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Preparing For Your Wikipedia Assignment CSC 104 The How and Why of Computing Joanna Szurmak, Liaison Librarian Martha Harris, Learning Strategist Slide 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 Slide 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 Slide 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 Slide 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 Slide 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 Slide 7 Example: Windows Vista Definition What is important? Vista at Wikipedia Another Perspective? Another Perspective Apple at Wikipedia Slide 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! Slide 9 Sources of Information 12/2/2015 Newspapers Encyclopedias Wikipedia Books Magazines Journal Articles Websites Slide 10 Where to Find Them Slide 11 CSC104 Sources Books Web pages Encyclopedias Slide 12 Types of Sources Primary Secondary Tertiary Scholarly Non-scholarly Refereed (peer- reviewed) Slide 13 Sort Your Sources Scholarly Non-Scholarly 12/2/2015 Websites Books Newspapers Wikipedia Magazines Journal Articles Primary Secondary and Tertiary Encyclopedias Slide 14 How to Use Your Sources? Cite your sources Why? So that others can find your source and verify what you have said. Slide 15 Recognizing Good Sources Authoritative (author, publisher) Current So-called reliable sourcesreliable sources Peer-reviewed Slide 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