Chronology.

To employ Chronological Order is to organize things in the order in which they occur in time. Specifically, almost any set of instructions or directions will be organized chronologically, so the the listener can at least remember and at best repeat the steps.

When employing simple Chronology, keep these things in mind:

• Do not violate the chronology. Audience members will recognize and respond cooperatively to chronological order with great reliability. But once they have determined that the order is, in fact, chronological you will violate that order at your peril. Jumping around in time commands a great deal of finesse. While it may be good strategic choice in fiction (e.g. Slaughterhouse Five, Pulp Fiction, etc.) there are few dividends for someone whose first order of business is clarity.

  Again, one group of people who just don't seem to get this are our friends who make those TV cooking shows.

  

  1. Heat the olive oil in the skillet.
  2. Add the onions and garlic.
  3. Put in the chicken, and fry lightly. Don't let the chicken stay unattended for too long, or you will cook off all of the marinade in which you so carefully soaked it for the last twenty four hours. {At this point, not having been told you were supposed to marinade the chicken--which in chronology would have been step 1--you stop composing chicken expressivo and start composing a letter to the station manager.}
  4. When the chicken is a golden brown, put the entire mixture into the oven that you pre-heated to 375 degrees. {Stop composing letter to station manager. Heave cast iron skillet through TV set and order Chinese take-out.}
• Spend the greatest amount of time on the most complicated steps.

  

  Experts often forget how long it took them to master the "fundamentals" of their craft; so they hurry through parts (like removing the bones from chicken or fish) with which most of us will struggle. Don't make this mistake. Audience members almost always infer a relationship between the relative amount of time you spend on a subject and that subject's relative importance to the chronology. So honor that expectation. If you are telling me how to make brownies from a box, do not spend two minutes telling how to open the box (which I know) and 15 seconds telling me how to "fold" the batter (which I do not). As with all things, let the needs of the audience listening to the speech dictate the dynamics of the delivery.

• Be wary of "Nested Instructions." Often in instruction the connectives employed are verbal enumerations--first . . . second . . . third . . .etc. Sometimes within the context of one set of enumerations, someone will employ another. When I say "Second . . ." the audience member needs to know without any confusion whether "Second . . ." is the second point in Idea One or the Second Idea. The best way to clarify the material in a set of nested instructions is to avoid using them. Once you have established enumeration as a level of connective reserve it for that level. Enumerate your sub-level points by saying "The second step of part one . . ." or something equally overt.

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  Sample Outline for Chronology.

  Topic:

  How to Get to the Chrysler Building.

  General Purpose:

  To Inform.

  Specific Purpose:

  The audience member will be able to find the Chrysler Building.

  Central Idea:

  The Chrysler Building is at 405 Lexington Avenue, in New York City.

  Main Idea One:

  When you arrive at La Guardia Airport, go to the Cab Stand.

  A. Outside the door at Baggage Claim.

  B. Do not accept rides from people inside the terminal.

  Main Idea II:

  Ask the cab driver to take you to Queens Plaza Subway Station.

  A. Just off Queens Boulevard.

  B. In normal traffic, a five dollar fare.

  Main Idea III:

  Take the E train into Manhattan.

  A. Fare is $1.50.

  B. Ride only one stop.

  C. Get off at the 53rd and Lexington Avenue Station.

  Main Idea IV:

  Walk South to 42nd Street.

  A. You will Come out by the Citicorp Building.

  B. Eleven blocks.

  C. Across Lexington Ave. from Grand Central Station.

  Discussion of Outline.

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  Go Back to Virtual Clarity.