Writing a Classification Essay
This type of essay is a very specific one as it deals with the classification of organizing the logical
connections in it. In order to write a professional classification essay, three advices should be kept in mind.
First of all the organized categories are expected to fully reveal the theme of the essay and therefore must
be very useful in terms of the classification classification. In spite of the amount of the separated categories
each of them must follow one logical principle. And also each of the presented categories is to provide
examples.
Classification essay Outline & Structure
This rubric is a condensed treatment of the classification essay writing, this outline is just a description of
the main facts and rules about how to write this type of essay. One should practice as much as possible to
become good in writing a classification essay.
1.
Introduction
(The basic part pf the introduction is the thesis statement. The strength of the thesis statement depends on
how well it reveals the topic and its classification. It is to justify the specific categories chosen for this
classification).
The thesis statement has a very determined logical structure: theme® its classification® chosen categories
(the number of categories is suggested to be limited to three in order not to blur the classification).
For instance: Exchange students can face three benefits: education, experience and cultural exchange.
1.
Body



First category (The less important category).
Second category
Third category (The most important one and requires brighter examples).
In a good classification essay each category must follow one organizing principle. The categories can be
organized on the basis of forming different groups of arguments).
1.
Conclusion
The conclusion is the summary of the analyzed categories and the restatement of the thesis statement.
Classification essay format
This type of essay like all others could be formated in MLA, Chicago/Turabian, APA, AMA. That depends
on your essay topic, subject area and the assignment requeirements. Please be consistent following the one
style of format of all the essay elements: Title, headings, paragraphs Text pages, Fonts, Indents,
Justifications, Spacing, Page numbers, Emphasis, Footnotes, reference list etc.
After any writing exercise, please check your:
*verb-tense sequence
*subject-verb agreement
*pronoun agreement
*articles
*prepositions
*sentence boundaries (conjunctions)
*spelling
Useful Expressions and Exercise for Categorizing
a)A list of structure vocabulary that signals classification
class/ classification
basic
division
some of
section
most of
group
all of
kind
to classify/divide into
characteristic
to sort
type
to include
quality
________ fall into _____ category
main
________ can be divided into ______ classes
major
to be listed
minor
b) Below is a list of sixteen words. Arrange them into three categories and give each category a name
mall
surfing on the internet
receipt
salesclerk
textbook
cards
examination
comics
dormitory
walking
teacher
credit cards
attendance
shuttle
skiing
tax
KEY:
Category 1: shopping (mall, receipt, salesclerk, credit cards, tax)
Category 2: school (textbooks, examination, dormitory, teacher, attendance, shuttle)
Category 3: spare time (surfing on the internet, cards, comics, walking, skiing)
c) Now, write a classification essay thesis statement for each category. You may or may not
categorize in order to include the words in parentheses. Try using the expressions above.
KEY
1-Shopping lovers may be classified into two groups according to the time they spend while choosing
things to buy.
2-Examinations at our school can briefly be listed in two groups; which are paper-based exams and
internet-based exams.
3-Spare time activities fall into two groups considering the places they are held; outdoor and indoor
activities.
d) In a classification essay, it is very important to be able to state your criteria/principle of
categorization/classification. Now, identify the classification principle for each of the thesis statement
above.
KEY
1-The time people spend while shopping
2-The media exams are taken
3-The places leisure activities take place
e) Now, write classification essay thesis statements for any of the following topics.
Occupations
Friendship
Family
Music
Movies
Cars
Sports
Magazines
Problems of living in Istanbul
f) Build 2 body paragraphs for your thesis statement.