Classification Essay
What is a Classification
Essay?
A classification essay is
writing that organizes, or sorts, things into categories.
Three Steps to Effective
Classification:
1.
Sort things into
useful categories.
2.
Make sure all the
categories follow a single organizing principle.
3.
Give examples
that fit into each category.
Finding Categories:
This is a key step in writing
a classification essay. To classify, or sort, things in a logical way, find the
categories to put them into. For example, say you need to sort the stack of
papers on your desk. Before you would put them in random piles, you would
decide what useful categories might be: papers that can be thrown away; papers
that need immediate action; papers to read; papers to pass on to other co-workers;
or papers to file.
Thesis Statement of a
Classification Essay:
The thesis statement usually
includes the topic and how it is classified. Sometimes the categories are
named.
(topic) (how
classified) (category) (category) (category)
Ex: Tourists in
How to Write an Effective
Classification Essay:
1. Determine the categories. Be thorough; don’t leave out a critical category. For
example, if you say water sports of
2. Classify by a single principle. Once you have categories, make sure that they fit
into the same organizing principle. The
organizing principle is how you sort the groups. Do not allow a different principle to pop up unexpectedly. For example,
if your unifying principle is “tourist-oriented” water sports,
don't use another unifying principle, such as "native water sports,"
which would have different categories: pearl diving, outrigger, or canoe
racing.
3. Support equally each category with examples. In general, you should write the same quantity, i.e., give the same number of examples, for each category. The most important category, usually reserved for last, might require more elaboration.
Common Classification
Transitions:
The first kind, the second
kind, the third kind
The first type, the second
type, the third type
The first group, the second
group, the third group
Remember:
A classification essay is
writing that organizes, or sorts, things into categories. There are three steps
to remember when writing an effective classification essay: organize things
into useful categories, use a single organizing principle, and give examples of
things that fit into each category.