-->
Any words you don't know? Look them up in the website's built-in dictionary .
|
|
Choose a dictionary . Wordnet OPTED both
To classify means to divide something into groups or categories. The classification is normally made according to one or more criteria. It is often necessary in academic English to classify something you are writing about in order to make comparisons and draw conclusions. This could be done in one or two sentences, a paragraph, or even a whole essay. This page gives information about how to classify , language for classification , and essay structure (if the classification is used for a whole essay).
When classifying something, it is important to understand what criterion (or criteria , if there is more than one) that you are using to divide the thing into different groups. There may be more than one way to classify, and you will need to choose the criteria which make most sense for what you are writing about. For example, if you were to classify students in a university class, they could be divided according to any of the following criteria:
Classifying according to gender would divide the students into 'male' and 'female'. Dividing according to age is more complex, as you may need to specify age ranges, for example 'between 18 and 21', 'between 22 and 25', etc.
The language used for classifying depends on whether you are describing the criterion or the result of applying the criterion. Compare the following examples.
The phrase 'according to' shows that you are talking about the criterion, while the word 'into' shows you are talking about the result. The following are further examples of language for classification using a criterion.
The following are further examples of language for classification showing the result.
It may be necessary to classify when there is no name for the criterion you are using. For example, you may wish to divide a group into Asian and non-Asian students, but there is no category 'Asian-ness' which you can use as your criterion. In this case, you can use the construction 'according to whether... or not' to define the criterion. The language for stating the result is the same. See the following examples:
Finally, it may be necessary to sub-divide, that is, to divide something which has already been divided. In this case, use 'sub-divided' for the second classification, and 'further sub-divided' for the next. See this example:
According to this classification, we will end up with eight groups: Asian males under 25, Asian males over 25, non-Asian males under 25, etc. This is summarised in the following diagram.
There are two main ways to structure a classification essay. The first way, shown in the diagram below (left), is when a single criterion (or single way of categorising) is used, resulting in distinct categories. The purpose of this type of structure is to show understanding of the categories, or justify the method of classification, by giving the categories and describing their characteristics. Sometimes the categories may be sub-divided into sub-categories, which may be listed or described. For the single-criterion classification essay, the criterion (if there is one) should be given in the general background of the introduction, and the thesis statement should list the categories which will be described in the main body. Each body paragraph will usually describe one category in detail.
The second way, shown in the diagram below (right), is when multiple criteria are used to classify the topic in different ways. The purpose of this type of classification is to show understanding of how the topic can be categorised, or justify the criteria for classification, by giving the criteria and showing examples of groupings using these criteria. For the multiple-criteria classification essay, the thesis statement should list the criteria which are described in the main body. Each body paragraph will usually describe the criteria and the groups it leads to. Depending on the level of detail, the examples might be broken down into separate paragraphs.
The two types of structure are shown in the diagram below.
Description of characteristics Description of characteristics Description of characteristics |
Examples of categories Examples of categories Examples of categories ... |
Like the website? Try the books. Enter your email to receive a free sample from Academic Writing Genres .
Below is a checklist for classification. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.
Criteria | The are clear. | ||
Language | The is accurate (e.g. 'according to' to show the criterion, 'into' to show the result). | ||
Structure (for classification essay) | An appropriate is used, either or structure. | ||
For structure, the background gives the criterion while the thesis shows the categories; for structure, the criteria are given in the thesis. |
Find out how to structure an essay in the next section.
Go back to the previous section about definitions .
Author: Sheldon Smith ‖ Last modified: 31 October 2019.
Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .
Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.
Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).
Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.
Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).
Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.
Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.
A definition of grammatical classification with examples
In rhetoric and composition , classification is a method of paragraph or essay development in which a writer arranges people, objects, or ideas with shared characteristics into classes or groups. A classification essay often includes examples and other supporting details that are organized according to types, kinds, segments, categories, or parts of a whole.
