The document discusses the different section assignment options for slabs and walls in ETABS - membrane, shell, and plate. Membrane sections have no out-of-plane stiffness and cannot contribute to resisting bending moments, while plate sections have full out-of-plane stiffness but no in-plane stiffness. Shell sections have both. The effects of each assignment are verified in models of a simple slab. Membrane assignment results in zero slab moments and increased beam moments. Shell and plate assignments produce similar results that account for slab contribution, with lower beam moments. Recommendations are provided on appropriate usage of each section type.