diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
index 98440e26d700..77f231fbb768 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1,11 +1,39 @@
 To help us understand and resolve your issue please check that you have provided
-the information below.
+the information that corresponds to the type of issue that you are submitting. You can feel free to delete the sections that do not apply to your issue.
+
+###Bug report
+
+**Bug summary**
+
+- [ ] A short 1-2 sentences that succinctly describes the bug
+
+**Code for reproduction**
+
+- [ ] A minimum code snippet required to reproduce the bug, also minimizing the number of dependencies required
+
+```python
+# Paste your code here
+#
+#
+```
+
+**Actual outcome**
+
+- [ ] The output produced by the above code, which may be a screenshot, console output, etc.
+
+```
+# If applicable, paste the console output here
+#
+#
+```
+
+**Expected outcome**
+
+- [ ] A description of the expected outcome from the code snippet
+- [ ] If this used to work in an earlier version of Matplotlib, please note the version it used to work on
+
+**Matplotlib version**
 
 - [ ] Matplotlib version, Python version and Platform (Windows, OSX, Linux ...)
 - [ ] How did you install Matplotlib and Python (pip, anaconda, from source ...)
-- [ ] If possible please supply a [Short, Self Contained, Correct, Example](http://sscce.org/)
-      that demonstrates the issue i.e a small piece of code which reproduces the issue
-      and can be run with out any other (or as few as possible) external dependencies.
-- [ ] If this is an image generation bug attach a screenshot demonstrating the issue.
-- [ ] If this is a regression (Used to work in an earlier version of Matplotlib), please 
-      note where it used to work.
+
diff --git a/doc/devel/contributing.rst b/doc/devel/contributing.rst
index 83a6fba2938e..e9941872a17d 100644
--- a/doc/devel/contributing.rst
+++ b/doc/devel/contributing.rst
@@ -14,9 +14,36 @@ Submitting a bug report
 
 If you find a bug in the code or documentation, do not hesitate to submit a
 ticket to the
-`Bug Tracker <https://github.com/matplotlib/matplotlib/issues>`_. You are
-also welcome to post feature requests or pull requests.
+`Bug Tracker <https://github.com/matplotlib/matplotlib/issues>`_. You are also 
+welcome to post feature requests or pull requests.
 
+If you are reporting a bug, please do your best to include the following:
+
+ 1. A short, top-level summary of the bug. In most cases, this should be 1-2
+    sentences.
+
+ 2. A short, self-contained code snippet to reproduce the bug, ideally allowing
+    a simple copy and paste to reproduce. Please do your best to reduce the code 
+    snippet to the minimum required.
+
+ 3. The actual outcome of the code snippet
+
+ 4. The expected outcome of the code snippet
+
+ 5. The Matplotlib version, Python version and platform that you are using. You
+    can grab the version with the following commands::
+
+        >>> import matplotlib
+        >>> matplotlib.__version__
+        '1.5.3'
+        >>> import platform
+        >>> platform.python_version()
+        '2.7.12'
+
+We have preloaded the issue creation page with a Markdown template that you can
+use to organize this information.
+        
+Thank you for your help in keeping bug reports complete, targeted and descriptive.
 
 Retrieving and installing the latest version of the code
 ========================================================