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<center><div style="font-size: x-large">Let's get started!</div></center>


'''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.
{|align="center" cellpadding="10" style="width:70%; border: 1px solid #aaa; margin:20px; font-size: 90%;"
|You can find an array of ''Citizendium'' help pages here, all aimed at explaining "the basics"--what you need to know to get started as a Citizen. Please explore and read, but bear in mind: you can learn a lot by doing, and no one will mind if you make a few mistakes as you do so.  Since this is a wiki, mistakes can be easily fixed.  [[CZ:Be Bold|Be Bold]]--and welcome!


'''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.
; Your "getting started" to do list
:Things new Citizens should do:
:* Sign up using our {{ApplicationForm}}.
:* Read [[CZ:Quick Start|Quick Start]]. Short and sweet!
:* Read some of the documents linked below, if you wish.
|}


'''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:
; Join us!
* [[:Category:CZ Live|Look at the pages that others have been working on]], and help out.
: It's easy!
* Spruce up the discipline gateway articles found on the [[main page#Disciplines|front page]].
:* Our {{ApplicationForm}} - We are open to both experts and the general public.
* Some people have been working on a list [[CZ:High priority articles for pilot|high priority articles for the pilot project]].  Please have a look.
:* '''[[CZ:User Pages|User Pages]]''' - A bio goes on your user page, which you can edit but must maintain in order to remain a member.
* Have you seen a Wikipedia article that you always wanted to improve, but couldn't?  Well, have at it; the article's here, and the Wikipedians you fought with probably aren't.
* A lot of people work ''outside'' of their areas of expertise on Wikipedia.  You might actually be more comfortable working within your area in the ''Citizendium'' project.


'''Enlivening Wikipedia articles: do's and don'ts.''' The articles on this wiki are taken from Wikipedia.  Some (a very few) we've edited; most we haven't.  The ones that we have worked on are called "live."  The articles that we ''haven't'' worked on are called "refreshable" because we might be refreshing them from time to time with the latest from Wikipedia.
; Learn about us
* '''Do''' look at the bottom of an article for the "<nowiki>[[Category:CZ live]]</nowiki>" tag to see if it is "live."  You can double-check in the page history.  
: Essential reading.  Don't miss these crucial documents.  (They're part of the [[CZ:Organization]] pages.)
* '''Don't''' make changes to a refreshable (non-live) article unless they're ''significant'' changes.  Don't make an article "live" by making minor edits.  Make minor edits only to articles that are ''already'' live.  (The reason for this is that we want to help ourselves to the latest major edits that Wikipedia might have made to an article.)
:* '''[[CZ:About|About]]''' - An introduction to the ''Citizendium;'' our goals.
* If you change an article, '''do''' add "<nowiki>[[Category:CZ Live]]</nowiki>" to the bottom of the article. That makes it show up on [[:Category:CZ Live|the list of articles we've changed]].  That way we keep track of what we've done. (Later, that list will be constructed automatically.)
:* '''[[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.


'''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:
; How to get to work
* Biographical information (your education, interests, etc.).
: 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.
* Articles you have started or are watching.
:* '''[[CZ:Start Article|How to start a new article]]''' - There's an easy way--and it is ''very'' easy.
* "To do" lists.
:* '''[[CZ:The Author Role|The Author Role]]''' - Authors are the lifeblood of the project.  How to do your job.
* Other helpful notes directly of personal use to you in your work on the Citizendium.
:* '''[[CZ:The Editor Role|The Editor Role]]''' - "Editor" means something a little different here than what you might be used to.
* 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: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!


'''Here are a few general hints.'''
; ''Citizendium'' culture
* CZ = ''Citizendium''
: We're a community, and we have a culture. Read about what "gets us going" and what "makes us tick."
* 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:Why Citizendium?|Why Citizendium?]]''' - Why should you contribute at all?  There are many good answers.
* Be bold in updating pages! Don't be shy!
:* '''[[CZ:Be Bold|Be Bold]]''' - If no one is giving out orders, you're free.  Freedom requires boldness!
* 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.  But here we don't mean the original Wikipedia article--feel free to be the first person to completely change it without explanation.  Consider that your reward for whipping it into shape.
:* '''[[CZ:Under Construction|Under Construction]]''' - This is a new wiki.  Things aren't perfect.  That's OK--for now.
* 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].
:* '''[[CZ:How to collaborate|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.
:* '''[[CZ:Professionalism|Professionalism]]''' - We're a pretty friendly bunch.


'''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 have some rules that are under active development.  See [[CZ:Policy Outline|our Policy Outline]].
; 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.
:* '''[[CZ:How to edit an article|How to edit an article]]''' - The technical nitty-gritty.  WikiMedia markup, etc.
:* '''[[CZ:Approval Standards|Approval Standards]]''' - A list of the qualities a good article should have.
:* '''[[CZ:Article mechanics|Article mechanics]]''' - A guide to mechanics and style
:* '''[[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.


'''"I'm an editor, where do I go to learn about my editor duties?"'''  Again, see [[CZ:Policy Outline|our Policy Outline]].  We ''won't'' be approving ''any'' articles anytime in the next few weeks; we haven't established the process yet.  But you ''can'' start making decisions about articles in your specific areas of expertise.  Simply begin a section titled "Editors' Instructions" 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.
{{Getting Started}}
 
[[Category:Getting Started]]
'''Why are we doing this?'''  Because it's merely productive to respect expertise.  Because the world needs a better free encyclopedia than Wikipedia.  Because we love knowledge and love formulating it beautifully.
 
'''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 12:07, 14 February 2021

Let's get started!
You can find an array of Citizendium help pages here, all aimed at explaining "the basics"--what you need to know to get started as a Citizen. Please explore and read, but bear in mind: you can learn a lot by doing, and no one will mind if you make a few mistakes as you do so. Since this is a wiki, mistakes can be easily fixed. Be Bold--and welcome!
Your "getting started" to do list
Things new Citizens should do:
  • Sign up using our application form (Google Account required).
  • Read Quick Start. Short and sweet!
  • Read some of the documents linked below, if you wish.
Join us!
It's easy!
  • Our application form (Google Account required) - We are open to both experts and the general public.
  • User Pages - A bio goes on your user page, which you can edit but must maintain in order to remain a member.
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 new wiki. Things aren't perfect. That's OK--for now.
  • 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
Join | Quick Start | About us | Help system | How to start a new article | For Wikipedians
How to Edit
Getting Started Organization Technical Help
Policies Content Policy
Welcome Page
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