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Tardis:Stub: Difference between revisions
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Stubs are identified through the placement of [[:category:stub templates|stub templates]] on pages which lack enough information to be considered proper articles. Because these templates automatically add pages to various lists of articles needing improvement, editors must exercise sound judgment when deciding to use these templates. If stub templates are used indiscriminately — for instance, placed on articles ''just because they are short'' — the lists will become useless to those editors who choose to use them to prioritize their work on [[Tardis:about|this wiki]]. | Stubs are identified through the placement of [[:category:stub templates|stub templates]] on pages which lack enough information to be considered proper articles. Because these templates automatically add pages to various lists of articles needing improvement, editors must exercise sound judgment when deciding to use these templates. If stub templates are used indiscriminately — for instance, placed on articles ''just because they are short'' — the lists will become useless to those editors who choose to use them to prioritize their work on [[Tardis:about|this wiki]]. | ||
==Types of stub== | == Types of stub == | ||
===Character stub=== | === Character stub === | ||
Articles about characters are often the hardest to judge in terms of their "stubbiness". Beyond the major televised characters like [[the Doctor]], his [[companion]]s, and perhaps the main guest stars, most characters require special effort to notice. Characters who appear in a medium ''other'' than television are particularly hard for most editors to assess, because they're more expensive in terms of pure cost and time required to research. | Articles about characters are often the hardest to judge in terms of their "stubbiness". Beyond the major televised characters like [[the Doctor]], his [[companion]]s, and perhaps the main guest stars, most characters require special effort to notice. Characters who appear in a medium ''other'' than television are particularly hard for most editors to assess, because they're more expensive in terms of pure cost and time required to research. | ||
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The question then becomes what constitutes "major details". This where an editor's personal judgment comes into play. Imagine an article about a person who met the Doctor, had a romanic relationship with another character and was key to an effort to defeat an enemy. If the article didn't at least ''mention'' all three of these things, it's probably a stub. But if the article could merely use greater amplification about those points, it's probably not a stub. | The question then becomes what constitutes "major details". This where an editor's personal judgment comes into play. Imagine an article about a person who met the Doctor, had a romanic relationship with another character and was key to an effort to defeat an enemy. If the article didn't at least ''mention'' all three of these things, it's probably a stub. But if the article could merely use greater amplification about those points, it's probably not a stub. | ||
===Astronomical object stub=== | === Astronomical object stub === | ||
The overwhelming majority of articles about stars, planets, asteroids and other astronomical phenomena are going to be short. This is because, aside from planets on which the Doctor has an adventure, these objects are only incidentally mentioned in most stories. Even planets that the Doctor has visited generally are not described in any great detail. We don't know all that much about the planet of [[Frontios]], for instance, despite the fact that the [[Frontios (TV story)|the Fifth Doctor had a significant adventure there]]. We know relatively more about the culture and people of Frontios than we do about any of its geologic or astronomic details. | The overwhelming majority of articles about stars, planets, asteroids and other astronomical phenomena are going to be short. This is because, aside from planets on which the Doctor has an adventure, these objects are only incidentally mentioned in most stories. Even planets that the Doctor has visited generally are not described in any great detail. We don't know all that much about the planet of [[Frontios]], for instance, despite the fact that the [[Frontios (TV story)|the Fifth Doctor had a significant adventure there]]. We know relatively more about the culture and people of Frontios than we do about any of its geologic or astronomic details. | ||
