Help:How to contribute
From Theopedia
You are invited to create an account and become a registered user. This is the preferred method for joining the Theopedia effort. However, unregistered (anonymous) guests may also contribute and edit articles. In either case, changes to articles must be "sighted" (spot-checked) by authorized reviewers before they become part of the public version. This helps avoid vandalism and other content problems.
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[edit] Get a feel for how wikis work
The best way to do this is to explore sites like Wikipedia, other articles here in Theopedia, and experiment in the sandbox where you are free to create and delete trial sections and content.
[edit] I'd like to contribute to Theopedia. What should I do?
Make improvements to the articles that already exist. Fill in the gaps by creating new articles on aspects of the topic that have not been covered yet. When creating new pages, please consider first if there will be enough material for a whole article, otherwise add the information to an appropriate "aggregation" page (eg "Views on the Trinity" as a whole). If an entry in the aggregation article gets really long, you can split it out into its own article then.
When writing about controversial subjects, please keep the writing guide in mind.
Visit a random page. Improve that page, or find a link to an article on that page that hasn't been written yet.
Links to non-existent pages are by default displayed in red (e.g. I don't exist). Click on the link, and add something about that topic. No, not this one!
[edit] Where help is needed
You don't have to start new pages or make additions to contribute. There are also lots of maintenance tasks that need carrying out on a regular basis. Edit pages for spelling and grammatical errors. Remove nonsense when you see it. Correct false or misleading claims. Wikify words (turn them into links). Find pages containing basically the same information and combine them into one. Even asking questions on Talk (i.e. Discussion) pages can contribute to making articles better.
If you want to see where more extensive help is needed, see any of the following:
- Wanted Pages, which are pages that have been cited by links but which don't exist yet.
- Cleanup category which lists articles that exist yet need help in editing and/or formatting
- Stub Pages which are pages that exist yet probably need additional content.
[edit] Write about something you don't know about
Use this as an excuse to research a new topic. As you learn about it, write what you are learning here on Theopedia. This is actually a good study aid because it forces you to take notes, to organize information, and to put what you've learned into your own words.
Don't be surprised if other people edit "your" pages to adapt them to our policies. It's OK to learn as you go along.
Find something appropriate to Theopedia from a public domain resource, update it, add links to it, and put it here. But make sure it really isn't copyrighted -- see Wikipedia copyrights).
For more basic information on contributing to Theopedia, see our own How to start a page and Help:How to edit a page.
[edit] No original research
Theopedia (like Wikipedia) is not the place for original research. Citing sources and avoiding original research are inextricably linked: the only way to verifiably demonstrate that you are not doing original research is to cite reliable sources which provide information that is directly related to the article, and to adhere to what those sources say.
Original research is a term used by Theopedia to refer to material added to articles by Theopedia editors that has not been published already by a reputable source. In this context it means unpublished theories, data, statements, concepts, arguments, and ideas; or any new interpretation, analysis, or synthesis of published data, statements, concepts, or arguments that would amount to a "novel narrative or historical interpretation."
[edit] Have a question?
If you are not sure how to do something and cannot find the answer on Theopedia, please go to Theopedia:Ask a question and ask it there. Do not hesitate to ask anything, for when you learn you enable yourself to contribute more to Theopedia and help work towards its vision.
[edit] See also
The following articles are from the Wikipedia, not Theopedia. Many of the policies are the same, but not all. We will be creating our own similar pages as time allows.
