Classifying EssayClassifying EssayClassifying EssayClassifying EssayWise tips for writing Wise tips for writing what kind ofwhat kind of essays essays

What is classification?What is classification?• To write a To write a

classification essay, classification essay, you must divide you must divide people or things people or things into classes.into classes.

• The members in The members in any class must any class must share basic similar share basic similar characteristics.characteristics.

• To classify, you To classify, you need a principle, need a principle, such as time, such as time, location, and location, and degree.degree. What kind of disease is next?What kind of disease is next?

What is the basis of division?What is the basis of division?• One basis for One basis for

dividing students is dividing students is ethnic background.ethnic background.

• In that case, the In that case, the three most common three most common races areraces are1. White1. White2. Hispanic2. Hispanic3. Black3. Black

• Then which races Then which races are left out?are left out?4. Asian4. Asian5. Native American5. Native American

Which one prayer is Which one prayer is categorically different?categorically different?

Don’t mix classifying principles!

• It’s confusing to have It’s confusing to have overlapping bases for overlapping bases for classification.classification.

• In dividing students by In dividing students by ethnic background, ethnic background, don’t use classes like don’t use classes like “hard-working” or “hard-working” or “easy-going.”“easy-going.”

• After all, there are After all, there are hard-working people in hard-working people in any ethnic background!any ethnic background!

• Then, try to keep your Then, try to keep your categories in order.categories in order. Why would cats care to

classify types of rats?

Which elements don’t Which elements don’t belong?belong?

__3__3. Types of rivers:. Types of rivers:a. dangerous, a. dangerous, b. short, c. wideb. short, c. wide

__4. Types of drugs: __4. Types of drugs: a. uppers, b. illegal, a. uppers, b. illegal, c. downersc. downers

__5. Types of colleges: __5. Types of colleges: private, famous, private, famous, publicpublic

__6.Types of courses: __6.Types of courses: a. year-long, b. half-a. year-long, b. half-term, c. mathterm, c. math

__7.Types of housing: __7.Types of housing: a. rooms, b. cheap, a. rooms, b. cheap, c. apartmentsc. apartments

One large part of One large part of any IQ test checks any IQ test checks the ability to see the ability to see what fits in classes.what fits in classes.

In the following In the following lists, which item lists, which item does not belong?does not belong?

__1. Types of autos: __1. Types of autos:

a. SUV, b. pickup, a. SUV, b. pickup, c. economyc. economy

__2. Types of transport: __2. Types of transport:

a. land, b. train, a. land, b. train, c. air, d. waterc. air, d. water

These elements don’t These elements don’t belong:belong:

__3__3. Types of rivers:. Types of rivers:a. a. dangerousdangerous, , b. short, c. wideb. short, c. wide

__4. Types of drugs: __4. Types of drugs: a. stimulant, b. a. stimulant, b. illegalillegal, , c. depressant c. depressant

__5. Types of colleges: __5. Types of colleges: a. private, b. a. private, b. famous,famous, c. publicc. public

__6.Types of courses: __6.Types of courses: a. year-long, b. half-a. year-long, b. half-term, c. term, c. mathmath

__7.Types of housing: __7.Types of housing: a. rooms, b. a. rooms, b. cheapcheap, , c. apartmentsc. apartments

One large part of One large part of any IQ test checks any IQ test checks the ability to see the ability to see what fits in classes.what fits in classes.

In the following In the following lists, these items do lists, these items do not belong:not belong:

__1. Types of autos: __1. Types of autos:

a. SUV, b. pickup, a. SUV, b. pickup, c. c. economyeconomy

__2. Types of transport: __2. Types of transport:

a. land, b. a. land, b. traintrain, , c. air, d. waterc. air, d. water

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

Can you match these types?

a. type of collegeb. type of housingc. type of riverd. type of

transportatione. Type of vehiclef. Type of medicationg. Type of semester

Here are the principles of division:

E 1. SUV, pickup, sedanD 2. land, air, waterC 3. short, wide, longF 4. uppers, downers,

pain-killersA 5. private, public,

religiousG 6. year-long, half-

term, full-termB 7. rooms, apartments,

houses

Here are the matches: type of college type of housing type of river type of

transportation type of vehicle type of medication type of semester

What are the classifying types?

