See the Microsoft Enterprise Library. It includes the Logging Application Block and that documentation might be what you are looking for. You can see the MSDN Documentation without having to install the library first. Specifically, see Key Scenarios and Design of the Logging Application Block to answer your question (maybe even if you are not using .NET).
UPDATE (April 23, 2013) See Embracing Semantic Logging using the new Semantic Logging Application Block
