User:HAL2008/Header My adoption program is a rigorous 2 year program, filled with frustration, pain, anger, and... I am kidding, you know that, right?

THIS ADOPTION PROGRAM IS READY FOR USE! ANYONE WHO WISHES TO BE ADOPTED MAY BE ADOPTED BY ME AT ANY TIME, I AM CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW ADOPTEES!.

REALLY, my adoption program is a simple step-based program, based on Giggy's program, yet very different. It won't take too long, and, depending on the editor, it may take a week, or a month, or as long as you need. This page not only contains a full overview of the adoption, but also the exact script that will go on the adoptees page. You know... the instructions. Each step consists of a background, an assignment, and a quiz which will consist of 3 to 5 questions, usually made up on the spot depending on how you did the assignment.

NOTE TO ME! Remember to sign afterwards, as it is not done for you in the scripts.

Step 1: WELCOME!

Step one is where you begin, it will cover the basics, from editing, to edit summaries, to giving you a quick tour of the site. Don't worry, you won't be asked to write an article at this point, though you will be making a few edits.

Script:

HELLO! Welcome to Wikipedia! And thank you for joining the adoption program. Whether you are already knee deep in the project, or it's your first day on the job, I'm sure you'll enjoy contributing to the Encyclopedia. If at any time, you are stuck, or need some help you can always contact me on my talk page, just click the "+" (or possibly "leave a comment" if the new update is left. to leave me a new message. During your stay with the adoption program, we're going to be working in steps. Each step has 3 parts, an introduction, which you are reading now, which gives you background information on what we'll be doing. And no, they won't ALL be this long. The step will also consist of an assignment, which you will confirm with me, and once that is confirmed, a short quiz to ensure that you have understood everything in this step and assignment. Don't worry, there is no "failing", or "grade" or anything, you can take as long as you need, and I AM HERE TO HELP! Even if we come across something that stumps me, there are OVER 4 million other editors, and I'm sure they would LOVE to help. Alright, so enough of the formalities, let's get busy! As you know, Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, the only difference, is that it's written by everyone, not just a few people. Anyway, all articles, no matter what, are expected to sound like a real encyclopedia, so to speak. That's why Wikipedia has policies and guidelines that you're supposed to follow while you are here. There are a lot of policies, but for right now, you only need to familiarize yourself with the basic ones. Let's get started with Key Policies. You should also browse through The manual of style. Of course, there are many policies on Wikipedia that you can also read, but we're just sticking with the basics for right now, after all, it's more fun to learn by doing, than to learn by just reading. Now, I'm sure you're familiar with the "edit this page" button, and perhaps you've even tried it out a few times before making your account, or even with your account. GREAT! Now, however, we're going to try to make a good constructive edit to an article. We're going to start simple, just to ensure that you understand everything. You'll want to make sure that your edit is contributing, and that any new information is properly sourced. You will also want to make sure you use an edit summary. We now come to your assignment for this step. For more information on editing an article, you should look over How to edit a page. Any experiments you need or want to do should be done on the sandbox.

Assignment:

ALRIGHT! The assignment! This is where you get to stop listening to me talk, and DO STUFF!

Find an article, it can be anything really, something that you like, or maybe just hit Random Page and work from there! Once you've found an article that you like, and maybe have a bit of background info in, we'll continue.
Now it's time to work with that article. Let's try to do something with it, like fix a typo, or create a new link. You can even put in a new fact, granted you have a source to back it up; or even reference a source that was already there. NOTE: Step 2 goes over referencing sources in detail, but we'll do basic referencing for now
1. If you want to reference a source, it's quite easy actually. You should also use multiple tabs or multiple windows for this, as you'll be going back and forth a lot. After a statement in the article, like (note, the following is totally random, and is NOT real) "The ChickenDome was built in 1989", if you don't see a reference note after it, you can add one. Google it, and find an online source that specifically backs up that claim. Once you have that site up, go back to the Wikipedia page, and put the website URL (like http://www.example.org) in <ref>...</ref> tags, and then go to the bottom of the page. If there is not a "References" or "Sources" (or something like it) section, you can add one by going ==References:== (note, that should go above See also and External links, if the article has it) and put {{reflist}} in that section, if it doesn't already have it. That's it! That's the most basic (and my favorite) way to add a reference to an article!
Alright! Now, see that little box near the bottom, it's a rectangle, right below the editing window. You want to write an "Edit Summary" in there, it should even be marked. You just need to give a brief explanation of what you've done. Also, if you fixed a typo, or formatted a link, or something minor like that, you can check the minor edit box. For more information, see Minor Edits. After that, hit "preview" to ensure that everything you edited worked out the way you wanted, and then hit "save changes.
Finally, go to the page's history, with the history tab. See that change you just made? It should be there, timestamped with your username next to it. Just click the "last" or "diff" button (it will vary depending on where you are), which will bring up the difference between the edit you just made, and the last one. Copy that URL (ENTIRELY) and then go to my talk page, and click the "+" to leave a new comment, paste the URL in that comment to show me the diff, tell me what you did, and we'll move on to the quiz if you're ready. Remember to sign your post by leaving 4 tildes (~) like so: ~~~~

