wikipedia for bridge collapses and for individual bridges.
• Found one on which there was nothing written. Found others which could be enhanced from info in this book.
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Improve this list
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Read the discussion page
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Improving the Encyclopedia
• Add info, Improve the citation of sources
What else? (document why!)
• Reorganize or edit
• Rename, redirect, disambiguate• Categorize (see Wikipedia:Categorization)
• Don’t take the article scope as a given
• Make the article look appealing
D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009
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Ways to find a topic
Articles needing cleanuphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Articles_needing_attention
WikiProject: a collaboration area and open group of editors dedicated to improving Wikipedia's coverage of a particular topic, or to organizing some internal Wikipedia process. (Engineering)
D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009
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Citing your sources
Citing sources in Wikipedia: Guidelines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources
Links from the Library website can be found at http://library.njit.edu/researchhelpdesk/howto/cite.php
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More sources of info
Broughton, John. Wikipedia: The Missing Manual (2008): Cambridge: O’Reilly (a book available behind the Research HelpDesk in Van Houten. Call # TK5105.8882 .B76 2008 )
Also available in Wikipedia at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Help:Wikipedia:_The_Missing_Manual
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More sources of info
Why Wiki? A video produced by the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee Library.
http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/courses/wiki/
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More sources of info
Wikipedia: Services, Tools, Engines, Tutorials
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2006/10/10/wikipedia-services-tools-engines-tutorials/
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Of interest:Early response to false claims in Wikipedia, by P.D. Magnus
First Monday, Volume 13 Number 9 - 1 September 2008
http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2115/2027
A number of studies have assessed the reliability of entries in Wikipedia at specific times. One important difference between Wikipedia and traditional media, however, is the dynamic nature of its entries. An entry assessed today might be substantially extended or reworked tomorrow. This study paper assesses the frequency with which small, inaccurate changes are quickly corrected.
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Amusing videos about Wikipedia
• “Wikipedia Tutorial: a guide for students” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPC-bNX9O_E
• “The Word – Wikiality” by Stephen Colbert
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/72347/july-31-2006/the-word---wikiality
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