"The primary support in classification consists of the categories that serve the purpose of the classification...The categories in classification are the 'piles' into which the writer sorts a topic (the items to be classified). These categories will become the topic sentences for the body paragraphs of the essay...The supporting details in classification are examples or explanations of what is in each category. The examples in classification are the various items that fall within each category. These are important because readers may not be familiar with your categories." —From "Real Essays With Readings" by Susan Anker
"Americans can be divided into three groups—smokers, nonsmokers and that expanding pack of us who have quit. Those who have never smoked don't know what they're missing, but former smokers, ex-smokers, reformed smokers can never forget. We are veterans of a personal war, linked by that watershed experience of ceasing to smoke and by the temptation to have just one more cigarette. For almost all of us ex-smokers, smoking continues to play an important role in our lives. And now that it is being restricted in restaurants around the country and will be banned in almost all indoor public places in New York State starting next month, it is vital that everyone understand the different emotional states cessation of smoking can cause. I have observed four of them; and in the interest of science I have classified them as those of the zealot, the evangelist, the elect and the serene. Each day, each category gains new recruits." —From "Confessions of an Ex-Smoker" by Franklin Zimring
"Each of Jamaica's four great gardens, although established along similar principles, has acquired its own distinctive aura. Hope Gardens, in the heart of Kingston, evokes postcard pictures from the 1950s of public parks, gracious and vaguely suburban and filled with familiar favorites—lantana and marigolds—as well as exotics. Bath has retained its Old World character; it is the easiest to conjure as it must have looked in Bligh's time . Cinchona of the clouds is otherworldly. And Castleton, the garden established to replace Bath, fleetingly evokes that golden age of Jamaican tourism, when visitors arrived in their own yachts—the era of Ian Fleming and Noel Coward, before commercial air travel unloaded ordinary mortals all over the island." —From "Captain Bligh's Cursed Breadfruit" by Caroline Alexander
"Local TV interviewers come in two varieties. One is a bulimic blond person with a deviated septum and a severe cognitive disorder who went into broadcasting because he or she was too emotionally disturbed for telephone sales work. The other variety is suave, sagacious, grossly overqualified for the job, and too depressed to talk to you. Good local TV people are always depressed because their field is so crowded." —From "Book Tour" by P.J. O'Rourke
"The English-speaking world may be divided into (1) those who neither know nor care what a split infinitive is; (2) those who do not know, but care very much; (3) those who know and condemn; (4) those who know and approve; (5) those who know and distinguish." —From "A Dictionary of Modern Usage" by H.W. Fowler and Ernest Gowers
Classification Essay
Published on: Jan 2, 2022
Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024
People also read
Classification Essay Outline - A Step-by-Step Guide
Share this article
On This Page On This Page -->
Most high school and college students are often assigned to write a classification essay at some point in their academic life. Teachers assign this task to evaluate the studentâs skills to categorize things. It can be a daunting task, but with the help of basic techniques, you can make the writing process easier.
Here are a few tips and guidelines that you can use to structure your classification essays properly. You have to plan your essay and figure out the categories beforehand to complete this assignment easily.
Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!
A classification essay is a formal piece of writing used to evaluate your categorizing and generalization skills. It mainly aims to arrange various subjects and objects with similar characteristics.
For this, a writer needs to categorize and classify things into different groups and mention examples that fit into each. Similarly, you are also required to follow a single categorizing approach throughout the content. However, it is up to you to decide on criteria for classification to explain the reasoning and logic.
The entire process of classification essay writing is not very different from any other type of essay. Like other academic papers, the principles of essay writing remain the same, but it requires extensive research and analysis.
Here are some important steps that you should follow to start a classification essay.
Most professors assign you a specific topic to write your classification essay. If you are not assigned, brainstorm different ideas and come up with an engaging topic. Decide on a group of things that can be logically divided into groups. Also, come up with something that has definitive categories for comparison.
After choosing a topic, decide on classification criteria. Think about all the possible categories in which the topic can split up. Some topic ideas have several options; thus, you will have to determine the exact angle to approach the essayâs theme. Furthermore, make sure that none of the categories is overlapping.
A thesis statement is the main argument of the writer on the topic. It is the stance that supports your entire essay, including the main body. Therefore, it is important to draft a strong statement. Also, use examples and evidence to make your essay effective and persuasive.
