Preparing For Your Wikipedia Assignment

CSC 104 The How and Why of Computing

Joanna Szurmak, Liaison LibrarianMartha Harris, Learning Strategist

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

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

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 & 2

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

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

Example: Windows Vista

• Definition

• What is important?

• Vista at Wikipedia

• Another Perspective?

• Apple at Wikipedia

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!

Sources of Information

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Newspapers

Encyclopedias

Wikipedia

Books

Magazines

Journal Articles Websites

Where to Find Them

CSC104 SourcesBooks

Web pages

Encyclopedias

Types of Sources

• Primary• Secondary• Tertiary

• Scholarly• Non-scholarly

• Refereed (peer-reviewed)

Sort Your Sources

Scholarly

Non-Scholarly

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Websites

Books

Newspapers

Wikipedia

Magazines

Journal ArticlesPrimary

Secondary and Tertiary

Encyclopedias

How to Use Your Sources?

• Cite your sources

Why?

So that others can find your source and verify what you have said.

Recognizing Good Sources

• Authoritative (author, publisher)• Current• So-called “reliable sources”• Peer-reviewed

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