1.1.

7 Ordering Information
Ordering information is an important part of the writing process, as it helps to ensure that your
ideas are presented in a logical and coherent manner. Here are some strategies for ordering
information effectively:
Chronological order: This involves presenting information in the order in which events
occurred. This is a useful strategy for telling a story, describing a process, or discussing the
history of a topic.

Spatial order: This involves presenting information based on the physical location of objects
or events. This can be useful for describing a physical space, or for discussing the relationship
between different objects or places.

Order of importance: This involves presenting information in order of its significance or

relevance. This can be useful for making an argument, presenting evidence, or prioritizing
information.

Cause and effect order: This involves presenting information in the order in which events
occurred, with an emphasis on the causes and effects of each event. This can be useful for
discussing the relationship between different events or phenomena.

Problem-solution order: This involves presenting information by first outlining a problem

or issue, and then presenting a solution or solutions. This can be useful for presenting an
argument, proposing a course of action, or analyzing a situation.

When deciding on the best order for your information, consider your audience and the purpose
of your writing. Think about what order will be most clear, effective, and engaging for your
readers.

1.1.7.1. Chronology of Narrative

The chronology of a narrative refers to the order in which events are presented in the story. A
narrative can be presented in various ways, depending on the author's preference and the effect
they want to achieve. Here are some common chronologies in narratives:

Chronological order: This is the most common way of presenting a narrative. Events are
presented in the order in which they occur. The beginning of the story introduces the
characters, setting, and conflict, and the story progresses in a linear fashion towards the
resolution.

Reverse chronological order: This is when the story starts at the end and works its way
backwards to the beginning. This can create suspense and intrigue, as the reader is trying to
piece together what happened.

Non-linear order: This is when the events are presented in a non-chronological order,
meaning that they jump back and forth in time. This can be used to create a sense of
disorientation and to keep the reader engaged.

Flashback: A flashback is when the story interrupts the current scene to present an event
from the past. This can be used to provide context or to reveal something about a character.

Flashforward: A flashforward is when the story jumps ahead in time to show a future event.
This can create tension and anticipation, as the reader tries to figure out how the story will get
to that point.

1.1.7.1.1. Chronological order of Narrative

Chronological order is the most common way of presenting a narrative, in which events are
presented in the order in which they occur. This means that the story progresses in a linear
fashion towards the resolution. They are given as follow:

Exposition: This is the beginning of the story, where the characters, setting, and conflict are
introduced. The exposition sets the stage for the story and provides necessary background
information.

Rising Action: This is the stage in which the conflict begins to escalate and the tension starts
to build. The protagonist faces challenges and obstacles as they try to resolve the conflict.

Climax: This is the turning point of the story, the moment of greatest tension, where the
conflict is at its most intense. The climax often involves a critical decision or action by the
protagonist that affects the outcome of the story.

Falling Action: After the climax, the story starts to wind down, and the tension begins to
ease. Loose ends are tied up, and the consequences of the climax are explored.

Resolution: This is the final stage of the story, in which the conflict is resolved, and the story
concludes. The resolution may be satisfying or unsatisfying, depending on the story and the
author's intention.

1.1.7.2. From General to Specific Order

Ordering information from general to specific is a common organizational strategy in writing.

This approach involves starting with broad, general ideas and gradually moving to more
specific details. Here are some tips for ordering information from general to specific:

➢ Begin with a broad introduction: Start with a statement or question that introduces the
general topic or theme of your writing. This can help grab your reader's attention and
provide context for the more specific information to come.

➢ Use general statements to provide background information: Use general statements or

facts to provide context and background information. This can help readers understand
the broader context of the topic before diving into specific details.
 ➢ Gradually move towards specific details: Start with broad categories or ideas and then
gradually move towards more specific details. For example, if you are writing about
a particular city, you might start by discussing the city's history and general geography
before moving on to specific neighborhoods or landmarks.

➢ Use transitions to connect ideas: Use transition words and phrases such as
"furthermore," "in addition," and "more specifically" to connect general ideas with
specific details.

