Writing Guide
Classification Essay: Selecting the Evaluative Criteria
Logical structure of a classification essay
The contemporary education programs are aimed at creating the learners’ awareness of the main types of academic papers. Gradually developing their writing talents, students learn to write their works in various keys and view the objects from different perspectives.
Understanding the main principle of a particular academic paper, a learner will not have problems with structuring it in a proper way. A classification essay, for instance, requires choosing the criteria for distinguishing between various subgroups of similar objects.
Explaining the main principle and pointing at the main peculiarities of a classification essay, teachers might simplify the students’ assignment. It is important to choose criteria which would be suitable for all categories of objects, to enumerate all the categories and to describe each of them.
A classification essay requires plenty of examples for illustrating each subgroup and demonstrating its peculiarities. Every example should be typical for a particular category. It is preferable to discuss the rule while touching upon the exceptions from it would complicate one’s task. Comparing and contrasting the objects in a classification essay, a student should not forget about their common features.
Useful hints for writing a classification essay
- A student should start one’s work on a classification essay from choosing appropriate evaluative criteria for dividing objects into several categories.
- After defining the main subgroups, a student should select examples for illustrating each of them. Illustrative examples are a must of a classification essay.
- It is important to point at both differences and similarities of the main categories. A learner should use effective comparison-contrast techniques in a classification essay.
