Classification Essay Instruction With Pre Writing Activities
Classification Essay Instruction With Pre Writing Activities
Classification Essay Instruction With Pre Writing Activities
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.
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. ________________________________