Division/ Classification

1. Division/ Classification English Composition I Professor Beamen

2. Division/ Classification • A logical way of thinking that allows us to make sense of a complex world. • Will you break down a topic into parts or group similar items together in one category? Division: One into Many (What are its parts or characteristics?) Classification: Many into One (What groups or categories can it be sorted into?)

3. General Examples • For an anatomy class, you are asked to study the structure and parts of the human ear by identifying the function of each part. • As part of a business report, you are asked to consider how debt liability differs for three types of businesses (proprietorship, partnership, and a corporation). • As a facilities planner, you are asked to conduct a feasibility study of several new sites. You begin by sorting the sites into three categories: within state, out of state, and out of country.

4. Specific Examples • In an essay on divorce using division/ classification: • Divide into the psychological tasks children have to go through • Classify before, during, and after divorce • In an essay about quitting smoking: • Divide into types of smokers (smokers, non-smokers, and those who have quit). • Classify ex-smokers into the four emotional states cessation of smoking can cause: • Zealot (thinks smoking ought to be punished by law) • Evangelist (preaches to the unconvinced, bullies them into quitting) • Elect (sees themselves as superior) • Serene (thinks that quitting ought to be the goal of all smokers who have matured into a healthy sense of self

5. Sample Thesis Statements • Skiers can be divided into distinct categories—for one’s own entertainment and for the purpose of finding appropriate skiing partners. • Most people consider videos a form of entertainment; however, videos can also serve educational, commercial, and political functions. • The Grand Canyon is divided into two distinct geographical areas, the North Rim and the South Rim; each offers different views, facilities, and climactic conditions. • Everyone has talents or gifts in many areas, and when people play to their strongest suits, the most effective learning usually occurs. (Multiple Intelligences)

6. Class Assignment (do this now):: Put yourself in the shoes of a critic. You are critiquing an entertainment genre: books, movies, TV shows, advertisements, music, etc. Choose a genre and break down its major components. As a critic, you have to decide whether the genre you are discussing is effective or ineffective in some way: come up with a sample thesis statement based on the genre you chose. Ex: movies: categorize so that it would be easier for an indecisive person to choose. Hand in when completed