Barbara Tomlinson, writer of, "Tuning, Trying and Training Texts", describes eight different metaphors authors use to revise their works. If I had to pick some that best described how I revise a paper, I would choose sewing and tailoring and fixing things. Revising is the second most important part to writing anything, next to actually writing something. It allows you to go back through and really allow the paper's fluidity to flow. When I edit a paper, I don't usually sit down and take things out, I rework sentences or even rearrange paragraphs so that the message isn't only conveyed to me as the author, but to the audience I am trying to reach.
With Wikipedia revising, I think it is so important to be able to look at the "View History" and see what didn't work in the past. For example, since I was editing a previously created page, the first thing I did was look at the history of edits. I made sure I took mental notes not to use fluffy words to draw out descriptions of the buildings and to also be able to back my facts up. A lot of sentences had to be taken down because there was no proof of it. So if you can look at the "View History" before editing a page, you can save yourself the time and effort of writing something they will just end up taking down.
As far as the discussion tabs go, I used the discussion tab on my page to answer some questions people would like to know as far as the total square feet of the facility. I went through the records and pulled a photocopied annual report stating the total square footage circa the 1960's. I felt like I had accomplished something, and hopefully whoever was wondering will notice that there is factual evidence for the total square feet.
That was a great idea to use the "View History" and the discussion to find out how to word and what things to talk about in your wikipedia article. You were able to use the documented revisions and suggestions on these pages to enhance your wikipedia article. That is definitely using these tools to your advantage.
ReplyDeleteThat's too cool that you pulled up a photo as reference for the specs on the building. I agree with you whole-heartedly on the importance of the discussion and view-history tabs. Not only can it benefit us as writers, but it really trains you to write for wikipedia. Kind of a trial by fire, but effective nonetheless.
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