Feb. 12, 2009

.

If you haven't made your Wikia account yet, do it over the break. This is big points and you have ten days to do it. Make it happen.

(Just follow Step one.)

Today I want you to explore other wikis on Wikia. Here's a list of the 250 most popular. Find a few that interest you and check them out. (In other words, just look around and read stuff that interests you. There are hundreds of wikis so you'll be able to find several you like.)

Also look inside the articles, figure out how they work. You do this by clicking "Edit this page". Don't make any actual edits --- and please don't vandalize any articles, or you'll get us blocked and wiki work will become homework from now on.

But look inside them and see how they do what they do.

Keep a list of what you liked and didn't like about the different wikis and show it to me. You can do this in an email to yourself or on paper or however, just show it to me so I can check off that you are being thoughtful about what makes wikis work, so we can apply that knowledge to the one we will be building.

Then when the bell rings, have a great week off.

(Don't forget to sign up if you haven't already.)

English 4: February 5, 2009

.

Go to http://gaucho.wikia.com.

Larger version of the images below
(they aren't in order --- sorry about that):
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8008/newarticle.jpg
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/3985/newarticle5.jpg
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/6456/newarticle4.jpg
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4544/newarticle3.jpg
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/5803/newarticle2.jpg
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8746/createanaccount.jpg
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/4350/createanewarticle.jpg


+++++++++++++++

Step one: Create an account.



On your user name (THIS IS IMPORTANT assuming you want credit for your work), follow this pattern. (If you do not follow these instructions, I WILL NOT KNOW WHAT YOU DO and thus I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU YOUR POINTS. Please please please do this right.)

How to make a username that I will be able to identify as you:

a) Your block number followed by an underscore
b) The first three letters of your last name
c) The first three letters of your first name
d) If your user name is already taken, add some numbers to the end.

For instance, if you are in second block and your name is Barbara Boxer, your user name will be 2_BoxBar (or 2_BarBox123 or something if that one was already taken).

Making your user name according to these instructions will mean that I will know who to give credit to for all the work 2_BoxBar does.

+++++++++++++++

Step two: Create a new article.

Using the list of literary terms we generated earlier this week (although feel free to go off the list if you want, write an article. (If an article already exists for that item, feel free to improve it.



When you click to create a new article, you see this screen:



First thing, click on this button:



+++++++++++++++

Step three: Write the article

Now, under "Title:" put the name of the lit term.

In where the article will go, write it again, surrounded by three apostrophes. We didn't talk about this on your cheat sheet, but this makes things bold. Then give a definition. If you quote something directly, use quotation marks. But whether you quote it directly or not, be sure to include <ref> tags with your reference inside.


(Sorry that the title is covered up in this image. My browser's being goofy.)

+++++++++++++++

Step four: Reveal the references.

Make a new section with a new header called "References" and then type {{Reflist}}.

(Note: at any time you can hit the preview button and see how the article looks so far.)



+++++++++++++++

Step five: Finish it up.

Click this button:



Type in "Literary Term".

Under "Summary:" give a brief description of what you did. In this case, for instance, you might write something like "new article". This is helpful when I'm grading. Makes it easier for me to know what you've done.

+++++++++++++++

Step six: Don't forget to hit "Save Page"!!!!!!!!!!