University Writing Skills

Classification and Division

Classification is a development strategy used to organize information into logical categories that can be subjected to analysis and interpretation. The term is broadly used to refer to two related processes: division and classification. Division involves moving down what is called "the ladder of abstraction," from the abstract to the concrete. The process of classification moves in the opposite direction, grouping data, people, things, or ideas into progressively broader, more general, more inclusive, and ultimately, more abstract categories.

Examples:

The example on the left illustrates classification, since the list begins with the most specific, concrete item and continues with progressively larger classes. The example on the right illustrates division, moving as it does from the broadest class to the most specific.

An essay developed using classification or division typically takes a larger class and divides it into several smaller classes; an essay on "first date foods" might classify foods according to the "risk principle": what are the chances of embarrassing oneself in front of one's date? The author might discern three kinds: 1) foods that are "safe" to eat on a first date, 2) foods that one should avoid at all costs on a first date, and 3) foods that might be ok to eat, depending on the circumstances.

Example of a paragraph developed using classification/division:

For the most part, idyllic Pleasant Valley enjoys a well-balanced economy. At 2.5%, unemployment is well below the national average. Young people finishing school still have some choice as to the kind of work they will do if they decide not to go to college immediately. They might get a job working on one of the Valley's numerous cattle or sheep ranches, where they could eventually become a foreman or even an owner; they might go to work in the woods, beginning as a choker setter and moving up through the ranks to become a supervisor; they might work in one of the Valley's half dozen sawmills; or they might, especially if they live near the lower end of the Valley where the Pleasant River flows into the Pacific Ocean, work on one of the fishing boats based in Arlington Harbor. A fifth category of employment is, of course, commerce: retail stores, service stations, restaurants, taverns, banks, and now, with the opportunities made possible by the Internet, e-commerce. There are even a few jobs in the public sector: teaching, law enforcement, government.

What are the major job categories mentioned? What is the principle of division behind the classification? What kinds of jobs (examples) are mentioned as options in each category? Does the writer balance the paragraph by giving examples for each category? What reasons might the writer have had for presenting the categories in the order in which they appear?

Classification is one of a number of strategies commonly used to amplify (i.e. develop) extended definitions.

Tip: Make sure your categories make sense. Choose categories based on a single principle of division and having equal degrees of abstraction.

For example, an essay on wisdom might assert the existence of several categories of wisdom: intuitive, reflective, and transmitted. These three categories are arrived at by applying a single principle of division: how one acquires wisdom.

Suppose we added a fourth category, pseudo-wisdom (whatever that might be!). We would then have added a different kind of category altogether: one based on the quality rather than on the source of the wisdom, thus making our system of classification less logical and less effective.

Activity: Plan and write an essay that uses division and classification (into at least three categories) as its primary method of development. Bring both your plan and your rough draft with you to class; bring a diskette with your draft text, too.

Note that classification / division is a rhetorical strategy in which modals (e.g. "can," "may") combined with the passive voice can be very useful, as in this example: "Vegetables can be divided into six main types..."

Here are some suggestions:

Useful vocabulary when using classification or division to develop your ideas:

Nouns:

Verbs and phrasal verbs:

Useful expressions when using classification or division to develop your ideas:

X consists of... / comprises... X may be classified   The classification is based on...

...according to whether or not ...there is X... ...according to whether there is X or not... according to... on the basis of... depending (up)on...

Here is a potentially useful sequence:

...may be divided...
...may be subdivided...
...may be further subdivided...

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