Classifying Essay

1. Classifying Essay Wise tips for writing what kind of essays

2. What is classification? • To write a classification essay, you must divide people or things into classes. • The members in any class must share basic similar characteristics. • To classify, you need a principle, such as time, location, and degree. What kind of disease is next?

3. What is the basis of division? • One basis for dividing students is ethnic background. • In that case, the three most common races are 1. White 2. Hispanic 3. Black • Then which races are left out? 4. Asian 5. Native American Which one prayer is categorically different?

4. Don’t mix classifying principles! • It’s confusing to have overlapping bases for classification. • In dividing students by ethnic background, don’t use classes like “hard-working” or “easy-going.” • After all, there are hard-working people in any ethnic background! • Then, try to keep your categories in order. Why would cats care to classify types of rats?

5. Which elements don’t belong? • One large part of any IQ test checks the ability to see what fits in classes. • In the following lists, which item does not belong? __1. Types of autos: a. SUV, b. pickup, c. economy __2. Types of transport: a. land, b. train, c. air, d. water __3. Types of rivers: a. dangerous, b. short, c. wide __4. Types of drugs: a. uppers, b. illegal, c. downers __5. Types of colleges: private, famous, public __6.Types of courses: a. year-long, b. half-term, c. math __7.Types of housing: a. rooms, b. cheap, c. apartments

6. These elements don’t belong: • One large part of any IQ test checks the ability to see what fits in classes. • In the following lists, these items do not belong: __1. Types of autos: a. SUV, b. pickup, c. economy __2. Types of transport: a. land, b. train, c. air, d. water __3. Types of rivers: a. dangerous, b. short, c. wide __4. Types of drugs: a. stimulant, b. illegal, c. depressant __5. Types of colleges: a. private, b. famous, c. public __6.Types of courses: a. year-long, b. half-term, c. math __7.Types of housing: a. rooms, b. cheap, c. apartments

7. What are the principles of division? • Can you match these types? • type of college • type of housing • type of river • type of transportation • Type of vehicle • Type of medication • Type of semester __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

8. Here are the principles of division: 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 E 1. SUV, pickup, sedan D 2. land, air, water C 3. short, wide, long F4. uppers, downers, pain-killers A 5. private, public, religious G 6. year-long, half-term, full-term B 7. rooms, apartments, houses

9. What are the classifying types? a. Levels of education: certificates, associate’s, and bachelor’s b. Types of transportation: land, air, and sea c. Periods of history: ancient, medieval, and modern • The three most common types of classification are __1. By degree, from lower to higher __2. By chronology, in time periods __3. By location, in specific places • Degree includes levels and amounts, such as minimal, moderate, and maximal. What degree of job is it?

10. These are the classifying matches: a. Levels of education: certificates, associate’s, and bachelor’s b. Types of transportation: land, air, and sea c. Periods of history: ancient, medieval, and modern • The three most common types of classification are _a_1. By degree, from lower to higher _c_2. By chronology, in time periods _b_3. By location, in specific places • Degree includes levels and amounts, such as minimal, moderate, and maximal. What degree of job is it?

11. What is classifying by degree? • To classify on the basis of degree means to judge value. • Some people think C grades are good enough for them. • Others say that B’s are much better. • Still others believe that only A’s are the best! Was the candidate expecting To be judged on his ball skills?

12. What is dividing by chronology? • Which is chronological? __1. urban, suburban, and exurban __2. children, parents, and grandparents __3. elementary school, middle school, and high school __4. poor, middle class, and rich How modern is the TV?

13. What is dividing by chronology? • Which is chronological? __1. urban, suburban, and exurban (If you do a lot of moving) _X_2. children, parents, and grandparents _X_3. elementary school, middle school, and high school __4. poor, middle class, and rich (If you’re lucky) How modern is the TV?

14. What is dividing by chronology? • You’re describing your dream house. • You must have three main points. • The thesis can list three places: • My dream house will have two-floors • The kitchen will be extra-large • The living room will have a great view Is the Mohawk out of place?

15. What 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. __ a. levels of professors __ b. faculty functions __ c. instructor’s duties

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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?

20. Are there variations in a class? • Rarely will everyone fit in perfectly. • Then admit that there are variations and complications in the categories. • For example, are all Democrats liberals? • Are all Republicans conservatives? • Point out that moderates exist in both parties! Are any people in the whale’s weight class?

21. Can you identify the categories? • Don’t leave the reader hanging: • Keep your essay organized! • Identify the types in the introduction. • When you name categories in the introduction, use the same parts of speech. • That means use parallel construction! What category of music is the guy playing?

22. Can you answer the prompt? • Suppose the writing prompt is • “In what manner do people answer when given questions?” • Don’t answer: “People answer in different ways, some of them take their time, others quick, still others kind of are, well, their between.” Is the student answering the questions?

23. Can you use parallel construction? • Instead, organize with parallelism: • “Most people respond in one of three ways: eagerly, indifferently, or reluctantly.” • Notice that each categorical word is in the samegrammarform: adverbs. • Don’t mix and match the terminology! Is the concern about punctuation or punctuality?

24. What are types in classification? • What kind of written classification is this? • “The professors at this college dress in three different levels: they dress conservatively, fashionably, or casually.” • The professors can be classified according to __1. degree __2. chronology __3. location Is the salesman’s interest in looks or price?

25. Can you answer writing prompts? • The parking issues here concern space availability, traffic tickets, and waste time. • In my free time, I enjoy reading, riding, and parties. • Minor, moderate, and major errors keep me from to get high grades. __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? Can you also see the parallel errors above?

26. Here are the writing answers: • The parking issues here concern space availability, traffic tickets, and wasting time. • In my free time, I enjoy reading, riding, and partying. • Minor, moderate, and major errors keep me from to getting high grades. 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? Keep your theses in parallel.