Craig of the Creek Wiki:Manual of Style/Episode articles

An article creation wizard for episode articles is available at Category:Episodes. Using the wizard in combination with the episode template documentation page eases conformity with these Manual of Style guidelines pertaining to episode articles.

Lead section

It is very unlikely that a new episode article will be complete when created, so the article should begin with {{Stub}}, followed by the episode article navigator {{EpisodeTab}} and the episode infobox {{Episode}}. Refer to the previously mentioned documentation page while populating the infobox.

Synopsis

The official episode synopsis should be used here. The synopsis on the Cartoon Network App is preferred, but for unreleased episodes the synopsis in a TV guide should be used instead. Synopses do not need citations, but when adding one to an episode without a synopsis, the edit summary should include a source. If one cannot be found, the edit will be reverted.

Plot

Plot summaries should be written in present tense. Plot summaries should strive to cover all important revelations and plot points without being a play-by-play recap. 600 to 850 words is a reasonable length for most plot summaries, but a consistent level of detail is the priority. Quotes should be limited to one or two meaningful sentences that would lose impact if summarized or paraphrased. Most dialogue can be skipped or summarized by its outcome. Focus on details that are of particular relevance to the episode, rather than to a character.

Descriptions should avoid breaking the fourth wall. Avoid referencing the start or end of the episode; they are implied by the start and end of the summary. Describe events and dialogue as they occur and are experienced by the characters, rather than by the viewer. Scene changes should not be directly mentioned, but instead separated into a new paragraph. Temporality can be referenced with these phrases: "later", "that night", "meanwhile", etc.

Screenshots

If episode screenshots are available, they can be interspersed throughout the summary at the beginning of paragraphs. They should be used sparingly, about one per paragraph. Screenshots are best used to depict key plot points, such as characters, locations, and objects. They are also helpful as a visual aid for things that are not easily described in text.

Screenshots should be placed alternating between the right and left side of the page, and be 220 pixels in width. Avoid captioning images. If, while editing, you feel that a caption is necessary, try to find a more fitting image instead, or consider whether one is even necessary.

Characters

The character section of an episode article consists of two subsections: one for the main characters and one for the supporting and minor characters. The episode protagonist(s) should be listed first, followed by the main antagonist(s), if there are any. Characters with multiple voice roles should be followed by (debut) in their first episode with lines.

A main protagonist is defined as the subject of the story. In most cases, the Stump Kids should be considered together, with the exception of episodes focusing only on one Stump Kid. A main antagonist is defined as a character whose actions directly and intentionally drive the main plot. For example, in "Capture the Flag Part 5: The Game", all combatants are considered main characters because the outcome of each encounter affects the battle result. However, in "Itch to Explore", the Scratchless One is not considered a main character because he only appears at the end of the episode, and the main plot (exploring the Poison Ivy Grove) is not set up or significantly impacted by him.

The second subsection then lists characters with lines but no significant role in order of their appearance in the episode. After speaking characters are listed, other characters are listed first by the nature of their appearance, then in order of appearance. The appearance nature is enclosed in parentheses following the character's name. The order of appearance types is as follows: non-speaking, cameo, imagined, pictured, mentioned, and indirectly mentioned. Only one of these appearance types can be applied, except for pictured and (indirectly) mentioned, which can be combined by separating the terms with a semicolon (pictured; mentioned).

Fictional characters, such as Slide the Ferret, should not be included on the list.

Videos

This section should contain a basic gallery tag consisting of all English-language YouTube clips of the episode uploaded by an official Cartoon Network channel. These videos can be added using the dialog at Special:Videos. Most clips of the series will be located in the show playlist on the main Cartoon Network channel, UK channel, or Africa channel. As of 2023, Cartoon Network UK also runs a show-specific YouTube channel.

Trivia

Episode trivia serves as an alternative to inserting prose throughout the article as is standard on Wikipedia. It essentially serves as a bulleted list of interesting facts that a person might want to know about an episode after watching it. The trivia section is not an indiscriminate collection of information. This non-exhaustive list should be checked against before adding a trivia entry.

What trivia is

• Unusual information about the production or distribution of an episode, such as:
  • Episode production order differing from airing order
  • Episode airing early on another feed
  • Clip or full episode shared before the TV or app premiere at an event, such as Comic-Con
  • Episode information having been leaked, but only after the information has been shared officially and intentionally
  • Episode order differing between platforms
  • An episode being the first or last worked on by a certain crew member
  • An episode confirmed by a crew member to not be canon
  • Multiple episode titles being used by official sources
  • Curiosities about an episode that may be errors but are not confirmed to be
  • Cut scenes or dialogue
• Media reception of an episode, especially award nominations
• Episode censorship, especially entire episodes not being shown on certain feeds
• Continuity and continuity errors between past episodes
• Factual errors
• Series main characters not having major roles in an episode
• Significant firsts for an episode
• Significant episode superlatives on topics like characters, viewership, settings, etc.
• References to other media
• Significant similarities to other media
• Non-coincidental or significant connections to another show
• Information about characters, settings, or events of the series indirectly implied

What trivia is not

• Information specifically stated in the episode, even if it may be of non-plot relevance. Consider adding this information to an article specifically concerning the subject.
• Information already incorporated elsewhere into the article
• Insignificant coincidental resemblances to other media
• Information not connecting to the episode
• Non-notable use of stock sound effects (if it is recognized in popular culture by name, like the Wilhelm scream, it is considered notable)

Sorting

Long trivia sections can be split by fact type. The structure is as follows:

• General information that doesn't fit in a particular category, placed directly under the trivia header
• Cultural references under a subheader
• Continuity under a subheader

These subheaders should not be used if one of them would contain one or no entries.

Errors

Some episodes may have animation or credit errors. Animation errors should be listed in bullets, with a brief description of the specific error prefixed with a timestamp relative to the appearance of the title card, or the beginning of the cold open. Credit errors do not need a timestamp, and should be placed after animation errors. If there are both kinds of errors, subheaders should be used.

Factual and inter-episode continuity errors should be listed as trivia.

Bottom

The bottom of an episode article should consist of {{Reflist}}, a line break, and {{EpisodeNav}}.