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Classification Essay: A Quick Guide with Examples

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A classification essay is a type of academic essay that categorizes a topic into distinct groups based on shared characteristics or criteria. The writer's purpose is to create a clear organization of information. Classification should be logical, making it easier for readers to remember the information being presented.

Let us guess: your professor asked you to write a classification essay. But they didn't explain how to even write one, did they? They often drop students like that as a part of self-learning. That's exactly why you're here! Writing a classification essay requires research. And making sure you've got enough information, you must double check what you've already gathered. Besides, classifying may sound simple, but it takes discipline and logical thinking. Putting thoughts into words and all that… What a task! But we heard a little rumor that those who continue reading would master classification papers. It's time for you to see if this rumor is true!  

What Is a Classification Essay: Definition

Classification essay doesn’t want to hide its essence, considering its name. But the primary goal of this type of article is to classify. Now, what you want to rank is up to you or your professor. Your main goal is to select topics and later put them into categories. The primary purpose of this type of essay is to show your skills in categorisation and generalization. We can take food as a good and tasty example. For instance, apples and oranges belong to the fruit category, while cucumbers will definitely be vegetables. As for avocado, you have to do the research and classify this type of food. Nevertheless, you’ll definitely need to write one of those essays during your college. So to master academic and classification writing, keep reading!  

How to Write a Classification Essay

We will start by teaching you how to write a classification essay. In this case, preparation is our little saving grace. So before you begin the actual writing, typing, or scribbling, it’s a good idea to think about the overall essence of your article. For starters, here are several valuable tips worth remembering:

  • Select a type of organization (you can use tables, documents, or anything that will help you in organizing your work).
  • Choose your categories for classification.
  • Make sure that each category is distinct and clear.
  • Include different examples for visualization.

These several steps will be handy for writing a thesis and starting your introduction. Buy essay papers online once you want good results with as little time spent as possible.

Developing an Effective Classification Essay Thesis Statement

Like with other articles, the classification essay thesis is one of the most vital parts of your work. A good thing worth keeping in mind is that your thesis is the last statement of your introduction. It also determines whether your audience will continue reading your article. Here are several things you should follow to write a good thesis:

  • Summarize your work.
  • Identify your main topic, objective, or goal of your essay.
  • Above all, make readers understand what point you’re making and what your paper is gonna be about.
  • Mention the categories you have chosen.

If you can nail our list given above, congratulations, you’ve got yourself an outstanding thesis.

Classification Essay Outline

Creating a classification essay outline is one of the easiest ways to approach an excellent classification paper. It’s true that it requires a lot of research and remembering. You will not only have to write about a single subject but group topics into categories. In order to do it correctly and understandably for the reader, it’s best if you use an outline. First and foremost, your essay should follow a traditional five paragraph essay format structure. It should have a minimum of three paragraphs. But typically, professors prefer around five. So your introduction must initially include an introduction, several body paragraphs depending on the length of your article, and a conclusion. In your body paragraphs outline, it’s a good idea to describe the groups you will include in your article. So your first paragraph will group fruits according to their color, while the second one can use nutrition for a classification. This will help you to remember your points before writing.  

How to Start a Classification Essay: Introduction

Classification essay introduction is very similar to any other introduction you have probably written. You should never forget that you are writing for an audience. Doesn’t really matter if your reader is your professor or some person online. The rules of good writing apply to any kind of paper. The first thing worth doing is introducing your overall concept. There is no need to give all the information at once. Just start with something more general and narrow it down later to a thesis we’ve talked about. Make sure that you also include the relevant information. Using our previous metaphor, if you’re talking about fruits, maybe mentioning vegetables will not be a good idea. Besides, staying on one topic will help you to write more clearly. And that’s our final requirement for your introduction.  

Body Paragraphs of a Classification Essay

Classification essay's main body commonly has around 1-3 paragraphs. But don't forget to ask your professor about the length. The important thing to remember is that you are classifying items in your work. In order to achieve precise and successful organization, your body paragraphs must be concise. Each body paragraph should focus on a certain group. You're not making mashed potatoes. So stacking all of your ideas in one section would create a mess. Keep it simple in terms of structure:  

  • Paragraph 1 — fruits organized by their color
  • Paragraph 2 — fruits arranged by expert location
  • Paragraph 3 — fruits ordered by size or shape

A simple and understandable organization will make your writing sharp. And your readers will definitely say thank you!

Classification Essay Conclusion

A classification essay conclusion is, just like always, crème de la crème of any article. At this point, your reader knows everything you were telling them. They know all your data, issues, and ideas. Thus, quickly summarizing what they’ve read in your body paragraphs will help a lot. But the last thing to do is organize your conclusion while leaving an impression. Now, their impressions can be different. However, your readers must think about your work for at least some time. So your conclusion must end with something intriguing like the possible future of your topic or piece of mind for the readers. Just don’t include any new information, and you’ll do fantastically!  

Classification Essay Writing: Useful Tips

Even with our help, classification essay writing is challenging. So we prepared for you several good tips that will help you improve and ease your academic life. Check them out:  

  • Define the purpose of the article before you start writing.
  • Avoid popular and often used topics.
  • Write down a number of topics before picking one. (We have a list of classification essay topics at your disposal.)
  • Choose a subject that will be personally interesting for you.
  • Remember that you are also writing for someone else who might not know everything about your topic.
  • Edit and proofread your work.
  • Take a break from writing once in a while and come back with a fresh mind and new look.
  • Don’t try writing about everything simultaneously. Instead, focus on one category and lead with it.

With these steps, we can definitely say that you’re ready.

Classification Essay Examples

How could we leave you without classification essay samples? You’re right; we couldn’t. Check out this example. Keep in mind that our examples always have characteristics that we talked about. So you can read the sample and return back for this article or do some revision. It will help you a lot. What are you waiting for? You can find the example right here. Or simply buy essay for college to avoid any hard work this evening. 

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Classification Essay: Bottom Line

Who knew that  writing a classification essay  wasn’t that hard? We did, and now you know that, too. You have everything it takes to create an excellent paper. You know that:  

  • Your thesis is the most essential part of the essay.
  • The introduction must contain general information on the subject.
  • Body paragraphs must be carefully organized.
  • A conclusion should leave an impression without including new information.

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But if you’re still looking for proficient help, our academic writing services got you covered. Our writers do excellent research before writing a paper and deliver high-quality results. We are also proud of our timely delivery of the papers.

FAQ about Classification Essays

1. what is the purpose of a classification essay.

The purpose of a classification essay is to organize and classify. In the beginning, you have several unique items. They indeed have some things in common. So your job is to identify in what categories they fit best. After doing the research and careful learning, you must put everything you have gathered into words. But still, keep in mind that the second purpose is to make your essay and classification clear to the reader.

2. How long is a classification essay?

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to classification essay length. Everything will depend on the guidelines. Usually, such articles are 3 to 5 paragraphs long. Their minimum is always an introduction, one body paragraph, and conclusion. However, professors definitely enjoy 5 paragraphs as a standard length. But you always need to remember that the essay should be long enough to provide necessary information for the reader. Or it must be short enough not to drag it out.

3. What is the difference between a division and classification essay?

Division and classification essays are only slightly different. The items you choose for classification essays must belong to strict and certain categories. They cannot overlap or belong to two different groups. On the other hand, division essays allow the subjects to move from one group to another. They might be divided into different groups or categories and thus overlap.

4. What are different types of classification?

There are several types of classification. Depending on the particular topic, you can choose a specific type that fits the best. Here’s what you can choose from:

  • Spatial classification (location, place and so on).
  • Chronological (you must take time and dates into consideration).
  • Classification by attributes (qualitative).
  • Classification by size (quantitative with numbers and statistics).

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Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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10.4 Classification

Learning objectives.

  • Determine the purpose and structure of the classification essay.
  • Understand how to write a classification essay.

The Purpose of Classification in Writing

The purpose of classification is to break down broad subjects into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts. We classify things in our daily lives all the time, often without even thinking about it. Cell phones, for example, have now become part of a broad category. They can be classified as feature phones, media phones, and smartphones.

Smaller categories, and the way in which these categories are created, help us make sense of the world. Keep both of these elements in mind when writing a classification essay.

Choose topics that you know well when writing classification essays. The more you know about a topic, the more you can break it into smaller, more interesting parts. Adding interest and insight will enhance your classification essays.

On a separate sheet of paper, break the following categories into smaller classifications.

  • The United States
  • Colleges and universities

The Structure of a Classification Essay

The classification essay opens with an introductory paragraph that introduces the broader topic. The thesis should then explain how that topic is divided into subgroups and why. Take the following introductory paragraph, for example:

When people think of New York, they often think of only New York City. But New York is actually a diverse state with a full range of activities to do, sights to see, and cultures to explore. In order to better understand the diversity of New York state, it is helpful to break it into these five separate regions: Long Island, New York City, Western New York, Central New York, and Northern New York.

The underlined thesis explains not only the category and subcategory but also the rationale for breaking it into those categories. Through this classification essay, the writer hopes to show his or her readers a different way of considering the state.

Each body paragraph of a classification essay is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subcategories. In the previous example, then, each region of New York would have its own paragraph.

The conclusion should bring all the categories and subcategories back together again to show the reader the big picture. In the previous example, the conclusion might explain how the various sights and activities of each region of New York add to its diversity and complexity.

To avoid settling for an overly simplistic classification, make sure you break down any given topic at least three different ways. This will help you think outside the box and perhaps even learn something entirely new about a subject.

Using your classifications from Note 10.43 “Exercise 1” , write a brief paragraph explaining why you chose to organize each main category in the way that you did.

Writing a Classification Essay

Start with an engaging opening that will adequately introduce the general topic that you will be dividing into smaller subcategories. Your thesis should come at the end of your introduction. It should include the topic, your subtopics, and the reason you are choosing to break down the topic in the way that you are. Use the following classification thesis equation:

topic + subtopics + rationale for the subtopics = thesis.

The organizing strategy of a classification essay is dictated by the initial topic and the subsequent subtopics. Each body paragraph is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subtopics. In a way, coming up with a strong topic pays double rewards in a classification essay. Not only do you have a good topic, but you also have a solid organizational structure within which to write.

Be sure you use strong details and explanations for each subcategory paragraph that help explain and support your thesis. Also, be sure to give examples to illustrate your points. Finally, write a conclusion that links all the subgroups together again. The conclusion should successfully wrap up your essay by connecting it to your topic initially discussed in the introduction. See Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” to read a sample classification essay.

Building on Note 10.43 “Exercise 1” and Note 10.46 “Exercise 2” , write a five-paragraph classification essay about one of the four original topics. In your thesis, make sure to include the topic, subtopics, and rationale for your breakdown. And make sure that your essay is organized into paragraphs that each describes a subtopic.

Key Takeaways

  • The purpose of classification is to break a subject into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts.
  • Smaller subcategories help us make sense of the world, and the way in which these subcategories are created also helps us make sense of the world.
  • A classification essay is organized by its subcategories.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

How to Write a Classification Essay?

17 July, 2020

8 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

Classification essay is comparable to painting creation - an artist works on a specific structure that holds the picture’s elements together and glues different layers to create a powerful visual effect. The same principle applies to a writing piece, in which the central role is devoted to getting things in order. In this article, we’ll discuss the main features and components of a great classification essay and share some tips and tricks on how to take your piece of writing to the next level.

Classification Essay

Classification essay definition

We bet the first thing you want to know concerning the topic is what is a classification essay? This is the task which you’ll most likely deal with at some point in your student life. The essence of this assignment is related to categorization and generalization. Remember these two words because they form the true meaning of classification essay. Also, division and classification are those elements of this essay type which highly correlate and have equal importance for essay creation. Therefore, the main task here is to organize or sort things into categories.

