Wikipedia:Featured topic criteria

A featured topic is a collection of articles that represents Wikipedia's best work in covering a subject comprehensively and with items of consistently good quality. In addition to the meeting of the requirements for all Wikipedia articles by all of the constituents, a featured topic has the following attributes.

1. It is a set of similar, interrelated articles that cover a specific topic

   (a) There are at least three distinct articles.

   (b) The articles have a clear similarity with each other under a well-defined topical scope.

   (c) All articles in the topic are linked together, preferably using a template, and share a common category or super-category.

   (d) There is no obvious gap (missing or stub article) in the topic. A topic must not cherry pick only the best articles to become featured together.

2. The topic has an introductory and summary lead article or list.
3. Each article is of high quality, including the referencing.

   (a) A number of articles are featured class (featured articles or featured lists), according to the following rules:

   (i) At least 25 percent (rounded up) of the articles are of featured class.

   (ii) At least two articles are of featured class.

   (b) All other articles are good articles.

   (c) Items that are ineligible for featured or good article status, due to either their limited subject matter or inherent instability, must have passed an individual quality audit that included a completed peer review, with all important problems fixed. Such items do not count towards criterion 1.a.

[edit] Recommendations

In addition to the mandatory criteria above, it is recommended that all topics meet the following optional criteria:

• The structure of the articles is similar, with the same section titles and order where possible.
• The articles use a common infobox where appropriate.
• The topic has a free use image to accompany and represent the topic if at all possible.
• The topic is not overly large nor needlessly small. There is no maximum number of articles, but if something is far larger than existing topics, it might be wise to split it into subtopics. For example, science fiction films would be too large a topic, but Star Trek films would be of appropriate scope. Conversely, a topic should not be excessively sub-divided; an all-encompassing topic of six articles is better than two topics of three each. These guidelines do not apply to items in a clear series (every article from 1st Canadian Parliament to 39th Canadian Parliament could be included in one topic), or those dictated by geography (for example, states of the USA).
• The topic does not overly overlap with a current featured topic.
• Before nominating a topic, nominators may wish to receive feedback by listing it at Peer review. Nominators must be sufficiently familiar with the subject matter and sources to deal with objections during the FTC process. If you nominate something you have worked on, note it as a self-nomination. Nominators who are not significant contributors to the articles of the topic should consult regular editors of the articles prior to nomination. Nominators are expected to respond positively to constructive criticism and to make an effort to address objections promptly.
• To avoid wasting time, the topic should not have any active Good article nominations, Good article reassessments, Featured article reviews, Featured article removal candidates, Featured list candidates, or Featured list removal candidates when nominated for featured topic, and should only have Featured article candidates if the result does not affect whether the topic meets the featured topic criteria. Please have all required processes done before nominating. Nominations with one or more articles involved in a process mentioned above may result in a quick fail.

[edit] Retention

• Featured topic status is dependent on the continued adherence to all criteria, including retention of high quality status by all of the constituents. If any of the criteria are no longer met, or any constituents lose quality status, such topics will be eligible for a featured topic removal nomination after a grace period. The grace period will be three months for a demotion of an article or if the topic expands and is therefore incomplete; and six months following a change to the Featured Topic criteria.

• Seasons of Lost will have until 2008-10-26 to meet criteria 1.d. and 3.c. with article Lost (season 5).

• Atlantic Coast Conference football championship games will have until 2009-01-03 to meet criteria 1.d. and 3.c. with article 2008 ACC Championship Game.

• Kingdom Hearts will have until 2009-01-03 to meet criteria 1.d. and 3.c. with articles Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts coded.

[edit] Future Retention Periods

• From 2008-12-06, Atlantic Coast Conference football championship games will have until 2009-03-06 to meet criterion 3.b. with article 2008 ACC Championship Game.

• From the release dates of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts coded, Kingdom Hearts will have 3 months to meet criterion 3.b.

• From the airing of the finale of Lost (season 5), Seasons of Lost will have 3 months to meet criterion 3.b.

[edit] To Become Good Topics

The following topics have less than 25% of their articles featured, and as such, shall become good topics once good topics are implemented:

• The Simpsons (season 8)
• The Simpsons (season 9)