thesis statement examples for classification essays

Page Content
Sidebar Content
Main Navigation
Quick links

All TIP Sheets
Writing a Summary
Writing Paragraphs
Writing an Analogy
Writing a Descriptive Essay
Writing a Persuasive Essay
Writing a Compare/Contrast Paper
Writing Cause and Effect Papers
Writing a Process Paper
Writing a Classification Paper
Definitions of Writing Terms
How to Write Clearly
Active and Passive Voice
Developing a Thesis and Supporting Arguments
Writing Introductions & Conclusions
How to Structure an Essay: Avoiding Six Weaknesses in Papers
Writing Book Reports
Writing about Literature
Writing about Non-Fiction Books
Poetry: Meter and Related Topics
Revising and Editing
Proofreading

Writing A Classification Paper

TIP Sheet WRITING A CLASSIFICATION PAPER

Classification is sorting things into groups or categories on a single basis of division. A classification paper says something meaningful about how a whole relates to parts, or parts relate to a whole. Like skimming, scanning, paraphrasing, and summarizing, classification requires the ability to group related words, ideas, and characteristics.

Prewriting and purpose It is a rare writer, student or otherwise, who can sit down and draft a classification essay without prewriting. A classification paper requires that you create categories, so prewriting for a classification paper involves grouping things in different ways in order to discover what categories make the most sense for the purpose you intend.

An important part of creating useful categories is seeing the different ways that things can be grouped. For example, a list of United States presidents may be grouped in any number of ways, depending on your purpose. They might be classified by political party, age on taking office, or previous occupations, but you could just as well, depending on your purpose, classify them by the pets they keep or how they keep physically fit. If your purpose was to analyze presidential administrations, you would group information focusing on the presidents' more public actions–say, cabinet appointments and judicial nominations. On the other hand, if you intended to write about the private lives of presidents, you might select information about personal relationships or hobbies.

Make sure the categories you create have a single basis of classification and that the group fits the categories you propose. You may not, for example, write about twentieth century presidents on the basis of the kinds of pets they kept if some of those presidents did not keep pets. The group does not fit the category. If you intend to talk about all the presidents, you must reinvent the categories so that all the presidents fit into it. In the example below, the group is "all U.S. presidents" and the two categories are "those who kept pets and those who did not":

Some U.S. presidents have indulged their love of pets, keeping menageries of animals around the White House, and others have preferred the White House pet-free.

Alternatively, in the following example, the group is "twentieth century U.S. presidential pet-keepers" and the three categories are "dog lovers, cat lovers, and exotic fish enthusiasts."

Among the twentieth century presidents who kept pets, presidential pet-keepers can be classified as dog-lovers, cat-lovers, or exotic fish enthusiasts (for who can really love a fish?).

Developing a thesis Once you have decided on your group, purpose, and categories, develop a thesis statement that does the following three things:

names what group of people or things you intend to classify describes the basis of the classification labels the categories you have developed

Here is a thesis statement for a classification paper written for a Health and Human Fitness class that includes all three of the above elements, underlined:

Our last five U.S. presidents have practiced physical fitness regimens that varied from the very formal to the informal . They have been either regular private gym-goers, disciplined public joggers, or casual active sports enthusiasts.

Ordering categories Order is the way you arrange ideas to show how they relate to one another. For example, it is common to arrange facts and discussion points from most- to least-important or from least- to most-important, or from oldest to most recent or longest to shortest. The example thesis statement above is ordered from most- to least-formal physical fitness activities. There is no one right way; use an ordering system that seems best to suit your purpose and the type of information you are working with.

For example, suppose you are writing about the last five U.S. presidents for a psychology class. If you wish to show that these presidents' public decisions spring directly from negative issues in their personal relationships, you might order your information from most private to more public actions to clearly establish this connection. Or, if you wish to give the reader the impression that he is moving into increasingly intimate knowledge of personal presidential foibles, you may choose the reverse, ordering your information from public to private.

Signal words Signal phrases, or transitions, typically used for classification papers include the following:

this type of... several kinds of... in this category... can be divided into... classified according to... is categorized by...

These phrases signal to the reader your intention to divide and sort things. They also contribute to the unity of the paper.

Classification requires that you invent (or discover) abstract categories, impose them on a concrete whole, and derive something new-a tall order that you can, nevertheless, manage if you resist the temptation to skip the brainstorming steps. Remember that clinical dissection is never an aim in itself; the point of classification is to reveal and communicate something meaningful.

Butte College | 3536 Butte Campus Drive, Oroville CA 95965 | General Information (530) 895-2511

Classification essays

Essay guide

Essay examples, what are classification essays.

When writing classification essays, students must classify and arrange various objects, thoughts, or ideas into predetermined groups or classes. These writings aid in the development of analytical skills, critical thinking, and the ability to create meaningful categories in students. Without the right direction, producing a categorization essay that is effective can be a difficult effort. This article will provide you a thorough overview of how to create captivating paper that draw readers in, highlight your capacity for organizing, and offer insightful analysis. A classification essay demands careful planning, extensive research, and distinct categorization. You can create an interesting and perceptive categorization paper by selecting a pertinent topic, doing your research, coming up with a specific thesis statement, and offering in-depth justifications for each group. Accept the chance to classify and study various objects or ideas, and then clearly and cogently communicate your conclusions. You will become an excellent categorization essay writer with time, effort, and attention to detail.