Classification Essay Writing

How to write a classification essay 

Careful attention to planning marks the indication of quality in terms of classification essay. At this point, the main task is to learn how to structure the paper. The length of an article may vary, but the most frequently used “five paragraphs” method is typically applied for classification writing. What does this structure suggest? It has to do with a logical division of your essay into blocks and categories, every one of which should clarify a particular issue.

The first and one of the essential paragraphs is the introductory one. It’s an opening which illuminates the matter you’re going to discuss and the subject you’ll categorize. Besides, you can outline the purpose of your classification essay to readers to bring more clarity into the discussion. Answer the question of why you are categorizing the chosen items and what criteria you use for each of them. Then, you’ll need to close the introduction paragraph with a thesis. It will briefly sum up the objective of your classification and division essay, and identify the categories which you’ll be using for a paper.

The second part is the essay body. Here, a couple of paragraphs are applicable, preferably 3 and more. The most critical nuance you should remember while composing a body is that each paragraph will deal with a separate category. The best way to organize the central part of your division essay is to explain the criteria for each category and desirably, discuss strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, you should include examples that’ll back up your statements with a piece of evidence. Notably, there should be an equal amount of examples for every category to spread the evidence evenly. If your paragraphs in the main body are lengthy, you can also divide them into shorter ones to create a smooth transition between the blocks of text and improve readability.

The final paragraph of your classification essay is a conclusion. The closing statements will sum up the different categories highlighted in the body. Also, it’s advisable to restate each category and advise readers on the subject matter. However, if you choose to recommend this or that topic over the others, don’t forget to state the reason for your stance. This way, readers will take into account your well-grounded explanation, which is deprived of subjectivity, and make relevant conclusions for themselves.

Classification Essay Structure

Apart from the basic understanding of classification essay structure , you should also get prepared for the writing process. For many, implementing theory on practice is even more challenging than the stage of composing an essay. Nonetheless, with enough patience and endurance, this process is really not so bad after all. So, what steps do you need to make in order to prepare well for classification paper writing?

First things first, planning is everything when it comes to the assignment that implies classification. Without a clear and coherent plan, there’s no way you can write a good paper. Therefore, make sure that you have a robust scheme before writing your essay. For this, proceed with the following planning steps:

  • Generate Ideas. Evidently, your essay won’t write itself. If your professor has not assigned you a specific topic, it’s time to do some brainstorming. Remember – you need to choose a group of people, things, or ideas that can be easily divided into categories and then compared.
  • Choose Your Classification Method. Aim at one principle for classification for each category you describe. For example, if you write about people, you can categorize them by age, gender, appearance, or other factors. This will help you better structure your essay and make it look more organized in the eyes of readers.
  • Create a Thesis Statement. As previously mentioned, the thesis statement is the element which closes the introduction of your classification essay. It should include such information as the subject matter, the categories, and the criteria used to classify each category. Besides, you can note down the purpose of your division into these categories.

Preparation for Classification Essay

Classification essay outline

The outline is a general description or plan that schematically displays the main points of your essay. The main point of an outline is to help you see the structure of your essay and use it as a useful guide for writing. Usually, a typical outline describes the essence of each point in one sentence. Also, bullet points are not uncommon, so you can use them to arrange a plan the way you feel is the most appropriate.

Classification essay topics

There is a plethora of themes and subjects for division classification essays to choose from, but most of them are hard to think of straight away. That’s why we’ve collected the list of the top used classification topics for you to facilitate the process of generating ideas or searching for ones elsewhere.

  • The most popular devices students use nowadays
  • Colors and their meaning in the paintings of Frida Kahlo
  • The evolution of rock-music types
  • Standard methods students use to prepare for exams
  • Public speakers that have moved the world  
  • Unique factors to determine a successful relationship  
  • How to improve child-parent relationships
  • Main motives to start a political career
  • Learning techniques for college students
  • Types of TV comedy shows
  • Traveling destinations
  • The main types of mobile applications
  • Communication possibilities online
  • Strategies for making decisions in business
  • Leadership and leader types
  • Conflicts at the job and ways to cope with them
  • The motivation for doing sports
  • Methods to reduce stress

No matter which theme you choose for your classification essay and what techniques you implement to make them elaborated, remember always to keep the structure in mind. The first step to writing this type of assignment is not just sitting and jotting down detached ideas, but planning out clear statements which can later be transmitted on paper. Hopefully, our advice will help you on the way to writing an excellent classification essay which your professor will mark with an A+ grade.

Problems with writing Your Classification Essay? Try our Online Essay Writer Service!

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Macdonald DeWitt Library at SUNY Ulster

Eng 101 oer: classification.

  • Reading to Write
  • Why We Write
  • Rhetorical Context
  • Brainstorming
  • Proofreading & Editing
  • Paragraph Development
  • Thesis Statements
  • Introductions
  • Conclusions
  • Transitions & Phrases
  • Peer Reviews
  • Exemplification
  • Classification
  • Cause/Effect
  • Grammar Resources

Learning Objectives

  • Determine the purpose and structure of the classification essay.
  • Understand how to write a classification essay.

The Purpose of Dividing & Classifying

The purpose of  classification  is to break down broad subjects into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts. We classify things in our daily lives all the time, often without even thinking about it. Cell phones, for example, have now become part of a broad category. They can be classified as feature phones, media phones, and smartphones.

Smaller categories, and the way in which these categories are created, help us make sense of the world. Keep both of these elements in mind when writing a classification essay.

The Structure of a Division/Classification Essay

The classification essay opens with an introductory paragraph that introduces the broader topic. The thesis should then explain how that topic is divided into subgroups and why. Take the following introductory paragraph, for example:

When people think of New York, they often think of only New York City. But New York is

actually a diverse state with a full range of activities to do, sights to see, and cultures to

explore.  In order to better understand the diversity of New York state, it is helpful to

break it into these five separate regions: Long Island, New York City, Western New York,

Central New York, and Northern New York.

The thesis explains not only the category and subcategory but also the rationale for breaking it into those categories. Through this classification essay, the writer hopes to show his or her readers a different way of considering the state.

Each body paragraph of a classification essay is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subcategories. In the previous example, then, each region of New York would have its own paragraph.

The conclusion should bring all the categories and subcategories back together again to show the reader the big picture. In the previous example, the conclusion might explain how the various sights and activities of each region of New York add to its diversity and complexity.

Writing a Division/Classification Essay

Start with an engaging opening that will adequately introduce the general topic that you will be dividing into smaller subcategories. Your thesis should come at the end of your introduction. It should include the topic, your subtopics, and the reason you are choosing to break down the topic in the way that you are. Use the following classification thesis equation:

topic + subtopics + rationale for the subtopics = thesis.

The organizing strategy of a classification essay is dictated by the initial topic and the subsequent subtopics. Each body paragraph is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subtopics. In a way, coming up with a strong topic pays double rewards in a classification essay. Not only do you have a good topic, but you also have a solid organizational structure within which to write.

Be sure you use strong details and explanations for each subcategory paragraph that help explain and support your thesis. Also, be sure to give examples to illustrate your points. Finally, write a conclusion that links all the subgroups together again. The conclusion should successfully wrap up your essay by connecting it to your topic initially discussed in the introduction. 

Classification Essays

Amy Tan describes relationship with her heritage, her mother, and her languages in  Mother Tongue :

  • http://www.scribd.com/doc/13297165/Mother-Tongue-By-Amy-Tan-I-Am-Not-A
  • http://learning.swc.hccs.edu/members/donna.gordon/sum-2010-engl-1301-5-wk-crn-33454/1301-reading-block-crn-33454/Tan_Mother%20Tongue.pdf
  • http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/mcunningham/grapes/mother%20tounge.pdf

Jonathan Koppell discusses anonymity, your name, and how the Internet has changed in  On the Internet, There’s No Place to Hide :

  • http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2000/on_the_internet_theres_no_place_to_hide

Student Sample Essay

Types of Higher Education Programs

Today’s students have many choices when it comes to pursuing a degree: four-year programs, two-year programs, large or small classroom settings, and even daytime or evening classes. With all the different options to consider, potential students should learn about the different types of colleges so they can find a school that best fits their personality, budget, and educational goals.

One type of higher education program for students to consider is a liberal arts college. These schools tend to be small in size and offer a range of undergraduate degrees in subjects like English, history, psychology, and education. Students may choose a liberal arts college if they want a more intimate classroom setting rather than large lecture-style classes. Students may also consider a liberal arts college if they want to gain knowledge from a variety of disciplines, rather than focus on a single area of study. Many liberal arts schools are privately owned, and some have religious affiliations. Liberal arts schools can come with a hefty price tag, and their high cost presents an obstacle for students on a tight budget; moreover, while some students might appreciate a liberal arts school’s intimate atmosphere, others might encounter a lack of diversity in the student body. Still, students seeking a well-rounded education in the humanities will find liberal arts colleges to be one option.

Universities, another type of higher education program, offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Usually universities are larger than colleges and can accommodate tens of thousands of students in many different majors and areas of study. A large student body means that class sizes are often larger, and some classes may be taught by graduate students rather than professors. Students will feel at home at a university if they want a focused academic program and state-of-the-art research facilities. While some universities are private, many are public, which means they receive funding from the government, so tuition is more affordable and some even offer discounted in-state tuition for state residents. Also, universities attract many international students, so those looking for a variety of campus cultural groups and clubs will appreciate a greater sense of diversity among the student body. Universities can be overwhelming for some, but they are the right fit for students who seek research opportunities and academic studies, especially in the fields of mathematics and science.

Community college is a type of higher education program popular with students on a limited budget who want to take college courses but may not know what they want to major in. Most schools offer degrees after two years of study, usually an associate’s degree that prepares students to enter the work force; many students choose to study at a community college for two years and then transfer to a four-year college to complete their undergraduate degree. Like liberal arts schools, classes are small and allow instructors to pay more attention to their students. Community college allows students to live at home rather than in a dormitory, which also keeps costs down. While some young people might not like the idea of living at home for school, many adults choose to attend community college so they can advance their education while working and living with their families.

Online universities are another type of higher education program that are gaining popularity as technology improves. These schools offer many of the same degree programs as traditional liberal arts colleges and universities. Unlike traditional programs, which require students to attend classes and lectures, online universities offer greater academic flexibility and are a great option for students wishing to pursue a degree while still working full time. At online universities, students access course materials, such as video lectures and assessments, remotely using a personal computer and are able to speed up or slow down their progress to complete their degree at their own pace. Students may attend classes in the comfort of their own home or a local library, but students hoping for the social community of higher education might not enjoy this aspect of higher education.

With so many colleges and universities to choose from, it may be difficult for a student to narrow down his or her selection, but once a student knows what he or she is looking for, the process may become much easier. It is very important for students to learn about the different types of higher education programs available before making their selections.

classification essay conclusion

Key Takeaways

  • The purpose of classification is to break a subject into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts.
  • Smaller subcategories help us make sense of the world, and the way in which these subcategories are created also helps us make sense of the world.
  • A classification essay is organized by its subcategories.

This is a derivative of  WRITING FOR SUCCESS  by a publisher who has requested that they and the original author not receive attribution, originally released and is used under CC BY-NC-SA. This work, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License .

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Chapter 10 Rhetorical Modes

10.4 classification, learning objectives.

  • Determine the purpose and structure of the classification essay.
  • Understand how to write a classification essay.

The Purpose of Classification in Writing

The purpose of classification is to break down broad subjects into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts. We classify things in our daily lives all the time, often without even thinking about it. Cell phones, for example, have now become part of a broad category. They can be classified as feature phones, media phones, and smartphones.

Smaller categories, and the way in which these categories are created, help us make sense of the world. Keep both of these elements in mind when writing a classification essay.

Choose topics that you know well when writing classification essays. The more you know about a topic, the more you can break it into smaller, more interesting parts. Adding interest and insight will enhance your classification essays.