However, it is precisely the articles about planets that have served as the backdrop for the Doctor's adventures which harbor the greatest potential for "stubiness". If such an article fails to even '''mention''' the known inhabitants of that world, it is immediately a stub. If it doesn't characterize '''any''' known geography vital to the progress of a story — such as major cities, land masses, bodies of water, geologic formations, forests, or the like — it's also a stub. But if it merely fails to give as much detail as is possible, it is likely not a stub. | However, it is precisely the articles about planets that have served as the backdrop for the Doctor's adventures which harbor the greatest potential for "stubiness". If such an article fails to even '''mention''' the known inhabitants of that world, it is immediately a stub. If it doesn't characterize '''any''' known geography vital to the progress of a story — such as major cities, land masses, bodies of water, geologic formations, forests, or the like — it's also a stub. But if it merely fails to give as much detail as is possible, it is likely not a stub. | ||
===Story stub=== | === Story stub === | ||
Story stubs are fairly easily identified, although the sheer size of a "blank" or "placeholding" story page can fool the eye into believing there's more information on a page than there actually is. Whether a television, audio, comic, prose, or stage play story, they all require the same basic level of information to avoid being a stub. | Story stubs are fairly easily identified, although the sheer size of a "blank" or "placeholding" story page can fool the eye into believing there's more information on a page than there actually is. Whether a television, audio, comic, prose, or stage play story, they all require the same basic level of information to avoid being a stub. | ||
All these pages begin with a pre-defined format, that automatically places a series of subeheads onto a page. This format can be set on a page by pushing a button above the editing window when starting a new page. Subheads like plot, timeline, continuity and the like appear on the page. You can see what this structure is like by going to almost any story page; ''[[Fury from the Deep]]'' is as good as any to examine the basic format of a story page. When the format is added to the page, the subheads all appear with the phrase ''to be added'' underneath them. This phrase persists until information is added. Thus, a story page can be immediately deemed a stub if one of two conditions is present: | All these pages begin with a pre-defined format, that automatically places a series of subeheads onto a page. This format can be set on a page by pushing a button above the editing window when starting a new page. Subheads like plot, timeline, continuity and the like appear on the page. You can see what this structure is like by going to almost any story page; ''[[Fury from the Deep]]'' is as good as any to examine the basic format of a story page. When the format is added to the page, the subheads all appear with the phrase ''to be added'' underneath them. This phrase persists until information is added. Thus, a story page can be immediately deemed a stub if one of two conditions is present: | ||
*There is no automatic formatting present. | * There is no automatic formatting present. | ||
*Most of the subheads are still empty | * Most of the subheads are still empty | ||
However, a story page can still be a stub, if ''certain'' things remain unfilled. | However, a story page can still be a stub, if ''certain'' things remain unfilled. | ||
*'''In particular, a story without a plot section, or with one that has very few plot details included, is automatically a stub.''' The main point of a story page is to give the plot of a story, so its absence means the page is missing its essential element. | * '''In particular, a story without a plot section, or with one that has very few plot details included, is automatically a stub.''' The main point of a story page is to give the plot of a story, so its absence means the page is missing its essential element. | ||
*If the [[:Category:infoboxes|infobox]] is missing or substantially empty, an article can also be considered a stub — although this information is easily added. | * If the [[:Category:infoboxes|infobox]] is missing or substantially empty, an article can also be considered a stub — although this information is easily added. | ||
*For stories which are performed, like televised and audio stories, the complete absence of cast information can also reduce a page to stub status. | * For stories which are performed, like televised and audio stories, the complete absence of cast information can also reduce a page to stub status. | ||
*The lack of audience reception and home video availability can also be a barrier to a stub graduating to full article status. | * The lack of audience reception and home video availability can also be a barrier to a stub graduating to full article status. | ||
*Some attention to crew information is also necessary for performed stories, though the advent of [[BBC Wales]] productions, with their extremely long credit rolls, has made this more challenging. Nevertheless, the template [[:template:Wales crew|Wales crew]] has sped up the process of data entry, and should be on every page having to do with a story of modern ''Doctor Who''. | * Some attention to crew information is also necessary for performed stories, though the advent of [[BBC Wales]] productions, with their extremely long credit rolls, has made this more challenging. Nevertheless, the template [[:template:Wales crew|Wales crew]] has sped up the process of data entry, and should be on every page having to do with a story of modern ''Doctor Who''. It can be used on other modern programmes, like ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' and ''Torchwood'', as well. For earlier stories, or stories in other media, at least the main department heads — such as [[producer]], [[director]], [[director of photography]], [[executive producer]], [[writer]], [[production designer]], [[visual effect]]s — or equivalent positions for the medium concerned — should be included for the article to avoid being classed a stub. | ||
