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

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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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

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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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

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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Create an account

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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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

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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Teach yourself the basics

Wikipedia: TutorialNew Contributors Help

Cheatsheet

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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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.

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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Improve this list

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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Read the discussion page

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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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

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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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

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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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/

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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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/

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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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.

D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009

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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