On a separate sheet of paper, break the following categories into smaller classifications.

  • The United States
  • Colleges and universities

The Structure of a Classification Essay

The classification essay opens with an introductory paragraph that introduces the broader topic. The thesis should then explain how that topic is divided into subgroups and why. Take the following introductory paragraph, for example:

When people think of New York, they often think of only New York City. But New York is actually a diverse state with a full range of activities to do, sights to see, and cultures to explore. In order to better understand the diversity of New York state, it is helpful to break it into these five separate regions: Long Island, New York City, Western New York, Central New York, and Northern New York.

The underlined thesis explains not only the category and subcategory but also the rationale for breaking it into those categories. Through this classification essay, the writer hopes to show his or her readers a different way of considering the state.

Each body paragraph of a classification essay is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subcategories. In the previous example, then, each region of New York would have its own paragraph.

The conclusion should bring all the categories and subcategories back together again to show the reader the big picture. In the previous example, the conclusion might explain how the various sights and activities of each region of New York add to its diversity and complexity.

To avoid settling for an overly simplistic classification, make sure you break down any given topic at least three different ways. This will help you think outside the box and perhaps even learn something entirely new about a subject.

Using your classifications from Note 10.43 “Exercise 1”, write a brief paragraph explaining why you chose to organize each main category in the way that you did.

Writing a Classification Essay

Start with an engaging opening that will adequately introduce the general topic that you will be dividing into smaller subcategories. Your thesis should come at the end of your introduction. It should include the topic, your subtopics, and the reason you are choosing to break down the topic in the way that you are. Use the following classification thesis equation:

topic + subtopics + rationale for the subtopics = thesis.

The organizing strategy of a classification essay is dictated by the initial topic and the subsequent subtopics. Each body paragraph is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subtopics. In a way, coming up with a strong topic pays double rewards in a classification essay. Not only do you have a good topic, but you also have a solid organizational structure within which to write.

Be sure you use strong details and explanations for each subcategory paragraph that help explain and support your thesis. Also, be sure to give examples to illustrate your points. Finally, write a conclusion that links all the subgroups together again. The conclusion should successfully wrap up your essay by connecting it to your topic initially discussed in the introduction. See Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” to read a sample classification essay.

Building on Note 10.43 “Exercise 1” and Note 10.46 “Exercise 2”, write a five-paragraph classification essay about one of the four original topics. In your thesis, make sure to include the topic, subtopics, and rationale for your breakdown. And make sure that your essay is organized into paragraphs that each describes a subtopic.

Key Takeaways

  • The purpose of classification is to break a subject into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts.
  • Smaller subcategories help us make sense of the world, and the way in which these subcategories are created also helps us make sense of the world.
  • A classification essay is organized by its subcategories.
  • Successful Writing. Authored by : Anonymous. Provided by : Anonymous. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/successful-writing/ . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

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Ultimate guide to writing a classification essay, carla johnson.

  • June 14, 2023
  • Essay Topics and Ideas , How to Guides

When it comes to writing an essay, you can choose from many different kinds. A classification essay is one type of essay you might be asked to write. This article will tell you everything you need to know about how to write a classification essay.

A classification essay is a type of academic writing in which things, people, or ideas are put into groups based on the things they have in common. The goal of a classification essay is to help readers understand a complicated topic better by breaking it down into smaller, easier-to-understand pieces.

It’s important to write a classification essay for more than one reason. First, it lets you show how well you can analyze and organize information in a way that makes sense. Second, it helps you learn how to think critically because you have to judge and compare different things or ideas. Lastly, it can help readers who are trying to understand a complicated topic by breaking it up into smaller pieces.

In the sections that follow, we’ll give you a step-by-step plan for how to write a good classification essay. By following these rules, you’ll be able to write a well-organized, interesting essay that puts your topic into clear categories and gives your readers useful information.

What You'll Learn

Understanding the Elements of a Classification Essay

To write a successful classification essay, it is important to understand the elements that make up this type of academic writing. These include:

– Definition of classification: Classification is the process of organizing items, people, or ideas into categories based on shared characteristics. In a classification essay, you will use this process to group your topic into different categories that you will then explore in detail.

– Types of classification: There are several different ways to classify items or ideas, including by physical characteristics , function, importance, and chronological order. The type of classification you choose will depend on the specific topic you are exploring and the purpose of your essay .

– The importance of classification in writing a classification essay: Classification is a crucial element of a classification essay, as it allows you to effectively organize your ideas and present them in a way that is logical and easy to understand. By categorizing your topic, you will be able to provide valuable insights for your readers and help them better understand a complex topic.

Choosing a Topic for Your Classification Essay

Once you understand the elements of a classification essay, the next step is to choose a topic that is appropriate for this type of academic writing. Here are some tips to help you choose a topic for your classification essay:

– Identifying your audience: Before you choose a topic, it is important to consider your audience. Think about who will be reading your essay and what their interests and needs are. This will help you tochoose a topic that is relevant and engaging for your readers.

– Brainstorming ideas: Once you have identified your audience, start brainstorming ideas for your classification essay. Think about topics that you are knowledgeable about and that are interesting to you. Consider different categories that you could use to classify your topic.

– Narrowing down your topic: After you have generated a list of potential topics, it is important to narrow down your options. Choose a topic that is specific enough to be manageable, but broad enough to provide you with enough material to write about.

– Finalizing your topic: Choose a final topic for your classification essay once you have narrowed down your list. Make sure your topic is clear and to the point, and that it is relevant to the people you are writing for.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to choose a topic for your classification essay that is appropriate, interesting, and relevant to your readers. Make sure to pick a topic that is narrow enough to be manageable but wide enough to give you enough to write about. Once you have a good topic for your classification essay, you can move on to the next steps.

Pre-Writing Strategies for Your Classification Essay

Before you start writing your classification essay, it’s important to take some time to prepare and plan your approach. Here are some pre-writing strategies to help you get started:

– Conducting research: Depending on your topic, you may need to conduct research to gather information and examples to support your categories . This research can come from a variety of sources, including books, academic articles, and online sources.

– Creating an outline: Once you have gathered your research, create an outline for your essay . This will help you to organize your ideas and ensure that your essay flows logically and cohesively. Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

– Developing a thesis statement: Your thesis statement is the main idea or argument that you will be exploring in your essay . It should be clear, concise, and focused on the categories that you will be exploring in your essay .

– Organizing your ideas: Once you have created your outline and developed your thesis statement , organize your ideas into categories. Think about the different ways that you can group your topic and create categories based on shared characteristics.

Writing Your Classification Essay

Now that you have completed your pre-writing strategies, it’s time to start writing your classification essay. Here is a breakdown of the different sections of your essay:

– Introduction: Your introduction should provide an overview of your topic and a clear thesis statement that outlines the categories you will be exploring in your essay.You should also provide some context for your topic and engage the reader’s interest.

– Body paragraphs: The main part of your essay should be broken up into paragraphs that each talk about a different topic . Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that says what category you will be talking about, and then back up your classification with examples and evidence. Use transitional phrases to link your paragraphs and help your reader see how your categories are related.

– Conclusion: Your conclusion should summarize the main points of your essay and restate your thesis statement in a memorable way. You can also provide some final thoughts or recommendations based on your classification.

Remember to use clear and concise language throughout your essay, and to provide examples and evidence to support your categories. By following these guidelines, you can create a well-organized and compelling classification essay that effectively categorizes your topic and provides valuable insights for your readers.

Tips for Writing a Successful Classification Essay

To write a successful classification essay, it’s important to keep the following tips in mind:

– Use appropriate language and tone: Your language and tone should be appropriate for your audience and the purpose of your essay . Use clear and concise language, and avoid using jargon or technical terms that may be unfamiliar to your readers.

– Make use of examples: Examples can help to illustrate your categories and provide evidence to support your claims . Use specific and relevant examples to help the reader understand the characteristics of each category.

– Use transitional words and phrases: Transitional words and phrases can help to connect your categories and create a smooth and cohesive flow in your essay . Examples include “firstly”, “secondly”, “in addition”, and “furthermore”.

– Use evidence to support your claims: It’s important to use evidence to support your claims and to make your argument more convincing. This evidence can come from a variety of sources, including research, personal experience, and expert opinion.

– Revise and edit your essay: Finally, it’s important to take the time to revise and edit your essay . Read through your essay carefully , checking for spelling and grammar errors, and making sure that your ideas are clear and well-organized.

 Classification Essay Examples

Examples of classification essays:.

1. “The Three Types of Friends Everyone Needs” by John Smith:

In this essay, the author categorizes friends into three types: the listener, the adventurer, and the loyalist. The author provides specific examples and personal experiences to illustrate each category, and uses transitional phrases to connect each paragraph. The thesis statement is clear and focused, and the language and tone are appropriate for the audience. Overall, this essay is well-organized and effectively categorizes the different types of friends.

2. “The Four Main Types of Exercise” by Jane Doe:

In this essay, the author categorizes exercise into four types: aerobic, strength, flexibility, and balance. The author provides examples and evidence to support each category, and uses transitional words and phrases to connect each paragraph. The thesis statement is clear and focused, and the language and tone are appropriate for the audience. Overall, this essay is well-organized and effectively categorizes the different types of exercise.

3. “The Five Types of Online Shoppers” by Sarah Johnson:

In this essay, the author categorizes online shoppers into five types: the bargain hunter, the researcher, the impulse buyer, the loyal customer, and the window shopper. The author provides examples and evidence to support each category, and uses transitional phrases to connect each paragraph. The thesis statement is clear and focused, and the language and tone are appropriate for the audience. Overall, this essay is well-organized and effectively categorizes the different types of online shoppers.

Analysis of the examples:

The structure and approach of all three examples of classification essays are the same. The authors give a clear thesis statement , group their ideas into categories, and back up their claims with examples and evidence. They also use transitional words and phrases to link their categories together and give their essays a smooth flow.

One of the things that makes these essays good is that they use examples and proof to back up their categories. By giving real-world examples, the authors are able to show what each category is like and make their case stronger. Another strength is that the language is clear and to the point, which is good for the audience and purpose of the essay.

One thing that could be better about these essays is that each category should be looked at in more depth. Even though the authors give examples to back up their claims, they could have gone into more detail about what each category is and how it fits into the bigger picture.

Classification Essay Topics

Here are some ideas to get you started:

– Types of social media users

– Different types of diets

– Types of students in a classroom

– Types of pet owners

– Different types of music genres

– Types of vacation destinations

– Different types of book genres

– Types of movie genres

– Different types of coffee drinks

– Types of personality traits

Frequently Asked Questions about Classification Essays

1. what is a classification essay.

A classification essay is a type of academic writing that involves organizing items, people, or ideas into categories based on shared characteristics.

2. What are the elements of a classification essay?

The elements of a classification essay include a clear thesis statement, organized categories, examples and evidence to support each category, and transitional words and phrases to connect each paragraph.

3. How do I choose a topic for a classification essay?

To choose a topic for your classification essay, consider your audience, brainstorm ideas, narrow down your topic, and finalize your topic.

4. How do I structure my classification essay?

Your classification essay should include an introduction with a clear thesis statement, body paragraphs that explore each category, and a conclusion that summarizes your main points and restates your thesis statement.

5. What is a classification essay thesis?

A classification essay thesis is the main idea or argument that you will be exploring in your essay. It should be clear,concise, and focused on the categories you will be exploring in your essay.

In this article , we’ve told you everything you need to know about how to write a classification essay. First, we talked about what a classification essay is and why you should write one. Then, we talked about the parts of a classification essay, such as the different kinds of classification and how important it is to organize your ideas.

We also gave you advice on how to choose a topic, do research, make an outline, and come up with a thesis statement. We talked about how a classification essay is put together, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Then, to help you get started, we gave you some examples of classification essay topics and answered some of the most common questions about classification essays.

