classification: a writing strategy for organizing ideas

CLASSIFICATION:

A WRITING STRATEGY

FOR ORGANIZING IDEAS

CLASSIFICATION IS A STRATEGY, USED TO HELP PRESENT INFORMATION TO READERS.

CLASSIFICATION ALLOWS WRITERS TO ORGANIZE INFORMATION INTO CLEAR, SPECIFIC CATEFORIES.

CLASSIFICATION SHOULD DIVIDE GROUPS INTO EQUAL, PARALLEL, & NON-OVERLAPPING CATEGORIES.

EXAMPLE:

FOUR EQUAL, PARALLEL, & NON-OVERLAPPING CATEGORIES OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:

FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, AND SENIORS

A WRITER SHOULD CONSIDER:

A) THE PURPOSE

B) THE AUDIENCE

WHEN USING CLASSIFICATION

Why have a green category?

Writers classify in order to organize and present information to readers. Your categories should thoughtfully inform readers.

Ask: “SO WHAT?”

SAMPLE THESIS & FORECASTING STATEMENT:Scooters are students who disturb other members of college classes by using course time to prepare for leaving class at the exact moment that their classes end; the luggage scooter, the chatter scooter, and the ever silent scooter are three forms.

CLASSIFICATION CAN BE USED TO ORGANIZE ESSAY IDEAS AND INFORM ESSAY READERS:

Scooters are college students who disturb other members of the class by using course time to prepare for “scooting” out of class at the exact moment class ends.

The thesis statement can provide a stipulative definition for the subject to be categorized.

The forecasting statement acts like a weather person.

Instead of forecasting sunshine or clouds ahead, the forecasting statement forecasts the categories to be discussed in the essay.

Scooters are college students who disturb other members of the class by using course time to prepare for “scooting” out of class at the exact moment class ends; the luggage scooter, the chatter scooter, and the ever silent scooter are three forms of scooters, emerging in the last moments of class.

Topic sentence/stipulative definition for Category 1:

The luggage scooter disturbs other members of the class by loudly gathering his or her backpack, notebook and other materials before class ends in order to “scoot” out of class at the exact moment before class ends.

A stipulative definition can be used to define each category. The topic sentence can be phrased as a stipulative definition.

BASIC BODY PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE:

Topic Sentence:

The luggage scooter disturbs other members of the class by loudly gathering his or her backpack, notebook and other materials before class ends in order to “scoot” out of class at the exact moment before class ends.

Supporting Evidence:

Options include exemplification, description, and/or narration.

Concluding Sentence:

CATEGORY: LUGGAGE SCOOTERSOverview / Exemplification

Topic Sentence:

The luggage scooter disturbs other members of the class by loudly gathering his or her backpack, notebook and other materials before class ends in order to “scoot” out of class at the exact moment before class ends.

Spotlight /Narration Topic Sentence:

Wrestling with her geometry textbook and backpack while other students work on a mathematical puzzle, Sasha Scott is a typical example of the “luggage scooter.”

You may choose to dedicate more than one paragraph to each category

ANOTHER SAMPLE ESSAY TOPIC: NOVICE VOTERS

Sample Thesis with Forecasting Statement:Novice voters were individuals, regardless of age, voting for the first time in the November 2008 election; major types included the suddenly eligible voter,  newly passionate voter, and slightly pressured voter.  

Sample Topic Sentence: First Category/WIDE SHOT PARAGRAPHFirst, the suddenly eligible voter was an individual, voting for the first time, because of a qualifying change in age or citizenship.

Sample Topic Sentence: Second Category/WIDE SHOT PARAGRAPHSecond, the newly passionate voter was an individual who had developed a desire to vote for the first time although he or she was previously eligible to do so.

Sample Topic Sentence: Third Category/WIDE SHOT PARAGRAPHThird, the slightly pressured voter was an individual who agreed to vote for the first time because a family member or other influential person has pushed him or her to do so.

QUESTIONS?