Division or ClassificationLook at the following list of movies. Divide all of these movies into categories of your own choosing. You may not include a movie in more than one category. You need at least two movies per category and no more than four each.

Alien BeowulfBoyz in the HoodBraveheartThe Dark KnightDraculaThe Fellowship of the RingA Few Good Men Finding NemoGettysburgG.I. Joe: The Rise of CobraThe GodfatherGone With the WindGoodfellas Iron Man

Nightmare on Elm StreetRemember the TitansThe Return of the KingRocky IRocky IISaving Private RyanScreamShrek Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Sleepless in SeattleStar Wars: A New HopeStar Wars: The Empire Strikes BackShindler’s ListThe Two Towers When Harry Met Sally

Division or ClassificationThey Mean the Same Thing!

Purposes of Division / Classification

The sorting of a subject into various groups or classes based on their similarities and/or differences. This makes use of analysis--the breaking of a subject into parts to better understand it.

When there is no purpose to the method of classification, it becomes a pointless and hollow exercise.

For example:

Organizing your CDs by musical genre and then by alphabetical order.Purpose: Easy access to specific musicians

X Organizing your CDs by price paid and then by predominant color on CD cover.Purpose: Who knows???

Division or Classification

Kinds of Classification

• Binary Classification– Two-part classification in which you sort things out into 1. Those WITH a certain

characteristic and 2. those WITHOUT that characteristic.

I.e. A pro and con list

• Complex Classification– Multipart classification in which you break the subject into more than two different categories

I.e. Subject: FoodCategories: 1. Meat 2. Dairy 3. Breads 4. Fruits & Vegetables GOOD

*** WARNING: Make sure that categories don’t overlap!

I.e. Subject: FoodCategories: 1. Meat 2. Hot Dogs 3. Milk 4. Cheese BAD

Division or Classification

Subcategories

Often, you will find that to fully discuss the categories of a subject, you will need to breakthe categories into subcategories. It is the same process as before, but with a more narrowed focus.

I.e. Subject: Food

Categories: 1. Meat and 2 Dairy

Subcategories: 1A. Beef, 1B. Fish, 1C. Poultry2A. Cheese, 2B. Milk

***WARNING: Make sure you include all possible categories. Omitting an important category can weaken the effect of your essay.

I.e. Subject: Political Parties

Categories: 1. Republican and 2. Democrat

FAULT: What about Independents? What about the Green Party?

Division or Classification

Checklist for Revising and Editing a Division and Classification:

Purpose: Have you classified for a reason?

Principle of Classification: Will readers see the rule or principle you used for sorting individuals into groups? Is this apparent in your thesis?

Consistency: Does each representative of your subject fall into one category only so that that categories don’t overlap?

Completeness: Have you mentioned all of the essential categories suggestion by your principle of classification?

Paragraph Development: Have you provided enough examples and other details so that readers can easily distinguish each category from the others?

Division or ClassificationAnimation•Finding Nemo•Shrek •Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Action•G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra•Iron Man•The Dark Knight

Romance•Gone With the Wind•When Harry Met Sally•Sleepless in Seattle

Science Fiction•Star Wars: A New Hope•Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back•Alien

Drama•Shindler’s List•Gettysburg•Braveheart

Gangster / Mob•The Godfather•Goodfellas•Boyz in the Hood

Fantasy Adventure•The Fellowship of the Ring•The Two Towers •The Return of the King•Beowulf

Military•Saving Private Ryan•A Few Good Men

•Horror•Dracula•Scream•Nightmare on Elm Street

Sports•Remember the Titans•Rocky I•Rocky II

Division or Classification

Now It’s Your Turn!

Write a 5-paragraph essay of classification focusing on your favorite types of movies. You should discuss at least three genres of film and include 2-3 examples of each type of movie.

Remember to ask yourself:

1. What is the SUBJECT of the essay?2. What are the CATEGORIES presented?3. What INFORMATION is provided for each category?