In the end, writing a classification essay can be hard, but it can also be fun. By following the tips in this article, you can write a well-organized, interesting essay that puts your topic into categories and gives your readers useful information. Make sure to choose a specific and manageable topic, use the right language and tone, and back up your categories with examples and evidence. If you have these tools, you should be able to write a good classification essay.

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To classify means to divide something into groups or categories. The classification is normally made according to one or more criteria. It is often necessary in academic English to classify something you are writing about in order to make comparisons and draw conclusions. This could be done in one or two sentences, a paragraph, or even a whole essay. This page gives information about how to classify , language for classification , and essay structure (if the classification is used for a whole essay).

How to classify

When classifying something, it is important to understand what criterion (or criteria , if there is more than one) that you are using to divide the thing into different groups. There may be more than one way to classify, and you will need to choose the criteria which make most sense for what you are writing about. For example, if you were to classify students in a university class, they could be divided according to any of the following criteria:

  • nationality
  • favourite colour

Classifying according to gender would divide the students into 'male' and 'female'. Dividing according to age is more complex, as you may need to specify age ranges, for example 'between 18 and 21', 'between 22 and 25', etc.

Language for classifying

The language used for classifying depends on whether you are describing the criterion or the result of applying the criterion. Compare the following examples.

  • The students in the class can be classified according to gender. [ criterion ]
  • The students in the class can be classified into male and female. [ result ]

The phrase 'according to' shows that you are talking about the criterion, while the word 'into' shows you are talking about the result. The following are further examples of language for classification using a criterion.

  • The students in the class may be classified on the basis of gender. [ criterion ]
  • The students in the class can be classified depending on gender. [ criterion ]

The following are further examples of language for classification showing the result.

  • Economics consists of two kinds: micro-economics and macro-economics. [ result ]
  • Economics consists of micro-economics and macro-economics. [ result ]
  • Economics comprises micro-economics and macro-economics. [ result ]

It may be necessary to classify when there is no name for the criterion you are using. For example, you may wish to divide a group into Asian and non-Asian students, but there is no category 'Asian-ness' which you can use as your criterion. In this case, you can use the construction 'according to whether... or not' to define the criterion. The language for stating the result is the same. See the following examples:

  • The students in the class can be classified according to whether they are Asian or not . [ criterion ]
  • The students in the class can be classified into Asian and non-Asian. [ result ]

Finally, it may be necessary to sub-divide, that is, to divide something which has already been divided. In this case, use 'sub-divided' for the second classification, and 'further sub-divided' for the next. See this example:

  • The students in the class can be classified according to gender. They can be sub-divided according to whether they are Asian or not . They can be further sub-divided according to age, into those who are below 25 years of age and those who are above 25.

According to this classification, we will end up with eight groups: Asian males under 25, Asian males over 25, non-Asian males under 25, etc. This is summarised in the following diagram.

classification

There are two main ways to structure a classification essay. The first way, shown in the diagram below (left), is when a single criterion (or single way of categorising) is used, resulting in distinct categories. The purpose of this type of structure is to show understanding of the categories, or justify the method of classification, by giving the categories and describing their characteristics. Sometimes the categories may be sub-divided into sub-categories, which may be listed or described. For the single-criterion classification essay, the criterion (if there is one) should be given in the general background of the introduction, and the thesis statement should list the categories which will be described in the main body. Each body paragraph will usually describe one category in detail.

The second way, shown in the diagram below (right), is when multiple criteria are used to classify the topic in different ways. The purpose of this type of classification is to show understanding of how the topic can be categorised, or justify the criteria for classification, by giving the criteria and showing examples of groupings using these criteria. For the multiple-criteria classification essay, the thesis statement should list the criteria which are described in the main body. Each body paragraph will usually describe the criteria and the groups it leads to. Depending on the level of detail, the examples might be broken down into separate paragraphs.

The two types of structure are shown in the diagram below.

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Below is a checklist for classification. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.

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Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.

Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).

Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.

Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).

Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.

Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.

How to Write a Classification Essay

High school and college students alike are likely to encounter classification essays at some stage in their education. They are commonly assigned in order to help tutors evaluate a student’s ability to categorize data based on certain properties. It can seem like a daunting prospect if you have never approached this type of assignment, but once you learn how to write a classification essay you will come to realize that it really isn’t so bad after all.

Let’s take a look at some of the tips and tricks you can use to properly structure a classification essay.

What is a Classification Essay

If you are going to learn how to write a classification essay, then you will first need to understand what it actually is! The easiest way to explain a classification essay is that it is a formal piece of writing designed to showcase your skills in categorizing and generalization.

You will be required to organize things into groups and offer up examples that fit into each. It is up to you to decide on the criteria for classification, but you must be able to explain your reasoning.

How to Structure Your Classification Essay

One of the first things to think about when learning how to write a classification essay is the structure. For the purpose of this guide we will go with the popular ‘five paragraphs’ method, but when you come to actually write your assignment you can add in additional paragraphs as appropriate.

  • Introductory Paragraph – As with any type of essay, your starting point is the introduction. You will want to clearly identify your subject, so explain what you are going to be categorizing. It is also a good idea to offer readers an explanation of the purpose of your essay. Why are you categorizing these items? Finally, you will want to close your introduction with your thesis statement. This will identify your groups and perhaps offer a brief explanation of the criteria for each of them.
  • Body Paragraphs – The body of your essay will be 3 or more paragraphs. Each paragraph should deal with a different category. Start by explaining the criteria for each of them and perhaps discuss the strengths or weaknesses. You should also offer relevant examples. Depending on the length of your paragraphs you may wish to break them down into shorter ones. This is fine, but you will need to make sure you have clear transitions when moving to a new category.
  • Conclusion – The final paragraph is where you will pull together the various categories that you have examined in the body of your classification essay. It is usual to offer a brief summary on each of them. Depending on the subject matter, you may also decide to recommend the particular one over the others, but if you do so make sure you emphasize why you have come to that conclusion.

Structure Classification Essay

Planning How to Write a Classification Essay

Now that you have a grasp of how your essay is going to be structured, it is time to sit down and plan how to write a classification essay. This is not the type of assignment where you can just sit down and start writing a first draft without a clear plan of action.

There is some initial planning that has to be done in order to produce a coherent classification essay. Here are a few of the essential planning steps you will need to consider:

Brainstorming Ideas

If you haven’t been allocated a topic then your first step is going to be to brainstorm a few potential ideas. You need to settle on a group of people, things or ideas that can be logically divided up and brought together into groups. You will want to come up with something that has definite categories to allow for comparison, but you will also want to avoid topics with too many categories.

As a general rule of thumb, you should aim for 3 to 5 categories depending on the word count requirement of your assignment. This would be enough to make comparisons, but not so many that you can’t go into depth with your criteria for classification.

Choosing Your Categories

Once you have your topic chosen, you will need to think about what categories they will be split into. Some topics may have multiple options, so you will need to decide which angle you are approaching it from.

For example, if it is about a group of people, would you sort them by age, appearance, job or something else entirely. Each of your categories should have a single basis of classification.

Getting Things in Order

It is important to consider which order you are going to place the categories in when it comes to discussing them. It can be helpful to make bullet point notes on points you wish to discuss for each category as this may highlight similarities which will help you to write linking sentences and transitions to make your essay flow smoothly.

It is good to refer back to previously discussed paragraphs for comparison, so it makes sense to order categories in a way that best suits this approach. Within each discussion itself you will also want to order your points appropriately. A common choice is to go from most important to least important or vice versa.

Develop a Thesis

Your thesis is going to form part of your introductory paragraph and it will shape the entire approach of your essay. It is important to develop this at an early stage as it can help keep your writing on track. Start off by stating what you are dividing into classes, list the different categories and explain what properties or criteria are used to classify them.

Your thesis may also explain the purpose of classifying these items or ideas. Are you going to determine if one group is superior? Start with a basic thesis statement to guide you, but be aware that you may have to refine it as your essay begins to take shape.

Only once you have gone through these initial pre-planning steps are you ready to crack on with actually writing your classification essay. Don’t expect to knock it out in one sitting, you will likely need several drafts to get it right and your plans may change slightly along the way.

General Tips for How to Write a Classification Essay

So, now that you have the structure down and have come up with a plan of how to approach your essay it is time to get started. Here are a few quick tips that will also help with how to write a classification essay.

  • Make sure you describe or define each of your categories. Start by making a list of their main characteristics and then discuss them.
  • You will need to provide several illustrative examples. Look for examples which offer a typical representation of the class. Have an equal number of examples in each of them.
  • Use the comparison and contrast technique you will have developed in other essay formats to point out the various similarities or differences between each of your categories.

These are just a few guidelines to help you get started with how to write a classification essay. The key to succeeding with this type of assignment certainly comes down to preparation. Spend time planning your essay and figuring out your categories and you will find that the rest of the assignment falls into place much more easily.

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classification essay conclusion

Classification Essay Guide

Classification Essay Outline

Last updated on: Feb 9, 2023

Classification Essay Outline - A Complete Guide

By: Cordon J.

Reviewed By: Rylee W.

Published on: Mar 22, 2022

Classification Essay Outline

A type of essay in which the writer classifies or categorizes subjects, objects, characters, events, or ideas, is called a  classification essay . Most high school and college students are assigned to do this type of essay.

Through this kind of essay, a teacher is able to analyze the student’s critical thinking ability and evaluation skills.

Have you been assigned to write a classification essay? Begin by writing a classification essay outline.

This guide will thoroughly explain to you the process of writing a classification essay outline. Along with the steps, there are multiple tips and examples for you to get a better idea of a classification essay outline and its structure.

So, without any further ado, let’s begin!

Classification Essay Outline

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How to Write a Classification Essay Outline?

An  essay outline  is written to enlist all the ideas and points that are further going to be elaborated in the essay. An essay outline provides a proper structure to the essay and determines the flow of content.

A classification essay outline will help you classify and organize the subjects being discussed. This is done in such a way that it is easy for the reader to understand and comprehend.

Not just the classification essay, but every type of essay requires you to draft an outline first. This is considered to be the prewriting phase of essay writing.

“How do you write an outline for a classification essay?”

To create a logical flow of information in the essay, a general format of a classification essay outline has the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Body Paragraph 1
  • Body Paragraph 2
  • Body Paragraph 3

The number of paragraphs in your essay may vary according to your topic or the essay requirements. However, the general three sections of an outline are Introduction, body paragraph, and conclusion.

How to Write a Classification Essay Introduction?

The first section of a classification essay is its introduction. The introduction paragraph introduces the topic and the terms being discussed in the essay.

To ensure that a reader reads your essay thoroughly with interest, hook them to your essay right from the beginning. So, it is recommended to begin your introduction paragraph with a hook sentence on an attention grabber.

Once you have successfully hooked the reader to your essay, you can introduce the topic to your reader and provide relevant background. Lastly, you need to put forward our thesis statement towards the end of your introduction paragraph.

An effective introductory paragraph for a classification essay will have the following elements:

  • Hook:  

A hook is an interesting attention grabber that compels your reader to read the essay further on. There are multiple types of hooks that can be used. You can view  hook examples  to select an appropriate hook for your essay.

You can select an appropriate hook according to the nature of your essay and the topic. If it is a serious topic you can begin with a fact or a quotation. However, if it is a funnier topic you can go for a light-hearted anecdote.

  • Topic Introduction:  

Introduce the topic of your essay. If there are any technical terms try to explain them here. Otherwise, give a general overview of the topic briefly.

  • Background or Purpose:  

Tell the background of your topic or the purpose of writing an essay on this specific topic. This will help in developing the context of your essay.

  • Thesis Statement:  

A  thesis statement  is a two-three sentence statement. It tells your viewpoint or main claim of the essay to the reader. It should be concise and clear.

