1 Material institution

    1-1 Geography & Weather

    1-2 Settlements & Communities

    1-3 Roads & Traffic

    1-4 Structures & Buildings

    1-5 Furniture & Appliances

    1-6 Energy; Power & Fire

    1-7 Food & Drink

    1-8 Gardening & Gathering

    1-9 Hunting & Fishing

    1-10 Farming & Ranching

    1-11 Clothing & Adornment

    1-12 Vehicles & Machines

    1-13 Tools & Instruments

    1-14 Plants & Animals

    1-15 Sky; Land & Water

2 Kinship institution

    2-1 Terminology & Relationships

    2-2 Family & Clan

    2-3 Grandparents & Grandchildren

    2-4 Tribe & Nation

    2-5 Outsiders & Non-relatives

3 Social institution

    3-1 History & Trends

    3-2 Identity & Pride

    3-3 Marriage & Family

    3-4 Interpersonal & Social Relationships

    3-5 National & Global Relationships

    3-6 Communication & Conversation

    3-7 Words & Language

    3-8 Health & Sickness

    3-9 Birth & Dying

    3-10 Burial & Funeral Practices

    3-11 Mourning & Adjustment to Death

    3-12 Suicide & Unnatural Death

    3-13 Cult of the Dead & After Death

    3-14 Sex & Reproduction

    3-15 Social Problems & Issues

    3-16 Heroes & Villains

    3-17 Celebrations; Rites & Initiations

    3-18 Fights; Antagonisms & Battles

    3-19 Infant Care & Childhood

    3-20 Instilling of Norms and Customs

    3-21 Social Stratification & Status

    3-22 Daily & Cyclic Routines

    3-23 Rest; Vacations & Holidays

    3-24 Humor & Wit

    3-25 Etiquette & Ethics

    3-26 Cliques & Groups

    3-27 Drivers & Emotions

    3-28 Behavior Modifications

    3-29 Travel & Relocation

    3-30 Social Media & Internet


4 Art and play institution

    4-1 Music & Musical Instruments

    4-2 Games & Hobbies

    4-3 Sports & Physical Recreation

    4-4 Radio & Television

    4-5 Film & Theatre

    4-6 Night Life & Night Clubs

    4-7 Decorative Art & Crafts

    4-8 Dance & Party

    4-9 Literature & Poetry

    4-10 Oratory & Speeches

5 Religious institution

    5-1 Gods & Spirits

    5-2 Cosmology & Mythology

    5-3 Sacred Objects & Places

    5-4 Dreams & Visions

    5-5 Luck & Chance

    5-6 Prayers & Sacrifices

    5-7 Purification & Atonement

    5-8 Divination & Revelation

    5-9 Avoidance & Taboo

    5-10 Rituals & Ceremonies

    5-11 Miracles & Magic

    5-12 Theological Systems & Disputes

    5-13 Tolerance & Intolerance

    5-14 Denominations & Sects

    5-15 Non-human Beings & Sacred Critters

    5-16 Leaders & Controllers

6 Judicial institution

    6-1 Offenses & Crimes

    6-2 Contracts & Agreements

    6-3 Standard Procedures & Legal Norms

    6-4 Personnel & Authorities

    6-5 Initiation & Execution of Justice


7 Economic institution

    7-1 Raw Materials for Production

    7-2 Personal & Communal Property

    7-3 Human & Financial Capital

    7-4 Business & Employment

    7-5 Labor & Occupation Issues

    7-6 Wages & Salaries

    7-7 Borrowing & Lending

    7-8 Renting & Leasing

    7-9 Giving & Receiving

    7-10 Inheritance & Birthright

    7-11 Welfare & Assistance

    7-12 Industry; Manufacturing & Production

    7-13 Buying; Selling & Consuming

    7-14 Distribution & Delivery of Goods

    7-15 Saving & Investing

8 Education institution

    8-1 Theory & Methods of Education

    8-2 Culture & Social Norm Education

    8-3 Life Skills & Vocational Education

    8-4 Elementary & Higher Education

    8-5 Teacher & Student Issues/Relationships

9 Political institution

    9-1 Form & Rules of Government

    9-2 Activities & Extent of Government

    9-3 Councils & Ruling Officials

    9-4 Police & Social Control

    9-5 Political Parties & Groups

    9-6 Citizen & Non-citizen Criteria/Relations

    9-7 Taxation & Public Benefits

    9-8 Elections & Exploitations

    9-9 Military Affairs

    9-10 Coups & Revolution


This outline is drawn from the work of Michael Matthews in 'A Novel Approach: The Significance of Story in Interpreting and Communicating Reality' ISBN-13 : 978-1773028903