The next step is to conduct thorough research to gather interesting information for the audience. However, make sure to collect data from credible and authentic sources. It will further strengthen the content of your essay by making it more convincing and logical.
After collecting relevant information, you are now required to structure and organize it properly. Thus, write down the main ideas and present a logical connection between them. Eliminate unnecessary ideas if there are any.
Check out the following template outline that you can use for your division and classification essay.
After planning out the basic structure, start the writing process. Follow the below-given steps to write a perfect classification essay.
The introduction is the first and the most important section of the classification essay. Here, you have to identify the subject and mention the objects to be categorized.
State an interesting hook statement to make your introduction appealing. Such as strong opening line will grab the readerâs attention towards the essay. After this, provide the purpose of the essay and explain the reason for categorizing the items.
Lastly, write a strong thesis statement to highlight the subject matter in the discussion. Develop this statement early during the writing process as it will help the writer stay in the right direction.
The body section of the classification essay comprises three or more paragraphs depending on the categories. All the paragraph provides relevant information, examples, and evidence to justify the thesis statement. Also, start each paragraph with a topic sentence.
The right approach is to discuss the most important category in the last paragraph. Use classification essay transition words to ensure that the data flows logically from one paragraph to another.
The following are some common transition phrases. Apply them each time you arrange things into groups and provide examples related to each class.
It is the last section of a classification essay where you put together all the categories mentioned in the main body. Here, a writer will summarize all the central arguments and restate the thesis statement.
Also, mention the various types and approaches that you have examined in your classification essay. Recommend the particular one over the others, depending on the subject matter. However, make sure to emphasize why you have come to that conclusion.
The first draft of your classification essay is full of mistakes, but you can fix it up by editing and revising. For this, read your essay twice or thrice and ensure that it includes all the important points highlighted in the outline.
Eliminate all the language, punctuation, and spelling mistakes to give it a professional look. Similarly, get rid of all the unnecessary and overly complex words and phrases before the final submission.
Have a look at the following classification essay examples to understand writing a good one in no time.
Classification Essay Sample
Classification Essay Example About Students
Classification Essay About Food
Not all ideas can be good topics. Here we have mentioned some of the best topics for a classification essay, divided into several categories. It will help you choose a unique one for your essay.
Keep in mind the expert tips given below while writing a good classification essay. It will make your essay stand out and draw the readerâs attention.
These are a few guidelines that will help you write an A-worthy classification essay. Planning out the assignment early and figuring out the categories is the key to success.
However, if you are still unsure about your research or writing skills, get quality help from our classification essay writing service now!
Our classification essay writers will help you submit a comprehensive piece of paper that will get you the grade you deserve.
Similarly, utilize our essay writing service for original and plagiarism-free content within the given deadline.
Contact us now at CollegeEssay.org and get a classification essay at affordable rates.
You can also get quality help from our AI writing tool if you're in need of a rapid solution to your essay worries!
Caleb S. (Literature, Marketing)
Caleb S. has extensive experience in writing and holds a Masters from Oxford University. He takes great satisfaction in helping students exceed their academic goals. Caleb always puts the needs of his clients first and is dedicated to providing quality service.
Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!
Legal & Policies
Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.
COMMENTS
A Classification Essay is a type of academic writing that organizes and categorizes different items or subjects into specific groups or classes. It aims to classify the given objects based on common characteristics, features, or qualities they possess. By using classification, the essay writer can effectively analyze and categorize a vast array ...
A classification essay is a type of academic essay that categorizes a topic into distinct groups based on shared characteristics or criteria. The writer's purpose is to create a clear organization of information. Classification should be logical, making it easier for readers to remember the information being presented.
Building on Note 10.43 "Exercise 1" and Note 10.46 "Exercise 2", write a five-paragraph classification essay about one of the four original topics. In your thesis, make sure to include the topic, subtopics, and rationale for your breakdown. And make sure that your essay is organized into paragraphs that each describes a subtopic.
The classification essay is your way of creating distinct shelves and arranging those books in an orderly fashion. It is a mixture of expository and analytical essays, as it seeks to establish, discuss, and analyze a subject's properties and characteristics.