To properly end the introduction paragraph you can add a transition sentence at the end. This sentence will create the flow of your writing and connect the introduction paragraph to the upcoming body paragraphs.

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How to Write a Classification Essay Body Paragraphs?

The next section of your classification essay is the body. All the details that are to be written in an essay are mentioned paragraph-wise in the body section.

Usually, there are three body paragraphs. However, the number can increase according to the number of categories that you make.

Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence that highlights the separate category being discussed in the paragraph. After the topic sentence, mention the supporting details and then end the paragraph with a concluding sentence.

The body paragraphs of a classification essay can be written in the following manner:

  • Category:  Here you will mention the categories into which you have classified the subject or the topic. You also need to tell the criteria for classifying the subject accordingly.
  • Explanation:  Explain the merits and demerits of the category or classification. Also, explain the classification more for clarification.
  • Example:  Provide the relevant examples to authenticate your classification. Examples mostly act as evidence of your claim. So, make sure to write examples that are relevant and support your point of view.

How to Write a Classification Essay Conclusion?

Lastly, you will end your essay with a conclusion paragraph. The conclusion section is drafted to summarize the whole essay and to conclude the discussion.

Keep in mind that no new information or argument is ever added in the conclusion paragraph. Instead, the conclusion paragraph only summarizes the essay.

A wise strategy is to summarize each of the outline points in a single sentence within the conclusion paragraph.

The concluding parargaph of a classification essay should include the following information:

  • Summary of the Arguments/Points:  All the categories or the classification discussed previously are summarized logically in the conclusion paragraph. Also, don’t forget to reiterate the thesis statement here.
  • Mention the Future Recommendations:  At the end of the essay and the conclusion, mention the recommendations or future interventions. This means you can also provide a call to action.

Make sure to effectively conclude the essay else your whole essay can fall flat. Your conclusion should be such that it leaves the reader thinking about your essay

Significance of Writing a Classification Essay Outline

Most students usually jump directly to essay writing and start with an essay without creating an outline first. This is not a wise strategy and can cause writing troubles for you. Here is why writing a classification essay outline can help you:

  • Provides a Clear Focus:  An outline helps the writer to remain focused on their topic and main points. Without an outline, you can get sidetracked and write extra on unnecessary information.
  • Ensure a Logical Flow:  An outline helps you organize your points well. Thus, it ensures a logical flow and a smooth transition from one point to another.
  • Prevents Structural Issues:  Through an outline, you clearly divide the information into the introduction, body, and conclusion sections of your essay. So, there are less chances of making any structural mistakes.
  • Makes the Essay Concise and Precise:  Unnecessarily elongated pieces of writings are not at all impressive. It is always recommended that an essay should be concise and precise, rather than unnecessarily extensive. An outline helps you achieve this preciseness as it prevents you from deviating to irrelevant points.
  • Helps to Organize Information:  While brainstorming ideas for an essay you think about multiple points to be written in your essay. However, not every point is relevant or important enough to be mentioned. So, with the help of an outline, you filter out the relevant points and organize them correctly for the essay.

These points tell you how significant it is to write an essay outline. They show you how an outline can help you improve your academic papers and writing skills.

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Classification Essay Outline Examples

Division and Classification Essay Outline

Classification Essay Outline Template

This guide would have surely helped you and guide you well on how to write a classification essay outline. Follow the above-mentioned guidelines. You will be able to create a good classification essay outline for your own classification essay topic as well.

However, if you still think you won’t be able to manage it by yourself, then don’t hesitate to take help from an essay writing service.

5StarEssays.com  offers customized “ write my essay ” help for any type of assignment. We write thesis, dissertations, essays, and other custom papers for students. Rest assured that all these papers are written by subject matter experts, so they are sure to impress your teachers.

Cordon J.

Speech, Law

Cordon. is a published author and writing specialist. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years, providing writing services and digital content. His own writing career began with a focus on literature and linguistics, which he continues to pursue. Cordon is an engaging and professional individual, always looking to help others achieve their goals.

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Classification Essay

Caleb S.

Classification Essay - Outline, Topics & Writing Tips

Published on: Jan 2, 2022

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

Classification Essay

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Classification Essay Outline - A Step-by-Step Guide

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Most high school and college students are often assigned to write a classification essay at some point in their academic life. Teachers assign this task to evaluate the student’s skills to categorize things. It can be a daunting task, but with the help of basic techniques, you can make the writing process easier.

Here are a few tips and guidelines that you can use to structure your classification essays properly. You have to plan your essay and figure out the categories beforehand to complete this assignment easily.

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Classification Essay Definition

A classification essay is a formal piece of writing used to evaluate your categorizing and generalization skills. It mainly aims to arrange various subjects and objects with similar characteristics.

For this, a writer needs to categorize and classify things into different groups and mention examples that fit into each. Similarly, you are also required to follow a single categorizing approach throughout the content. However, it is up to you to decide on criteria for classification to explain the reasoning and logic.

The entire process of classification essay writing is not very different from any other type of essay. Like other academic papers, the principles of essay writing remain the same, but it requires extensive research and analysis.

How to Start a Classification Essay?

Here are some important steps that you should follow to start a classification essay.

Most professors assign you a specific topic to write your classification essay. If you are not assigned, brainstorm different ideas and come up with an engaging topic. Decide on a group of things that can be logically divided into groups. Also, come up with something that has definitive categories for comparison.

After choosing a topic, decide on classification criteria. Think about all the possible categories in which the topic can split up. Some topic ideas have several options; thus, you will have to determine the exact angle to approach the essay’s theme. Furthermore, make sure that none of the categories is overlapping.

A  thesis statement  is the main argument of the writer on the topic. It is the stance that supports your entire essay, including the main body. Therefore, it is important to draft a strong statement. Also, use examples and evidence to make your essay effective and persuasive.

The next step is to conduct thorough research to gather interesting information for the audience. However, make sure to collect data from credible and authentic sources. It will further strengthen the content of your essay by making it more convincing and logical.

After collecting relevant information, you are now required to structure and organize it properly. Thus, write down the main ideas and present a logical connection between them. Eliminate unnecessary ideas if there are any.

Check out the following template outline that you can use for your division and classification essay.

  • Introductory paragraph - (A hook statement and thesis)
  • Body paragraph 1/Category number 1
  • Body paragraph 2/Category number 2
  • Body paragraph 3/Category number 3

How to Write a Classification Essay?

After planning out the basic structure, start the writing process. Follow the below-given steps to write a perfect classification essay.

The introduction is the first and the most important section of the classification essay. Here, you have to identify the subject and mention the objects to be categorized.

State an interesting hook statement to make your introduction appealing. Such as strong opening line will grab the reader’s attention towards the essay. After this, provide the purpose of the essay and explain the reason for categorizing the items.

Lastly, write a strong thesis statement to highlight the subject matter in the discussion. Develop this statement early during the writing process as it will help the writer stay in the right direction.

The body section of the classification essay comprises three or more paragraphs depending on the categories. All the paragraph provides relevant information, examples, and evidence to justify the thesis statement. Also, start each paragraph with a topic sentence.

The right approach is to discuss the most important category in the last paragraph. Use classification essay transition words to ensure that the data flows logically from one paragraph to another.

The following are some common transition phrases. Apply them each time you arrange things into groups and provide examples related to each class.

  • The 1st kind, the 2nd kind, the 3rd kind
  • The 1st group, the 2nd group, the 3rd group
  • The 1st category, the 2nd category, the 3rd category

It is the last section of a classification essay where you put together all the categories mentioned in the main body. Here, a writer will summarize all the central arguments and restate the thesis statement.

Also, mention the various types and approaches that you have examined in your classification essay. Recommend the particular one over the others, depending on the subject matter. However, make sure to emphasize why you have come to that conclusion.

The first draft of your classification essay is full of mistakes, but you can fix it up by editing and revising. For this, read your essay twice or thrice and ensure that it includes all the important points highlighted in the outline.

Eliminate all the language, punctuation, and spelling mistakes to give it a professional look. Similarly, get rid of all the unnecessary and overly complex words and phrases before the final submission.

Classification Essay Examples

Have a look at the following classification essay examples to understand writing a good one in no time.

Classification Essay Sample

Classification Essay Example About Students

Classification Essay About Food

Classification Essay Topics

Not all ideas can be good topics. Here we have mentioned some of the best topics for a classification essay, divided into several categories. It will help you choose a unique one for your essay.

  • Olympic games
  • Different genres of modern music
  • Rare species of animals
  • Types of dogs
  • Ways to treat obesity
  • Types of human relationships
  • Common phobias
  • Psychological disorders
  • Movies about memory loss
  • Meals that may lead to diabetes

Tips for Writing a Classification Essay

Keep in mind the expert tips given below while writing a good classification essay. It will make your essay stand out and draw the reader’s attention.

  • It is better to avoid choosing complex topics because extremely narrow or broad topics are hard to deal with.
  • Conduct extensive research to gather factual data for the essay.
  • Make sure to define and describe all the categories.
  • Provide authentic evidence and examples for each classified group. Make sure it offers a typical representation of the class.
  • Use credible sources of information.
  • Draft a perfect outline to organize the data properly.
  • Use a comparison and contrast technique to point out various similarities and differences between each category.
  • Proofread and revise your essay to make it perfect.

These are a few guidelines that will help you write an A-worthy classification essay. Planning out the assignment early and figuring out the categories is the key to success.

However, if you are still unsure about your research or writing skills, get quality help from our classification essay writing service now!

Our classification essay writers will help you submit a comprehensive piece of paper that will get you the grade you deserve. 

Similarly, utilize our essay writing service for original and plagiarism-free content within the given deadline.

Contact us now at CollegeEssay.org and get a classification essay at affordable rates.

You can also get quality help from our AI writing tool if you're in need of a rapid solution to your essay worries!

Caleb S. (Literature, Marketing)

Caleb S. has extensive experience in writing and holds a Masters from Oxford University. He takes great satisfaction in helping students exceed their academic goals. Caleb always puts the needs of his clients first and is dedicated to providing quality service.

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classification essay conclusion

What is Classification in Grammar?

A definition of grammatical classification with examples

  • An Introduction to Punctuation
  • Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
  • M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
  • B.A., English, State University of New York

In rhetoric and composition , classification is a method of paragraph or essay development in which a writer arranges people, objects, or ideas with shared characteristics into classes or groups. A classification essay often includes examples and other supporting details that are organized according to types, kinds, segments, categories, or parts of a whole.

