Wiki Training Syllabus (Module 7)

How to set up a watchlist?

 * Watching pages allows you to keep track of recent changes to your “watched” pages.
 * Options: “Add pages I edit to my watchlist” or “Add pages I create to my watchlist”.
 * Now, when you view “Recent changes” on any page, edits to those pages you watch will be bolded. 20 mins.

Relevant documentation: Wikipedia Help: Watching Pages

How do discussion pages work?

 * How to access a discussion page on the wiki & how to start a new discussion topic.
 * Layout: use level 2 headings and start new discussions at bottom of page; use of indents when replying to comments (use colons); tagging comments with your username using “- User:Lucy Wallwork"
 * What discussion pages should be used for: proposing new articles; discussing edits; sharing material; verifying facts.
 * What discussion pages should not be used for: as platforms for personal views or comments on another contributor; straying into other topics.
 * Prime values on talk pages: communication; courtesy; consideration.
 * Exercise caution with deleting or changing comments on the talk page. 40 mins.

Relevant documentation: Wikipedia: Talk Page Guidelines

Relevant example pages on Wikipedia: Talk: Admiral (Royal Navy)

What are major and minor edits?

 * A minor edit = only superficial differences eg. typos, formatting and presentational changes etc. with very little modification of content. Does not need review & will not be subject of dispute. “Minor edit” box should be checked.
 * A major edit = contributors should be bold, but should also consider starting discussion on talk page. This, along with edit summaries, should make edit more acceptable to wiki community. Spelling and grammar corrections generally count as minor edits, however stylistic changes are generally major.
 * Basic copy-editing or fact-checking and proofreading eg. spellings, grammar, italics and bold, formatting, external and internal links. Intention is to improve quality of articles.
 * Use of edit summaries when making “major edits”. 40 min.

Relevant documentation: Wikipedia Help: Editing

"Wikiquette" and Avoiding Edit Wars

 * “Wikiquette” principles: be polite; assume good faith; sign and date your posts to talk pages; work towards agreement; argue facts, not personalities; do not misrepresent; do not ignore questions; be civil; give praise when due; remember what Wikipedia is not; do not personally attack people or their edits. 15 mins.

Relevant documentation: Wikipedia:Etiquette


 * Edit wars: 3RR (3 Revert Rule) = an editor may not make more than 3 reverts on a single page with a 24-hour period (a revert is the undoing of another editor’s work); edit wars should be avoided by ceasing the war and starting a discussion on the talk page. 15 mins.

Relevant documentation: Wikipedia:Edit Warring

Exercise 7.1
Module Length: 175 mins.