Generally, though, the lack of information in ''other'' subheads is not, in itself, enough to judge a page a stub. For instance, not all stories actually have that much in the way of '''continuity''' with other stories. Some stories, especially short stories and stage plays, are quite independent of others. Some make no '''references''' to popular culture. | Generally, though, the lack of information in ''other'' subheads is not, in itself, enough to judge a page a stub. For instance, not all stories actually have that much in the way of '''continuity''' with other stories. Some stories, especially short stories and stage plays, are quite independent of others. Some make no '''references''' to popular culture. | ||
===Real world stub=== | === Real world stub === | ||
Real world stubs are the most varied kind of stub, because they can be applied to an article about ''anything'' in the [[:category:Real world|real world super-category]], aside from stories. Production personnel, games, companies, merchandise and many other things can be slapped with the real world stub tag. | Real world stubs are the most varied kind of stub, because they can be applied to an article about ''anything'' in the [[:category:Real world|real world super-category]], aside from stories. Production personnel, games, companies, merchandise and many other things can be slapped with the real world stub tag. | ||
=====People===== | ===== People ===== | ||
Sadly, most articles about production personnel are currently stubs on this wiki. The vast majority merely give the stories on which a person worked, or might additionally tell the roles an actor played. This is the very minimum a real world personnel article requires to avoid deletion, but is the very ''definition'' of a real world stub. | Sadly, most articles about production personnel are currently stubs on this wiki. The vast majority merely give the stories on which a person worked, or might additionally tell the roles an actor played. This is the very minimum a real world personnel article requires to avoid deletion, but is the very ''definition'' of a real world stub. | ||
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As always, a stub is wholly or ''almost'' entirely missing some of these details. It's not something that is just missing a few of these details. | As always, a stub is wholly or ''almost'' entirely missing some of these details. It's not something that is just missing a few of these details. | ||
=====Merchandise===== | ===== Merchandise ===== | ||
An article about a line of merchandise should explain what the merchandise is and give an accounting of the various specific products within that range. Any article which is ''just'' a listing of the items (unless the article's title is prefaced with the words '''List of''' or '''Gallery of''') is a stub. Likewise an article which just has a few sentences that characterize the product is also a stub. An article need not list ''every single'' product in th range, nor must it give all the details in the range to be a full article. But it must at least attempt to give both a general range description ''and'' provide specific examples. | An article about a line of merchandise should explain what the merchandise is and give an accounting of the various specific products within that range. Any article which is ''just'' a listing of the items (unless the article's title is prefaced with the words '''List of''' or '''Gallery of''') is a stub. Likewise an article which just has a few sentences that characterize the product is also a stub. An article need not list ''every single'' product in th range, nor must it give all the details in the range to be a full article. But it must at least attempt to give both a general range description ''and'' provide specific examples. | ||
Things that are important to develop a full merchandise article include, but are not limited to: | Things that are important to develop a full merchandise article include, but are not limited to: | ||
*History of the range. When did it start? When did it end? | * History of the range. When did it start? When did it end? | ||
*The physical characteristics of the members of that range. What are their dimensions? What materials were they made out of? If printed, how many pages did they typically contain? If audio or video, what was their general runtime and format? | * The physical characteristics of the members of that range. What are their dimensions? What materials were they made out of? If printed, how many pages did they typically contain? If audio or video, what was their general runtime and format? | ||
