Turning questions into articles

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(Redirect it to a new article)
 
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===Swapping...===
 
===Swapping...===
"Swapping" questions are related to "choosing" questions, but are generally asked after the parts have been chosen; people have decided on the parts they're going to use, but have a lot of questions about their specific swap. "Swapping" questions are related to "choosing" questions, but are worthy of a distinct category of articles. In most cases, these questions won't have to be significantly generalized, just cleaned up for syntax and grammar. So, a question like "I am swapping a Dodge 360 into a 52 Dodge PU, what do I need to do" can be turned into: [[Swapping a Dodge 360 engine into a 1952 Dodge pickup truck]].
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"Swapping" questions are related to "choosing" questions, but are generally asked after the parts have been chosen; people have decided on the parts they're going to use, but have a lot of questions about their specific swap. In most cases, these questions won't have to be significantly generalized, just cleaned up for syntax and grammar. So, a question like "I am swapping a Dodge 360 into a 52 Dodge PU, what do I need to do" can be turned into: [[Swapping a Dodge 360 engine into a 1952 Dodge pickup truck]].
  
 
===Sourcing...===
 
===Sourcing...===
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If none of the above categorizations seem proper, a "general info" article may be best. For example, a question like "What are the different kinds of head gaskets" can be turned into an article titled [[Head gasket]].
 
If none of the above categorizations seem proper, a "general info" article may be best. For example, a question like "What are the different kinds of head gaskets" can be turned into an article titled [[Head gasket]].
  
==Change the title, or redirect it to anothe article==
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==Change the title, or redirect it to another article==
 
First, decide if you want to preserve the text of the original user's question. If you do, you'll then want to request an administrative move to a new title (see below). If you think that you can delete the text of their question, and just create a new article in its place, you can redirect their question to a new article (see below). If the article you would've liked to turn their question into already exists, then you'll need to redirect their question to an existing article, and, if necessary, add info to the existing article (see below).
 
First, decide if you want to preserve the text of the original user's question. If you do, you'll then want to request an administrative move to a new title (see below). If you think that you can delete the text of their question, and just create a new article in its place, you can redirect their question to a new article (see below). If the article you would've liked to turn their question into already exists, then you'll need to redirect their question to an existing article, and, if necessary, add info to the existing article (see below).
  
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===Redirect it to an existing article===
 
===Redirect it to an existing article===
What if someone asks an electrical troubleshooting question, and you want to turn it into an article titled "Troubleshooting electrical problems". We already have such an article: [[Troubleshooting electrical problems]]. In such a scenario, just insert a redirect to the existing article (see above). If you like, you can then edit the existing article to include their question, or an answer to it.
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What if someone asks an electrical troubleshooting question, and you want to turn it into an article titled "Troubleshooting electrical problems"? We already have such an article: [[Troubleshooting electrical problems]]. In such a scenario, just insert a redirect to the existing article (see above). If you like, you can then edit the existing article to include their question, or an answer to it.
  
 
===Request an administrative title change===
 
===Request an administrative title change===
Sometimes, you may want to keep the text of the original question, but simply change the title. You may want to do this if the question is well-phrased, or has good information or pictures, but the title simply isn't phrased as a question. Only administrators can re-title articles. You can request a title change request via the [[Title change request]] page. Simply enter a link to the article, and your proposed title change request. An administrator will address it, and then leave you a message on your Talk page.
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Sometimes, you may want to keep the text of the original question, but simply change the title. You may want to do this if the question is well-phrased, or has good information or pictures, but the title simply isn't phrased as a question. Only administrators can re-title articles. You can request a title change request via [[Title change requests]]. Simply enter a link to the article, and your proposed title change request. An administrator will address it, and then leave you a message on your Talk page.
  
 
==Build the article==
 
==Build the article==
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==Using any automotive question, anywhere, as the basis for an article==
 
==Using any automotive question, anywhere, as the basis for an article==
 
The above procedure can be used anywhere people are asking automotive questions: wikis, forums, emails, or in any offline settings like schools, garages, etc. As online automotive communities mature from a Q&A format (forums, email lists) to an encyclopedic format (articles, wikis), you can help transition the culture to a more efficient and knowledgeable medium.
 
The above procedure can be used anywhere people are asking automotive questions: wikis, forums, emails, or in any offline settings like schools, garages, etc. As online automotive communities mature from a Q&A format (forums, email lists) to an encyclopedic format (articles, wikis), you can help transition the culture to a more efficient and knowledgeable medium.
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[[Category:Wiki information]]

Latest revision as of 17:14, 22 August 2009

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