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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
All articles on Misplaced Pages must meet notability guidelines, which state that:
A topic is presumed to be notable if it has received significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject.
It is important to bear this in mind when creating articles, and it is likely that each individual episode of a television series will not be notable on its own, simply because there are not enough secondary sources available. What Misplaced Pages is not explains this further:
Misplaced Pages articles on works of fiction should contain real-world context and sourced analysis, offering detail on a work's achievements, impact or historical significance.
While each episode on its own may not qualify for an article, it is quite likely that sources can be found to support a series or season page, where all the episodes in one season (or series) are presented on one page. (See examples listed below). Such pages must still be notable, and contain out-of-universe context, and not merely be a list of episode titles or cast and crew: Misplaced Pages is not a directory.
Over time, you might find that some episodes or story-arcs have enough real-world information to warrant their own article. Such an episode can be broken out into its own page.
Process
- 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 main 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, summaries should be about 200 to 500 words. Complicated plots may take more space to present than simpler plots. Many good and featured episode articles overrun this limit slightly.
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.
Dealing with problem articles
If the article(s) contain little content, consider merging or redirecting them into another article (e.g. an article about the show itself, an article that is a list of episodes of the show, or an article that summarizes the plot for one season of the show).
To start this process, tag the article(s) with {{notability|episode}} on the page. (A proposed process for reviewing problem articles can be found at: Misplaced Pages:Television article review process.) If the same editor appears to have created a large number of problematic articles, please refer them to this page. Avoid listing episodes for AfD unless they are completely unverifiable and original research.
Note: Stubs are allowed on Misplaced Pages and many articles are stubs. It may be inappropriate to merge or redirect an article about a television episode just because it is a stub. Before executing a merge, ask yourself:
- Will the merge reduce the quality or coherence of the target article?
- Are more sources available? (Do some basic looking for additional source material that could be used to improve the article.)
If the answer to either of these questions is "yes", it is probably better to avoid merging or redirecting. Instead, consider improving it, or offer suggestions for its improvement on the talk page.
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