The Classification Paragraph

The Classification Paragraph:an Interactive Experience

The Classification Paragraph...

A paragraph discussing a topic divided into categories

Paper Graph College-Ruled Construction

Books Textbook Novel Dictionary

Shoes Sneakers High heels Loafers

The Classification Paragraph: Example

First Dates A first date can end up being categorized as successful, clingy, boastful, or awkward. Successful first dates include both parties expressing information about what they like, who they are, and so forth. Usually, these dates will end in tentative plans for a second one. Clingy dates end up with one of the parties practically begging for information about the other. However, the non-clinger is not interested. On boastful dates, one member of the duo talks about all of his or her skills, talents, and abilities. The listening end of the pair is never asked about his or her life. Awkward first dates generally involve lots of silence or one or both of the partners not knowing how to act appropriately. While many dates occur every day, they can generally fall into one of these categories: successful, clingy, boastful, or awkward.

Source: “What Are Examples of Classification Paragraphs?” http://examples.yourdictionary.com/what-are-examples-classification-paragraphs.html

Classification Paragraph: The Assignment

1) Select a topic from list

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2) Outline your topic

3) Create a PowerPoint presentation with 12 slides: a title slide and eleven individual sentence slides

4) Type and label each sentence on a separate slide.

5) Submit and print your slides with six on each page, vertically

6) Two grades: 1) topic selection, outline, and PowerPoint and 2) eleven-sentence PowerPoint checked by rubric

Topic Sentence

A first date can end up being categorized as successful, clingy, boastful, or awkward.

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Major Supporting Details

Major detail one: Successful first dates include both parties expressing information about what they like, who they are, and so forth. Major detail two: Clingy dates end up with one of the parties practically begging for information about the other. Major detail three: On boastful dates, one member of the duo talks about all of his or her skills, talents, and abilities. Major detail four: Awkward first dates generally involve lots of silence or one or both of the partners not knowing how to act appropriately.

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Minor Supporitng Details

Usually, these dates will end in tentative plans for a second one. However, the non-clinger is not interested. The listening end of the pair is never asked about his or her life.

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Concluding Sentence

While many dates occur every day, they can generally fall into one of these categories: successful, clingy, boastful, or awkward.

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Classification Paragraph Topics

1. Rides at an amusement park 2. First dates 3. Videos on YouTube 4. Stores in the mall 5. People waiting in line 6. Churchgoers 7. Attitudes toward exercising 8. Reasons for attending (or not attending) college 9. Baseball pitchers, football quarterbacks, or soccer goalies 10. Styles of eating in the cafeteria 11. Ways of saving money 12. Talk-show hosts 13. Vacations 14. Methods of studying for a final examination 15. Friends 16. Comedians 17. Ways of quitting smoking 18. Attitudes toward money 19. Television comedies 20. Diets 21. Sports fans 22. On-campus jobs for students 23. Ways of coping with a cold 24. Note-taking strategies 25. Attitudes toward tipping in restaurants 26. Political activists 27. Portable music players 28. Different uses of social networking sites (such as Facebook and Twitter) 29. High school teachers or college professors 30. Ways of protecting the environment

1. Students in a library 2. Roommates 3. Hobbies 4. Music on your phone or MP3 player 5. Study habits 6. Stand-up comedians 7. Self-centered people 8. Online educational resources 9. Gardeners 10. Drivers in a traffic jam 11. Reality shows on television 12. Sales clerks 13. Fictional detectives 14. Road trips 15. Dancing styles 16. Video games 17. Customers at your work place 18. Ways of boring people 19. Cheaters 20. Shoppers Source: Nordquist, Richard. “50 Writing Topics Classification: Writing Suggestions for a Classification Paragraph, Essay, or Speech” http://grammar.about.com/od/developingessays/a/topclassif2007.htm

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Classification Paragraph Outline Planning Sheet – Minimum (eleven sentences) Title (word or phrase) __________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence (1):_____________________________________________________________________ Point One (2):_________________________________________________________________________ Supporting Detail One (3):_________________________________________________________Supporting Detail Two (4):_________________________________________________________ Supporting Detail Three:_________________________________________________________ Point Two (5):_________________________________________________________________________ Supporting Detail One (6):_________________________________________________________ Supporting Detail Two(7):_________________________________________________________ Supporting Detail Three:_________________________________________________________ Point Three (8):________________________________________________________________________ Supporting Detail One (9):_________________________________________________________ Supporting Detail Two (10):________________________________________________________ Supporting Detail Three:_________________________________________________________ Concluding Statement (11):______________________________________________________________ Summary Statement:____________________________________________________________ Summary Statement:____________________________________________________________

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PowerPoint Slides, six on each page vertically

Sentence 1 Slide

Title Slide

Sentence 7 Slide

Sentence Slide 6

Sentence 9 Slide

Sentence 8 Slide

Sentence 2 Slide

Sentence 3 Slide

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Sentence 4 Slide

Sentence 5 Slide

Sentence 11 Slide

Sentence 10 Slide

PowerPoint Slides, each sentence labeled

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