Decide upon which side of the coin you will focus.
That is, decide whether you will
divide OR classify your subjects.
DIVISION *(ONE into MANY)*
1
2
3
CLASSIFICATION *(MANY into GROUPS)*
1
2
3
DO NOT DO BOTH!
*This is only a 3-4-page paper;
thus, we do not have the room to
perform both tasks.
*Focus your energy on one.
*Divide one subject into 3 parts/subgroups
OR
Classify many subjects into 3 groups/types.
PREWRITING
Choose between division OR classification.
(2) Select a topic about which you know a good deal.
(3) Brainstorm many subgroups OR types.
(4) Chose the 3 most significant/prevalent subgroups OR types that will be the focus of your essay.
(5) Draft a detailed outline of this essay following the outline template.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION (1)
PURPOSE
SO WHAT?!
What importance does this D/C system have for the reader?
Create a relevant scenario (see Process Essay).
assistance/help for the reader
insight into human nature
revelation regarding US society
personal favorite
effects of the roles/types
messages sent by roles/types
lessons learned from roles/types
INTRODUCTION (2)
AUDIENCE
To whom are you writing?
For whom are you writing this D/C system?
Audience Purpose
Determination of whom your are addressing will assist you in your selection of why you are writing
classmates
college students
co-workers
friends
general reader
INTRODUCTION (3)
NUMBERS
NUMBER of ROLES or TYPES =
3 Body paragraphs
the 3 most …
relevant,
prevalent,
numerous,
favorite,
least preferred,
annoying,
pleasant, …
INTRODUCTION (4)
NUMBERS
HOWEVER, life, especially the life of a college freshman, is much too complex to be reduced to 3.
Therefore, because of the infinite possibilities of roles or types regarding any given topic, AND
because the variables will be too numerous for a 3-4-page essay, ….
INTRODUCTION (5)
*TIP YOUR HAT:
You can mention additional types/roles that
exist concerning your topic:
the minor ones
that you will not write on
that did not “make the cut”
INTRODUCTION (5)
*TIP YOUR HAT:
Mention that other roles/types exist beyond those you have chosen, and mention them as items in a series:
“Some I remember were the nerd, the freak, and the geek. However, the three most common types of students I saw at George W. Bush High School were the slacker, the hacker, and the attacker.”
INTRODUCTION (6)
*TIP YOUR HAT:
By “tipping your hat” to the others,
By mentioning that other possibilities exist,
By transitioning to your chosen 3,
You prove you’ve carefully considered this
You answer the vital question of purpose:
Why these three?
INTRODUCTION (6)
*TIP YOUR HAT:
Why these three?
* This forces you to specify why you chose the 3 on which you will write.
(the most common, annoying, pleasant, …)
* Readers now clearly understand your rationale for writing on these 3 roles/types.
* She/he understands your purpose.
INTRODUCTION (7)
NAMES
NAME the ROLES or TYPES in your THESIS
“The Johnny-come-lately customer”
“The Hitlerian boss”
“The I-wanna-be-your-friend professor”
Please do not insult anyone.
INTRODUCTION (8)
Generalize:
Everybody has a hobby with which to occupy his/her spare time. Some people enjoy playing sports, like running, basketball, and hockey, and others prefer non-physical recreation, such as chess and painting.
INTRODUCTION (8)
Then narrow towards you:
While I , personally, enjoy all of these,my favorite hobby is playing video games. As a matter of fact, my bedroom is littered with all types of games, from sports tosuperhero games.
INTRODUCTION (8)
Lastly comes your thesis:
However, my favorite types of video games include first-person shooters, stealth-action games, and fantasy games
“Although I often see the fool and dolt types of students on campus, the most prevalent type of student at Whatsamatter U. is the stooge.”
BODY (13)
Hopefully, you have noticed by now that each essay, in addition to its own unique characteristics, includes elements from the other rhetorical strategies;
The D/C essay is no exception, for it possesses subtle elements of CONTRAST insofar that you must make each subdivision/type distinct from the others (through direct verbalization & illustrative examples) …
Plus, DESCRIPTION, NARRATION, & EXAMPLE
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Bring the essay full-circle:
consult your Introduction, but do not repeat it word for word.
refer to your opening generalization or scenario
CONCLUSION
Restate purpose and thesis
Mention that other types/subdivisions exist, but you chose only the 3 most common (i.e.)
Reiterate your 3 types/subgroups and the main points concerning each
Wrap it up with a Clincher Sentence (perhaps related to your purpose)
Division VS Classification
Division VS Classification
SUB:
Subgroups
Subdivisions
Roles
Parts
Fraction
Component
Section
PURPOSE:
To divide, separate, segregate, split, partition one item into its significant parts.
TYPES:
Groups
Categories
Kinds
Collections
Clusters
Styles
Varieties
Classes
PURPOSE:
To collect, organize, categorize, catalog diverse items into recognizable groups or types.
It took a lot for you to not lose your faith in this world
I can't offer you proof
But you're going to face a moment of truth
It's hard when you're always afraid
You just recover when another belief is betrayed
So break my heart of you must
It's a matter of trust
You can't go the distance
With too much resistance
I know you have doubts
But for God's sake don't shut me out
This time you've got nothing to lose
You can take it, you can leave it
Whatever you choose
I won't hold back anything
And I'll walk a way a fool or a king
Some love is just a lie of the mind
It's make believe until its only a matter of time
And some might have learned to adjust
But then it never was a matter of trust
I'm sure you're aware love
We've both had our share of
Believing too long
When the whole situation was wrong
Some love is just a lie of the soul
A constant battle for the ultimate state of control
After you've heard lie upon lie
There can hardly be a question of why
Some love is just a lie of the heart
The cold remains of what began with a passionate start
But that can't happen to us
Because it's always been a matter of trust
Billy Joel’s “An Innocent Man”
Billy Joel’s “An Innocent Man”
Some people stay far away from the door If there's a chance of it opening up They hear a voice in the hall outside And hope that it just passes by Some people live with the fear of a touch And the anger of having been a fool They will not listen to anyone So nobody tells them a lie I know you're only protecting yourself I know you're thinking of somebody else Someone who hurt you But I'm not above Making up for the love You've been denying you could ever feel I'm not above doing anything To restore your faith if I can
Some people see through the eyes of the old Before they ever get a look at the young I'm only willing to hear you cry Because I am an innocent man I am an innocent man Oh yes I am Some people say they will never believe Another promise they hear in the dark Because they only remember too well They heard somebody tell them before Some people sleep all alone every night Instead of taking a lover to bed Some people find that it's easier to hate Than to wait anymore
I know you don't want to hear what I say I know you're gonna keep turning away But I've been there and if I can survive I can keep you alive I'm not above going through it again I've not above being cool for a while If you're cruel to me I'll understand Some people run from a possible fight Some people figure they can never win And although this is a fight I can lose The accused is an innocent man I am an innocent man Oh yes I am An innocent man You know you only hurt yourself out of spite I guess you'd rather be a martyr tonight That's your decision But I'm not below Anybody I know If there's a chance of resurrecting a love I'm not above going back to the start To find out where the heartache began Some people hope for a miracle cure Some people just accept the world as it is But I'm not willing to lay down and die Because I am an innocent man I am an innocent man Oh yes I am An innocent man
