Wikipedia Article

History 201 Course Wikipedia Portal

For this project, you’ll identify a missing/overlooked topic on Wikipedia that merits further coverage to expand the depth and breadth of articles on Wikipedia, and counter its systemic biases.  You must pick a topic related to class themes, and that has sufficient resources available to demonstrate your skills of research and writing.  Whether you start with a “stub” article, or create a new entry, you are responsible for bringing your chosen entry up to “Good” status.

This assignment is intended to develop the following course learning goals:

  • clear communication: elegant writing following the conventions of Wikipedia, including tone, standards of proof, and digital communication.
  • historical research: selection of useful and appropriate scholarly sources for your citations and outside links.

In addition, the research for your Wikipedia article can also serve as background information for your semester-long research paper.

Resources:

Guidelines for “Good” Article Status

Examples of “good” history articles:

Intermediate deadlines are available through our class Wikipedia portal, and on the course schedule.

Project Memo: In addition to you work improving Wikipedia, you will write a short project memo essay (2-3 pages) that contains at least a paragraph each on the following questions:

  1. Why did you select this article to create or improve?  What is the larger historical significance of this entry, and how does your work make it better?
  2. What state was it in before your intervention?  Why?
  3. How did you improve this entry and bring it to “good” status?  Why did you choose to intervene in these ways?
  4. How does your work show your skills completing historical research?
  5. How did you shape your edits to meet the Wikipedia community guidelines (5 Pillars)
  6. What, if any, interactions did you have with other Wikipedia editors?

Share your slide to our collaborative Google slideshow by 8pm on Sunday, April 9th. Upload your project memo to Moodle by April 10.  This project is worth 12.5% of your course grade.