CZ:Getting Started: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Nancy Sculerati MD
No edit summary
mNo edit summary
 
(190 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
<!-- please let's keep this page reasonably short, thanks -->
__NOTOC__
'''If this is your very first visit to this wiki, welcome!  And please read this.'''  It'll get you started, and it has some "do's and don'ts" you should know about.
<center><div style="font-size: x-large">Let's get started!</div></center>


If you've never used a wiki before, finish reading this page first for an orientation, then make [[Help:Contents|the help page]] your next stop.
; Learn about us
: Essential reading.  Don't miss these crucial documents.  (They're part of the [[CZ:Organization]] pages.)
:* '''[[CZ:About|About]]''' - An introduction to the ''Citizendium;'' our goals.
:* '''[[Help:Index|Help system]]''' - questions and answers to find the help you need.
:* '''[[CZ:FAQ|FAQ]]''' - A lengthier, question-and-answer style introduction.
:* '''[[CZ:Policies|Policies]]''' - The current "constitution" of the ''Citizendium'' community.


'''What do you want to do here?'''  You should do precisely what you want to do.  Since this is a bottom-up project, there is no one telling you what to work on, when. But here are some ideas:
; How to get to work
* [[:Category:CZ Live|Look at the pages that others have been working on]], and help out.
: You don't need to read a thick manual before actually working.  We'd prefer it if you just dove in, which you can do, because wikis are ''easy'' (really!). But the following documents should clarify your role as author or editor, and give you an idea of where to have your questions answered in the future.
* Start a whole new article! Put the name of a topic that interests you in the search box there to your left on the side bar. Hit Go. If there is an article that comes up, read it and add to it if you think you have something to say. If a notice comes up that says "no article with that title exists", then here's your chance!
:* '''[[CZ:Start Article|Start a new article]]''' - There's an easy way--and it is ''very'' easy.
* If you start an article,
:* Every contributor is an '''[[CZ:The Author Role|Author]]''' (we no longer have '''[[CZ:The Editor Role|Editors]]''').
** '''Do''' add "<nowiki>[[Category:CZ Live]]</nowiki>" to the bottom of the article.  That makes it show up on [[:Category:CZ Live]].  That way we keep track of what we've done.  (Later, that list will be constructed automatically.)
<!--
** '''Do''' add a "<nowiki>[[Category:<discipline> Workgroup]]</nowiki>" tag to the bottom of the article: see the [[CZ:Discipline Workgroups|list of workgroups]].  This will help people in that workgroup follow changes made to articles in their area.
:* '''[[CZ:The Author Role|The Author Role]]''' - Authors are the lifeblood of the project.  How to do your job.
:* '''[[CZ:The Editor Role|The Editor Role]]''' - "Editor" means something a little different here than what you might be used to.
-->
:* '''[[CZ:Introduction to CZ for Wikipedians|Introduction to CZ for Wikipedians]]''' - We do things differently here, but not ''that'' differently.
:* '''[[CZ:Essentials|A few essentials]]''' - Here are a few hints if you want to avoid common ''faux pas.''
:* '''[[CZ:How you can help|How you can help]]''' - What to do.  There's a lot that needs to be done!


'''Make your user page.'''  We think it's only polite to let other people know who they're dealing with.  So, when you get a chance, edit your user page (a link to it will be up at the top of the page) and say a little about yourself. But user pages should be ''limited'' to only the following sorts of information:
; ''Citizendium'' culture
* Biographical information (your education, interests, etc.).
: We're a community, and we have a culture.  Read about what "gets us going" and what "makes us tick."
* Articles you have started or are watching.
:* '''[[CZ:Why Citizendium?|Why Citizendium?]]''' - Why should you contribute at all?  There are many good answers.
* "To do" lists.
:* '''[[CZ:Be Bold|Be Bold]]''' - If no one is giving out orders, you're free. Freedom requires boldness!
* Other helpful notes directly of personal use to you in your work on the Citizendium.
:* '''[[CZ:Under Construction|Under Construction]]''' - This is a wiki. Things aren't perfect; we keep making it better.
* Editors require further information--a link to CV-type information and a list of your areas of expertise. See [[User:Gareth Leng]] for an example (sorry to put on the spot there Dr. Leng :-) ).
:* '''[[CZ:How to collaborate|How to collaborate]]''' - Collaboration with a global group of colleagues requires finesse.
* Wikipedians: please don't use "user boxes."  CZ discourages standardizing group membership in this way.
:* '''[[CZ:Group Editing]]''' - Commentary on how editing and writing as a group is much different than rough draft/final copy formats that most are used to.
:* '''[[CZ:Professionalism|Professionalism]]''' - We're a pretty friendly bunch.