Step 2: References

This helps you learn how to reference articles, and makes you reference an article.

Script:

We already explored editing, and basic policy here on Wikipedia, so let's move onto the next step, references. There's lots of instructions on how to reference, but let's explore policy. Everything on Wikipedia must be Verifiable by an outside source, and must also be referenced. We already covered what to look for when looking for unreferenced statements, so let's discuss how to mark references. I personally like to use <ref>...</ref> and {{reflist}} like we discussed in step 1, but more common is {{cite web}}. You can find more ways to cite back at Citing Sources. Anyway, so on to the assignment.

Assignment:

You are going to add references to an article (or more than one if you want)

Find an article that has no sources, or not very many sources. If you need some help finding one, look in Category:Articles lacking sources if you need help finding one.
Pick a way to add references. If you need any help, just give me a call on my talk page. Once you have figured out which one you want to use, add it to the article. The ways of referencing differ, so you'll have to see the instructions on each method.
Once you've added the sources, preview it to make sure everything worked out right, and then save it. Leave the diff on my talk page, and we'll do stuff from there.

Step 3: Article Improvements

This is about making improvements to articles.

Script:

Alright, we've covered fixing minor things, and citing sources, so let's start making some major improvements to articles. Though there are many different things, we'll just go to Wikipedia:Cleanup, which is a big list of articles needing cleanup. You'll also want to find an article that could use more information, a stub would be the best for this, as they are already short, and could always use more complete information. Now, on to the assignment.

Assignment:

NOTE: For this step, I'm a bit vague, because this is just putting all the stuff you've learned together, and just telling you to add some information. BUT if you need any help, just leave me a message on my talk page.

First, find an article that needs cleanup on that list, and figure out what's wrong with it. Try to avoid using articles that need sources for this assignment, but by all means add sources to those anyway. Try to do things that need to cooperate with style guidelines, or articles that have large amounts of incorrect information, etc. Remember to site any new information that you add. You don't have to fix the WHOLE article, if it's short, then go for it, if it's long, only do a section. If you WANT to fix the whole thing, by all means, do it!
Now, find an article that needs more information, like a stub article, or even an established article that lacks some information. Add some information, properly reference it, and save the page.
Send me the diff, and we'll move on!

NOTE! This is just a note for the upcoming step, Step 4 is Vandal Fighting, so you may wish to use Twinkle to fight vandals. Twinkle is an advanced tool that makes everything mostly automated. When you reply on my page with your diffs, please tell me whether you wish to use Twinkle or not, so I can customize the next step for you.

Step 4: Vandal Fighting

NOTE: I recommend using Twinkle for this step. More information is available in the actual section. This is for fighting Vandals. Fuuun.

