  We give a new characterization of $SOP$ (the strict order property) in terms
of the behaviour of formulas in any model of the theory as opposed to having to
look at the behaviour of indiscernible sequences inside saturated ones. We
refine a theorem of Shelah, namely a theory has $OP$ (the order property) if
and only if it has $IP$ (the independence property) or $SOP$, in several ways
by characterizing various notions in functional analytic style. We point out
some connections between dividing lines in first order theories and subclasses
of Baire 1 functions, and give new characterizations of some classes and new
classes of first order theories.
