CLASSIFICATION: A WRITING STRATEGY FOR ORGANIZING IDEAS

CLASSIFICATION IS A STRATEGY, USED TO HELP PRESENT INFORMATION TO READERS. CLASSIFICATION ALLOWS WRITERS TO ORGANIZE INFORMATION INTO CLEAR, SPECIFIC CATEFORIES.

CLASSIFICATION SHOULD DIVIDE GROUPS INTO EQUAL, PARALLEL, & NON-OVERLAPPING CATEGORIES. EXAMPLE: FOUR EQUAL, PARALLEL, & NON-OVERLAPPING CATEGORIES OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, AND SENIORS

A WRITER SHOULD CONSIDER: A)THE PURPOSE B)THE AUDIENCE WHEN USING CLASSIFICATION The green category? Writers classify in order to organize and present information to readers. Ask: “SO WHAT?”

SAMPLE THESIS & FORECASTING STATEMENT: Scooters are college students who disturb other members of the class by using course time to prepare for leaving class at the exact moment that class ends; the luggage scooter, the chatter scooter, and the ever silent scooter are three forms. CLASSIFICATION CAN BE USED TO ORGANIZE ESSAY IDEAS AND INFORM ESSAY READERS:

WIDE SHOT: OVERVIEW Sample Topic Sentence: First, the luggage scooter distracts students by loudly gathering his or her belongings before class ends. Use a wide shot paragraph and a close up paragraph to share each category from different perspectives.

CLOSE UP: SPECIFIC EXAMPLE Sample Topic Sentence: For example, Joanna, a student in Professor Walter’s 11:00 am science class, is a typical luggage scooter. Use a wide shot paragraph and a close up paragraph to share each category from different perspectives.

SAMPLE ESSAY TOPIC: NOVICE VOTERS Sample Thesis with Forecasting Statement: Novice voters are individuals, regardless of age, voting for the first time in the November 2008 election; major types include the suddenly eligible voter, newly passionate voter, and slightly pressured voter. Sample Topic Sentence: First Category/WIDE SHOT PARAGRAPH First, the suddenly eligible voter is an individual, voting for the first time, because of a qualifying change in age or citizenship. Sample Topic Sentence: Second Category/WIDE SHOT PARAGRAPH Second, the newly passionate voter is an individual who has developed a desire to vote for the first time although he or she was previously eligible to do so. Sample Topic Sentence: Third Category/WIDE SHOT PARAGRAPH Third, the slightly pressured voter is an individual who has agreed to vote for the first time because a family member or other influential person has pushed him or her to do so.

NOTE: This material from class is provided to assist students, particularly those who attended class. If you were absent, please note that this slide show does not duplicate related class explanations, discussions and activities.