CZ:Subpages

Introduction

The Citizendium is in a pilot and proposal stage in developing a number of subpage types and proposed subpage templates. Our aim is to expand the scope of the Citizendium to include a number of different information types (such as this gallery page). A pilot project will help us get some experience with the whole idea of subpages and subprojects. One of the most expanded demonstrations of the subpage concept can be viewed at Biology/Draft.

An article together with its various subpages can be referred to as an "infoset," although "cluster" and some other terms seem to have some support.

List of subpage types

For various reasons, we will want to keep a canonical list of subpage types, and ask people to create subpages only of the types listed.

We'll also distinguish between default (required) subpages and optional subpages. Links to the default subpages will appear even if they have not yet been created, while links to optional subpages will be created only if they exist.

Default subpages

• Related Articles: a list of subtopics, parent topics, and other related topics, augmented by definitions
• Bibliography: a substantial list of the most important published books and articles on the topic; link to online source
• Links: a lengthy, categorized, annotated list of Web links about the topic

Optional subpages

Further bibliographic material

• Works: a list of books, articles, artworks, etc., authored by a person
• Discography: a list of recorded works
• Filmography: a list of films, television shows, etc., directed, performed in, etc.

Summary presentations of information

• Tables: one or more pages containing almanac-type information about some aspect of the topic, in tabular form; see, e.g., catalog of religions)
• Timelines: one or more pages giving a timeline about some aspect of the topic; main content may or may not exist on the "Tutorials" page itself

Non-text media

• Gallery: an image gallery
• Audio: a collection of Citizendium-hosted audio recordings related to the topic
• Video: a collection of Citizendium-hosted videos related to the topic
• Code: a collection code samples related to the topic

Simplified presentations of the topic

• Tutorials: one or more pages that introduce a topic specifically for students; would be focused on more "practical" aspects of the topic, have more examples, and even perhaps some problems at the bottom of the page; some topics may lend themselves to more explicit "how to" type instructions (how to change your oil); main content may or may not exist on the "Tutorials" page itself
• Student: a simplified and entertaining version of the encyclopedia article for younger students

Complementary texts

• Signed articles: one or more possibly "biased" articles written exclusively by real experts, and signed; note that the "Signed" subpage is a list of articles, which are placed on sub-sub-pages

Planned subpage projects

The following projects will not be included in the initial subpage pilot (probably):

• Debate guide: one or more pages giving a "map of the dialectical landscape," an account of the arguments on all sides of a controversial issue about the topic; if important to read "map", give dates arguments introduced, a timeline
• News guide: one or more pages summarizing of ongoing stories about the topic (such that a story itself will probably not become its own encyclopedia article!)

How to add subpage types

For the sake of uniformity, we have a list of recognized subpage types, and only subpages on this list can be included in the subpage template. The list on this page should be identical to the list on this "master template": {{subpage list}}

The process we use to add subpage types to this list will no doubt develop over time, but we may begin with the following.

• First, settle on a name for the new subpage type--i.e., something that will appear both at the top of the page and in the URL. For example, "Gallery".

• Create a sample.

• Then go to [subpage forum board, will be set up after Council approval] and post a link to the sample and a description of the subpage type, and ask for feedback.

• By way of elaborating your proposal, create a home for the subpage type, like CZ:Related Articles. This should be in the CZ: namespace and named using the subpage type name you've chosen. There are four required sections for that home page, which may have various subsections. Here are the sections and what to put in them:

• What are ___? or What are ___ pages? For example, "What are Bibliographies?" and "What are Related Articles pages?" This should be a brief, general description of what someone sees when visiting a subpage of this type.
• Purpose. A broad, even philosophical, explanation of why such a page are useful, both in general and in the context of the Citizendium, i.e., how such pages help the end user with research.
• Heading and format standards or, if there are no prescribed headings, just Format standards. Lists any standards, or recommendations, for what headings the subpage should contain; template types used; display-related information about style, fonts, wording, etc. This may and probably should have two or more subsections.
• Guidelines for editing. This explains to contributors exactly how to go about creating this type of subpage. If there are special instructions about how to fill out a template, they go here. All other types of instructions go here as well. Again, this may and probably should have two or more subsections.

• The Editor-in-Chief will decide whether the subpage type is important or contentious enough to warrant debate before the Editorial Council. If so, a resolution must be created. If not, the Editor-in-Chief will inform the Council and ask the Council whether discussion and vote is requested (by any member). Again, if so, a resolution must be created.

• Once the new subpage type has been adopted, the relevant templates, and this page, must be updated.

Approval of subpages

Provisionally, we will say that individual subpages cannot be approved. Instead, an entire cluster (or infoset) is approved at the same time.

Note that once an article is approved, all new edits to subpages will edit the approved version of the subpages. Such edits must be aimed, therefore, always at improving the article, and editors should pay special attention to such edits. We do not want to forbid or even discourage editing of subpages of approved articles, but we want to apply a higher standard in responding to such edits. In particular, "rough drafts" of new sections, paragraphs, columns, etc., or entire new subpages are discouraged; each saved draft should be presentable to the public.

A plan for The Big Subpagination

Actually switching from the current system to a system with subpages is not a logistically trivial task. Here are the steps remaining for making the transition:

1. Finish designing and testing the subpage template(s).
2. Put it up to a community vote which template design we will use.
3. Get approval from the Editorial Council. (continuing below if this proposal passes)
4. Create an Info template for every article and transfer the checklist data to the new template!!!
5. Add a {{subpages}} template to every page and possibly move all articles to the draft space.
6. Remove all categories from articles.