PART A

CLASSIFICATION ESSAY

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).

How to classify
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:
 gender
 age
 nationality
 ethnicity
 favourite colour
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.

Language for classifying

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 students in the class can be classified according to gender.
[criterion]
 The students in the class can be classified into male and female.
[result]
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 students in the class may be classified on the basis of gender.
[criterion]
 The students in the class can be classified depending on gender.
[criterion]
The following are further examples of language for classification showing
the result.
 Economics consists of two kinds: micro-economics and macro-
economics. [result]
 Economics consists of micro-economics and macro-economics.
[result]
 Economics comprises micro-economics and macro-economics.
[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:
 The students in the class can be classified according to
whether they are Asian or not. [criterion]
 The students in the class can be classified into Asian and non-
Asian. [result]
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:
 The students in the class can be classified according to gender.
They can be sub-divided according to whether they are Asian or
not. They can be further sub-divided according to age, into those
who are below 25 years of age and those who are above 25.
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.
Students in a class

Gender male female

Asian Asian non Asian Asian non Asian

Age under25 over25 under25 over25 under25 over25 under25

over25

Structure
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.

Single criterion
Introduction
(background gives criterion, thesis shows categories)

Category 1

Description of Characteristics
Category 2

Description of characteristics
Category 3

Description of characteristics
...
Conclusion
Multiple criteria

Introduction
(thesis shows criteria)
Criterion 1

Examples of categories
Criterion 2

Examples of categories
Criterion 3

Examples of categories
…
Conclusion

Checklist
Below is a checklist for classification. Use it to check your own writing, or
get a peer (another student) to help you.
Area Item OK? Comment
Criteria The criteria for classifying are clear.
Language The language for classifying is
accurate (e.g. 'according to' to
show the criterion, 'into' to show the
result).
Structure (for An appropriate structure is used,
classification either single criterion or multiple
essay) criteria structure.
For single criterion structure, the
background gives the criterion
while the thesis shows the
categories; for multiple
criteria structure, the criteria are
given in the thesis.
Reference Accessed from
https://www.eapfoundation.com/writing/other/classify/

PART B
How to Develop and Organize a Classification Essay
By Richard Nordquist
Updated July 03, 2019

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. Here is how to develop and organize a five-
paragraph classification essay.

Introductory Paragraph

In your introduction, clearly identify your subject — in this case, the

group you are classifying. If you have narrowed your subject in any way
(for example, types of bad drivers, rock guitarists, or annoying
moviegoers), make this clear from the start.

You may also want to provide some specific descriptive or informative

details to attract the interest of your readers and suggest the purpose of
the essay.

Finally, include a thesis sentence (usually at the end of the introduction)

that briefly identifies the main types or approaches that you're about to
examine. 

Here's an example of a short but effective introductory paragraph to a

classification essay:

It's a warm evening in July, and all across the country Americans
are gathering to watch a game of professional baseball. Armed
with hot dogs and cold drinks, they stroll to their seats, some in
grand stadiums, others in cozy minor-league parks. But no matter
where the game is played, you will find the same three types of
 baseball fan: the Party Rooter, the Sunshine Supporter, and the
Diehard Fan.

Notice how this introduction creates certain expectations. The specific

details provide a setting (a ballpark on "a warm evening in July") in which
we expect to see the various fans described. In addition, the labels
assigned to these fans (the Party Rooter, the Sunshine Supporter, and
the Diehard Fan) lead us to expect descriptions of each type in the order
they're given. A good writer will go on to fulfill these expectations in the
body of the essay.

Body Paragraphs

Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence that identifies a

particular type of approach. Then illustrate each type with specific
details.

Arrange your body paragraphs in whatever order strikes you as clear

and logical — say, from the least effective approach to the most
effective, or from the most common type to the least familiar (or the other
way around). Just make sure that the order of your body paragraphs
matches the arrangement promised in your thesis sentence.

