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Classification Essay. Organize this closet into three categories:. Objectives. Why write this essay? Division is a helpful strategy in any prewriting stage, especially complex subjects: The structure of a film Motivation of a character Controversy surrounding school prayer.
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Objectives • Why write this essay? • Division is a helpful strategy in any prewriting stage, especially complex subjects: • The structure of a film • Motivation of a character • Controversy surrounding school prayer. • Strategy is helpful for analyzing complex issues. • Many college essays will veil this essay in a prompt: • “From your observations, what kinds of appeals do television advertisers use when selling automobiles? In your view, are any of these appeals morally irresponsible?”
What is classification? • Writing a classification essay means dividing the members of a group. • The members in any class must share basic similar characteristics. • When classifying, you need a principle of classification.
What is the basis of division? • For example, we can divide the students in Advanced ESL by • Ethnic Background • Hispanics • Europeans • Africans • Asians Which prayer is categorically different?
Don’t mix classifying principles! • It’s confusing to have overlapping bases for classification. • In dividing students by ethnic background, don’t use classes like “hard-working” or “easy-going.” • After all, there are hard-working people in any ethnic background! Why would cats care to classify types of rats?
Can you find the misfits? • Autos: SUV, pickup, economy • Transport: land, train, air, water • Rivers: dangerous, short, wide • Drugs: uppers, illegal, downers • Colleges: private, famous, public • Courses: year-long, half-term, math • Housing: rooms, cheap, apartments
__1. SUV, pickup, sedan __2. land, air, water __3. short, wide, long __4. uppers, downers, pain-killers __5. private, public, religious __6. year-long, half-term, full-term __7. rooms, apartments, houses type of college type of housing type of river type of transportation Type of vehicle Type of medication Type of semester What are the principles of division?
E 1. SUV, pickup, sedan D 2. land, air, water C 3. short, wide, long F4. uppers, downers, pain-killers A 5. private, public, religious G 6. year-long, half-term, full-term B 7. rooms, apartments, houses type of college type of housing type of river type of transportation type of vehicle type of medication type of semester Here are the principles of division:
Suppose the writing prompt is “In what manner do people answer when given questions?” Don’t answer: “People answer in different ways, some of them take their time, others quick, still others kind of are, well, they’re between.” Instead, organize with parallelism: “Most people respond in one of three ways: eagerly, indifferently, or reluctantly.” Notice that each categorical word is in the samegrammarform: adverbs. Don’t mix and match the terminology!
Questions to Consider • Do you use the most logical principle of division or classification for your purpose? • Do you stick to one principle throughout? • Have you identified components or categories that are comparable? • Have you used the best order for your components or categories? • Have you given specific examples for each of your components or categories? • Have you made a complex subject more accessible to your readers?