*Intended age range of the product's consumers. | * Intended age range of the product's consumers. | ||
*Relation to other ranges. How does the range under discussion compare to others? Is it a "young person's version", as with [[Quick Reads]] versus the [[New Series Adventures]]? Is it for more mature audiences, as with the [[Virgin New Adventures]] versus the [[Target novelisation]]s? | * Relation to other ranges. How does the range under discussion compare to others? Is it a "young person's version", as with [[Quick Reads]] versus the [[New Series Adventures]]? Is it for more mature audiences, as with the [[Virgin New Adventures]] versus the [[Target novelisation]]s? | ||
*Country of origin. While most ''Doctor Who'' products have been historically British, this is no longer the case. It would be important to the any of the [[IDW Publishing]] comic ranges to note their American origin, for instance. | * Country of origin. While most ''Doctor Who'' products have been historically British, this is no longer the case. It would be important to the any of the [[IDW Publishing]] comic ranges to note their American origin, for instance. | ||
*Any evidence of the relative commercial success of the range. | * Any evidence of the relative commercial success of the range. | ||
*If about the company that makes the range, as opposed to the range itself, some details about the company might be important. How [[Polystyle]]s got and lost the license for ''Doctor Who'' comics will be important to ensuring that that article is not a stub. Likewise, in the same way that an article about a product range will need to include examples of the individual members of that range, a company article should incorporate details about the various ranges that it produced. The [[Polystyle]] article, for instance, should mention ''[[TV Comic]]'', ''[[TV Action]]'' and the various holiday issues and annual of those publications. Company articles should endeavor to also mention competitors, to give a sense of the marketplace in which they operated. The [[Polystyle]] article should include some mention of [[City Magazines]] and [[Marvel Comics UK]], for example. | * If about the company that makes the range, as opposed to the range itself, some details about the company might be important. How [[Polystyle]]s got and lost the license for ''Doctor Who'' comics will be important to ensuring that that article is not a stub. Likewise, in the same way that an article about a product range will need to include examples of the individual members of that range, a company article should incorporate details about the various ranges that it produced. The [[Polystyle]] article, for instance, should mention ''[[TV Comic]]'', ''[[TV Action]]'' and the various holiday issues and annual of those publications. Company articles should endeavor to also mention competitors, to give a sense of the marketplace in which they operated. The [[Polystyle]] article should include some mention of [[City Magazines]] and [[Marvel Comics UK]], for example. | ||
*If about a product that has incidental relation to ''Doctor Who'' some details about the broader nature of the product might be required. For instance some context about what the ''[[Radio Times]]' is would be pertinent to explaining the ''RT''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s importance to ''Doctor Who''. '' | * If about a product that has incidental relation to ''Doctor Who'' some details about the broader nature of the product might be required. For instance some context about what the ''[[Radio Times]]' is would be pertinent to explaining the ''RT''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s importance to ''Doctor Who''. '' | ||
*Graphics. Articles about merchandise should strive to include pictures of the company/range logo. They should also try to include pictorial representations of the product. However, they need not include a picture of ''every'' product in that range. Such full catalogues are usually spun off into a [[:category:Galleries|separate "Gallery of" article]]. | * Graphics. Articles about merchandise should strive to include pictures of the company/range logo. They should also try to include pictorial representations of the product. However, they need not include a picture of ''every'' product in that range. Such full catalogues are usually spun off into a [[:category:Galleries|separate "Gallery of" article]]. | ||
Note that an article doesn't have to answer ''all'' these questions to avoid being classed as a stub. But a proper article will attempt to give a sort of context for the range that a stub lacks. | Note that an article doesn't have to answer ''all'' these questions to avoid being classed as a stub. But a proper article will attempt to give a sort of context for the range that a stub lacks. | ||
=====Behind-the-scenes jobs and terminology===== | ===== Behind-the-scenes jobs and terminology ===== | ||
