Subject: EDQ #2: Categorization
Posted by: looney_tunes
Date: Mar 23 13
The second topic we have decided to address in the Editors Discussing Quizzes series is categorization. I am known as LT or Looney here in the Lounge, where I thoroughly enjoy participating in all the activities that emerge from Kyle's fiendish brain. I have been editing since 2010, starting in Humanities and then adding Literature and Books for Kids into my repertoire. Figuring out which category is most appropriate for a quiz is something that I have dealt with extensively both as an author and as an editor, so I am going to start the discussion. Editors in other categories, who are aware of the specific categorization issues that are relevant in their areas, will add their words of wisdom, and we would love to have anyone ask questions that we will try to answer.
I am having technical issues, so am going to leave the header as just this introduction, and post my opening ideas as a series of responses.
Posted by: looney_tunes
Date: Mar 23 13
The second topic we have decided to address in the Editors Discussing Quizzes series is categorization. I am known as LT or Looney here in the Lounge, where I thoroughly enjoy participating in all the activities that emerge from Kyle's fiendish brain. I have been editing since 2010, starting in Humanities and then adding Literature and Books for Kids into my repertoire. Figuring out which category is most appropriate for a quiz is something that I have dealt with extensively both as an author and as an editor, so I am going to start the discussion. Editors in other categories, who are aware of the specific categorization issues that are relevant in their areas, will add their words of wisdom, and we would love to have anyone ask questions that we will try to answer.
I am having technical issues, so am going to leave the header as just this introduction, and post my opening ideas as a series of responses.
50 replies. On page 3 of 3 pages. 1 2 3
LadyCaitriona
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While we're on the topic of quiz content that should and shouldn't be in a category: foreign language quizzes/questions are often submitted to Humanities, but they are not accepted there. The only foreign words acceptable in a Humanities quiz are ones that could be found in our Borrowed Words and Phrases category. Words like "rendez-vous" and "karaoke" are acceptable in Humanities, but any questions about foreign words that are not commonly used in English should be submitted to the World category. Reply #41. Mar 26 13, 5:52 AM |
| LadyCaitriona
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To clarify: "commonly used" is maybe more restrictive than I meant to imply. The German word Schadenfreude is not commonly used in daily speech, but it does exist in English usage. Reply #42. Mar 26 13, 5:57 AM |
Aussiedrongo 
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Hypothetically, I write a quiz on Australian Detective and Mystery Novels. To me it seems as though it could be placed in two sub-categories; Australian Fiction or Detective Fiction. I have a preference for Australian Fiction as I believe the audience for that category would be better acquainted with the topic, and also because there are fewer quizzes in that category and would like to make an addition to it. I express my preference and reasons in the note to editor box, but add that if he/she feels it is better suited to Detective Fiction then I have no problems with it being placed there. So, what factors are taken into consideration for categorisation of such quizzes that could legitimately be placed in more than one category? Reply #43. Mar 27 13, 7:37 PM |
kyleisalive
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Not that I'm an editor in Literature, but... With something like that, the basis is that all of the authors are, first-and-foremost, Australian. Because of that, I'd figure 'AUS Literature' would be the first place a player would check. A lot of times, when there is clearly an overlap, editors will discuss the best possible place to put the quiz for ease of use on the player's end of things. After all, we want your quiz to get the most plays it can and obviously, categorization is a major part of that. The "would I go looking for it there" test is always a good option. :) Reply #44. Mar 27 13, 7:43 PM |
agony
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As a Lit editor, I'd take your preference into account, so since the quiz quite legitimately could go into either section, I'd probably keep it where you put it. It would depend, a bit, on the main focus of the quiz. I see that my own quiz on Canadian mystery fiction is in Canadian Lit, and not in Mystery. I strongly suggest that in these cases, where more than one category could work for the quiz, you talk to an editor beforehand. Sometimes the editor will have suggestions or input that you can take into account while writing the quiz. Reply #45. Mar 27 13, 9:39 PM |
nannywoo
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I just had a really encouraging experience with a categorization issue. I had submitted a quiz as "Mixed Religion" - one of the three I did when I was stuck on a solution to an Adventures in Authoring task. When I finally got the quiz back, I was asked to take out four questions and replace them with something more on target for the category. Looking through the rejected questions, I realized that three of them were actually Literature questions rather than Religion questions (one on a C.S. Lewis nonfiction book, one on Milton's "Paradise Lost" and one on Blake's "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" - which seemed to fit Religion at the time I wrote the quiz, but I now see why they did not. They also put me over the percentage for a mixed quiz, giving me more than half on Christian topics. (The 4th question Leo kicked out was clearly a Geography or World question that I had tried to manipulate to make fit.) Anyway - long story short - I wrote four new questions that are much more focused, and I just resubmitted what I think is a much improved quiz - with a new title, since I'm no longer trying to guess at a solution to one of Kyle's tricksy tricks. If I can figure out the proper Literature sub-category, I also have three questions toward a second quiz. Altogether, a good experience, although I'm not sure I'd feel that way if I were still stuck at the back door. Just thought it was relevant to this discussion. Helped me see the rhyme and reason behind the categories. Reply #46. Mar 30 13, 6:52 PM |
adam36
