Classification Essay

Divide your topic well to excel

Reading Quiz... (20 min)
 Objectives:

Acquire the basic structure of a classification

essay

Identify the important elements to make a good

essay

Learn useful expression to make your essay look

neat and cool

Relate today’s knowledge to your essay

Classify (v.)
To divide a broad
topic into categories
(general to specific)
 Classifying an idea

LOVE can be
classified into 3
categories

Friendship

Kinship

Romance
 Classifying Men

Men can be
categorised according
to 3 criteria:

Wealth

Appearance

Talent
 Classifying Animals

Animals fall into two

major groups:

Vertebrates

Invertebrates
Structure of classification essays

The same 5-paragraph essay

Introduction: general information + TS

Body: 3 categories elaborated from TS

with explanation and details

Conclusion: summarise what the 3 categories

of the topic have inspired you
 Terms explained

Principle (don’t mix

up with your
favourite principal!):

How you categorise

a topic

Criteria:

Points to consider
 Subject: Boyfriends

Principle: qualities to consider them as

boyfriends

Categories: Wealth, Appearance, Talent

TS: Potential boyfriends can be divided

according to wealth, appearance and talent.

(Don’t take it seriously!)

 Your turn!

Topic: Shoes

Principle: Type of _______

Categories: Running, golf, basketball, leather

TS: ______ can be categorised into _______.

 Your turn!

Topic: Shoes

Principle: Type of activity

Categories: Running, golf, basketball, leather

TS: Shoes can be categorised into running, golf

and basketball shoes.
 One more!
Subject: Electricity

Principle: How to ____

electricity

Categories: _____, hydro,

_____, solar, ____

geothermic, ______

Source:
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=nzQqWMlAgGg
Finish Task One. (5 min)
 Useful expressions (1)

Classifying verbs: compose, categorise, divide,

classify, fall into, consist

Use passive voice except fall into and consist

E.g. Men are/can be divided into...

Useful Expressions (2)

Linking the previous sentence to the categories

depending on, according to, is made up of...

E.g. Men can be divided according to their

wealth, appearance and talent.

In the topic sentence

The first/second/third... group consists of ...

 Body paragraph ideas

Possibilities:

give
details/statistics

state common
characteristics

provide examples
 Give details

The first type of energy is

solar energy. It is one of
the cleanest renewable
energy used in many
developed countries.

Explains more about this

type of energy
 State common
characteristics
The first type of good
girlfriends has the quality of
intellectuality. (1)They are
able to communicate with
you about sports, cars and
politics. (2) Of course, they
know when to pretend to
know nothing, too.

Two characteristics
intellectual girlfriends
possess
 Provide examples

My first girlfriend,
Lisa Hannigan, was
honest. For instance,
she told me she had
her first date with a
hot model at 16.
(fictitious)

An example of being
honest
Conclusion

Summarise how your

categories represent
the general subject

Add your personal

view to close the
paragraph
 A perfect boyfriend?
E.g. [Summary]A man can be a perfect boyfriend if he is rich, handsome
and talented. [Personal view] However, it is not quite possible in reality;
therefore, it is more important to look at their inner quality...
Task 5. Group work
(10 min)
Task 6. Friends
 My friends

A worrywart

A bookworm

A fatalist

What do they do in
different situations?
Situation #1
Your friend are about
to be late for school...
Situation #2
Your friend is so poor
that he cannot even
pay for a meal...
Situation #3
The exam is so important
that he must get a high
score to go to university...
 Activity

Form groups of 4 (8 groups)

Student A: Introduction + Conclusion

B, C, D: Handle ONE body paragraph

Each group hand in ONE piece of writing

Tip: Why I like them all

 Thoughts:

Does this lesson give you more hints at writing

the final essay?

How can I divide personality traits of the

characters into categories?

Where can I find more details to explain each

category?
 Resources

Classification essay writing

http://essayinfo.com/essays/classification_essay
.php

Writing classification/division essays

http://vclass.mtsac.edu/vesl1wc/classificationha
ndout.htm