Here, in the body of the essay on baseball fans, you can see that the
writer has fulfilled the expectations set up in the introduction. (In each
body paragraph, the topic sentence is in italics.)

The Party Rooter goes to games for the hot dogs, the gimmicks,
the giveaways, and the companionship; he's not really that
interested in the ballgame itself. The Party Rooter is the sort of
fan who shows up on Buck-a-Brew Night, often with a gang of
fellow partiers. He cracks jokes, hurls peanuts at the team mascot,
applauds the exploding scoreboard, blasts an electronic horn
whenever he pleases—and occasionally nudges a companion and
asks, "Hey, who's winning?" The Party Rooter often wanders out
of the park in the sixth or seventh inning to continue his
celebrations in the car on the way home.
The Sunshine Supporter, usually a more common type than the
Party Rooter, goes to the park to cheer on a winning team and
bask in its glory. When the home side is on a winning streak and
still in contention for a playoff spot, the stadium will be packed
with this sort of fan. As long as her team is winning, the Sunshine
Supporter will be roaring at every play, waving her pennant and
shouting out the names of her heroes. However, as the name
 implies, the Sunshine Supporter is a fickle fan, and her cheers
quickly turn to boos when a hero strikes out or drops a line drive.
She will stay around until the end of the game to celebrate a
victory, but should her team fall a few runs behind, she's likely to
slip out to the parking lot during the seventh-inning stretch.
Diehard Fans are also strong supporters of the local team, but
they go to the park to watch good baseball, not just to root for a
winner. More attentive to the game than other fans, Diehards will
study the stance of a power hitter, note the finesse of a quick
fielder, and anticipate the strategy of a pitcher who has fallen
behind in the count. While the Party Rooter is chugging a beer or
dropping wisecracks, Diehards may be filling in a scorecard or
commenting on a player's RBI tally over the past few months. And
when a Sunshine Supporter boos an opposing player for tagging
out a local hero, Diehards may be quietly applauding the expert
moves of this "enemy" infielder. No matter what the score is,
Diehard Fans remain in their seats until the last batter is out, and
they may still be talking about the game long after it's over.

Notice how the writer uses comparisons to ensure cohesion in the body

of the essay. The topic sentence in both the second and third
paragraphs refers to the preceding paragraph. Likewise, in the third body
paragraph, the writer draws explicit contrasts between the Diehards and
the other two types of baseball fans.

Such comparisons not only provide smooth transitions from one

paragraph to the next but also reveal the sympathies of the writer. He
begins with the type of fan he likes the least and ends with the one he
most admires. We now expect the writer to justify his attitudes in the
conclusion.

Concluding Paragraph
The concluding paragraph gives you an opportunity to draw together the
various types and approaches you have been examining in the body of
the essay. You may choose to offer a final brief comment on each
one, summarizing its value or its limitations. Or you may want to
recommend one approach over the others and explain why. In any case,
make sure that your conclusion clearly emphasizes the purpose of your
classification.
In the concluding paragraph to "Baseball Fans," consider whether the
author has been successful in his effort to tie his observations together.

Professional baseball would have trouble surviving without all

three types of fans. The Party Rooters provide much of the money
that owners need to hire talented players. The Sunshine
Supporters bring a stadium to life and help boost the morale of
the home team. But only the Diehard Fans maintain their support
all season long, year in and year out. By late September in most
ballparks, enduring chilly winds, rain delays, and sometimes
humiliating losses, only the Diehards remain.

Notice how the writer hooks his conclusion back to the introduction by
contrasting the chilly night in September with the warm evening in July.
Connections such as this help to unify an essay and give it a sense of
completeness.

As you develop and organize your draft, experiment with various

strategies, but keep this basic format in mind: an introduction that
identifies your subject and the different types of approaches; three (or
more) body paragraphs that rely on specific details to describe or
illustrate the types; and a conclusion that draws your points together and
makes the overall purpose of the classification clear.

Accessed from https://www.thoughtco.com/develop-and-organize-a-

classification-essay-1690712