Write a Classification Essay

Write your own classification essay on one of the following topics or on a topic of your own choice. Use CLASSIFICATION AT A GLANCE as a basic organizer (“Organization in Classification”), and follow the Writing Guide: Classification checklist as you write and revise.

COLLEGE
  • Types of degree programs
  • Types of students
WORK
  • Types of customers or clients
  • Types of skills needed for a particular job
EVERYDAY LIFE
  • Types of drivers
  • Types of restaurants in your town

WRITING GUIDE: CLASSIFICATION

STEPS IN CLASSIFICATION HOW TO DO THE STEPS
Focus.
  • Think about your topic and how you can sort it so that your audience will understand the categories.
Explore your topic. See Chapter 2.
  • Prewrite to find possible categories to use and examples that will explain each category.
Write a thesis statement. image See Chapter 3.
  • Include your topic and either the method you are using to sort (the organizing principle) or the categories you will describe.
Support your thesis. See Chapter 3.
  • Choose useful categories that will achieve your purpose.
  • Consider what your readers need to know to understand the categories.
Write a draft. See Chapter 4.
  • Arrange the categories logically.
  • Write topic sentences for each category and paragraphs giving examples of each of the categories.
Revise your draft. See Chapter 4.
  • Add any examples that will help your readers understand.
  • Add transitions.
  • Improve your introduction, thesis, and conclusion.
Edit your revised draft. See Chapters 16 through 18.
  • Correct errors in grammar, spelling, word use, and punctuation.
Evaluate your writing.
  • Does it have the Four Basics of Good Classification (see “Understand What Classification Is”)?
  • Is this the best I can do?