Help:Index/Intro/Topics: Difference between revisions

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imported>Jess Key
(New page: {{Help page|Subpages}} Generally, we may write about whatever we like in the ''Citizendium.'' There are, however, at least three basic constraints on the choice of article topic: * ''Enc...)
 
imported>Gareth Leng
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{{Help page|Subpages}}
{{Help page|Subpages}}
Generally, we may write about whatever we like in the ''Citizendium.''  There are, however, at least three basic constraints on the choice of article topic:
Generally, we write about whatever we like in ''Citizendium,''  with a few basic constraints:


* ''Encyclopedia topics.''  Topics should be plausible ''as'' encyclopedia article topics.  This excludes, for example, topics expressing personal opinions (e.g., "Why I think God does not exist"), or highly complicated topics that reflect original research (e.g., "Fruit production in France, Turkmenistan, and Australia").
* ''Encyclopedia topics.''  Topics should be plausible ''as'' encyclopedia article topics.  This excludes, for example, topics expressing personal opinions (e.g., "Why I think God does not exist"), or complicated topics that reflect original research (e.g., "Fruit production in France, Turkmenistan, and Australia").


* ''Redundancy.''  If one topic is quite similar to another--for example, is just a variant on the name--then the less common topic name should in many cases be redirected to the more common topic name.  Thus, for example [[Great War]] redirects to [[World War I]].
* ''Redundancy.''  Try to avoid covering the same ground as an existing article that's been given a different name. If one topic is similar to another--for example, is just a variant on the name--then the less common topic name should in many cases be redirected to the more common topic name.  Thus, for example [[Great War]] redirects to [[World War I]].


* ''Maintainability.''  There are certain classes of articles that are unlikely to ever be complete, high-quality, and well-maintained.  The reason for this is simply that the ''Citizendium'' will never have an adequate number of contributors to do the work.  The "class" of article here depends on certain types that are in many cases fairly easy to spot.  For example, we should not write an article about an undistinguished, perfectly ordinary school unless we can write articles about ''all'' schools; we should not write an article about a county in Connecticut unless we can write articles about all counties in the United States; and so forth.  An example of a class of article that it seems we will never have the contributors to maintain is: ''all named roads.'' What the future has in store could surprise us, however, so it is important not to be dogmatic here.  See [[CZ:Maintainability|maintainability]].
There is no requirement that article topics be "notable." We do not exclude topics solely on the ground that their topics do not strike contributors as being significant or important.  What may be trivial to one person might be quite important to another.


Unlike in Wikipedia, there is no requirement on the ''Citizendium'' that article topics be "notable." That is, we do not exclude topics solely on the ground that their topics do not strike contributors as being significant or important. We recognize that what may be completely trivial to one person might in fact be quite important to another, and that as a criterion "notability" is too vague to admit of consistent use.
 
You don't have to aim to write a complete article, You are welcome to just ''start'' a new article, with just a few hundred words - we call these [[CZ:stub| "stub"]]. Stubs may be written solely to introduce the topic of the article in such a way that you or other authors can use the stub as written to continue on to develop the article. Many people can write excellent stubs or short ''developing'' articles even when they don't have the knowledge to expand them.  


{{Back to help}}
{{Back to help}}

Latest revision as of 05:58, 24 December 2010

This is a Citizendium help page
This help page is meant for help and guidance only. It can be edited by any Citizen and, whilst we try to ensure it is accurate, it may not fully represent current policy.
Further guidance can be found at the Subpages page.

Generally, we write about whatever we like in Citizendium, with a few basic constraints:

  • Encyclopedia topics. Topics should be plausible as encyclopedia article topics. This excludes, for example, topics expressing personal opinions (e.g., "Why I think God does not exist"), or complicated topics that reflect original research (e.g., "Fruit production in France, Turkmenistan, and Australia").
  • Redundancy. Try to avoid covering the same ground as an existing article that's been given a different name. If one topic is similar to another--for example, is just a variant on the name--then the less common topic name should in many cases be redirected to the more common topic name. Thus, for example Great War redirects to World War I.

There is no requirement that article topics be "notable." We do not exclude topics solely on the ground that their topics do not strike contributors as being significant or important. What may be trivial to one person might be quite important to another.


You don't have to aim to write a complete article, You are welcome to just start a new article, with just a few hundred words - we call these "stub". Stubs may be written solely to introduce the topic of the article in such a way that you or other authors can use the stub as written to continue on to develop the article. Many people can write excellent stubs or short developing articles even when they don't have the knowledge to expand them.

Click here to return to main help page.


Citizens, we need your help!
These help pages are a work in progress and need developing. Some topics are not written at all yet. Feel free to edit this page, or any other within the help system, and contribute towards making this a useful tool to all.
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