Observations on Classification

"The primary support in classification consists of the categories that serve the purpose of the classification...The categories in classification are the 'piles' into which the writer sorts a topic (the items to be classified). These categories will become the topic sentences for the body paragraphs of the essay...The supporting details in classification are examples or explanations of what is in each category. The examples in classification are the various items that fall within each category. These are important because readers may not be familiar with your categories." —From "Real Essays With Readings" by Susan Anker

Using Classification in an Introductory Paragraph

"Americans can be divided into three groups—smokers, nonsmokers and that expanding pack of us who have quit. Those who have never smoked don't know what they're missing, but former smokers, ex-smokers, reformed smokers can never forget. We are veterans of a personal war, linked by that watershed experience of ceasing to smoke and by the temptation to have just one more cigarette. For almost all of us ex-smokers, smoking continues to play an important role in our lives. And now that it is being restricted in restaurants around the country and will be banned in almost all indoor public places in New York State starting next month, it is vital that everyone understand the different emotional states cessation of smoking can cause. I have observed four of them; and in the interest of science I have classified them as those of the zealot, the evangelist, the elect and the serene. Each day, each category gains new recruits." —From "Confessions of an Ex-Smoker" by Franklin Zimring

Using Classification to Establish Place

"Each of Jamaica's four great gardens, although established along similar principles, has acquired its own distinctive aura. Hope Gardens, in the heart of Kingston, evokes postcard pictures from the 1950s of public parks, gracious and vaguely suburban and filled with familiar favorites—lantana and marigolds—as well as exotics. Bath has retained its Old World character; it is the easiest to conjure as it must have looked in Bligh's time . Cinchona of the clouds is otherworldly. And Castleton, the garden established to replace Bath, fleetingly evokes that golden age of Jamaican tourism, when visitors arrived in their own yachts—the era of Ian Fleming and Noel Coward, before commercial air travel unloaded ordinary mortals all over the island." —From "Captain Bligh's Cursed Breadfruit" by Caroline Alexander

Using Classification to Establish Character: Example 1

"Local TV interviewers come in two varieties. One is a bulimic blond person with a deviated septum and a severe cognitive disorder who went into broadcasting because he or she was too emotionally disturbed for telephone sales work. The other variety is suave, sagacious, grossly overqualified for the job, and too depressed to talk to you. Good local TV people are always depressed because their field is so crowded." —From "Book Tour" by P.J. O'Rourke

Using Classification to Establish Character: Example 2

"The English-speaking world may be divided into (1) those who neither know nor care what a split infinitive is; (2) those who do not know, but care very much; (3) those who know and condemn; (4) those who know and approve; (5) those who know and distinguish." —From "A Dictionary of Modern Usage" by H.W. Fowler and Ernest Gowers

Famous Classification Paragraphs and Essays for Study

  • "Conversation" by Samuel Johnson
  • "Here is New York" by E.B. White
  • "Give Her a Pattern" by D.H. Lawrence
  • "The Man Who Interrupts" by Bill Nye
  • "Of Studies" by Francis Bacon
  • "On Various Kinds of Thinking" by James Harvey Robinson
  • "The Pleasure of Quarreling" by H.G. Wells
  • "Shaking Hands" by Edward Everett
  • Anker, Susan. "Real Essays With Readings," Third Edition. Bedford/St. Martin's. 2009
  • Zimring, Franklin. "Confessions of an Ex-Smoker." Newsweek . April 20, 1987
  • Alexander, Caroline. "Captain Bligh's Cursed Breadfruit." The Smithsonian . September 2009
  • O'Rourke, P.J. "Book Tour," in "Age and Guile, Beat Youth, Innocence, and a Bad Haircut." Atlantic Monthly Press. 1995
  • Fowler, H.W.; Gowers, Ernest. " A Dictionary of Modern English Usage ," Second Edition. Oxford University Press. 1965
  • How to Develop and Organize a Classification Essay
  • Development in Composition: Building an Essay
  • What Is Expository Writing?
  • Unity in Composition
  • Conclusion in Compositions
  • Topic In Composition and Speech
  • Definition and Examples of Analysis in Composition
  • Presenting Data in Graphic Form
  • Supporting Detail in Composition and Speech
  • How to Structure an Essay
  • Understanding Organization in Composition and Speech
  • Definition and Examples of Transitional Paragraphs
  • Writers on Writing: The Art of Paragraphing
  • Practice in Making a Simple Outline for a Cause & Effect Paragraph
  • Exploring Minor Planets
  • What an Essay Is and How to Write One

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How to Write a Classification Essay?

  • How to Write a Classification Essay: Read a Fine Manual

How to Write a Classification Essay: Read a Fine Manual

Developing Classification Essay Outline

Introduction and thesis statement for classification essay, working on classification essay conclusion, transition words for classification essay and body paragraph structure, 25 curious classification essay topics, classification paper on sports, movie classification essays, classification paper about diets, classification essay on animals, classification essay on music, observing classification essay examples.

Categorizing data based on particular properties has never been easy for an average student. Unless a student is doing well in statistics, he or she will not find it difficult to conduct research, analyze data, and break down the information into several categories. Other students keep wondering how to write a classification essay . The article starts with the detailed answer to the question, “What is a classification essay?”

It is a whole bunch of various points that combine into a complicated writing assignment. You should have some certain skills to provide a proper result. Fortunately, you have our experts to help you out. Below, a student can find the necessary information on the certain type of academic assignment. Those who think that this information is not enough or have problems with writing, in general, may feel free to contact professional academic authors. Say ' write my essay for me cheap ' and get custom papers without leaving home!

The primary question is, “What is a classification essay?” It is an academic in-class or homework writing assignment created to categorize points, characters, or subjects with common traits into separate classes. Students might face this challenge in high school or college. The example could be the orders customers place on various e-stores (one can divide them into incoming, in-process, finished, and delivered).

The entire writing process is not different from any other essay types . But you need to be ready for a deep research and analysis. All the other principles of a typical essay writing are very similar. Do not forget about the outline and start working as soon as possible. The next several sections tell more about the writing process.

If you have no idea how to start, begin with an outline. It is critical to decide on the title before writing. That's why we prepared the whole blog on how to come up with a title for an essay .

Think about the ways to structure the content and select the method of organization you believe delivers the message the best. Put down the key ideas on a separate paper. Seeing the overall picture allows breaking down the entire text into separate parts and arranging them in a logical sequence. Delete the points that appear to be useless. Structure the piece either by the significance, chronology, or do it spatially. Number the clusters to obtain an outline (see the template):

  • Introduction

And remember, an outline is a very important part of your writing process. No need to tell that it is always better for you to have a plan. No matter what you are doing, a plan is always a good idea. You need to have something to rely on. Just consider it as your road map. After carrying out a classification essay outline, move to the introduction with its main part.

Start with an explanation of what the paper will categorize, the reasons to do that, and what you plan to achieve by the end of the writing. A student may involve a hook sentence to grab the reader’s attention:

  • Rhetorical question
  • Facts & statistics
  • Poetry quote
  • Famous people quotes
  • Allegory, simile, or metaphor
  • Joke/Anecdote

What is the main part of introduction? It is a thesis statement. This part is the foundation of academic paper of any type. A powerful thesis statement has to make the target audience realize something, and that is what a writer must encompass in the thesis.

Introduction is the part for you to state your idea and main purpose of the entire paper. You do not need to create something big and fancy. There is just no need for that as your reader needs to get into the point right from the start. Just one hook will be enough. It can be an interesting fact or unexpected question. Think about how you can engage your reader to continue reading.

In our case, the thesis should define the main methods a student plans to test. Set specific expectations (forecasts) for the readers, which you must present throughout the text. Identify the classes and provide short explanations for each of them. Keep in mind thesis statement goes at the end of the introduction and pops up again in the opening lines of conclusion.

A classification essay conclusion is the closing section of the paper where a writer should put together the different classes tested and analyzed in the body paragraphs. Provide a summary of every category. Think about whether the chosen topics allows recommending the certain category over the rest of them, and do not forget to emphasize the reasons to conclude it. A final comment on each class should be non-repetitive and brief.

A student must include the thesis statement, in the beginning, middle, or end of the academic paper’s conclusion. For a better understanding always follow any conclusion examples essay .

We forgot about the body part! Transition words are the building bricks. It is important to use the given body paragraphs template and the recommended transition words to make a logical piece out of several sections:

  • Explanation of the criteria
  • Discussion of strengths & weaknesses
  • Examples to describe the certain group

What about the transition words? Many of them are available in the English language. In fact, to demonstrate, with attention to, under the circumstances, given these points, up to the present time, in the background – it is a tiny list of the possible transitions. Dig deeper to find more! It may be beneficial to observe the article explaining the importance of literary terms.

  • Sport Ethics
  • Gambling & Sports
  • Sponsorships in Sports
  • Analysis of Sports Industry
  • Females in Olympic Games
  • Genres of Retro Movies
  • Modern Film Categorization
  • Most Famous Actors of the United Kingdom
  • TV Shows in the United States
  • Films Based on Novels
  • Most Healthy Morning Meals
  • Most Destructive Beverages
  • Eco-food Industry
  • The Best Food Stores in the US
  • Exercises to Stay Slim
  • Endangered Species of Australia
  • Rare Species of Animals from Asia
  • Top Dangerous Animals
  • Division of Mammals
  • Variety of Modern Music Genres
  • Moral Development and Music
  • Legends of Rock
  • Most Popular Singers from the UK
  • French Wave of Music

To come up with some fresh and interesting ideas, browse argumentative essays topics or compare and contrast ideas . Create an outstanding title for your work.

It is hard to get the point without some good classification paper examples. Literature teachers prefer assigning this type of homework. One of the ways to categorize such paper for the upcoming literature class is by diving the recommended literature or works of specific authors in the following clusters:

  • The 1st body paragraph about drama
  • The 2nd body paragraph about poetry/lyrics
  • The 3rd body paragraph about prose
  • The 4th body paragraph about nonfiction

Once you are done with the paper, do not forget to revise it. Re-read it several times to check whether it is free of mistakes. Students may order proofreading & editing services from the professional online academic companies to get 100% quality content.

Congratulations! Everything left to do is decide on the perfect topic to impress both the teacher and classmates (pick one from the list or come up with personal ideas). Start writing the opening line and you will see there is nothing complicated about this type of assignment (or order professional help).

The best way to get a proper result in case you are out of time is to ask for a professional help. Our experts are 24/7 ready to help you out and provide with the best classification essay possible. Just fill in the order form and we will rescue you.

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If you are reading this article, you need to write an informative essay. You might have written it before or this might be your first informative paper. The point is that you are looking for some tips and guides on how to write a really good informative essay.That is for sure! Because you want a hig...

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8 Classification

The Purpose of Classification in Writing

The purpose of  classification  is to break down broad subjects into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts. We classify things in our daily lives all the time, often without even thinking about it. It is important, however, to be sure to use a single basis for the division of categories; otherwise, you may end up with items that fall into multiple categories.  Cell phones, for example, have now become part of a broad category. They can be classified as feature phones, media phones, and smartphones.

Smaller categories, and the way in which these categories are created, help us make sense of the world. Keep both of these elements in mind when writing a classification essay.

Choose topics that you know well when writing classification essays. The more you know about a topic, the more you can break it into smaller, more interesting parts. Adding interest and insight will enhance your classification essays.

Exercise 20

On a separate sheet of paper, break the following categories into smaller classifications.

  • The United States
  • Colleges and universities

The Structure of a Classification Essay

The classification essay opens with an introductory paragraph that introduces the broader topic. The thesis should then explain how that topic is divided into subgroups and why. Take the following introductory paragraph, for example:

When people think of New York, they often think of only New York City. But New York is actually a diverse state with a full range of activities to do, sights to see, and cultures to explore. In order to better understand the diversity of New York state, it is helpful to break it into five separate regions: Long Island, New York City, Western New York, Central New York, and Northern New York.

The thesis explains not only the category and subcategory but also the rationale for breaking it into those categories. Through this classification essay, the writer hopes to show his or her readers a different way of considering the state.

Each body paragraph of a classification essay is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subcategories. In the previous example, then, each region of New York would have its own paragraph.

The conclusion should bring all the categories and subcategories back together again to show the reader the big picture. In the previous example, the conclusion might explain how the various sights and activities of each region of New York add to its diversity and complexity.

To avoid settling for an overly simplistic classification, make sure you break down any given topic at least three different ways. This will help you think outside the box and perhaps even learn something entirely new about a subject.

Exercise 21

Using your classifications from Exercise 20, write a brief paragraph explaining why you chose to organize each main category in the way that you did.

Writing a Classification Essay

Start with an engaging opening that will adequately introduce the general topic that you will be dividing into smaller subcategories. Your thesis should come at the end of your introduction. It should include the topic, your subtopics, and the reason you are choosing to break down the topic in the way that you are. Use the following classification thesis equation:

topic + subtopics + rationale for the subtopics = thesis.

The organizing strategy of a classification essay is dictated by the initial topic and the subsequent subtopics. Each body paragraph is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subtopics. In a way, coming up with a strong topic pays double rewards in a classification essay. Not only do you have a good topic, but you also have a solid organizational structure within which to write.

