ENGL 104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Thesis Statement
25 May 2018
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Chapter 17: Classification and Division
*My own note: it is usual to see classification and division TOGETHER in writing.
You generally divide before you classify in the same instance of an essay (or
portion of an essay). However, your text has many good ideas to consider.
What are Classification and Division?
You use classification to organize things and ideas daily. Your dresser drawers are
probably organized by categories, with socks and sweatshirts in different drawers.
Grocery stores, phone directories, libraries, and even restaurant menus arrange
items in groups according to similar characteristics. Classification, then, is a
process of sorting people things, or ideas into groups or categories to help make
them more understandable. For example, your college catalog classifies its
course offeri9ngs by school, division, and department. Division, similar to
classification, begins with one item and breaks it down into parts. Thus, for
example, the humanities department at your college may be divided into English,
modern languages, and philosophy, and the modern language courses might be
further divided into Spanish, French, Chinese and Russian. A classification or
division essay explains a topic by describing types or parts. For example, a
classification essay might explore types of advertising –direct mail, radio,
television, newspaper, Internet, and so forth. A division essay might describe the
parts of an art museum—exhibit areas, museum, store, visitor services desk, and
the like.
Examples of academic/workplace classification and division in writing scenarios
are found in the green chart on page 401).
Characteristics of Classification and Division Essays; a successful classification or
division essay is meaningful to its audience. The writer uses one principle of
classification of division, with exclusive categories or parts that are broad enough
to include all of the members of the group (pages 401-2)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
