Classifications

Nature
Science is concerned with facts, and facts may require an analysis of relationships among various objects and ideas, and their classification into groups according to their similarities and differences Much of scientific exposition uses classification in order to provide systematic information or characteristics of something.

Example Plastics can be classified according to their behaviour when heated. The first group consists of those plastics, which soften when heated and become rigid when cooled again. These are called thermoplastics. Polyethene, PVC, Nylon and Perspex are examples of thermoplastics. The second group consists of plastics, which become rigid on further heating and cannot be softened again. These are called thermosetting plastics. Bakellite and melamine are examples of thermosetting plastics.

The paragraph presents classification of plastics based on their behaviour when heated. It includes the following information Entity: e.g. plastics Criteria: e.g. behaviour when heated Broad/general groups: e.g. thermoplastics; thermosetting Specific/ sub-groups/examples: e.g. polythene, PVC, nylon, Perspex; bakelite, melamine

Classification

Entity

Criteria
Mode of origin

Mountains are conventionally divided Mountains into four types, according to their mode of origin: Fold, block, volcanic and Residual mountains.

Musical instruments are generally Musical classified into four kinds, according to instruments the principles of acoustics: Idiophones, Membranophones, Aero phones and Chordophones.

Principles of acoustics

Classifications are systematic descriptions based on a system of similarities and differences. They include particular characteristics (Criteria) considered important for understanding the object described/classified

 Classifications

& Generalizations

Classifications involve different levels of generalizations. Items at higher level in classification are more general than items at lower level. For E.g.. Plastics are more general than thermoplastics, which are more general than polythene and nylon. Similarly mountains are more general than fold mountains. Decomposition reactions are more specific than chemical reactions.

Item

Classification

Energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, Level I (most general): Energy mechanical energy Level II (broad groups): kinetic energy, potential energy, mechanical energy

Metal, iron, zinc, lead, ferrous metal, non- ferrous metal, steel

Level I (most general): Metal Level II (broad groups): ferrous metal, non ferrous metal Level III (Specific groups): iron, steel, zinc lead Level I (most general): Container Level II (broad groups): barrel, tank Level III (Specific groups): water barrel, wooden barrel, water tank, wooden tank Level IV (examples): wooden water barrel, wooden water tank

Wooden barrel, tank, container, wooden water tank, water tank, water barrel, wooden water barrel, barrel, wooden tank

 Writing

Classifications

As they are descriptions they are generally written in simple present form in passive voice. Given is the list of markers used to indicate criteria and words/ phrases/ expressions that are used to develop classificatory descriptions:

 Markers

used to indicate criteria

According to, based on, on the basis of, on the basis of classification, basic criteria, with respect to, depending on, provides the basis, etc.

Words/ Phrases/ Expressions used to develop classifications:

Is/ can/ maybe classified into, divided into, subdivided, categorized in, group, set, kind, class, variety, category, include, be included in, including, exclude, excluding, compromise, contain, consist of, be grouped with, be numbered among, expect, expecting, also, likewise, moreover, in addition, further more, in the same way, similarly, as follows, etc.

Classification can be organized in two different ways: General to specific

(entity-broad groups-specific groups-examples)

Specific to general

(example-specific groups-broad groups-entity)

General to specific
Coal can be broadly classified into two categoriescoking and non-coking. Coking coal are those, which are used in metallurgical industries. Again depending on the quality of coke produced from them, coking coal is sub-divided into prime coking coal, medium coking coal and semi-coking coal. Similarly, noncoking coal is also categorized in seven grades (grade A to G) depending on its caloric value.

Specific to general
Polythene, PVC, Perspex and nylon are thermoplastics, which soften when heated and become rigid when cooled again. These plastics can be made to change their shape with further heating and cooling. In the other hand Bakelite and Melamine are thermo setting plastics, which become rigid with further heating and cannot be softened again. Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are the two main classes of plastics.

 Non

- Verbal Presentation of Classification

A common way of classifying data is through a tree diagram

I
Deserts
Tropical Mid-Latitude High latitude

Great Basin

Thar
Sahara Arabian Gobi Turkestan Antartica

II
Islands

Continental

oceanic

Tectonic

Coral

British Isles

New Foundland

Ascension

Barbados

Kodiak