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__NOTOC__
{{Getting Started}}
{{Getting Started}}


== How to start a new page ==
Use the search box to check for articles that already exist.  See [[CZ:Content Policy|Allowed Topics]] and [[CZ:Naming Conventions|Naming Conventions]] if you need to.
=Start it—two ways=
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''For [[CZ:Eduzendium|Eduzendium]] articles, there are [[Template:R EZ/doc/How to start your articles|separate instructions]] for setting them up in a course-specific format.''
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{| class="wikitable"
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<center><font size="4">1. The easy way</font></center>
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This article will lack subpages (gray tabs across the top of an article), but those can be added later.
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<inputbox>
type=create
default=Title goes here
preload=Template:Text for simple start
buttonlabel=Create new article
</inputbox>
|-
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<center><font size="4">2. The complete way, with [[CZ:Creating_an_article_with_subpages|subpages]]</font></center>
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The link on the right will create a new, blank article ''with'' subpages, or if the article exists, it will create the Metadata needed for subpages.
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<big>'''[[Special:MetadataForm|Create new article with subpages]].'''</big><br>
|}


Here's how to get started writing a new page. It's easy--trust us.
= Write it =
{| class="wikitable" style="background:lightyellow"
|-
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<center><font size="4">What should you write?</font></center>
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An accurate, interesting and readable encyclopedia article on just about any topic.
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'''[[CZ:Approval Standards|Learn more here]].'''


Let's begin with the mechanical procedure of making a new page, for folks who haven't used the software before. If you want to follow along, open a new window or print out a copy of this page first.
|-
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<center><font size="4">Learn the code</font></center>
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If you've never edited a wiki page before, read a little about the wiki code - it's not hard.
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'''[[CZ:How to edit an article|Learn more here]].'''


# Let's make a test article, not a real article.  Start in the [[CZ:Sandbox|Sandbox]].  Notice the "edit" tab near the top of the page?  You can click that.  Go ahead and click it.  That big text box that pops up is where you can edit the page, about as easily as you edit an e-mail.
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# To create a new article, all you have to do is type "test article" (or the name of the article you want to create), but place <nowiki>[[</nowiki> and <nowiki>]]</nowiki> around it, so you get something like this: <nowiki>[[test article]]</nowiki> That will create a link.
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# Next, look (or scroll) down below the text box you're writing in.  Look for the "Save page" button.  Press it.  Voila, you have edited the Sandbox!  You have also created a link to an as-yet nonexistent article.  On the Sandbox page, look for the text you added.  It should be there as a red link.
<center><font size="4">Learn our standards</font></center>
# Click on the red link.  This pulls up another text box, just like the one you saw before, except that it is completely empty.  So now you can go to town writing your new article.  Then press "Save page."
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# Add the checklist.  (If you're brand new to the ''Citizendium,'' you can skip this--someone else will help, and we don't want to overwhelm you.)  Add [[CZ:The Article Checklist|The Article Checklist]] to the talk page. Note that the checklist can now be found conveniently in the sidebar, under "project pages."
We're writing coherent narratives, not grab-bags of facts.
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'''[[CZ:Article mechanics|Learn more here]].'''


When you start new pages, please make a habit of doing it ''from'' other pages, just as the above demonstrates.  For example, if I wanted to start an article about a famous philosopher, I might add a link to the (as-yet nonexistent) page from the [[philosophy]] article.  Then, to start the page, I click on the link I just added.  Of course, a link to the page I want might already exist.
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<center><font size="4">Get some tips</font></center>
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A few things every Citizen should know.
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'''[[CZ:Essentials|Learn more here]].'''


== Markup basics ==
|}
When you work on your article, you'll be using wiki "markup."  That's the code that makes text '''bold''' or ''italicized,'' that creates [[Biology|links]], and other things.  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 quotes 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:
 
* Don't create "orphans"--i.e., pages that aren't linked from any other page.  In other words, always create a new page by creating a link to it from an existing page.
* The article title should be lowercase 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.

Latest revision as of 08:33, 31 October 2024


Citizendium Getting Started
Quick Start | About us | Help system | Start a new article | For Wikipedians  


Use the search box to check for articles that already exist. See Allowed Topics and Naming Conventions if you need to.

Start it—two ways

1. The easy way

This article will lack subpages (gray tabs across the top of an article), but those can be added later.


2. The complete way, with subpages

The link on the right will create a new, blank article with subpages, or if the article exists, it will create the Metadata needed for subpages.

Create new article with subpages.

Write it

What should you write?

An accurate, interesting and readable encyclopedia article on just about any topic.

Learn more here.

Learn the code

If you've never edited a wiki page before, read a little about the wiki code - it's not hard.

Learn more here.

Learn our standards

We're writing coherent narratives, not grab-bags of facts.

Learn more here.

Get some tips

A few things every Citizen should know.

Learn more here.

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