3. classification在线视频

Hi, everybody. So nice to meet you again.

In this lecture, we will talk about classification,

going gradually from grouping by

sorting and labeling to revealing the underlying（潜在的）connections

to creating proper classes based on degree order

to the real test writing application of classification

with elaborate（详尽的）examples and interesting exercises.

You must have heard of the Movie Rating System（电影分级制度）,

and have got a clear understanding of it, right?

Yes, it is the classification based on age ratings and film

and other audiovisual（音像）content,

for the purpose of helping children and families

choose what's right for them and avoid what's not.

Well, this is one of the practical examples of classification.

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of classification is the act

or process of putting people or things into groups

based on ways that they are alike.

Let's begin our understanding of classification with an easy exercise of grouping.

It seems quite easy to have it done,

because computers are quite familiar to almost everyone of us,

whether to name their parts, as in the left column,

or to do the daily operation with them,

as in the right column in the table here.

After all, grouping is a system for classifying things into groups.

It is not difficult for us to group especially

when we can find the connection of individuals.

However, what if we are asked to do something

we have never seen or not familiar with?

Or just something easy but we can not come up with the best solution to it?

Here is another exercise

Look at the letters and their corresponding symbols,

10 seconds for you to memorize them and have a test of your short-term memory.

Ok, now can you draw the corresponding symbols of the word “ICE” and “BIG”?

And what word does this combination of symbols correspond to?

This one is a bit difficult

because of the more content and less time to memorize all of them, right?

But what do you think if you have found the connection

between the letters and symbols as the picture below.

Yes, it is not mysterious（难解的）anymore right?

The fact is that, in essence（实质上）,

the underlying connection reveals the different attributes（属性）

and common ground of different things.

As the basis of classification,

the underlying connection not only helps us memorize more with high efficiency（高效）,

but also builds the system among the seemingly scattered（散乱）

and disorganized individuals. So that they can be grouped and categorized.

What’s more,

Classification ability is the foundation of analysis and synthesis.

Analysis: refers to the process of seperating something into its constituent elements（构成要素）

for the purpose of looking for differences within a class

Synthesis: is the combination of ideas into a complex whole

with a goal to find commonality（共性）in different things.

And this commonality corresponds to the dimension（维度）of classification.

In fact, the core of pyramid principle（金字塔理论）or structured thinking

is also the ability of classification.

Look at the statement: “The case has three uncertainties”,

which bifurcate structure do you automatically project on “these three uncertainties”?

Here, A) indicates collective exclusive.

Because 3 uncertainties possess the common characteristic,

say, each uncertainty can be ranked correspondingly according to its significance.

In other words, by those who have characteristic in common,

in most cases, they are usually placed in the sequence of strength degree,

presenting the strongest or the weakest first,

which is perfectly legitimate and clear about the criterion（标准）of your grouping

and reflects the order it imposes accordingly.

B) reminds you the Three is mutually（互相）exclusive from the rest of the others.

By those who have distinct boundaries（明显的界限）,

in most cases, they are usually set in different categories,

which effectively regulates and labels your thinking to narrower domains（领域）.

Now, it's your turn to practice creating proper classes

Exercise 1. Please read the paragraph below, and try to draw a mind map of it.

Have you noticed the degree order in the paragraph?

Public shaming, payment/fine/loss of privilege, and imprisonment（监禁）,

going from less serious to more severe gradually instead of at random.

Exercise 2. what would you do if you are taking IELTS Examination

and are asked to write a classification essay.

No doubt that the key step in writing a classification essay

is to classify things in a logical way.

And find the categories to put them into.

It is something like you need to sort the stack of books on your book shelf.

Before you would put them in random piles,

you would decide what useful categories might be:

books that can be thrown away;

books that need to be returned;

books to read;

books to pass on to other readers;

or books to place on the shelf as usual.

Tips here are:

1. don't leave out any critical（关键的）category.

2. don't include too many categories

3. keep a single organizing principle.

4. Support equally each category with the same number of examples

5. reserve the most important category for last,

in case it might require more elaboration.

Common classification transitions

The first kind, the second kind, the third kind

The first type, the second type, the third type

Remember the thesis statement usually includes the topic and how it is classified.

Sometimes the categories are named.

Have a try to the various kinds of families in our country

or various personalities（性格）of people around you.

Write a classification essay on either one.

Share it with us on line, so that we can have a further discussion together.

If you have no idea or a clear path to deal with the job,

please consult the following tips:

1. determine the criteria on which the classification is based, namely dimensions

2. find differences and expand each dimension into relevant content

by grouping together those of the same type

3. look for the implied order of（隐含的顺序）the same type or group ，

so that you can rank their sequence（顺序）if necessary

4. Keep the MECE (Mutually Exclusive Collectively Exhaustive) principle

Of course, classification is only the basic cell of critical thinking,

in which comprehensive demonstration activities such as association, analogy,

reasoning and extension（拓展）are required.

On this basis, it is possible to judge, reason, form concepts，and make decisions.

And those are what we are talking about in the following lectures.

Hope to see you again in our "brain-mangling”（烧脑的）lectures next time. Bye!