Script:

Alright, now, as you probably know, vandalism is a bad problem on Wikipedia, though it's very easy to fix, and warn the users. When you come across vandalism, you have several choices. To find vandalism, you can do this easily by patrolling recent changes. Look for large differences in page size. Green signifies an increase in the article size, most of the time (but not always) this is not vandalism, but you can never be too careful. Red means the size of the article went down. Bolded red means that it has lost a LOT of information, and usually means mass deletions. BUT just know that oftentimes large deletions are archives, or page blanking done on purpose due to a merge or redirect. A KEY SIGN! Is often a lack of an edit summary, but you must ALWAYS read before you go and revert suspected vandalism. When in doubt, DON'T revert it, I had iffy cases when I was getting started to, don't feel bad, there will always be more (unfortunately). Now, on to REVERTING IT! If you ARE using Twinkle, it's much easier, you just have to press the "rollback vandal" button, and it'll undo the vandalism for you. If you AREN'T using it, you have to "undo" it, which is essentially the same. After that, you have to warn the vandal. This is a list of User Warnings that you can use. You place the warning on the vandal's talk page. With TW, you just hit that "warn" tab on the top, and pick the proper warning. Pick the warning that best explains there type of vandalism. If the user has not previously had vandalism, and they blanked the page, or something like that, it may be an editing test, just use your judgment on that.

Assignment w/o Twinkle:

Find vandalism, when you have found a case of vandalism that you are SURE is vandalism, undo it. You can do this by hitting the "undo" button, which you can find both on the history screen, and the diff page. Explain WHY you are undoing it in your edit summary, explaining that it was vandalism, and who it was by.
Once you have reverted/undid the vandalism, warn the user by using one of the warning templates, you leave the warning on their talk page, under a new level 2 header based on the month (or under a level 2 header for the month if it's already there). Each one will give you instructions on how to do that specific template. Make a decision on which one they deserve, I usually do it like this: If they have no warnings, and have vandalized 2-4 times, I give them a level 2 warning. If they have received no warnings, and have vandalized more than 5 times, I give them a level 3 or 4im warning, depending on the types of vandalism. IF they have already gotten a final warning, or an immediate final warning, report the user to the administrators following the instructions there.
Leave both diffs on my page. If you warned them, leave their talk page; if you reported them to the sysops (administrators), leave that diff on my page.

Assignment w/ Twinkle:

Find vandalism, when you have found a case of vandalism that you are SURE is vandalism, revert it. Hit the "rollback vandal" button, which will automatically revert it to the last edit before the vandal started making edits to that page. Double check that it has removed all of the vandalism from the page, just to be sure.
Clicking the rollback button will also open up another window, with the vandal's talk page. Click the "warn" button at the top of the page, and select the options. There are 2 drop down menus with the warning levels, and the warning types. It will automatically fill in the info regarding the article, and then you can fill in your own comment, if you wish. IF the user has gone beyond their final warning, click the "arv" button at the top of the page. It should automatically fill in some of the information, and you can fill in a comment if you wish. It will automatically sign both of these processes.
Leave the diffs on my talk page, and we'll proceed with the quiz and the next task.
EXTRA CREDIT! That's right! Alright, if you have a page that's been having a surge of vandalism from anonymous accounts, and I mean a BIG surge, hit "rpp" on the top, to request a temporary protection from anonymous edits for the page. This will help you understand the process. For more information see the protection policy

Step 5: PRODs and AfDs

Proposed Deletion and Articles for Deletion are covered here, and the user is expected to participate in them.

Script:

Now we get to the unfixable, the articles that have no place on Wikipedia. What Wikipedia is Not covers a lot of that in detail, as does the criteria for deletion page, and several more pages around Wikipedia. Now we start the deletion processes. NOTE: Twinkle can actually do all of this stuff, but we're going to do it manually at the moment, just to get the hang of it. If you want instructions on how to do it automatically, just contact me after this step is complete. Anyway, so we're going to learn about Proposed deletion and Articles for Deletion. A PROD is when you strongly believe that an article fits the deletion criteria, but not the criteria for a speedy deletion (CSDs will be covered in the next task.). A PROD marks the page with prod. If the page sits for 7 days and nobody removes the template (which means they object to the deletion) the page can be deleted. If the page has previously been PRODed, you aren't sure about whether it meets the deletion criteria, or the PROD is removed and you still think the article should be deleted, you must file a Articles for Deletion discussion. An article for deletion is where people have a discussion about whether an article should be deleted or not, and they can also suggest other things, like merging the article, redirect, etc. Today, we're going to participate in a current AfD, and see through another article's PROD or AfD. When PRODing an article, it is considered courteous to leave a PROD notice on the author's page (or whomever has made major edits to the article)