'''Here are a few general hints.'''
; Learn more
* To learn the technical means of editing a page on Citizendium's wiki, see [[CZ:How to Edit Citizendium|how to Edit Citizendium]].
: This is just a getting-started page.  There's a lot more on the community home page, '''[[CZ:Home]].''' Here are some other links to help you get started.
* Everybody wants to know what's going on on the wiki. For that, use the [http://pilot.citizendium.org/wiki/Special:Recentchanges recent changes page] (link on the left, not to be confused with "Random page" and "Related changes") is a source of endless fascination.  It allows you to explore what other people are up to, help them, and "keep them honest."
:* '''[[CZ:How to edit an article|How to edit an article]]''' - The technical nitty-gritty.  WikiMedia markup, etc.
* This is an "alpha" pilot project, which means that things might break occasionally.  Don't let that freak you out.  Just ask questions if you're curious.
:* '''[[CZ:Approval Standards|Approval Standards]]''' - A list of the qualities a good article should have.
* Be bold in updating pages!  Don't be shy!
:* '''[[CZ:Article mechanics|Article mechanics]]''' - A guide to mechanics and style
* But be kind and collegial.  Among other things, this means that if you edit someone else's work on the ''Citizendium,'' you should explain why you made the edits you did on the "discussion" page.
:* '''[[CZ:Subpages|Subpages]]''' - We're more than just an encyclopedia.  See what else.
:* '''[[CZ:Workgroups|Workgroups]]''' - How we organize ourselves by discipline.
:* '''[[Citizendium]] by Citizendium''' - our article about ourselves.
:* '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY Introductory Video]''' - A third-party video introducing the concept of [[wiki]]s.


* Want to discuss general policy, get help, etc.?  Don't do that here on the wiki except about particular articles (use the "discussion" tab).  Instead, join [https://lists.purdue.edu/mailman/listinfo/citizendium-l Citizendium-L] and, if you're an editor, [https://lists.purdue.edu/mailman/listinfo/citizendium-editors Citizendium-Editors] (you should already be subscribed, actually, if you accepted our invitation).  Also, there's a lot of good stuff in the [http://smf.citizendium.org/ Citizendium Forums].
{{Getting Started}}
 
[[Category:Getting Started]]
'''Where are the rules?'''  This is a wiki.  That means that smart people working in good faith usually don't need rules.  But we do of course have some rules that are under active development.  See [[Citizendium_Pilot:Project_Home#Policy|our Policy Outline]].
 
'''"I'm an editor, where do I go to learn about my editor duties?"'''  Again, see [[CZ:Policy Outline|our Policy Outline]].  An important page to read covers our [[CZ:Approval Process|approval process]].  Also, as an editor, you can start making decisions about articles in your specific areas of expertise.  Simply begin a section titled "Editors' Instructions" (or something similar) at the top of the article's discussion page.  If you have some question as to whether you are in fact an editor of a particular article, consult the policy outline, first, and if you have questions still, then contact Larry Sanger.
 
'''Why ''Citizendium'' at all?'''  Because we love knowledge and love formulating it beautifully.  Because the world needs a better free encyclopedia than Wikipedia.  Because it's merely productive to respect expertise.
 
'''Next stop?'''  If you've never used a wiki before, then make [[Help:Contents|the help page]] your next stop.  But if you have, what are you waiting for?  Dive right in!

Latest revision as of 12:58, 6 November 2024

Let's get started!
Learn about us
Essential reading. Don't miss these crucial documents. (They're part of the CZ:Organization pages.)
  • About - An introduction to the Citizendium; our goals.
  • Help system - questions and answers to find the help you need.
  • FAQ - A lengthier, question-and-answer style introduction.
  • Policies - The current "constitution" of the Citizendium community.
How to get to work
You don't need to read a thick manual before actually working. We'd prefer it if you just dove in, which you can do, because wikis are easy (really!). But the following documents should clarify your role as author or editor, and give you an idea of where to have your questions answered in the future.
Citizendium culture
We're a community, and we have a culture. Read about what "gets us going" and what "makes us tick."
  • Why Citizendium? - Why should you contribute at all? There are many good answers.
  • Be Bold - If no one is giving out orders, you're free. Freedom requires boldness!
  • Under Construction - This is a wiki. Things aren't perfect; we keep making it better.
  • How to collaborate - Collaboration with a global group of colleagues requires finesse.
  • CZ:Group Editing - Commentary on how editing and writing as a group is much different than rough draft/final copy formats that most are used to.
  • Professionalism - We're a pretty friendly bunch.
Learn more
This is just a getting-started page. There's a lot more on the community home page, CZ:Home. Here are some other links to help you get started.


Citizendium Getting Started
Quick Start | About us | Help system | Start a new article | For Wikipedians  
Retrieved from "https://citizendium.org/wiki/index.php?title=CZ:Getting_Started&oldid=993470"