A classification essay is designed to take a complex topic and break it down into more manageable and understandable categories, digestible pieces that a reader can easily break down. This method of organization can be seen in how we structure and categorize our everyday lives.
Classification essay outline. The outline is a general description or plan that schematically displays the main points of your essay. The main point of an outline is to help you see the structure of your essay and use it as a useful guide for writing. Usually, a typical outline describes the essence of each point in one sentence.
A classification essay is a type of academic writing in which things, people, or ideas are put into groups based on the things they have in common. The goal of a classification essay is to help readers understand a complicated topic better by breaking it down into smaller, easier-to-understand pieces. It's important to write a classification ...
A classification essay relies on a single principle of organization. The principle of organization is the method by which the writer analyzes or breaks down the information in the essay. Types of Classifications. When classifying topics into subcategories the most common classification types are:
Use the following classification equation to craft your thesis statement: topic + subtopics + rationale for the subtopics = thesis. (4.6.1) (4.6.1) topic + subtopics + rationale for the subtopics = thesis. The organizing strategy of a classification essay is dictated by the initial topic and the subsequent subtopics.
A classification essay is a type of academic writing that involves organizing and categorizing subjects, ideas, or objects into distinct groups or categories based on shared characteristics. The primary objective of a classification essay is to break down a broad topic into smaller, more manageable parts, making it easier for readers to ...
Classification is a method of developing an essay by arranging people, objects, or ideas with shared characteristics into particular classes or groups. After you have settled on a topic for a classification essay * and explored it through various prewriting strategies, you should be ready to attempt a first draft.
Classification Essay Introduction. The introduction is the gateway to the essay, providing essential context and setting the tone for the reader. In a classification essay, the introduction is designed to capture the reader's attention and introduce the broad topic that will be classified. Its primary purpose is to present the thesis ...
A classification essays follow a typical essay organization with an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. I. Introduction Paragraph: 1. Introduces the subject area. The Hook: Catch the attention of your audience (quote, question, interesting statement) 2. Breaks the subject area into categories and explains why ...
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.
The organizing strategy of a classification essay is dictated by the initial topic and the subsequent subtopics. Each body paragraph is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subtopics. In a way, coming up with a strong topic pays double rewards in a classification essay. Not only do you have a good topic, but you also have a solid ...
In classification essays, each body paragraph usually starts with the introduction of one of the categories of your classification. For division essays, it would be one of the parts of the whole. Each category should be accompanied by its characteristics and traits backed up by solid examples. 7. Write the conclusion.
Through this classification essay, the writer hopes to show the readers a different way of considering the state of New York. Each body paragraph of a classification essay is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subcategories. In the previous example, then, each region of New York would have its own paragraph.
Expand/collapse global location. 11.2: The Structure of a Classification Essay. Page ID. Amber Kinonen, Jennifer McCann, Todd McCann, & Erica Mead. Bay College Library. The classification essay opens with an introductory paragraph that introduces the broader topic. The thesis should then explain how that topic is divided into subgroups and why.
A classification essay is a paper that deals with arranging several topics in one academic setting sharing common characteristics. Students prefer to write essays they are accustomed to, like narrative, reflective, or argumentative ones. The classification essay example is not popular but it is not that difficult if to look deeper.
A large student body means that class sizes are often larger, and some classes may be taught by graduate students rather than professors. Students will feel at home at a university if they want a focused academic program and state-of-the-art research facilities. While some universities are private, many are public, which means they receive ...
The classification is normally made according to one or more criteria. It is often necessary in academic English to classify something you are writing about in order to make comparisons and draw conclusions. This could be done in one or two sentences, a paragraph, or even a whole essay. This page gives information about how to classify ...
In rhetoric and composition, classification is a method of paragraph or essay development in which a writer arranges people, objects, or ideas with shared characteristics into classes or groups. A classification essay often includes examples and other supporting details that are organized according to types, kinds, segments, categories, or ...
A classification essay is a formal piece of writing used to evaluate your categorizing and generalization skills. It mainly aims to arrange various subjects and objects with similar characteristics. For this, a writer needs to categorize and classify things into different groups and mention examples that fit into each.