How to write a classification essay

Choose a topic and establish categories.

Pick a subject that can be clearly divided into various divisions. Anything from musical genres to film subgenres to parenting practices to travel destinations might be included. After deciding on a topic, come up with classification schemes or standards that you will apply to the products falling under that topic. Make sure your categories are precise, pertinent, and thorough.

Conduct Research and Gather Information

Do extensive study on and collect data on the objects or ideas you plan to categorize. Learn about their traits, qualities, and defining attributes. This study will give you a strong foundation for your classification and aid in your quest for in-depth knowledge of the subject.

Develop a Clear Thesis Statement

Create a thesis statement that expresses your classification strategy in a clear and succinct manner. Your thesis statement should summarize the major idea of your paper and give a sneak peek at the subject areas you'll be covering. Make sure your argument is clear and directs how your essay is structured.

Organize Your Essay

Logic and coherence should guide your classification essay's organization. Start off with a captivating introduction that gives context for the subject and states your point. Then, in body paragraphs devoted to each category, explore the qualities, traits, or characteristics that characterize it. Maintain coherence by using topic sentences and clean transitions. Finish your essay by restating the importance of your classification and summarizing the major categories.

Provide Clear Definitions and Explanations

Give precise definitions and justifications for the categories you are considering in each body paragraph. Give examples of the distinctive qualities, traits, or characteristics that define each group. Clarify the boundaries of each group and support your claims using examples, anecdotes, or other proof.

Use Consistent and Appropriate Criteria

Make sure your categorization standards are acceptable and consistent when classifying objects or ideas in your essay. Use impartial standards that can be applied to all the things in the classification.

Use Effective Examples and Illustrations

Your categorisation in your essay should be supported by pertinent examples and illustrations. Give examples or case studies that illustrate each topic specifically. These illustrations make your categorisation more understandable to the reader and aid in its clarification. Make sure your examples are varied and adequate to the category to which they belong.

Maintain Clarity and Cohesion

Make sure your classification essay is consistently clear and cohesive. To describe the categories and their defining traits, use simple, unambiguous language. Avoid vagueness or ambiguity that can cause confusion. Check your paper for consistency and logical flow to make sure the reader can understand you.

Revise and Edit Your Essay

Spend some time revising and editing your classification essay when you have finished the first draft. Check the material's cohesion, logic, and clarity. Make sure your categories are clearly defined and have enough support. Watch out for spelling, grammatical, and punctuation mistakes. To get new insights on your work, think about asking classmates or teachers for feedback.

Classification Essay Writing Prompts

Prompt: The Impact of Social Media on Society - Explore the positive and negative effects of social media on individuals, communities, and society as a whole.
Prompt: The Importance of Education - Discuss the significance of education in shaping individuals, communities, and nations, and explore the potential benefits and challenges associated with a well-educated society.
Prompt: The Role of Technology in Modern Life - Analyze the influence of technology on various aspects of daily life, such as communication, work, health, and entertainment, and consider its overall impact on society.
Prompt: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Globalization - Examine the benefits and drawbacks of globalization, considering economic, cultural, and political factors, and evaluate its impact on different regions and populations.
Prompt: The Effects of Climate Change on the Environment - Investigate the consequences of climate change on ecosystems, wildlife, natural resources, and human well-being, and propose possible solutions to mitigate its effects.

Topics ideas for classification essays

Types of social media users.
Categories of movie genres.
Different styles of parenting.
Types of exercise routines.
Classifying music genres.
Categories of online shoppers.
Types of pet owners.
Classifying learning styles.
Different types of diets.
Categories of book genres.
Types of students in a classroom.
Classifying car models.
Categories of travel destinations.
Types of smartphone users.
Classifying study habits.
Categories of video game genres.
Types of workplace communication styles.
Classifying art forms.
Categories of outdoor activities.
Types of fashion styles.

Exploring The Darkness: A Deep Dive into ‘The Deliberate Stranger’

Unveiling the shadows: examining examples of racketeering, the virginia plan vs. the new jersey plan: battlegrounds for a new constitution, day: the culmination of elie wiesel’s holocaust trilogy, langston button gwinnett intriguing figure from history, purple hibiscus: questions and answers, the pros and cons of participation trophies, scholarship at the university of north texas, maths ia: optimization of packaging, cinematography of titanic, songhai empire essay grade 10, blackberries yusef komunyakaa, malcolm x outline of life and career, essay on relationship between human and nature, cloudy day by jimmy santiago baca, act 3 scene 5 romeo and juliet, foreshadowing in romeo and juliet act 3, functionalist perspective on unemployment, police use of s.a.r.a model to combat community crime, a view from the bridge essay, several weaknesses of hitler, 5 paragraph essay on the crucible, thesis statement about stress in college, water chases milliosmoles, the whole town’s sleeping, i know why the caged bird cannot read annotations, texoil negotiation case, imposing and exposing values, should the military age be raised to 21 essay, review of romeo and juliet, my mother said i never should jackie monologue how dare you, genie nature vs nurture essay, classification and explanation parts of speech, classification of phraseological units, nintendo case study questions and answers, how does the constitution guard against tyranny essay, classification of clothing and formal wear, observing nature essay, the day of doom, how does resource scheduling reduce flexibility in managing projects, faq about classification essays.