Classification and Division An Introduction

What are classification and division? Classification is the process of sorting specific things into more general categories. Division is the process of breaking a general whole into more specific parts, often categories. These are different ways of thinking and talking about information, and they often work in tandem.

What are classification and division? Classification involves looking at items and ideas from the bottom up. Division involves looking at categories from the top down.

Writing Using Classification and Division When you divide an essay into paragraphs, you divide the information according to main ideas. But all of the information—ideas and evidence—in your essay is classified under a main idea. We divide and classify for many reasons: to provide information, to entertain, and to argue.

Classification and Division Can you think of larger categories these things fit into as well as smaller categories that divide them? guitars rock music potato chips New York Times horror movies Boston Celtics sneakers

Reading Classification and Division Noticing a pattern of organization is important, but it is only the first step in reading classification and division critically. You also must: analyze the success of the classification and division consider the audience of the classification and division think not only about the information that an author supplies, but also about what has been left unsaid or has been left out

Writing Classification and Division Essays While you generate ideas, draft, and revise, make sure you: establish and carry out a clear purpose make appropriate choices for the intended audience follow a consistent principle of classification and division

Determining Your Purpose Why are you organizing your subject in this way? Do you want to educate? Do you want to entertain? Do you want to argue a point? When you determine your purpose, you are closer to determining your thesis statement, the controlling idea for your classification and division.

Considering Your Audience Who are your readers? How can you best pitch your essay to this audience?

Developing an Introduction An introduction serves several purposes: Introductions establish a contract with the reader. When you write, you are writing towards a specific audience. Your audience will want to know, right from the outset, what you will be writing about. Introductions include a clear statement of purpose. Your readers will want to know more than the topic you plan to discuss. Your readers will also want to know what you specifically want to say about a certain topic. For this reason, writers include a thesis statement near the end of the introduction. Introductions try to grab or hook the reader's attention. In addition to wanting to know what a piece of writing will be about, readers often expect to be stimulated by the writing's opening. Your readers are busy people who have lots of other types of writing competing for their attention and time. For this reason, writers often try to grab the reader's attention in the introduction and not let go!

Defining the Categories/Parts A successful classification/division must follow a ruling principle, a uniform way of grouping the information. Ruling principles must fulfill these three qualifications: consistency (the categories must be of the same origin) exclusivity (the categories must not overlap) completeness (every item must fit in a category)

Arranging the Parts Your purpose and your thesis statement will determine the organizational pattern you choose for your classification and division essay. You can organize your ideas: chronologically logically emphatically A classification and division essay depends on topic sentences that introduce the categories or parts and transitional statements that show how the categories or parts relate to one another.

Providing Details It is important to support your categories and parts with specific evidence and details so that your essay is balanced, consistent, and complete. Specific details and evidence allow your audience to visualize and thus better understand your classification and division. Be as specific and detailed as possible, and make sure you connect these details to your topic sentence and to your thesis statement.

Considering Your Conclusion A conclusion offers your final thought or final reflection on the subject, a “so what?,” the main point you want to get across to the reader. In addition, a conclusion tries to accomplish the following: Conclusions reinforce information stated in the beginning of the paper. In fact, conclusions often echo (not repeat) the main idea/thesis stated in the introduction. Conclusions provide a sense of scope. Just as an introduction tries to glimpse ahead, showing readers the path the writer plans to take, a conclusion provides a sense of "looking back," a sense of showing the reader the ground that has been covered. Conclusions attempt to leave readers with a final, lasting impression. Just as an introduction tries to "hook" the reader into reading more, the conclusion tries to leave readers with an endnote that suggests larger implications or shows how the main idea/thesis applies to the future.