Classification

Essay
Expository Writing
Instructions to build a wellorganized & well-developed essay
based on types.

Classification Essay
OVERVIEW: A classification essay sorts a topic into classes (or types) and has a good
reason for doing so. Write a five paragraph classification essay on one of the following
topics (or a topic youve cleared with me):
Teachers
Drivers
Discipline
Motor vehicles
Love
Restaurants

Students
Neighbors
Anger
Pets
School Activities
Failure

Parents
Friends
Movies
Disagreements
Holidays
Success

Music
Obnoxious people
T.V. programs
Book
Frustration
Careers

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
A. 500 words minimum (500-750 recommended)/12 font in Times New Roman or
Arial/Double-Spaced or 1.5 spaced
B. Three separate classifications (one per each body paragraph)
C. Five paragraphs overall (introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and conclusion)
D. Appropriate title
E. An attention-getting introduction that has a THESIS which clearly establishes
direction for the paper
F. A good topic sentence for each body paragraph
AVOID topic sentences like this: Another type of winter sport Im going to
discuss is snowboarding. INSTEAD, write topic sentences that say something
significant about the topic and avoid announcements like this: Although
snowboarding is one of the more expensive winter sports, it is also one of the
most rewarding.
G. Clear, logical, and meaningful classifications; avoid classifications that are
loosely based (e.g., skiing, bowling, and snowboarding as winter sports)
H. Plenty of illustration: details, examples, statistics, etc., supporting or
explaining each classification and, ultimately, the THESIS.
I. No spelling errors. Also, do not make any homonym errors.
J. Provide an appropriate name for each classification (e.g., Road Hogs, etc.)
K. Effective conclusion
L. Rough draft stapled to the back of the final copy.
STARTING YOUR PAPERINTRODUCTION: There are many ways to write
introductions, but one method that works well for this assignment is to begin with
a definition. For example, if your topic is types of parents
1. Look up parents in the dictionary.
2. Then begin like this: The American Heritage Dictionary, 3 rd Edition defines
parents as ..
3. Next, make some of your own remarks about parents in general. For example,
explain whether you agree/disagree with this definition and what, if anything,
should be added to or subtracted from this definition.
4. Finally, write your thesis as the last sentence of your introduction. Your thesis
should indicate your three classificationsin this case the three major types of
parents, according to you, and the general purpose of the essay.
EXAMPLE: There are many types of parents in America, but there are three kids
should be aware of, such as the strict disciplinarian parent, pushover parent, and
buddy parent.

Classification Essay Planning

DIVIDING TOPICS INTO CLASSIFICATIONS: Select topics from the following list
[or create one or more topics on your own]. In the spaces below, write the name of the
topic and divide each into three meaningful classifications.
Teachers
Drivers
Discipline
Motor vehicles
Love
Restaurants

Students
Neighbors
Anger
Pets
School Activities
Failure

Parents
Friends
Movies
Disagreements
Holidays
Success

Music
Obnoxious People
T.V. programs
Book
Frustration
Careers

TOPIC:__________________________

TOPIC:___________________________

CLASSIFICATIONS:
a. _______________________________

CLASSIFICATIONS:
a. ________________________________

b. _______________________________

b. ________________________________

c. _______________________________

c. ________________________________

TOPIC:__________________________

TOPIC:___________________________

CLASSIFICATIONS:
a. _______________________________

CLASSIFICATIONS:
a. ________________________________

b. _______________________________

b. ________________________________

c. _______________________________

c. ________________________________

ILLUSTRATIONS: Select one of the four topics you divided above.

TOPIC: __________________________________________________
In the spaces below, write each classification, make a generalization about it (e.g., Strict
disciplinarian parents are often the hardest to get along with for kids.). Then, brainstorm
as many details, facts, examples, etc., you can think of relating to each classification.
Listing is fine for this. No need to write complete sentences.
CLASSIFICATION #1: ____________________________________________________
GENERALIZATION ABOUT CLASSIFICATION #1: __________________________
________________________________________________________________________
SUPPORTING DETAILS: _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

CLASSIFICATION #2: ____________________________________________________

GENERALIZATION ABOUT CLASSIFICATION #2: __________________________
________________________________________________________________________
SUPPORTING DETAILS: _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
CLASSIFICATION #3: ____________________________________________________
GENERALIZATION ABOUT CLASSIFICATION #3: __________________________
________________________________________________________________________
SUPPORTING DETAILS: _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION: One of the best things to do in a conclusion is to personalize or make a
prediction. The first thing to do in the conclusion is to restate the thesis at the beginning
(but in different words than you used in the introduction). Then personalize this topic if
you didnt in the paper. Also, you could try to make some predictions about the future.
For example, what is likely to happen to kids someday who have these same parents?
Will they grow up to be the same kinds of parents?