➢ End with a specific conclusion: End with a specific conclusion that summarizes the
key points of your writing and ties everything together. This can help readers see how
the specific details fit into the broader context of the topic.

By ordering information from general to specific, you can provide readers with a clear
understanding of the broader context of your topic before diving into specific details. This
can help your writing feel more organized and coherent, and make it easier for readers to
follow the flow of your ideas.

1.1.7.3. From Specific to General Order

Ordering information from specific to general is another common organizational strategy in

writing. This approach involves starting with specific details and gradually moving towards
broader, more general ideas. Here are some tips for ordering information from specific to
general:

➢ Begin with a specific detail: Start with a specific detail or example that illustrates the main
point of your writing. This can help grab your reader's attention and provide a clear focus
for your writing.
➢ Use specific examples to support your main points: Use specific examples and evidence to
support your main points. This can help readers understand the specific details and how
they relate to the broader topic.
➢ Gradually move towards broader ideas: Once you have established your main points with
specific details and examples, start to move towards broader ideas or generalizations. This
can help readers see how the specific details fit into a larger context.

➢ Use transitions to connect ideas: Use transition words and phrases such as "therefore," "as
a result," and "in summary" to connect specific details with broader ideas.

➢ End with a general conclusion: End with a general conclusion that summarizes the main
points of your writing and ties everything together. This can help readers see the broader
implications of the specific details you have presented.

By ordering information from specific to general, you can provide readers with a clear
understanding of the specific details that support your main points, and how those details fit
into a larger context. This can help your writing feel more organized and coherent, and make
it easier for readers to follow the flow of your ideas.

1.1.7.4. From the Most Important to the Least Important/ Order of Importance

Ordering information from most important to least important is another common organizational strategy
in writing. This approach involves starting with the most important ideas or details and gradually moving
towards less important ones. Here are some tips for ordering information from most important to least
important:

➢ Identify your main points: Identify the main points of your writing and rank them in order of
importance. This can help you determine the order in which to present the information.

➢ Start with the most important point: Start with the most important point or idea and provide the
necessary details to support it. This can help grab your reader's attention and provide a clear focus
for your writing.
➢ Gradually move towards less important points: Once you have established your most important point,
move on to the next most important point and provide the necessary details to support it. Continue in
this manner until you have presented all of your main points.

➢ Use transitions to connect ideas: Use transition words and phrases such as "furthermore," "in
addition," and "moreover" to connect your main points and provide a smooth transition from one idea
to the next.

➢ End with the least important point: End with the least important point or idea, providing the necessary
details to support it. This can help provide closure to your writing and leave a lasting impression on
your reader.

By ordering information from most important to least important, you can ensure that your readers
understand the most important ideas and details first, while still providing necessary supporting
information. This can help your writing feel more organized and coherent, and make it easier for readers
to follow the flow of your ideas.

1.1.7.4.1. Advantages and Disadvantages of order of Importance

Order of importance is a popular organizational strategy in writing, but like any strategy, it has its
advantages and disadvantages. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using the order of
importance:

Advantages:
➢ It helps readers understand the most important information quickly and easily.
➢ It provides a clear structure that make the writing or organization of information easier to follow
➢ It allows for a focused and persuasive argument by presenting the strongest points first.
Disadvantages:
➢ It can be a challenging task to determine which information is the most important one.
➢ It may not provide enough detail about the context or background information for readers who are
 unfamiliar with the topic.
➢ It may oversimplify complex issues by emphasizing only the most important information.
1.1.7.5. Comparison and Contrast Order

