diff --git a/django/core/management/base.py b/django/core/management/base.py
index 1c53ef835d..73baf8c149 100644
--- a/django/core/management/base.py
+++ b/django/core/management/base.py
@@ -171,6 +171,17 @@ class NoArgsCommand(BaseCommand):
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
 def copy_helper(style, app_or_project, name, directory, other_name=''):
+    """
+    Copies either a Django application layout template or a Django project
+    layout template into the specified directory.
+    
+    * style - A color style object (see django.core.management.color).
+    * app_or_project - The string 'app' or 'project'.
+    * name - The name of the application or project.
+    * directory - The directory to copy the layout template to.
+    * other_name - When copying an application layout, this should be the name
+                   of the project.
+    """
     import django
     import re
     import shutil