Paul Mundy www.mamud.com

Putting it in the right order

12 ways of ordering information

A ЖZ1

2BX Ω

غ

Ỡ

When to use these orders

In lists In tables and figures To structure a story To structure a manuscript

13 ways of ordering information1. Alphabetical2. Importance3. Logical4. Chronological5. Reverse

chronological6. Result and cause7. Compare and

contrast

8. Categorical9. Spatial10. General to specific11. Specific to general12. Questions and

answers13. Familiar to

unfamiliar

1 Alphabetical

From A to Z Eg, phone directory, glossary, list of

references

A… B… C…

2 Importance

Most important first, then less important

Eg, news story, inverted pyramid

Transition words: first, second, also, finally, in addition, equally important, more or less importantly

Important!

Less important

Detail

More detail

3 Logical

From cause to effect X causes Y

which causes Z We did X

which resulted in Ywhich resulted in Z

Transition words: because, since, for, so, as a result, consequently, thus, hence, therefore

X

Y

Z

4 Chronological

In the order things happened Eg, materials & methods in scientific paper Eg, tell story in order it happened First this happened, then this, then that… Transition words: before, after, first, next,

then, when, finally, while, as, during, earlier, later, meanwhile

1... 2... 3…

5 Reverse chronological

In the reverse order that things happened

Tell the end first Say what happened before

that Then say what happened

before that E.g. The Ancestor’s Tale

(Richard Dawkin) Transition words: before,

previously, to prepare for, prior to

3... 2... 1…

6 Result and cause

Tell the end first Then go back to the beginning and tell events

that led up to it Like a detective story – starts with crime,

then shows how the crime was committed Transition words: back in, how did this

happen?, it was not always like this

3... 1... 2…

7 Compare and contrast

Shows how two or more items are similar or different Eg, two villages (with and without intervention) Eg, two alternative approaches Transition words:

Similarities: also, additionally, just as, as if, as though, like, similarly

Differences: but, yet, only, although, whereas, in contrast, conversely, however, on the other hand, rather, instead, in spite of, nevertheless

X Y

8 Categorical

Divide your subject into categories, then describe each one in turn

Eg, situation in towns, situation in rural areas Eg, marketing of goats, marketing of cattle Transition words: here, there, in X, in Y,

larger, smaller

9 Spatial

A tour from one place to another Eg, situation in Maharasthra, in Uttaranchal,

in Karnataka Eg, description of a farm Transition words: above, below, beside,

nearby, beyond, inside, outside

10 General to specific From general principle to individual case Transition words: for example, such as, like,

namely, for instance, that is, in fact, in other words, indeed

11 Specific to general

From individual case to general principle Transition words: is an example of, shows

that, this means that

12 Questions and answers

Easy to write and read Pose questions that audience will ask May not be adaptable to topic or medium Transition words: who… he/she, what… it,

where… there, when… on/at/ago, why… because, how… by, how much... about

Q?→A!

13 Familiar to unfamiliar

Use a familiar situation or item to explain a new idea

Transition words: is like, is similar to, just as, unlike, compared with

When to use these orders

In lists In tables and figures To structure a story To structure a manuscript