1. Wikipedia Eng 352 Prof. Lipuma Librarian, Davida Scharf scharf@NJIT.eduscharf@NJIT.edu 973-642-4397 My office is in the Van Houten Library, ground floor Summer 2009 http://library.njit.edu/docs/Wikipedia.ppt http://library.njit.edu/docs/Wikipedia.ppt

2. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 2 How to begin 1.Watch the video Wikipedia: Beneath the Surface http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=372672 http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=372672 2.Read carefully the Wikipedia Welcome page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Welcomi ng_committee/Welcome_to_Wikipedia Explore linked pages on how to navigate, register and edit. Also, familiarize yourself with Wikipedia policies and guidelines under “Our rules.”

3. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 3 Read about each of the five pillars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Five_pillars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Five_pillars Wikipedia is an encyclopedia Wikipedia has a neutral point of view,Wikipedia has a neutral point of view Wikipedia is free content that anyone may edit.Wikipedia is free content Wikipedia has a code of conduct:Wikipedia has a code of conduct Wikipedia does not have firm rules

4. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 4 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

5. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 5 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

6. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 6 Becoming an editor Setting up an Account Editing and creating articles Finding an article or topic to write about Documenting your sources

7. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 7 Create an account

8. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 8 Why Register? If not, it uses your IP address—different address every time It may be blocked, is associated with vandalism Mostly 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

9. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 9 Set up your user page Click the red link at the top with your user name

10. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 10 Teach yourself the basics Wikipedia: Tutorial New Contributors Help Cheatsheet

11. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 11 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.

12. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 12 Improve this list

13. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 13 Read the discussion page

14. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 14 Improving the Encyclopedia Add info, Improve the citation of sources What else? (document why!) Reorganize or edit Rename, redirect, disambiguate Categorize (see Wikipedia:Categorization)Wikipedia:Categorization Don’t take the article scope as a given Make the article look appealing

15. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 15 Ways to find a topic Articles needing cleanup http://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)Engineering

16. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 16 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/ho wto/cite.php http://library.njit.edu/researchhelpdesk/ho wto/cite.php

17. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 17 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 ) TK5105.8882.B76 2008 Also available in Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Wikipedia:_ The_Missing_Manual

18. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 18 More sources of info Why Wiki? A video produced by the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee Library. http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/courses/wiki/

19. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 19 More sources of info Wikipedia: Services, Tools, Engines, Tutorials http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2006/10 /10/wikipedia-services-tools-engines- tutorials/

20. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 20 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/inde x.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.

21. D. Scharf, NJIT Librarian, Summer 2009 21 Amusing videos about Wikipedia “Wikipedia Tutorial: a guide for students” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPC- bNX9O_E 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