Classification Essay m.learning.hccs.edu/.../Classification%20Essay%20Notes%20%233.ppt

Organize into categories We have taken a big entity – closet – and divided it into some of its component parts, each with its own function.

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 Hispanics Europeans Africans 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? 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? __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: 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

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