• The three most The three most common types of common types of classification areclassification are

__1. By __1. By degreedegree, from , from lower to higher lower to higher

__2. By __2. By chronologychronology, in , in time periodstime periods

__3. By __3. By locationlocation, in , in specific placesspecific places

– Degree includes levels Degree includes levels and amounts, such as and amounts, such as minimal, moderate, minimal, moderate, and maximal. and maximal. What degree of job is it?

a. a. Levels of education: Levels of education: certificates, certificates, associate’s, and associate’s, and bachelor’sbachelor’s

b. Types of transportation: land, air, and seac. Periods of history:

ancient, medieval, and modern

These are the classifying These are the classifying matches:matches:

• The three most The three most common types of common types of classification areclassification are

__aa_1. By _1. By degreedegree, from , from lower to higher lower to higher

__cc_2. By _2. By chronologychronology, in , in time periodstime periods

__bb_3. By _3. By locationlocation, in , in specific placesspecific places

– Degree includes levels Degree includes levels and amounts, such as and amounts, such as minimal, moderate, minimal, moderate, and maximal. and maximal. What degree of job is it?

a. a. Levels of education: Levels of education: certificates, certificates, associate’s, and associate’s, and bachelor’sbachelor’s

b. Types of transportation: land, air, and seac. Periods of history:

ancient, medieval, and modern

• To classify on the basis To classify on the basis of of degreedegree means to means to judge value.judge value.– Some people Some people

think C grades are think C grades are good enough for good enough for them.them.

– Others say that Others say that B’s are much B’s are much better.better.

– Still others Still others believe that only believe that only A’s are the best!A’s are the best!

Was the candidate expectingTo be judged on his ball skills?

What is classifying by What is classifying by degree?degree?

• Which is Which is chronological?chronological?

__1. urban, suburban, __1. urban, suburban, and exurbanand exurban

__2. children, parents, __2. children, parents, and grandparentsand grandparents

__3. elementary school, __3. elementary school, middle school, and middle school, and high schoolhigh school

__4. poor, middle class, __4. poor, middle class, and richand rich How modern is the TV?

What is dividing by chronology?

• Which is chronological?Which is chronological?

__1. urban, suburban, and __1. urban, suburban, and exurban (exurban (If you do a lot If you do a lot of movingof moving))

__XX_2. children, parents, and _2. children, parents, and grandparentsgrandparents

__XX_3. elementary school, _3. elementary school, middle school, and middle school, and high schoolhigh school

__4. poor, middle class, and __4. poor, middle class, and rich (rich (If you’re luckyIf you’re lucky))

How modern is the TV?

What is dividing by chronology?

• You’re describing your You’re describing your dream house.dream house.

• You must have three You must have three main points.main points.

• The thesis can list The thesis can list three three places:places:– My dream house My dream house

will have two-floorswill have two-floors– The kitchen will be The kitchen will be

extra-largeextra-large– The living room will The living room will

have a great viewhave a great view Is the Mohawk out of place?

What is dividing by chronology?

College professors function in levels or ranks. The instructor is not a professor, but instead is a junior faculty member who generally holds at least a master's degree. The first rank for faculty with the doctor’s degree beginning to teach is assistant professor. Associate professors are second-rank college teachers who have proven themselves in instruction and who have published scholarly articles. The title full professor is reserved for the few who have advanced standing among scholars in their field. __ a. levels of professors __ b. faculty functions __ c. instructor’s duties

What is the organizing principle?

Here is the organizing principle: College professors function in levels or ranks. The

instructor is not a professor, but instead is a junior faculty member who generally holds at least a master's degree. The first rank for faculty with the doctor’s degree beginning to teach is assistant professor. Associate professors are second-rank college teachers who have proven themselves in instruction and who have published scholarly articles. The title full professor is reserved for the few who have advanced standing among scholars in their field. X a. levels of professors __ b. faculty functions __ c. instructor’s duties

Can you see the organizing principle?