First, go to the Articles for Deletion page. Find an article up for deletion, that is still open. Read the nomination and the other comments thoroughly, as well as the article. Decide whether the nomination, or the other comments fit the deletion request. If there is another reason for deletion, feel free to state it in your comment.
Once you have made your decision, you're going to vote. Place your comment with a *, followed by your vote bolded (keep, delete, merge, etc.), and then a comment explaining why. Try to avoid saying things like "per nom" unless the nom says exactly what you think. BUT, if you say "per nom" and then include your own spin on it, that's good too! Remember to sign your comment.
Now, you're going to find an article that fits the deletion criteria. Once you've found one, check to see if it's been PRODed in the past (with the history). If it hasn't, then you can PROD it if you want. PRODing is easy, just add the {{prod}} template to the page. You should also notify the author, and other major contributors, of the PROD on their talk page using {{prodwarning}} You might want to watch the page. If someone removes the PROD, you have the option to AfD it, but you do NOT need to tell me if you do that, it's your baby at that point, unless you need some help.
1. If you PROD it, you can leave the diffs on my page at that point, so feel free to do that.
You also have the option to AfD it, or you may have to depending on the circumstances. Just follow the instructions on the AfD page. If you need help, contact me. If you AfD a page w/o PRODing a page, link me to the AfD on my talk page, instead of that diff, but still leave the diff for the other AfD that you participated in.

Step 6: CSDs

This step covers Speedy deletions in detail, having the user mark a new page for deletion.

Script:

You're almost at the last step! This is an easy one. As you probably know, people often create pages about themselves, or pages that are blatant copyright violations, etc. So we're going to nominate an article for Speedy deletion. The new pages... page will give a list of newly created pages. If that page meets any of the criteria for CSD, then mark it with that specific template. You must also, at that point, warn the user just like with a PROD, except it must be the specific one for that CSD reason. You can also do this one with Twinkle, and I will explain it as well as manual in the assignment.

Assignment:

Go to Special:Newpages and look for an article that meets the criteria for speedy deletion.
MANUAL: Mark it at the top of the page with the template that fits that specific CSD reason. TWINKLE: Hit the CSD button at the top, select the CSD reason that matches the article. It will automatically tag the page.
You then need to warn the user who made it about the CSD, and give them a chance to appeal it. Instructions are at the bottom of the CSD tag.
Leave the diffs for the CSD tag, AND the CSD warning on my talk page.

Step 7:RfAs

The final step, participating in an Request for Adminship.

Script:

Your final step! You're almost to graduation! After this, you've got the final exam. You may have encountered Administrators and Bureaucrats while you've been on the site, they are the staff. Administrators have the ability to delete and protect pages, and perform other tasks around Wikipedia. Now you're going to learn how they got their positions. Administrators and 'crats had to go through Requests for Adminship and Requests for 'cratship before they could get their positions. You're going to be participating in an RfA today. If you know an editor (and have had some experiences with them) and they are currently in an RfA, that's your best bet, because then you actually know a bit about them. Now, an RfA works like this: A user nominates someone (or someone nominates themself) for Adminship, usually they are an experiences author, with a lot of edits around... well, everything! They must also have the trust of the community, and contributed positively to the project. After the user files, and accepts, they will be asked a series of optional questions, and then the community will support or oppose the nomination. It works like an AfD, you vote in bold, and then you write your comment. But just remember, Jimbo said "Adminship is not a big deal". If the user can be trusted, and has enough experience, then usually you can support them, but it's up to you!

Assignment:

Go to the Requests for Adminship page. Find an open nomination, and read through it. If you have already had a past experience with someone, it's better for your first vote as you already have some background to make your decision.
Once you found one, read through the nomination, and the questions and answers. After that, take a look at the user's page, their talk page, and their contributions. Check the block log, check their edits using one of the many tools available, get as much information as possible to help you make your final decision.
Add your vote, support or oppose, under the appropriate section. For this exercise, we will not be using "neutral". Explain your vote in a few sentences, citing extraordinarily good or bad things with diffs, records, etc.
Once you have voted on their fate, leave a copy of the diff on my talk page. And prepare for your final exam.

Final Exam:

Final exams will consist of writing a new article. They are custom made for each adoptee. They can ALSO choose, if they wish, to do a roughly 20 question test on everything they have learned.