Classifying Essay: Classifying Essay Writing What Kind of Essays
What is classification?: 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 are the men classifying?
What is the basis of division?: What is the basis of division? For example, we can divide the students in Advanced ESL by
Ethnic Background
Hispanics
Europeans
Africans
Asians Which prayer is
categorically different?
Don’t mix classifying principles!: 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?: Can you find the misfits? Autos: SUV, pickup, economy
Transport: land, train, air, water
Rivers: dangerous, short, wide
Drugs: uppers, illegal, downers
Colleges: private, famous, public
Courses: year-long, half-term, math
Housing: rooms, cheap, apartments
Here are the misfits:: Here are the misfits: Autos: SUV, pickup, economy
Transport: land, train, air, water
Rivers: dangerous, short, wide
Drugs: uppers, illegal, downers
Colleges: private, famous, public
Courses: year-long, half-term, math
Housing: rooms, cheap, apartments
What are the principles of division?: 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 type of college
type of housing
type of river
type of transportation
Type of vehicle
Type of medication
Type of semester
Here are the principles of division:: 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 type of college
type of housing
type of river
type of transportation
type of vehicle
type of medication
type of semester
What are the classifying types?: What are the classifying types? The three most common types of classification are
By degree, from lower to higher
By chronology, in time periods
By location, in specific places What degree of job is it?
What is classifying by degree?: What is classifying by degree? To classify on the basis of degree means to judge value.
Some people think C grades are good enough for them.
Others say that B’s are much better.
Still others believe that only A’s are the best! Was the candidate expecting
To be judged on his ball skills?
What is dividing by chronology?: What is dividing by chronology? You also can write classifications by time periods
For example, history can be divided as
Ancient
Middle Ages
Modern How modern is the TV?
What is dividing topics by place?: What is dividing topics by place? You’re describing your dream house.
You must have three main points.
The thesis can list three places:
My dream house will have two-floors
The kitchen will be extra-large
The living room will have a great view Is the Mohawk out of place?
Can you see the organizing principle?: Can you see the organizing principle? College professors function in levels or ranks. The instructor is not a professor, but instead is a junior faculty member who generally holds at least a master's degree. The first rank for faculty with the doctor’s degree beginning to teach is assistant professor. Associate professors are second-rank college teachers who have proven themselves in instruction and who have published scholarly articles. The title full professor is reserved for the few who have advanced standing among scholars in their field.
__ a. levels of professors
__ b. faculty functions
__ c. instructor’s duties
Here is the organizing principle:: Here is the organizing principle: College professors function in levels or ranks. The instructor is not a professor, but instead is a junior faculty member who generally holds at least a master's degree. The first rank for faculty with the doctor’s degree beginning to teach is assistant professor. Associate professors are second-rank college teachers who have proven themselves in instruction and who have published scholarly articles. The title full professor is reserved for the few who have advanced standing among scholars in their field.
X a. levels of professors
__ b. faculty functions
__ c. instructor’s duties
Can you see the organizing principle?: Can you see the organizing principle? Three types of students are the selfish, the caring, and the searching. The most common selfish students are careful and distrustful, suspicious, and egocentric. They avoid risk and prefer stability. The less common, caring students devote their lives to helping others, protecting the weak, and taking care of the sick and elderly. They may be counted on to help out whenever they can. The least-common, searching students are creative, desirous of knowledge, inventive, seek to understand the essence of all things, and strive to find cause and effect connections. They forego the comforts of life in their quest for knowledge.
__ a. types of students
__ b. student personalities
__ c. selfish and unselfish students
Here is the organizing principle:: Here is the organizing principle: Three types of students are the selfish, the caring, and the searching. The most common selfish students are careful and distrustful, suspicious, and egocentric. They avoid risk and prefer stability. The less common, caring students devote their lives to helping others, protecting the weak, and taking care of the sick and elderly. They may be counted on to help out whenever they can. The least-common, searching students are creative, desirous of knowledge, inventive, seek to understand the essence of all things, and strive to find cause and effect connections. They forego the comforts of life in their quest for knowledge.
X a. types of students
__ b. student personalities
__ c. selfish and unselfish students
Can you complete the categories?: Can you complete the categories? When classifying, don’t leave anyone or anything out.
Look for obvious missing elements.
In “What kind of students are there in your math class?”
You answer: “Fast and slow learners.”
But what about the average learners? Is John now average?
Are there variations in a class?: Are there variations in a class? Rarely will everyone fit in perfectly.
Then admit that there are variations and complications in the categories.
For example, are all Democrats liberals?
Are all Republicans conservatives?
Point out that moderates exist in both parties! Are any people in the
whale’s weight class?
Can you identify the categories?: Can you identify the categories? Don’t leave the reader hanging:
Keep your essay organized!
Identify the types in the introduction.
When you name categories in the introduction, use the same parts of speech.
That means use parallel construction!
What category of music
is the guy playing?
Can you answer the prompt?: Can you answer the prompt? 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, their between.” Is the student answering
the questions?
Can you use parallel construction?: Can you use parallel construction? 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! Is the concern about
punctuation or punctuality?
What are types in classification?: What are types in classification? What kind of classification is this?
“Teachers here dress conservatively, fashionably, or casually.”
The teachers here can be classified according to __? Is the salesman’s interest in looks or price?
Can you answer writing prompts?: Can you answer writing prompts? __1. What kinds of problems keep writers from getting high grades?
__2. What types of issues are there with parking at Dalton State College?
__3. What sorts of activities do you enjoy in your free time? The parking issues here concern space availability, traffic tickets, and waste time.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, riding, and parties.
Minor, moderate, and major errors keep me from to get high grades. Can you also see the parallel errors above?
Here are the writing answers:: Here are the writing answers: C 1. What kinds of problems keep writers from getting high grades?
A 2. What types of issues are there with parking at Dalton State College?
B 3. What sorts of activities do you enjoy in your free time? The parking issues here concern space availability, traffic tickets, and wasting time.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, riding, and partying.
Minor, moderate, and major errors keep me from to getting high grades. Keep your theses in parallel.