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Revision as of 13:10, 13 January 2008 by Pixelface (talk | contribs) (→Dealing with problem articles: removed this section. this guideline is not a notability guideline)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) | It has been suggested that this page be merged into Manual of Style (writing about fiction) and Wikipedia_talk:Manual_of_Style_%28writing_about_fiction%29#Needs_revision. (Discuss) Proposed since December 2007. |
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 | This page documents an English Misplaced Pages content guideline. Editors should generally follow it, though exceptions may apply. Substantive edits to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on this guideline's talk page. | Shortcut |
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Misplaced Pages contains many articles on television episodes. The following guideline aims to promote the creation of high-quality articles about television shows and their episodes. This includes lists of episodes, television series/season articles, and television program articles.
Process for creating articles on television episodes
- Create page for the television PROGRAMME.
- Once there's enough verifiable information independent of the show itself, then:
- Create a page for each series/season, or a "List of episodes" page with every season/series.
- If there is enough verifiable information from secondary sources about individual episodes, then:
- Create pages for outstanding episodes.
How to write a good season or episode page
All television pages must conform to Misplaced Pages content policies, including, but not limited to, Misplaced Pages:Verifiability and Misplaced Pages:No original research. In addition, Misplaced Pages:Manual of Style (writing about fiction) has its own requirements, most particularly since:
Misplaced Pages is an out-of-universe source, and all articles about fiction and elements of fiction should take an overall out-of-universe perspective.
In other words, the articles do not exist merely to retell the story (which is classed as a derivative work or a copyright violation) but to provide encyclopaedic information about the creation, production and reception of television programmes. Remember, the article should not attempt to be a replacement for watching the show itself, it should be about the show.
What a page should contain
- A brief summary of the episode's plot (see below)
- How the episode was received by critics
- Information on production and broadcasting of the episode
- Real-world factors that have influenced the work or fictional element
Plot summaries
The only purpose of plot summaries is to provide context for the rest of the information. Misplaced Pages:Manual of Style (writing about fiction) states:
As the Misplaced Pages servers are located in the U.S. state of Florida, Misplaced Pages articles must conform to U.S. copyright laws. It has been held in a number of court cases that any work which re-tells original ideas from a fictional source, in sufficient quantity without adding information about that work, or in some way analysing and explaining it, may be construed as a derivative work or a copyright violation...Information about copyright fictional worlds and plots of works of fiction can be provided only under a claim of fair use, and Misplaced Pages's fair-use policy holds that "the amount of copyrighted work used should be as little as possible".
As a rough guide, this amounts to no more than ten words per minute of screen time. For example, a 45 minute episode would warrant no more than 450 words.
Reliable sources
Misplaced Pages is not the place to record original research or speculation. All discussion and interpretation of television episodes must be supported by reliable, published sources. Misplaced Pages:Reliable sources states that:
Reliable sources are credible published materials with a reliable publication process; their authors are generally regarded as trustworthy, or are authoritative in relation to the subject at hand...Using reliable sources assures the reader that what is being presented meets the Misplaced Pages standards for verifiability and originality. Accurate citation allows the reader to go to those sources and gives appropriate credit to the author of the work.
An actual episode may be used as a source for information about the episode and constitutes a primary source. Such use does not constitute original research if it is used to verify a fact. However, the episode cannot be used to justify an interpretation.
Non-free images
The primary purpose of non-free images on Misplaced Pages is for information rather than decoration. Non-free images (copyrighted images such as screen shots, DVD covers or publicity posters) must meet the non-free content guidelines which allows them to be used only to aid critical commentary or discussion. Add images only when you are familiar with Misplaced Pages:Image use policy.
Using an "out-of-universe" approach
Misplaced Pages:Manual of Style (writing about fiction) states:
Misplaced Pages is an out-of-universe source, and all articles about fiction and elements of fiction should take an overall out-of-universe perspective.
This means writing about television programmes from a real-world perspective (ie. discussing the piece as fiction, rather from the perspective of one of the characters, or as if the events had really happened).
Things to avoid
- Trivia sections
- Trivia sections are unencyclopaedic, and Misplaced Pages is not an indiscriminate collection of information. Relevant information should be integrated into the body of the article.
- Quotations
- Extensive use of these may breach copyright. Also, Misplaced Pages is not an indiscriminate collection of information. Consider adding these to Wikiquote instead.
- Lists of featured music or song lyrics
- Original song lyrics for a television episode breach copyright. References to featured music should be supported by reliable sources to establish notability. Do not just list music: Misplaced Pages is not a directory.
- Technical errors and continuity issues ("bloopers" or "goofs")
- Unsourced sections about technical errors or continuity issues should generally be avoided. If there is a major mistake that is discussed by a reliable source it can become a part of the production section.
Examples of good pages
Below are examples of each type of article that have all reached featured article or featured list status.
Programme pages
"List of" pages
Season pages
Episode pages
- "Abyssinia, Henry" - episode of M*A*S*H
- "Pilot" - first episode of House
- "A Streetcar Named Marge" - episode of The Simpsons
- "Through the Looking Glass" - episode of Lost
See also
- Misplaced Pages:Notability (fiction)
- Misplaced Pages:Manual of Style (writing about fiction)
- Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Television/How to write an episode article - WikiProject guidelines and tips for articles on television episodes
- WikiProject Films guidelines on plot summaries
- WP:DEADLINE & Misplaced Pages:The world will not end tomorrow - 2 essays