Three types of students are the selfish, the caring, and the searching. The most common selfish students are careful and distrustful, suspicious, and egocentric. They avoid risk and prefer stability. The less common, caring students devote their lives to helping others, protecting the weak, and taking care of the sick and elderly. They may be counted on to help out whenever they can. The least-common, searching students are creative, desirous of knowledge, inventive, seek to understand the essence of all things, and strive to find cause and effect connections. They forego the comforts of life in their quest for knowledge.

__ a. types of students__ b. student personalities

__ c. selfish and unselfish students

Here is the organizing principle: Three types of students are the selfish, the caring,

and the searching. The most common selfish students are careful and distrustful, suspicious, and egocentric. They avoid risk and prefer stability. The less common, caring students devote their lives to helping others, protecting the weak, and taking care of the sick and elderly. They may be counted on to help out whenever they can. The least-common, searching students are creative, desirous of knowledge, inventive, seek to understand the essence of all things, and strive to find cause and effect connections. They forego the comforts of life in their quest for knowledge.

X a. types of students__ b. student personalities

__ c. selfish and unselfish students

Can you complete the categories?

• When classifying, don’t leave anyone or anything out.

• Look for obvious missing elements.

• In “What kind of students are there in your math class?”

• You answer: “Fast and slow learners.”

• But what about the average learners?

Is John now average?

Are there variations in a class?

• Rarely will everyone Rarely will everyone fit in perfectly.fit in perfectly.

• Then admit that there Then admit that there are variations and are variations and complications in the complications in the categories.categories.– For example, are For example, are

all Democrats all Democrats liberals?liberals?

– Are all Republicans Are all Republicans conservatives?conservatives?

– Point out that Point out that moderates exist in moderates exist in both parties!both parties!

Are any people in the whale’s weight class?

Can you identify the categories?

• Don’t leave the Don’t leave the reader hanging:reader hanging:

• Keep your essay Keep your essay organized!organized!

• Identify the types in Identify the types in the introduction.the introduction.

• When you name When you name categories in the categories in the introduction, use the introduction, use the same parts of speech.same parts of speech.

• That means use That means use parallel construction!parallel construction!

What category of musicis the guy playing?

Can you answer the prompt?• Suppose the writing Suppose the writing

prompt isprompt is• ““In what manner do In what manner do

people answer when people answer when given questions?”given questions?”

• Don’tDon’t answer: “People answer: “People answer in different answer in different ways, some of them ways, some of them take their time, others take their time, others quick, still others kind quick, still others kind of are, well, their of are, well, their between.”between.”Is the student answering

the questions?

Can you use parallel construction?

• Instead, organize with Instead, organize with parallelism:parallelism:

• ““Most people respond Most people respond in one of three ways: in one of three ways: eagerlyeagerly, , indifferentlyindifferently, , or or reluctantlyreluctantly.” .”

• Notice that each Notice that each categorical word is in categorical word is in the the samesame grammargrammar formform: adverbs.: adverbs.

• Don’t mix and match Don’t mix and match the terminology!the terminology!

Is the concern aboutpunctuation or punctuality?

What are types in classification?

• What kind of written What kind of written classification is this?classification is this?

• ““The professors at this The professors at this college dress in three college dress in three different levels: they different levels: they dress conservatively, dress conservatively, fashionably, or fashionably, or casually.”casually.”

• The professors can be The professors can be classified according toclassified according to__1. degree__1. degree__2. chronology__2. chronology__3. location__3. location

Is the salesman’s interest in looks or

price?

Can you answer writing Can you answer writing prompts?prompts?

__1. What kinds of problems keep writers from getting high grades?

__2. What types of issues are there with parking at Dalton State College?

__3. What sorts of activities do you enjoy in your free time?

a. The parking issues here concern space availability, traffic tickets, and waste time.

b. In my free time, I enjoy reading, riding, and parties.

c. Minor, moderate, and major errors keep me from to get high grades.

Can you also see the parallel errors above?

Here are the writing answers:Here are the writing answers:C 1. What kinds of

problems keep writers from getting high grades?

A 2. What types of issues are there with parking at Dalton State College?

B 3. What sorts of activities do you enjoy in your free time?

a. The parking issues here concern space availability, traffic tickets, and wasting time.

b. In my free time, I enjoy reading, riding, and partying.

c. Minor, moderate, and major errors keep me from to getting high grades.

Keep your theses in parallel.