Classification paragraph

It would be difficult to write a paragraph about the students in this class. It would be easier to write about them if you put them in groups of students sharing similar characteristics.

What are some ways to classify the students in this class?

Students can be classified according to:

Their nationality their gender their majors their attitude toward school etc…

A classification places items in groups according to some principles

Colleges can be classified or grouped according to their location size course offerings cost

Cars can be classified by high-performance luxury family

Items are placed in a group because they share characteristics.

High performance cars have similar features: engine size, and the ability to travel fast. Luxury cars: leather seats, and electronic dashboards family cars: seating for six or more and good gas mileage

Classification is important because it helps us sort and group things. Think how hard it would be to find a book in the library without a classification system.

The classification paragraph presents the topic and includes words that let the reader know the paragraph will place things in groups.

topic sentences: Four categories of employers exist in the workplace. An athlete soon learns of the several kinds of coaches. All automobiles fall into one of three groups.

The topic sentence in a classification paragraph can take one of several forms: Topic + organizing principle = Thesis or Topic + organizing principle + categories = Thesis or Topic + categories = Thesis

Place things according to only one principle. When you develop your supporting details, think of each sentence that presents a particular group as a general statement that must be followed by specific statements.

Kinds of exams: multiple choice, true/false, in class, take-home, paragraph, fill-in-the-blanks, open book, definition, matching Principle of classification: degree of difficulty group 1: easy group 2: moderately hard group 3: hard items in group 1: true/false, matching items in group 2: multiple choice items in group 3: paragraph, fill-in-the blanks

Write a topic sentence

Write the body of the paragraph that gives detailed examples of what is in each category.

Write a concluding sentence that makes an observation about the way you have classified the topic and why (your purpose)

Title your paragraph

Kinds of teachers kinds of restaurants kinds of friends kinds of dinner parties kinds of bosses kinds of birthday celebrations kinds of radio stations kinds of neighbors kinds of courses

Types of drivers types of cell phones types of cell phone users types of students types of vacations types of parents types of desserts types of sports fans types of diet

Smokers lies people tell excuses students make up books you read movies you see problems in a relationship roommates phone calls

The end!