CZ:Start Article: Difference between revisions

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== The Easy Way ==
=Start it—three ways=
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<center><font size="4">1. The easy way</font></center>
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If you don't like long instructions and you learn by doing, just type in the title of the encyclopedia article you want to start, and get to work!  That is the kind of [[CZ:Be Bold|boldness]] we like.  Do use the search box (upper left) to check for related articles that already exist, though.  Here's [http://www.trailbrain.com/wikihelpvideos/create_an_article/create_an_article.html a video demonstration of this method.]
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<center>[http://www.trailbrain.com/wikihelpvideos/create_an_article/create_an_article.html Video demonstration of this method]</center>
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If you don't like long instructions and you learn by doing, just type in the title of the encyclopedia article you want to start, and get to work! That is the kind of [[CZ:Be Bold|boldness]] we like.  Do use the search box (upper left) to check for related articles that already exist, though.
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<center><font size="4">2. Just e-mail us your article</font></center>
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If a little code makes you nervous, why not write up an encyclopedia article and send it in?  We'll format it and upload it, and you can edit it further from there.
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'''[[CZ:How to Submit Articles in Word Processor Format|Learn more here]].'''
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<center><font size="4">3. With subpages</font></center>
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Do you want to start an article with [[CZ:Subpages|subpages]]? That's a bit more advanced, but very doable.
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'''[[CZ:Start article with subpages|Learn more here]].'''
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== E-mail us your article ==
= Write it =
If a little code makes you nervous, why not write up an encyclopedia article and send it in?  We'll format it and upload it, and you can edit it further from there. '''[[CZ:How to Submit Articles in Word Processor Format|Learn more here]].'''
'''What should you write?'''  An encyclopedia article, first of all, and one that is accurate, neutral, coherent, comprehensive, well-written, pitched at the university student level, not original research, family-friendly, and legal and responsible.


== Using Subpages ==
'''Learn the code:''' if you've never edited a wiki page before, you should read a little about the wiki code.  It's not hard, really.  '''[[CZ:How to edit an article|Learn more here]].'''


For the hard way—which you'll learn eventually, but don't have to learn right away—see [[CZ:Start article with subpages|Start article with subpages]].  Or you can just get started with them—see [[CZ:Using the Subpages template|Using the Subpages template]] or go right to the [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Using_the_Subpages_template#Instructions_for_placing_the_Subpages_template instructions.]
'''Learn our standards:''' you should also be familiar with our standards.  A good article should be '''[[CZ:Article Mechanics|written and formatted well]],''' and should eventually meet '''[[CZ:Approval Standards|our approval standards]].'''
 
If you add a checklist to the talk page of the article (step 5 in the previous section), then your article will automatically converted to use subpages in a week.
 
== Markup basics ==
When you work on your article, you'll be typing pretty much as if you were writing an e-mail.  But to make text '''bold''' or ''italicized,'' or to create [[Biology|links]], you'll be using wiki "markup." If you've never used this before, don't worry—it's not complicated!
 
There are just a few bits of code you need to learn, which you'll be using over and over again:
* To start a new paragraph, simply skip down ''two'' lines.  Skipping down ''one'' line has no effect on presentation.
* To make text '''bold,''' put three single quotation marks around the text: <code><nowiki>'''bold'''</nowiki></code>
* To ''italicize'' text, use two single quotes: <code><nowiki>''italicize''</nowiki></code>
* To [[link]] to a page, surround the text to be linked with left and right double brackets: <code><nowiki>[[link]]</nowiki></code>
* To make a [[Biology|link]] that points to an article that is ''different'' from the text of the link, you use a "pipe," like this: <code><nowiki>[[Biology|link]]</nowiki></code>
* To start a new section, surround the section title on both sides by two equals signs (flush left): <code><nowiki>== My New Section ==</nowiki></code>
* To make a bulleted list, precede a list item with * and make sure it's flush left: <code><nowiki>* My bullet point</nowiki></code>
* To make a numbered list, do the same but with #, like this: <code><nowiki># My numbered point</nowiki></code>
 
Here's a handy hint: if you see some bit of formatting you'd like to replicate, click the "edit" button and look to see how it's done.  This is how many of us learned the code—which, again, isn't hard!
 
