We will nest both the ramp and the text compositions in a new composition:

• Make a new Composition (Composition New Composition…)
• Name your new comp shatter
• As with the previous two compositions, choose the Medium, 320×240 preset, and set your duration to about 10 seconds, and click OK:

  

• From your Project Window, drag the text composition into the Time Layout Window of the new shatter composition (for good measure, anti-alias the layer as well):

  

• Apply the Shatter effect to the nested text layer (Effect Simulation Shatter)

• If you want, RAM preview your composition (press the zero key on the numeric keypad):

In your Effect Controls window, change the Shatter Effect’s view attribute from Wireframe + Forces to Rendered:


You now see your text exploding:

Unfortunately, many “fair weather” AE users never do anything beyond this with the Shatter effect. The settings are just too intimidating to go on. But we shall go on….