Wikipedia:How to structure the content
Part of the Style and How-to Series
This article explains how to structure the content of articles, with the purpose of ensuring completeness and improving readability. It is based on the principle that similar articles (e.g. on chemical elements) should be structured in a similar fashion.
In general, the structure of an article should follow the following principles:
- "Spiral out", i.e. start with the core of the topic, then develop ALL its main aspects briefly, then optionally develop some aspects FULLY. In other words, give 2 or 3 successive pictures of the topic, each of them focused on the topic, but with more and more content. This way, the reader can stop reading when he has enough information.
- In each of the pictures, follow the chronological order of events when possible. People remembers pieces of information better when they are connected, and the chronological order is universally understood. For each individual event, explain "who did what when why", with possible explanations on special challenges, techniques, resources or consequences.
- If the chronological order is not adequate, use the logical order. Make sure that ALL the steps in the logic are stated, in the correct order. To test this, pretend to be ignorant, and challenge every steps.
- Each paragraph should convey only one main idea. Connect them together by paragraph leaders (e.g. "Because of this unexpected result, ...") as much as possible.
The following sections describe proposed structures, or check lists, for each successive picture, depending on the type of articles.
Biographies
- Environment: where and when she lived
- Life-time Achievements: in chronological order, with explanations on special challenges, techniques, resources or consequences.
- After her life
Scientific topics
Scientific discoveries, theories, instruments, ...:
- Origin: what existed before it; limitations; perception of the challenges or opportunities; critical event that started it
- Discovery, Theory,...: describe the progress that was made, and how it overcame the previous limitations and met the challenge or opportunity.
- Applications: what's the impact on everyday life
- Later evolutions: describe the limitations, challenges, opportunities of the discovery, theory, ...