Colorado Northwestern Community College Developmental English ENG 075 Paragraph Mastery Module PM9 Classification Created by Sheila Harper and Victoria Berardi at CNCC, 2012 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License

You will learn to … Define classification Identify the purpose of classification Identify the elements of a classification paragraph Write a well developed, purposeful, grammatically correct classification paragraph

What is classification? Using a single principle to divide a large group into categories to make smaller groups. Purpose: to help the reader better manage or understand the large group Categories share common characteristics. If you discuss appearance or size in one category, you have to discuss it in all of them.

What do we use classification for? We naturally classify our surroundings. When we … shop in a store, check out a book from a library or select a video to view, drive to a particular address, or mail a letter … we are using classification to help us locate the specific item we want since like things are grouped together. Classification papers are used in almost every discipline in college. Being able to classify information into various categories is a necessary skill in most college classes, but it is one that students often struggle with. Usually students do one of two things: they fail to use the same basis or method of classification for all the information being classified, or they don't analyze each of the characteristics (that is, break down and examine the important traits) to make sure the item fits into the right category. This analysis, however, is one of the normal activities of almost any job that requires a college-level education. In other words, it's what people do in the real world, and practicing this kind of activity in school is an important way to prepare for your future career.

Practice with classification Do the classification practice exercise, “Practice with Classification & Topic Sentences,” in the classification exercises folder. This will make sure you understand how to identify the basis of classification and write topic sentences that refer to a single basis of classification as well as the categories. When you are finished, show it to your instructor to review.

Elements of classification paragraphs Main idea Tells the topic (the larger group or item that is being classified), the basis of classification, and the point Often includes the list of categories (like an essay map) Example: To use the Internet more effectively for research, websites about Grizzly Bears can be classified according to the level of scholarship as scholarly, substantive, popular, and sensational. Categories The smaller groups or parts that the larger group or item is divided into The basis of classification must be the same for each category. Example: in the example above, the level of scholarship is what websites about Grizzly bears are divided by (the basis of classification), while scholarly, substantive, popular, and sensational are the categories the websites are divided into. Characteristics Each of the categories must be described in terms of the same group of characteristics. The descriptions will differ for each category, but the characteristics will be the same. Example: each of the categories in the example above are explained in terms of the following six characteristics: appearance, documentation, author credentials, language, purpose, and publisher. Organization Like comparison and contrast, classification can be organized either by category (describe all the characteristics of one category and then move to the next category) or by characteristics (discuss all of the categories in terms of one characteristic and then move to the next characteristic)

Putting a classification paragraph together Think of a topic It must be something that can be broken into categories (groups or parts) Determine your basis of classification Make sure the basis can apply to all or most of the topic Decide on the categories All categories must apply to the same basis of classification Make each category distinct from the others so one example doesn’t fit several categories Choose the characteristics Traits should apply to all the categories (size, color, personality, function, etc.) Describe each characteristic for each category Decide on a method or organization By category or by characteristic, but not by both.

Parts of a classification topic sentence topics are in italics; points are in bold A classification topic sentence includes the topic of the paragraph (what is being classified), the basis of classification, the point you’re making, and often, the categories you’re dividing the topic into. Example: To use the Internet more effectively for research, websites about grizzly bears can be classified according to the level of scholarship as scholarly, substantive, popular, and sensational. The topic, which tells us what is being classified: websites about grizzly bears The point the writer is making: [classification allows us] to use the Internet more effectively for research The basis of classification (can be classified according to the level of scholarship ) and the categories (as scholarly, substantive, popular, and sensational).

Problems with classification paragraphs Using different bases of classification for different categories Makes a confused mess Choose one basis of classification, and then choose categories that fit Choosing categories that overlap If an example can fit in several categories, readers are confused Make sure your categories are different enough that each example can only fit one category Describing different categories with different sets of characteristics Describe each category with the same set of characteristics If you describe behavior (for example) in one category, describe it for all Mixing up the organization of the paragraph Either describe one category completely and move on to the next, or describe one characteristic for every category and then move to the next Describing individuals instead of examples of an entire category

Example of a classification To use the Internet more effectively for research, websites about Grizzly Bears can be classified according to the level of scholarship as scholarly, substantive, popular, and sensational. “Ursus Arctosor Grizzly Bears” at http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/products/Grizzly_Chapter.pdf is a good example of a scholarly website where the researchers have summarized the results of their original research.1 “The biogeography of a Grizzly Bear” at http://www.sfsu.edu/~geog/bholzman/courses/31projects/grizzly.htm is a good example of a substantive website and provides information to concerned citizens who are interested in grizzly bears.2 “Grizzly Bear Tours” at http://www.tiderip.com/tours.html has the characteristics of a popular website, is designed to be entertaining, and promotes tours to see grizzly bears.3 “GrizzlyBears” at http://www.lvusd.k12.ca.us/baylaurelsite/bay_laurel/grizzlybears.htm is an example of a sensational website.4 I could not understand the language in the scholarly website, and the information on the sensational one is too untrustworthy. The substantive website had a lot of information about the grizzly bear that was easier to read and understand, so I would use it for research, but if I wanted to take a tour and see the grizzly bears in their own habitat, a popular website would be a great way to book a trip to Alaska. Color & formating code: topic sentence (topic and controlling idea), essay map (categories), supporting points, concluding statements, number of categories 1.

Practice writing classification paragraphs Using one of the following prompts, write a classification paragraph. Include a topic sentence that clearly states the topic, the point, the basis of classification, and the categories if possible. Make sure you describe the categories in terms of the same characteristics. Put your name on the six sentences and show them to your instructor for review. Area restaurants Neighbors Drivers

If you have trouble writing classification paragraphs … Watch the videos at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV6rliAJfm4&feature=player_detailpage and http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WIcDbmeOctc Read Ch 10.4, pp 268-270, at http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/2403?e=fresh-ch10 in your textbook.

Show your mastery of classification paragraphs Write a classification paragraph on any topic. Use prewriting to come up with and organize your ideas. Write a rough draft of the paragraph. Revise the paragraph Make sure your classification topic is divided into three to seven categories, all of which have the same basis of classification. Make sure the characteristics that describe each category are the same. Complete the Revision Worksheet (in the handouts folder of the Writing Process--Revision module). Fix higher order concerns before working on lower order concerns. Put the final draft of the classification paragraph in the D2L dropbox for Paragraph Mastery: Classification to be graded and give the rest of your prewriting to your instructor.

You have learned to … Define classification Identify the purpose of classification Identify the elements of a classification paragraph Write a well developed, purposeful, grammatically correct classification paragraph

Questions? What if I only have two categories? How many characteristics do I need? What is the basis for classification? Do I have to divide up everything in the group?

Thank you for viewing the process module Thank you for viewing the process module. Check with your instructor before you go to your next assigned module. Instructor’s Name Office Hours: Live Class Announcement: If they want to schedule one Phone: e-Mail: @cncc.edu