Parameters:
        `by`: pass either a field name or a wildcard string to sort on
              prefix with `-` to make a desc sort.
        `alpha`: set it to True to sort lexicographically instead of numerically.

def sort(self, **parameters):
        """
        Parameters:
        `by`: pass either a field name or a wildcard string to sort on
              prefix with `-` to make a desc sort.
        `alpha`: set it to True to sort lexicographically instead of numerically.
        """
        parameters = self._coerce_by_parameter(parameters)
        self._sort = parameters
        return self