Classification Essay

Organize this closet into three categories:

1.

2.

3.

Objectives

• Why write this essay?– Division is a helpful strategy in any prewriting stage,

especially complex subjects:• The structure of a film• Motivation of a character• Controversy surrounding school prayer.

– Strategy is helpful for analyzing complex issues. – Many college essays will veil this essay in a prompt:

• “From your observations, what kinds of appeals do television advertisers use when selling automobiles? In your view, are any of these appeals morally irresponsible?”

What is classification?

• Writing a classification essay means dividing the members of a group.

• The members in any class must share basic similar characteristics.

• When classifying, you need a principle of classification.

What is the basis of division?

• For example, we can divide the students in Advanced ESL by– Ethnic Background

1.Hispanics

2.Europeans

3.Africans

4.Asians

Which prayer is categorically different?

Don’t mix classifying principles!

• It’s confusing to have overlapping bases for classification.

• In dividing students by ethnic background, don’t use classes like “hard-working” or “easy-going.”– After all, there are hard-

working people in any ethnic background!

Why would cats care to classify types of rats?

Can you find the misfits?

1. Autos: SUV, pickup, economy

2. Transport: land, train, air, water

3. Rivers: dangerous, short, wide

4. Drugs: uppers, illegal, downers

5. Colleges: private, famous, public

6. Courses: year-long, half-term, math

7. Housing: rooms, cheap, apartments

What are the principles of division?

__1. SUV, pickup, sedan__2. land, air, water__3. short, wide, long__4. uppers, downers, pain-

killers__5. private, public,

religious__6. year-long, half-term,

full-term__7. rooms, apartments,

houses

a. type of collegeb. type of housingc. type of riverd. type of transportatione. Type of vehiclef. Type of medicationg. Type of semester

Here are the principles of division:

E 1. SUV, pickup, sedan

D 2. land, air, water

C 3. short, wide, long

F 4. uppers, downers, pain-killers

A 5. private, public, religious

G 6. year-long, half-term, full-term

B 7. rooms, apartments, houses

a. type of college

b. type of housing

c. type of river

d. type of transportation

e. type of vehicle

f. type of medication

g. type of semester

• Suppose the writing prompt is

• “In what manner do people answer when given questions?”

• Don’t answer: “People answer in different ways, some of them take their time, others quick, still others kind of are, well, they’re between.”

• Instead, organize with parallelism:

• “Most people respond in one of three ways: eagerly, indifferently, or reluctantly.”

• Notice that each categorical word is in the same grammar form: adverbs.

• Don’t mix and match the terminology!

Writing the Classification Essay

C a te g ory I:S ta te the ca te go ry.

E xp la in .G ive ev ide nce .

C o nc lu sio n :R e fe r to th e the s is.D ra w a co nc lu sio n .

T ie to th e in tro .

C a te go ry II:S ta te the ca te go ry.

E xp la in .G ive ev ide nce .

C a te go ry II I:S ta te the ca te go ry.

E xp la in .G ive e v id en ce

In tro d uc tio n :C a tch au d ie nce 's a tte n tio n .

G ive exp la na tio n .T h es is sen ten ce w ith b lue p rin tin g .

Questions to Consider

1. Do you use the most logical principle of division or classification for your purpose?

2. Do you stick to one principle throughout?3. Have you identified components or

categories that are comparable?4. Have you used the best order

for your components or categories?5. Have you given specific examples

for each of your components or categories?6. Have you made a complex subject more

accessible to your readers?