Articles which focus on defining [[:category:production team titles|behind-the-scenes jobs]] like "[[best boy]]" can also be stubs. These are usually seen as pages which merely give a list of all the people who have held that title. Such pages are actually just lists, not proper articles. A "job" page should endeavor to describe what the job is. Lists of the people holding those jobs are incidental, and often should be spun out into a page, like the as-yet-unwritten, [[List of best boys]]. | Articles which focus on defining [[:category:production team titles|behind-the-scenes jobs]] like "[[best boy]]" can also be stubs. These are usually seen as pages which merely give a list of all the people who have held that title. Such pages are actually just lists, not proper articles. A "job" page should endeavor to describe what the job is. Lists of the people holding those jobs are incidental, and often should be spun out into a page, like the as-yet-unwritten, [[List of best boys]]. | ||
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The same is true of articles that attempt to define [[:category:terminology|production terminology]], like [[CSO]]. | The same is true of articles that attempt to define [[:category:terminology|production terminology]], like [[CSO]]. | ||
===Species stub=== | === Species stub === | ||
Species in the ''Doctor Who'' universe are described by writers to highly differing standards. Sometimes we know a lot about a species' culture, physiognomy and technology; sometimes we only know a bit about what they look like and when they interacted with the Doctor. Trying to define when a species article is a stub is therefore somewhat tricky. | Species in the ''Doctor Who'' universe are described by writers to highly differing standards. Sometimes we know a lot about a species' culture, physiognomy and technology; sometimes we only know a bit about what they look like and when they interacted with the Doctor. Trying to define when a species article is a stub is therefore somewhat tricky. | ||
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Even if all three of these things are well-included in a species article, though, it still might be classed as a stub, if the gap between what is known from stories and what is written in the article is deemed too large. | Even if all three of these things are well-included in a species article, though, it still might be classed as a stub, if the gap between what is known from stories and what is written in the article is deemed too large. | ||
===General stub=== | === General stub === | ||
A general stub is one that defies categorization into one of the more specific stub types described above. As with all stubs, though, the basic rule of thumb is that it's not a stub just because it's short. For instance, the article on ''[[The Mystery of Edwin Drood]]'', will never be terribly bigger than it is at the moment, unless a new story is written that centers on the novel. Thus, though brief, it is not a stub. | A general stub is one that defies categorization into one of the more specific stub types described above. As with all stubs, though, the basic rule of thumb is that it's not a stub just because it's short. For instance, the article on ''[[The Mystery of Edwin Drood]]'', will never be terribly bigger than it is at the moment, unless a new story is written that centers on the novel. Thus, though brief, it is not a stub. | ||
It's only a general stub when: | It's only a general stub when: | ||
*it can't be classed as any more specific kind of stub | * it can't be classed as any more specific kind of stub | ||
*it's missing substantial information from appearances not yet cited in the article | * it's missing substantial information from appearances not yet cited in the article | ||
*what is included is so lacking in information that it actually gives a false impression about the topic at hand | * what is included is so lacking in information that it actually gives a false impression about the topic at hand | ||
====Section stub==== | ==== Section stub ==== | ||
If only a section of an article is needing expanding, then a section stub should be used within that section. | If only a section of an article is needing expanding, then a section stub should be used within that section. | ||
==How to mark an article as a stub== | == How to mark an article as a stub == | ||
Articles are marked as stubs through the use of pre-created templates. They are included on pages simply by typing their name inside two curly braces. For instance: | Articles are marked as stubs through the use of pre-created templates. They are included on pages simply by typing their name inside two curly braces. For instance: | ||
<pre>{{real world stub}}</pre> | <pre>{{real world stub}}</pre> | ||
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<pre>infobox}}{{TV stub}}'''''The Eleventh Hour''''' was an episode of . . . </pre> | <pre>infobox}}{{TV stub}}'''''The Eleventh Hour''''' was an episode of . . . </pre> | ||
==Stub templates== | == Stub templates == | ||
A list of available stub templates can be found at [[ | A list of available stub templates can be found at [[Tardis:stub templates]]. | ||
==List of stubs== | == List of stubs == | ||
The master listing of all stubs can be found at [[:category:stubs]]. From there, stubs are further divided by type. | The master listing of all stubs can be found at [[:category:stubs]]. From there, stubs are further divided by type. | ||