Comparison and contrast order is a common organizational strategy in writing that involves comparing
and contrasting two or more ideas, concepts, or objects. This approach helps the reader understand the
similarities and differences between them. Here are some tips for using comparison and contrast order
in your writing:
1. Identify the key similarities and differences: Identify the key similarities and differences between
the things you want to compare and contrast. This will help you structure your writing and ensure
you include all the important points.
2. Use a clear organizational structure: Use a clear organizational structure to present your ideas. For
example, you could use a block structure, where you present all the similarities in one section and all
the differences in another section. Alternatively, you could use a point-by-point structure, where you
alternate between discussing similarities and differences for each point.
3. Provide supporting details: Provide supporting details to illustrate the similarities and differences.
This could include examples, evidence, or anecdotes that help to clarify your points.
4. Use transition words and phrases: Use transition words and phrases to signal comparisons and
contrasts. For example, you could use "similarly," "likewise," "on the other hand," "however," or "in
contrast" to help the reader follow the flow of your ideas.
5. Conclude with a summary: Conclude your writing with a summary of the similarities and
differences. This can help reinforce your main points and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Advantages:
➢ Clarity: Comparison and contrast order can help to clarify complex topics by breaking them down
into manageable parts. By highlighting similarities and differences, you can help your reader understand
the relationships between different ideas or objects.
➢ Engagement: Comparison and contrast order can engage the reader by providing them with a clear
framework for understanding the topic. It can help to create a sense of anticipation as the reader looks
for similarities and differences between the different ideas or objects.
➢ Insight: Comparison and contrast order can provide insight into the topic by revealing unexpected
similarities or differences. This can help to deepen the reader's understanding of the topic and provide
them with new insights.

Disadvantages
➢ Oversimplification: Comparison and contrast order can sometimes oversimplify complex topics by
reducing them to a series of binary comparisons. This can lead to a lack of nuance or complexity in your
writing.
➢ Bias: Comparison and contrast order can sometimes introduce bias if you focus too much on one side
of the comparison or fail to provide a balanced analysis of both sides.
➢ Repetition: Comparison and contrast order can sometimes lead to repetition if you need to provide
similar details to support each point. This can make your writing feel monotonous and lose the reader's
attention.

1.1.7.6. Problem-Solution Order

Problem-solution order is a common organizational strategy used in writing that focuses on identifying
a problem and proposing a solution. This approach is particularly useful when you are writing about an
issue that needs to be addressed or solved. Here are some tips for using problem-solution order in your
writing:
1. Identify the problem: Start by clearly identifying the problem you want to address. This could be a
social issue, a business challenge, or a personal problem. Be specific and provide relevant details to help
your reader understand the nature of the problem.
2. Propose a solution: After identifying the problem, propose a solution that can address the issue. This
could involve offering specific steps, recommendations, or suggestions that can help solve the problem.
Be sure to provide evidence to support your proposed solution.
3. Discuss potential challenges: Acknowledge potential challenges or obstacles that may arise when
implementing the solution. This shows that you have thought through the potential implications of your
proposed solution and can help prepare your reader for any challenges that may arise.
4. Provide supporting details: Provide supporting details to explain how the proposed solution can
solve the problem. This could include examples, research findings, or statistics that illustrate the
effectiveness of the solution.
5. Conclude with a summary: Conclude your writing with a summary of the problem and the proposed
solution. This can help reinforce your main points and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Advantages:
1. Clarity: Problem-solution order provides a clear and straightforward approach to presenting a
problem and its solution. This helps the reader understand the nature of the problem and how it can be
resolved.
2. Engagement: Problem-solution order can engage the reader by providing a clear framework for
understanding the problem and its solution. It creates a sense of anticipation as the reader looks for the
proposed solution to the problem.
3. Practicality: Problem-solution order can be particularly useful in practical writing such as business
proposals, policy papers, or technical reports, where the goal is to propose a solution to a specific
problem.
Disadvantages:
1. Oversimplification: Problem-solution order can sometimes oversimplify complex issues by reducing
them to a simple problem and solution. This may result in a lack of nuance and complexity in your
writing.
2. Bias: Problem-solution order can introduce bias if you focus too much on one solution or fail to
consider alternative solutions to the problem.
3. Implementation challenges: Problem-solution order may not always take into account the challenges
of implementing the proposed solution. This may result in unrealistic or impractical solutions.
In summary, problem-solution order is a useful approach to presenting a problem and its solution in a
clear and practical way. However, it's important to use it thoughtfully and balance the proposed solution
with potential challenges and alternative solutions. Be sure to consider your audience and purpose when
deciding whether or not to use this approach.