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 Why have a green category? Writers classify in order to organize and present information to readers. Your categories should thoughtfully inform readers. Ask: “SO WHAT?”

SAMPLE THESIS & FORECASTING STATEMENT: Scooters are students who disturb other members of college classes by using course time to prepare for leaving class at the exact moment that their classes end; 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:

Scooters are college students who disturb other members of the class by using course time to prepare for “scooting” out of class at the exact moment class ends. The thesis statement can provide a stipulative definition for the subject to be categorized.

The forecasting statement acts like a weather person. Instead of forecasting sunshine or clouds ahead, the forecasting statement forecasts the categories to be discussed in the essay. Scooters are college students who disturb other members of the class by using course time to prepare for “scooting” out of class at the exact moment class ends; the luggage scooter, the chatter scooter, and the ever silent scooter are three forms of scooters, emerging in the last moments of class.

Topic sentence/stipulative definition for Category 1: The luggage scooter disturbs other members of the class by loudly gathering his or her backpack, notebook and other materials before class ends in order to “scoot” out of class at the exact moment before class ends. A stipulative definition can be used to define each category. The first topic sentence for the first category can be the stipulative definition. The paragraph can explain the category/topic sentence in more detail.

Topic Sentence B: Wrestling with her geometry textbook and backpack while other students work on a mathematical puzzle, Sasha Scott is a typical example of the “luggage scooter.” The essay may include more than one paragraph about each category. The second body paragraph’s topic sentence for category 1 may introduce a specific example, designed to help readers better understand category 1.

Consider your options for developing each topic sentence. Options include: Discussing subpoints (discussion of topic sentence through additional subpoints that prove and/or explain the topic sentence.) Providing multiple examples Providing detailed description Providing onetime moments/stories Sharing examples from popular culture (television, advertising, etc.)

ANOTHER SAMPLE ESSAY TOPIC: NOVICE VOTERS Sample Thesis with Forecasting Statement: Novice voters were individuals, regardless of age, voting for the first time in the November 2008 election; major types included the suddenly eligible voter, newly passionate voter, and slightly pressured voter. Sample Topic Sentence: First Category/WIDE SHOT PARAGRAPH First, the suddenly eligible voter was 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 was an individual who had 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 was an individual who agreed to vote for the first time because a family member or other influential person has pushed him or her to do so.