User:Mousemambo/Workbench: Difference between revisions

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== Elements of good Xenharmonic Wiki article writing ==

Here is an outline of some ideas about how to make the Xenharmonic Wiki more useful to musicians.

* to ~~add~~

* '''Introduction to good nonfiction writing, with an emphasis on exposition.'''

** Why are you writing?

** What is "good" in good nonfiction writing?

*** Clarity of purpose: Strong focus on the idea being presented.

*** Clarity of statement: Intelligibility in the contexts of reader and meaning.

*** Clarity of structure: Nonfiction narrative arc.

** How to write an effective nonfiction paragraph or paragraphic section.

*** Paragraphs present one idea.

*** Paragraphs include:

**** Always, an initial statement of the idea.

**** Optionally, the definition of a new term.

**** Almost always, how the idea connects to previously presented ideas (provides context).

**** Optionally, how the idea connects to related ideas outside this writing (provides context).

**** Always, sentence(s) that develop(s) the idea.

**** Always, sentence(s) that support(s) the idea.

**** Always, an explanation of why the idea is valuable.

**** Usually, a summary of what the paragraph has presented.

**** Optionally, a description of how this idea connects to the next idea(s) to be presented.

*** Edit your paragraphs to analyze what functions every sentence is providing (see above), simplify wording and phrasing, use natural speech, remove unhelpful redundancy, create powerful flow between paragraphs.

** What is an explanation and what are some types of explanation?

** Effective narrative structure in nonfiction writing.

** Tone in writing: Encyclopedic, authoritative, monographic, informal, conversational, etc.

** Recommended reading for learning how to write better nonfiction (to be added).

* '''Every Xenharmonic Wiki article should include...'''

** An introductory paragraph or two that:

*** Is accessible to most musicians with at least an introduction to music theory (i.e. college Music Theory 101).

*** Provides links to beginner and intermediate-level articles on music theory as needed.

*** Presents the purpose of the article in a way that will be understood by someone completely new to the article's concept, with links to articles that are necessary prerequisites.

*** Regardless of the topic (advanced or not), includes absolutely no math theory terminology beyond high school level, unless it is very commonly used in Xenharmonic music discussions and links to beginner-level articles are provided. If no such article exists, omit that terminology from the introduction, and present it later with a red link to create that article.

** Sections that divide the article into different depths of understanding, i.e. that require the reader to have less or more preexisting understandings. More advanced understandings belong in sections later in the article. This is true even of more advanced articles, because in effective narrative nonfiction writing there is always a progression of understanding.

** No list or table without an effective explanation of its contents.

==Wiki Toolkit==

@@ Line 135: / Line 135: @@
 == Elements of good Xenharmonic Wiki article writing ==
+Here is an outline of some ideas about how to make the Xenharmonic Wiki more useful to musicians.
-* to add
+* '''Introduction to good nonfiction writing, with an emphasis on exposition.'''
+** Why are you writing?
+** What is "good" in good nonfiction writing?
+*** Clarity of purpose: Strong focus on the idea being presented.
+*** Clarity of statement: Intelligibility in the contexts of reader and meaning.
+*** Clarity of structure: Nonfiction narrative arc.
+** How to write an effective nonfiction paragraph or paragraphic section.
+*** Paragraphs present one idea.
+*** Paragraphs include:
+**** Always, an initial statement of the idea.
+**** Optionally, the definition of a new term.
+**** Almost always, how the idea connects to previously presented ideas (provides context).
+**** Optionally, how the idea connects to related ideas outside this writing (provides context).
+**** Always, sentence(s) that develop(s) the idea.
+**** Always, sentence(s) that support(s) the idea.
+**** Always, an explanation of why the idea is valuable.
+**** Usually, a summary of what the paragraph has presented.
+**** Optionally, a description of how this idea connects to the next idea(s) to be presented.
+*** Edit your paragraphs to analyze what functions every sentence is providing (see above), simplify wording and phrasing, use natural speech, remove unhelpful redundancy, create powerful flow between paragraphs.
+** What is an explanation and what are some types of explanation?
+** Effective narrative structure in nonfiction writing.
+** Tone in writing: Encyclopedic, authoritative, monographic, informal, conversational, etc.
+** Recommended reading for learning how to write better nonfiction (to be added).
+* '''Every Xenharmonic Wiki article should include...'''
+** An introductory paragraph or two that:
+*** Is accessible to most musicians with at least an introduction to music theory (i.e. college Music Theory 101).
+*** Provides links to beginner and intermediate-level articles on music theory as needed.
+*** Presents the purpose of the article in a way that will be understood by someone completely new to the article's concept, with links to articles that are necessary prerequisites.
+*** Regardless of the topic (advanced or not), includes absolutely no math theory terminology beyond high school level, unless it is very commonly used in Xenharmonic music discussions and links to beginner-level articles are provided. If no such article exists, omit that terminology from the introduction, and present it later with a red link to create that article.
+** Sections that divide the article into different depths of understanding, i.e. that require the reader to have less or more preexisting understandings. More advanced understandings belong in sections later in the article. This is true even of more advanced articles, because in effective narrative nonfiction writing there is always a progression of understanding.
+** No list or table without an effective explanation of its contents.
 ==Wiki Toolkit==