First, complete the task begun last week.
In a group of 4-5 people, define a subject by choosing a subset of 30-40 from the following list of sort-of related concepts. (Each group also has a set of index cards to manipulate as well.)
For example, you might select a set of concepts to represent “sustainable gardening in central Texas” or
“garden design for beginners” or “home garden activities” or “gardening for food”—whatever you see emerging from the larger list of gardening concepts. If your subject idea requires additional concepts that are not represented in the list, feel free to make the necessary additions; I have extra index cards and pens.
You should be able to explain:
 Your group’s definition of the subject area you’ve selected.
 How the concepts you’ve chosen to constitute the subject express that definition.
There is no correct answer here; think about this task as making a case, or creating an argument, for a particular subject definition. For example, you might define “lifestyle gardening” as planning and enjoying one’s garden, but not performing actual tasks with plants, which would be delegated to one’s gardener. So you might include concepts for types of gardens (planning what to do) and activities that take place in gardens (barbecues) and skip concepts for dealing with pests, and so on.
Second, arrange your subject concepts into a classificatory structure.
1.
Label your subject. (Such as “Garden fun” or “Gardening with native Texas plants” and so on.)
2.
Determine the macro structure. One hierarchy? Multiple parallel hierarchies? Strict hierarchy
(genus-species or part-whole relationships only)? Loose tree? Arrange your concepts in the selected form. Pay attention to the principles of division at each level of the structure and be able to explain them.
Use your index cards to display your structure.
Third, report your findings to the group.
In less than five minutes, tell the rest of the class:

Your subject label and definition.

The rationale you employed to select concepts for your subject.

Your structural and arrangement strategy.

Interesting debates or discoveries about the process or product of classification design.
Subject concepts
1.
annuals
2.
ants
3.
aphids
4.
arbors
5.
balance
6.
barbecues
7.
biennials
8.
borders
9.
bulbs
10.
clay soil
11.
color
12.
community garden
13.
compost

14.
container garden
15.
croquet
16.
cuttings
17.
deer
18.
edging
19.
English garden
20.
fertilizer
21.
fertilizing
22.
flowerbed
23.
flowering plants
24.
focal points
25.
fountains
26.
French garden
27.
full-shade exposure
28.
full-sun exposure
29.
garden decor
30.
garden design
31.
garden furniture
32.
garden ornaments
33.
garden parties
34.
garden shears
35.
garden tools
36.
gardening
37.
gazebos
38.
grasses
39.
greenhouse garden
40.
harvesting
41.
hedges
42.
herbs
43.
hoes
44.
hydroponic garden
45.
Japanese garden
46.
kitchen garden
47.
landscaping
48.
lawns
49.
loam soil
50.
manure
51.
mulch
52.
native plants
53.
nooks
54.
orchard
55.
organic gardening
56.
partial-sun exposure
57.
patios
58.
perennials
59.
pesticides
60.
pests
61.
plant diseases
62.
plant hardiness zones
63.
plant nutrition
64.
planting
65.
plants
66.
ponds
67.
potting
68.
pruning
69.
rabbits

70.
raised beds
71.
rakes
72.
rock garden
73.
rocky soil
74.
roof garden
75.
sandy soil
76.
seeds
77.
shovels
78.
shrubs
79.
simplicity
80.
soil
81.
soil acidity
82.
soil aeration
83.
soil amendments
84.
soil fertility
85.
soil texture
86.
sprinkler systems
87.
staking
88.
terrace
89.
texture
90.
tilling
91.
topiary
92.
trees
93.
trelllises
94.
trowels
95.
tubers
96.
unity
97.
vegetable plants
98.
vines
99.
watering
100.
weeding
101.
weeds
102.
weevils
103.
windowsill garden
104.
xeriscaping