See [[CZ:How to edit an article|How to edit an article]] for a more complete list.
 
== What's a good article like? ==
 
Here are some basics about [[Citizendium_Pilot:Policy_Outline#Authoring_Articles|content]] and [[CZ:Article Mechanics|formatting]] of articles.  There are many small issues here, but here are a few important ones you should know about.
 
A good article [[Citizendium_Pilot:Policy_Outline#Article_Standards|satisfies many standards]].  It is an encyclopedia article, first of all, and it is accurate, neutral, coherent, comprehensive, well-written, pitched at the university student level, not original research, family-friendly, and legal and responsible.
 
Here are some essential points:
 
* The article title should be uppercase for the first word, then lowercase for the following words unless it is typically written uppercase when used in a regular sentence.  So: [[Computational complexity theory]]; but [[American Chemical Society]].  Unless there is a compelling reason not to, articles about people should begin with the person's first name first, e.g., [[Albert Einstein]].
* Copy and paste the following text onto the bottom of any new articles: <code><nowiki>[[Category:CZ Live]]</nowiki></code>.  This adds the article to the "live articles" category (which you can view by clicking "Live articles" on the left).  This helps mark articles we've actively worked on.
* The first use of the title word, phrase, or name should be '''bold.'''  For example: "'''Biology''' is the science of life."
* Start the article with a ''definition,'' if it concerns a concept or general category, or else an explanation of what the person, place, event, etc., is best known for.  For example: "'''Achillea''' is a genus of flowering plants, commonly referred to as yarrow, that are frequently used in garden borders and beds in ornamental horticulture."
* Link words and phrases (by surrounding the phrases with left and right double brackets: <nowiki>[[</nowiki> <nowiki>]]</nowiki>) where, and only where, the links are relevant to the point being made in a sentence, and where following a link will shed important light on the subject of the article.
* Remember that we employ a [[CZ:Neutrality Policy|Neutrality Policy]]. The policy requires that we include all significant viewpoints on a subject, stated as fairly and sympathetically as possible.  It does not mean that we take a mainstream, scientific, skeptical, or "intermediate/compromise" point of view; it means we write neutrally.  So we "take a step back" if necessary, and ''describe'' any controversies fairly, rather than trying to settle them in any way at all.


For other tips, see [[CZ:Dozen Essentials|Dozen Essentials]], [[CZ:Approval Standards|Approval Standards]], and [[CZ:Article Mechanics|Article Mechanics]].
For other tips, see [[CZ:Dozen Essentials|Dozen Essentials]], [[CZ:Approval Standards|Approval Standards]], and [[CZ:Article Mechanics|Article Mechanics]].


{{Getting Started}} [[Category:Getting Started]]
{{Getting Started}} [[Category:Getting Started]]

Revision as of 15:59, 20 February 2008

Start it—three ways

1. The easy way

If you don't like long instructions and you learn by doing, just type in the title of the encyclopedia article you want to start, and get to work! That is the kind of boldness we like. Do use the search box (upper left) to check for related articles that already exist, though. Here's a video demonstration of this method.


2. Just e-mail us your article

If a little code makes you nervous, why not write up an encyclopedia article and send it in? We'll format it and upload it, and you can edit it further from there.

Learn more here.

3. With subpages

Do you want to start an article with subpages? That's a bit more advanced, but very doable.

Learn more here.

Write it

What should you write? An encyclopedia article, first of all, and one that is accurate, neutral, coherent, comprehensive, well-written, pitched at the university student level, not original research, family-friendly, and legal and responsible.

Learn the code: if you've never edited a wiki page before, you should read a little about the wiki code. It's not hard, really. Learn more here.

Learn our standards: you should also be familiar with our standards. A good article should be written and formatted well, and should eventually meet our approval standards.

For other tips, see Dozen Essentials, Approval Standards, and Article Mechanics.


Citizendium Getting Started
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