Classification and Division is a tool used when writing definition rhetoric. With classification and division, the author can explain the key elements in a more organized way and put them in an order of importance, making the purpose and meaning more clear for the audience.
Classification is the act of deciding what something is and putting the parts into categories. Division is the process of taking the individual parts and putting them in an order that the author decides. By breaking a large group of ideas and scattered thoughts into small groups, the author can then put them in an order that will make audience identify and recognize similarities and differences. Comparing and contrasting the small groups, the audience can gain a better understanding of the item as a whole.
An example of classification and division that is seen by many people every single day would be newspapers. Newspapers are dividing into sections (news, sport, comics, etc.) and put in an order that makes things easy to find for the readers.
Classification and division is a great tool for writers to use when explaining a long process, or trying to define an item with many complicated parts. The writer must be prepared to plan the rhetoric ahead of time, but it makes for clear, concise paper where the readers can gain a full understanding.
This is the clearest explanation of classification and division I have read. You clearly state what it is, how to do it, and why it would be used. The newspaper example was a good way to tie it to something already well known.
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