Be sure you use strong details and explanations for each subcategory paragraph that help explain and support your thesis. Also, be sure to give examples to illustrate your points. Finally, write a conclusion that links all the subgroups together again. The conclusion should successfully wrap up your essay by connecting it to your topic initially discussed in the introduction. Continue in this section to read a sample classification essay.

Exercise 22

Consider things that are a part of your daily life. Create a list that classifies these items both as an overall categories and then within sub-topics.

Assignment 7

Building on Exercises 21 and 22, write a five-paragraph classification essay about one of the four original topics. In your thesis, make sure to include the topic, subtopics, and rationale for your breakdown. And make sure that your essay is organized into paragraphs that each describes a subtopic.

Key Takeaways

  • The purpose of classification is to break a subject into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts.
  • Smaller subcategories help us make sense of the world, and the way in which these subcategories are created also helps us make sense of the world.
  • A classification essay is organized by its subcategories.

Example Essay

Types of Higher Education Programs

Today’s students have many choices when it comes to pursuing a degree: four-year programs, two-year programs, large or small classroom settings, and even daytime or evening classes. With all the different options to consider, potential students should learn about the different types of colleges, so they can find a school that best fits their personality, budget, and educational goals.

One type of higher education program for students to consider is a liberal arts college. These schools tend to be small in size and offer a range of undergraduate degrees in subjects like English, history, psychology, and education. Students may choose a liberal arts college if they want a more intimate classroom setting rather than large lecture-style classes. Students may also consider a liberal arts college if they want to gain knowledge from a variety of disciplines, rather than focus on a single area of study. Many liberal arts schools are privately owned, and some have religious affiliations. Liberal arts schools can come with a hefty price tag, and their high cost presents an obstacle for students on a tight budget; moreover, while some students might appreciate a liberal arts school’s intimate atmosphere, others might encounter a lack of diversity in the student body. Still, students seeking a well-rounded education in the humanities will find liberal arts colleges to be one option.

Universities, another type of higher education program, offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Usually universities are larger than colleges and can accommodate tens of thousands of students in many different majors and areas of study. A large student body means that class sizes are often larger, and some classes may be taught by graduate students rather than professors. Students will feel at home at a university if they want a focused academic program and state-of-the-art research facilities. While some universities are private, many are public, which means they receive funding from the government, so tuition is more affordable, and some even offer discounted in-state tuition for state residents. Also, universities attract many international students, so those looking for a variety of campus cultural groups and clubs will appreciate a greater sense of diversity among the student body. Universities can be overwhelming for some, but they are the right fit for students who seek research opportunities and academic studies, especially in the fields of mathematics and science.

Community college is a type of higher education program popular with students on a limited budget who want to take college courses but may not know what they want to major in. Most schools offer degrees after two years of study, usually an associate’s degree that prepares students to enter the workforce; many students choose to study at a community college for two years and then transfer to a four-year college to complete their undergraduate degree. Like liberal arts schools, classes are small and allow instructors to pay more attention to their students. Community college allows students to live at home rather than in a dormitory, which also keeps costs down. While some young people might not like the idea of living at home for school, many adults choose to attend community college so they can advance their education while working and living with their families.

Online universities are another type of higher education program that are gaining popularity as technology improves. These schools offer many of the same degree programs as traditional liberal arts colleges and universities. Unlike traditional programs, which require students to attend classes and lectures, online universities offer greater academic flexibility and are a great option for students wishing to pursue a degree while still working full time. At online universities, students access course materials, such as video lectures and assessments, remotely using a personal computer and are able to speed up or slow down their progress to complete their degree at their own pace. Students may attend classes in the comfort of their own homes or local libraries, but students hoping for the social community of higher education might not enjoy this aspect of higher education.

With so many colleges and universities to choose from, it may be difficult for a student to narrow down his or her selection, but once a student knows what he or she is looking for, the process may become much easier. It is very important for students to learn about the different types of higher education programs available before making their selections.

External Links

Amy Tan describes relationship with her heritage, her mother, and her languages in  Mother Tongue  (https://tinyurl.com/hya7ob5).  The essay is also available  here  (https://tinyurl.com/y7gbr9hs).

English 101: Journey Into Open Copyright © 2021 by Christine Jones is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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11.2: The Structure of a Classification Essay

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  • Page ID 6291

  • Amber Kinonen, Jennifer McCann, Todd McCann, & Erica Mead
  • Bay College Library

The classification essay opens with an introductory paragraph that introduces the broader topic. The thesis should then explain how that topic is divided into subgroups and why. Take the following introductory paragraph, for example:

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\):

When people think of New York, they often think of only New York City. But New York is actually a diverse state with a full range of activities to do, sights to see, and cultures to explore. In order to better understand the diversity of New York state, it is helpful to break it into these five separate regions: Long Island, New York City, Western New York, Central New York, and Northern New York.

The thesis explains not only the category and subcategory but also the rationale for breaking it into those categories. Through this classification essay, the writer hopes to show his or her readers a different way of considering the state.

Each body paragraph of a classification essay is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subcategories. In the previous example, then, each region of New York would have its own paragraph.

The conclusion should bring all the categories and subcategories back together again to show the reader the big picture. In the previous example, the conclusion might explain how the various sights and activities of each region of New York add to its diversity and complexity.

To avoid settling for an overly simplistic classification, make sure you break down any given topic at least three different ways. This will help you think outside the box and perhaps even learn something entirely new about a subject.

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Classification Essay Examples

There are different ways to categorize crime: criminal and civil offenses, serious and minor offenses, or violent and non-violent crimes. However, the basic types of crimes that exist are felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Felonies are serious crimes such as murder, manslaughter, robbery with violence, treason, and most sexual offenses. Felonies...

  • Classification

625 words | 3 page(s)

Whenever you have people gathering in one place, there need to be rules to govern how they interact with each other. This is true even when there isn"t a specific reason for them being in the same place. Just to make sure that people can be in the same location...

636 words | 3 page(s)

In 1979, the use of the ICD-9-CM classification system for morbidity was implemented in the United States. As a result, it is one of the most well-known classification systems for patient health records. Furthermore, the ICD-9-CM is set by HIPAA for diagnostic coding. Though it has three volumes, only the...

302 words | 2 page(s)

Restaurants are classified by many different characteristics such as style of food, price and atmosphere. Restaurants are found in every city and area of the world and offer all types and quality of food, from “fine dining” to “fast food.” Regarding style of food, many restaurants serve food that is...

268 words | 1 page(s)

1. The King of Hearts presents an interesting look into what it would look like if the patients ran the asylum, so to speak. It becomes clear when watching the film that many of the patients can function at quite a high level, despite acting extremely oddly. This demonstrates how...

1234 words | 5 page(s)

The term eschatology refers to the various belief systems that religions have about how the world will end. In other words, eschatology is the scientific study of visions of apocalypse. The world’s three major monotheistic religions, Islam, Christianity and Judaism, perhaps owing to their shared geographical origin in the Middle...

508 words | 2 page(s)

Based on the provided data, one can sort the total cancellations column to identify underperforming sales consultants. After sorting the data, three outliers were identified with 2, 5, and 13 cancellations. To qualify as an outlier, one can compare the data in the number of total cancellations to that in...

307 words | 2 page(s)

Chinese cuisine has always expressed the spirit and traditions of the people it represents. One particular Chinese dish, the dumpling, has remained a symbol of the Chinese Lunar Celebration. The Chinese dumpling, or Jiaozi, can be prepared in multiple ways – justly representing the diversity of the Chinese people. It...

553 words | 2 page(s)

When one attends an institution of higher learning, one is exposed to a few different types of students. Some students seem to be on task all the time, and are considered over-achievers. These students get high grades and are referred to as exceptional students. Other types of students seem to...

612 words | 3 page(s)

Learn How to Write a Good Classification Essay

One of the common types of assignments that you are likely to face in your college life is a classification essay. Although interesting because it allows students to showcase their skills in organization and sorting things, many students find it a major challenge. So, if you find selecting the right classification essay topics or drawing the right structure challenging, know that you are not alone. We are here to help. Check out our guide that defines a classification essay, outlines the main format, and finally lists expert tips for you.

Classification Essay Definition

To learn how to write a classification essay, you first need to understand what it is. So, what is a classification essay? It is a type of formal writing meant to help a student showcase skills in categorization and generalization. To write the essay, you are required to organize things into different groups and provide examples that fit into each other. Although students are at liberty to decide the criteria preferred for classification, they must be prepared to explain the reasoning.

Writing the Best Classification and Decision Essay

Classification essays differ from common essays because they require more research. But you only need to understand and follow the following process.

  • Get the right ideas: Before starting to write your classification paper, it is important to comprehensively research your subject and get the right topics or ideas. For example, you might want to look at “Types of religious people” or “Categories of political activists.”
  • Develop a good format for your essay. Before writing the essay, you need to develop the right format, which will help you to organize the main points logically. Here is one of the common and very effective structures:
  • Introduction: Here, you introduce your topic and bring out the thesis of the essay. You want to start talking about the categories immediately and capture the attention of the reader so that he/she wants to keep reading to the end.
  • Body: In the body of your essay, you delve deeper into your categories. The rule of the thumb at this point is that each category should take one paragraph. So, do not discuss so many categories to avoid the essay getting blurry.
  • Conclusion: This is the last section of the essay, and you should use it to summarize the main points. So, mention the different types and approaches that you discussed in the essay. You can also include a comment on every category, however, make it short and non-repetitive. It will be a great idea to check several classification essay examples to see how top writers did their work.

Special Tips for Writing Your Division and Classification Essay

Now that you have a great format for your essay, it is time to start writing. Here are some quick tips to help you when writing the essay.

  • Ensure to define every category properly.
  • Ensure to provide good illustrative examples.
  • Make sure to use comparison and contrast techniques to help you highlight similarities or differences.
  • Follow the instructions of your lecturer carefully
  • Read other classification and division essay examples to build your skills in writing a great paper.
  • Proofread your essay carefully to ensure all the points are flowing well and it does not have any mistake.

The process of writing a great classification paper can be really challenging. You start with the main ideas and then narrow down to the key points. And if you find it challenging to craft your division and classification essay, do not hesitate to seek expert assistance. Our writers at MyCustomEssay (mycustomessay.com) have the expertise and experience needed to help you craft a winning paper. No need for stress at all!

Have a team of vetted experts take you to the top, with professionally written papers in every area of study.

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What you need to know about the Biden classified documents report and the fallout

NPR Washington Desk

classification essay conclusion

President Biden speaks at the White House on Thursday, as he sought to emphasize his cooperation with the investigation and defended his fitness for office. Nathan Howard/Getty Images hide caption

President Biden speaks at the White House on Thursday, as he sought to emphasize his cooperation with the investigation and defended his fitness for office.

A year-long investigation into President Biden's handling of classified material will not result in any charges . Special counsel Robert Hur concluded in his report that the evidence investigators uncovered falls short of "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials.

Despite the legal win for the president, the report was politically damaging for Biden. It details shoddy handling of classified documents and specifically points out gaps in Biden's memory when discussing the information during his interview with the special counsel — fueling an existing political concern about his age and mental acuity.

Justice Department will not charge Biden in classified documents probe

Justice Department will not charge Biden in classified documents probe

The report comes at a sensitive time for the president: He's locked in a tight race with Donald Trump, his predecessor as president who is the front-runner for the Republican nomination; his job approval remains low, as does the view of his handling of the economy and, especially, immigration — in addition to persistent concerns about his age. The special counsel's assertion that he's an "elderly man with a poor memory" is hardly going to help.

Still, Biden sought to dispute the unfavorable parts of the report in a fiery press conference Thursday night, emphasizing his cooperation with the investigation and defending his fitness for office.

Here's what you need to know about the report, and the fallout that began immediately after its release.