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I realize it is been a while since this thread was active, but (isn't there always a but) I had a somewhat basic question/comments about the categorization process. I have wondered why there is rigidity in the categories to this degree? I realize the general goal is to place quizzes where the players can find the subject to quizzes they want to play, but how does a hard and fast rule that a celebrity (for example only) does not include authors serve that purpose. Can't people be more than one thing depending on the context of the question? I have often wondered about the distinctions in a number of categories that seem arbitrary and create a ton of work for the editors. As an example only and by no means to single the movie category out, but the proliferation of new media and the blurring of the lines between a theatrical release and a television movie no longer make a rigid rule seem relevant. Why should it matter if a film is released first in the US on HBO, then in Singapore as a first run movie, but is picked up by Netflicks and streamed? It is still a film in all formats. In any event, it would be an interesting EDQ to focus a discussion on the "why" of category definition to help both authors avoid pitfalls and editors to reduce CN's. Reply #47. May 11 14, 7:03 AM |
| kyleisalive
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Re: "Why should it matter if a film is released first in the US on HBO, then in Singapore as a first run movie, but is picked up by Netflicks and streamed? It is still a film in all formats." I'll try and field this one. The decision to place made-for-TV movies into Television (instead of Movies) was done before I came to the site in 2004 but, to me, this one makes a bit of sense considering the history. Ten years ago, Netflix wasn't a thing, and neither was the cable revolution. Neither was the iPhone...or the 'viral video', for the most part. The way we watch things has changed so drastically in a decade that the lines are blurring. In 2004, the made-for-TV movie was, undoubtedly, a movie that was only made to be screened on Television in its country of origin. There's a big difference between a movie based on TV receiving a theatrical release (say "Power Rangers") and a Dean Koontz adaptation made for a Friday night on ABC because the intended audience is not one that pays for a ticket in a theater and there is no box office gross. So in this case, it is a matter of playing "where do we think is the most logical place for players to find the quiz?" These days, everything from movies to TV shows to UFC fights are shown on the big screen in movie theaters, partly because of an interest in it and partly to help allegedly falling box office receipts. A couple things on this: (1) If the 50th anniversary episode of 'Doctor Who' is shown on the big screen in Japan, does that make it a movie? Well, not really. It wouldn't make sense to separate it from the canon on the basis that it was a 'special occasion'. It was actually aired simultaneously. Since its home network is BBC and it aired on BBC, I'd be willing to think people would go to Television to look for the quizzes about it. (2) If a film is made for HBO and then ends up in a theater in Singapore, I'd say that this likely-American-made film should be held to the original, American standard. It was made for HBO and aired on Television first as a made-for-TV-movie, so it would go to Television. I don't say this for the sake of America-centricity; I say this because the original target audience likely isn't Singapore. If it were made as a Singaporean film first and then subsequently shopped to HBO, I'd say to send the quiz to Movies. As we move ahead into new frontiers of entertainment we are trying to play it cautious. It wasn't until this past year that Eburge and I started accepting quizzes about app games for the iPhone and iPad (and, I guess I'd be okay with Android games), but considering the way things are moving, omitting them would mean irrationally holding back a large part of a growing market. More lines blur in Entertainment where Online Viral Videos (also a newer category I decided to hold tightly to) are starting to meld together with made-for-web viewing and webisodes. Where do we put a quiz on 'Webisodes' of "LOST"? Well...that's an issue we may have to face when it reaches us. (Though I'd vote Television...since that's where people look for "LOST" stuff.) We're never going to be able to avoid stuff like this, and there are times where editors have to shift tons of quizzes around to work with a new way of structuring. The framework of FT is relatively old, but it ain't broke. We're equipped to handle major things should they occur. ;) In the meantime, our vague, generalized categories are what they are. TELEVISION - Is for home-based viewing normally associated with a Television. This includes, very recently, a sparing number of questions that don't rely on your knowledge of the show, though we do try to insist on keeping it as close to the shows as possible. The content includes network and cable viewing worldwide. It also includes made-to-stream episodes of programs (programming being the keyphrase) like the recent season of "Arrested Development" and "House of Cards". If the Emmys and Golden Globes accept them as television, we do too. ;) MOVIES - If it is originally associated with theatrical or straight-to-DVD/VHS/physical what-have-you release, it goes to Movies. When Netflix starts pushing out original movies (and they're talking about it), I expect original ones may go here as well. For those who found this too long and didn't read it, 'it's complicated.' ;) Reply #48. May 11 14, 7:22 AM |
| agony
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Some of it seems arbitrary because it is - as I think was mentioned earlier in this thread, the basic categorization system was set up when there were only a few thousand quizzes online, and some decisions were made at that time which were, in retrospect, not all that good. It would just take more work than anyone is interested in doing to put together a better system, though. As for rigidity, my own personal feeling is that flexibility in these matters is a virtue. Reply #49. May 11 14, 7:33 AM |
| adam36
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Thanks Kyle that was informative and exactly the type of discussion that is interesting at least to me. I am sure that as author's you and almost everyone else (myself included of course) have struggled with 9 perfectly themed questions and want to stretch an outlier. You explanation of the TV Movie debate is very clear and I actually find the original release logic fairly compelling. There are other situations in other categories that I have run across but then this general discussion tends to break into a specific fact -- one off situation which is not my intent. Reply #50. May 11 14, 9:32 PM |
50 replies. On page 3 of 3 pages. 1 2 3
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