What the report includes

The report covers what materials have been uncovered, what's known about how they were handled — going back to Biden's time as vice president — as well as the legal arguments around whether charges were appropriate.

There are photos of the boxes that contained classified materials, including one damaged box with documents about Afghanistan that was found in the garage of Biden's home in Delaware "near a collapsed dog crate, a dog bed, a Zappos box, an empty bucket, a broken lamp wrapped with duct tape, potting soil, and synthetic firewood."

Read the special counsel's report on Biden's handling of classified documents

Read the special counsel's report on Biden's handling of classified documents

The bulk of the report focuses on two types of classified materials — documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan; and notebooks that Biden used throughout his presidency for a combination of personal reflections, meeting notes and other writings.

Biden relied on his notebooks in particular while writing his memoir Promise Me, Dad, which was published in 2017 and reflects on the year his older son Beau died of cancer, two years earlier.

In conversations with his ghostwriter for the book, he read from those notebooks — and on at least three occasions shared classified material while doing so.

In his interview for the special counsel investigation, Biden was "emphatic, declaring that his notebooks are 'my property,' and that 'every president before me has done the exact same thing,' that is, kept handwritten materials after his term in office, even if they contain classified material." He also referred to the diaries kept by former President Ronald Reagan after his time in office.

Why there aren't any charges

While the special counsel investigation did find some evidence that Biden knew he had some materials that contained classified information, the report says ultimately the evidence doesn't support bringing charges.

Hur said the evidence doesn't establish Biden's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and that it would be hard to prove that Biden willfully intended to break the law.

For example:

"Mr. Biden's decision to read notes nearly verbatim to [ghostwriter Mark] Zwonitzer that Mr. Biden had just identified as potentially classified cannot be justified. But the evidence does not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to share classified information. Mr. Biden told Zwonitzer he was 'not sure' the notebook passage he read was classified. That is enough to create reasonable doubt about whether Mr. Biden acted willfully."

Hur outlines the ways in which a jury may side with Biden and not ultimately convict him for the missteps that the special counsel found.

The report says that to a jury, Biden would likely "present himself ... as he did during his interview with our office, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."

What the response has been

Biden's lawyers directly took issue with the characterization of — and multiple references to — his memory in a letter to the special counsel that is attached to the public report.

"The report uses highly prejudicial language to describe a commonplace occurrence among witnesses: a lack of recall of years-old events," said Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president, and Bob Bauer, Biden's personal counsel.

Biden defends how he handled classified docs after scathing special counsel report

Biden defends how he handled classified docs after scathing special counsel report

The lawyers also note that the five hours of interviewing with Biden began the day after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, when Biden had numerous meetings with foreign leaders and his national security team.

In his press conference Thursday, Biden further defended his mental acuity, saying his memory was "fine." He angrily responded to Hur's description of a portion of an interview where Hur said Biden seemed to not remember when his son died.

"How in the hell dare he raise that?" Biden said, adding it was "none of their damn business," and choking up with emotion. "I don't need anyone to remind me when he passed away."

Republicans, including Trump — who is likely to face Biden in the general election in November — immediately seized on the line as a reason that Biden should no longer be president.

Trump also blasted the lack of charges as evidence of a "two-tiered system of justice." Trump is facing more than three dozen federal criminal charges related to his own handling of classified information after boxes of classified material were uncovered in unsecure locations at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Fla.

Trump and his associates have pleaded not guilty in the federal case, which is being prosecuted by special counsel Jack Smith.

Unlike in Biden's case, where the president consented to searches of his property and willingly spoke with investigators, Trump is accused of actively trying to obstruct officials from recovering classified material.

What happens next

Hur's investigation is closed, but the political fallout has begun. Biden will have to contend with renewed attention on his age and convince voters that he should serve another term as president.

In his press conference that began with his defense against the critical parts of the report, Biden, when answering a question about current hostage negotiations with Israel and Hamas, mistakenly said that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt was the "president of Mexico."

In recent days in off-camera events, Biden has thrice mixed up names of foreign leaders, calling French President Emmanuel Macron "Mitterrand" and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel "Helmut Kohl." François Mitterrand and Kohl were former leaders of France and Germany, respectively.

Trump, meanwhile, is awaiting trial in multiple cases, including for the Mar-a-Lago documents case. And hours before the Hur report dropped on Thursday, the Supreme Court was hearing arguments about whether Trump could be disqualified from the ballot in Colorado for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

IMAGES

  1. Academic Conclusion

    classification essay conclusion

  2. How to Write a Good Classification Essay

    classification essay conclusion

  3. How to Write a Good Classification Essay

    classification essay conclusion

  4. Learn How to Write a Classification Essay with Our Checklist

    classification essay conclusion

  5. Explore Free Classification Essay Examples: Topics, Outlines, Samples

    classification essay conclusion

  6. Classification and Division Essay ⇒ Writing Guide and Tips

    classification essay conclusion

VIDEO

  1. PERSUASIVE ESSAY Part2 Breakdown

  2. Classification Essay Part 7: Thesis

  3. Odyssey Essay: Conclusion Writing

  4. ESSAY-WRITING

  5. writing : conclusion

  6. Essay Writing

COMMENTS

  1. How to Write a Classification Essay: Guide & Examples

    There's no right or wrong answer when it comes to classification essay length. Everything will depend on the guidelines. Usually, such articles are 3 to 5 paragraphs long. Their minimum is always an introduction, one body paragraph, and conclusion. However, professors definitely enjoy 5 paragraphs as a standard length.

  2. Classification Essay Guide: 30 Topics & Examples

    Conclusion . A classification essay conclusion must be as concise as the introduction. Apart from wrapping up the whole text, the purpose of a conclusion is to identify any new lessons that may have been learnt in classifying things. A concluding paragraph is no place for a fresh set of ideas and arguments; the paper is supposed to end there ...

  3. 10.4 Classification

    Writing a Classification Essay. Start with an engaging opening that will adequately introduce the general topic that you will be dividing into smaller subcategories. Your thesis should come at the end of your introduction. It should include the topic, your subtopics, and the reason you are choosing to break down the topic in the way that you are.

  4. How to Develop and Organize a Classification Essay

    Updated on July 03, 2019. Classification is a method of developing an essay by arranging people, objects, or ideas with shared characteristics into particular classes or groups. After you have settled on a topic for a classification essay * and explored it through various prewriting strategies, you should be ready to attempt a first draft.

  5. Classification Essay: Topics, Outline and Writing Tips

    The final paragraph of your classification essay is a conclusion. The closing statements will sum up the different categories highlighted in the body. Also, it's advisable to restate each category and advise readers on the subject matter. However, if you choose to recommend this or that topic over the others, don't forget to state the ...

  6. Classification and Division Essay ⇒ Writing Guide and Tips

    In classification essays, each body paragraph usually starts with the introduction of one of the categories of your classification. For division essays, it would be one of the parts of the whole. Each category should be accompanied by its characteristics and traits backed up by solid examples. 7. Write the conclusion.

  7. Classification

    Through this classification essay, the writer hopes to show his or her readers a different way of considering the state. ... The conclusion should successfully wrap up your essay by connecting it to your topic initially discussed in the introduction. Classification Essays. Amy Tan describes relationship with her heritage, her mother, and her ...

  8. 10.4 Classification

    Building on Note 10.43 "Exercise 1" and Note 10.46 "Exercise 2", write a five-paragraph classification essay about one of the four original topics. In your thesis, make sure to include the topic, subtopics, and rationale for your breakdown. And make sure that your essay is organized into paragraphs that each describes a subtopic.

  9. Ultimate Guide To Writing A Classification Essay

    A classification essay is a type of academic writing in which things, people, or ideas are put into groups based on the things they have in common. The goal of a classification essay is to help readers understand a complicated topic better by breaking it down into smaller, easier-to-understand pieces. It's important to write a classification ...

  10. 4.6: Classification Essays

    Use the following classification equation to craft your thesis statement: topic + subtopics + rationale for the subtopics = thesis. (4.6.1) (4.6.1) topic + subtopics + rationale for the subtopics = thesis. The organizing strategy of a classification essay is dictated by the initial topic and the subsequent subtopics.

  11. Classification Essays

    Classification. To classify means to divide something into groups or categories. The classification is normally made according to one or more criteria. It is often necessary in academic English to classify something you are writing about in order to make comparisons and draw conclusions. This could be done in one or two sentences, a paragraph ...

  12. How To Write A Classification Essay in 7 Steps + Examples

    Step 3: Brainstorm Ideas About Your Subject. To start writing a classification essay, it is important to first decide on a clear and specific criteria for classification. With credible information in hand, let your creativity flow. Jot down all the possible categories related to your chosen topic.

  13. How to Write a Classification Essay

    Make sure you describe or define each of your categories. Start by making a list of their main characteristics and then discuss them. You will need to provide several illustrative examples. Look for examples which offer a typical representation of the class. Have an equal number of examples in each of them.

  14. Classification Essay Outline

    How to Write a Classification Essay Conclusion? Lastly, you will end your essay with a conclusion paragraph. The conclusion section is drafted to summarize the whole essay and to conclude the discussion. Keep in mind that no new information or argument is ever added in the conclusion paragraph. Instead, the conclusion paragraph only summarizes ...

  15. 13.2: Basic Structure of the Classification Essay

    Students will need to develop clear and concise thesis statements that identify the point and purpose of the essay while breaking the subjects down into logically developed paragraphs. Thesis statements should always be written in third person. There are two kinds of thesis statements: a basic thesis statement and a listing thesis statement.

  16. How to Write a Classification Essay

    Now let's focus on the conclusion for a classification essay. In the concluding paragraph, you have an opportunity to blend all the categories and approaches you have been investigating. You are free in structure for the closing paragraph. For instance, you may write about each type discussed in the classification essay again, summarizing its ...

  17. How to Write a Classification Essay

    Follow the below-given steps to write a perfect classification essay. The introduction is the first and the most important section of the classification essay. Here, you have to identify the subject and mention the objects to be categorized. State an interesting hook statement to make your introduction appealing.

  18. Classification: Definition With Examples

    In rhetoric and composition, classification is a method of paragraph or essay development in which a writer arranges people, objects, or ideas with shared characteristics into classes or groups. A classification essay often includes examples and other supporting details that are organized according to types, kinds, segments, categories, or ...

  19. Classification Essay: Witty Hints and Ideas for the Best Result

    A classification essay conclusion is the closing section of the paper where a writer should put together the different classes tested and analyzed in the body paragraphs. Provide a summary of every category. Think about whether the chosen topics allows recommending the certain category over the rest of them, and do not forget to emphasize the ...

  20. Classification

    The classification essay opens with an introductory paragraph that introduces the broader topic. The thesis should then explain how that topic is divided into subgroups and why. Take the following introductory paragraph, for example: When people think of New York, they often think of only New York City. But New York is actually a diverse state ...

  21. 11.2: The Structure of a Classification Essay

    The classification essay opens with an introductory paragraph that introduces the broader topic. The thesis should then explain how that topic is divided into subgroups and why. Take the following introductory paragraph, for example: ... The conclusion should bring all the categories and subcategories back together again to show the reader the ...

  22. PDF Classification Essay Sample

    Classification Essay Classification is the process of grouping together people or things that are alike in some way. ... In conclusion, it can be seen that books are like signs reflecting people's personalities; indeed, books are a very significant factor expressing someone's personal values. Since the

  23. Classification Essay Examples

    Classification essays differ from common essays because they require more research. But you only need to understand and follow the following process. ... So, do not discuss so many categories to avoid the essay getting blurry. Conclusion: This is the last section of the essay, and you should use it to summarize the main points. So, mention the ...

  24. What you need to know about the Biden classified documents report

    The bulk of the report focuses on two types of classified materials — documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan; and notebooks that Biden used throughout his presidency for a ...