Lesson 2- Developing a Paragraph by classification在线视频

Hello

welcome back

I am Hua

This is lesson 2

week 4

In our previous session

we learned how to write a paragraph

using process analysis

Today

we will focus on another method

of paragraph development: classification

classification

Please look at this photograph

What does the photo show

It shows fruits and vegetables on display

at a farmers’ market

How are the fruits and vegetables arranged

They are arranged according to type of produce

Can you imagine how difficult it would be

to find what you need

if all the produce were randomly

piled onto a table or shelf

with cucumbers

tomatoes

onions

peppers

and bananas all mixed together

Whoever arranged the fruits and vegetables

in the market used a process

called classification

grouping things into categories

based on specific characteristics

This chapter will show you

how to write effective paragraphs

based on classification

As a matter of fact

on a daily basis

we use classification to organize things and ideas

Your dresser drawers

are probably organized by categories

with socks and sweatshirts in different drawers

Grocery stores

libraries

and even restaurant menus

arrange items in groups

according to similar characteristics

Today

we have two objectives

1. Understand the characteristics

of paragraphs structured to classify objects or ideas

2. Be able to compose such paragraphs

successfully based on the method of

ONE-PRINCIPLE

OK let's talk about the Characteristics of Classification

The first characteristic of classification is

Classification Groups Things

According to One Principle

To sort items into groups

a writer needs to decide on what basis to do so

For example

birds could be classified in terms of their size

habitat

or diet

To develop an effective set of categories

a writer needs to choose

ONE principle of classification at a time

Alright

Can you explain

why the following classification is not acceptable

Sports can be classified into jumping

ball games

running

gymnastics and backstroke

yes Because

it violates the principle of “ONE-PRINCIPLE”

for ball games

should be considered a general category

while jumping and running

are subcategories of

track and field events

gymnastics is also a general category

Here is a proper example of

the use of classification

One way that sports can be classified

is whether they focus on individual athletic

ability gymnastics

track and field events

swimming

golf or are team sports basketball

baseball

soccer

etc

or mainly focus on one-on-one competition

like boxing

fencing

tennis

The second characteristic is

Classification Follows a Principle

Determined by the Writer’s Purpose and Audience

Because several different principles can be used

to categorize any group

the writer’s purpose and audience

should determine the principle of classification

The personnel director of a college

might classify professors by age

in preparing a financial report

for trustees that projects

upcoming retirements

whereas a student writing a humor

column for the campus newspaper

might categorize professors by teaching style

Look at this example

Indian was an easy way

for Europeans to refer to any person

living in the mysterious new land

across the ocean

But these people never thought of themselves

as Indians

Instead they had hundreds of different names

each identifying a separate tribe and culture

Some Indians were hunters

some were farmers

some fishers

some warriors

some slaves

some priests

and some artists

Many groups of Indians

lived in one place all their lives

others were almost always traveling

searching for food

Each group had its own language

although some used sign

language to communicate with other tribes

Some Indians led a simple life of hunting

and gathering

a few groups built great cities

and majestic temples

Some were almost always at war with other tribes

But many groups of Indians almost never fought

Each tribe was basically independent

My first question for this paragraph is

What are the principles applied in this paragraph

Yes we might say

Occupations in [4]

ways of life in [5]

languages in [6]

and the second question is

What effects

do these classifications achieve

In this paragraph

when the word Indian is first mentioned

we have only a general

and vague idea of who these particular people are

and may even think

that they must be identical to each other

in many ways

But then the paragraph begins

to classify these people into many recognizable groups

by their different characteristics

Thus we have a much better idea

of the Indians as peoples with different cultures

histories

languages and ways of life

Therefore the usefulness of classification

is found in how it gives

a clear and in-depth view of a subject and

to a certain extent

produces a feeling of order

Now

let us read another example paragraph

Different people enjoy doing different things

This is certainly reflected in this beach scene

Some like to sit in the shade

watching the splashing waves in the blue sea

and listening to the rhythmic sounds

They think that is the most enjoyable

thing to do on a beach

Others prefer basking in the sun

not content to leave without

an impressive suntan

But primarily the beach is for children

They rush around up and down

the sandy beach

in and out of the water

In a quiet corner

a few children sit with buckets and spades

building sand-castles

Yet other smaller children

step tentatively into the water

to try out paddling

making sure that Dad is not too far away

In this paragraph

the system of classification is clear

The people on the beach

are divided into two major groups

adults and children

Then the adults

are further divided into two types

those who like to sit in the shade

watching and listening to the sea

and those who love to stay in the sun

to get themselves tanned

The children are also divided into the older ones

and the younger ones

interested in doing different things

OK Let’s move on to Sample 3

There are three kinds of book owners

The first has all the standard sets

and best-sellers-unread

untouched

This deluded individual owns wood pulp and ink

not books

The second has a great many books

a few of them read through

most of them dipped into

but all of them as clean

and shiny as the day they were bought

This person would probably like

to make books his own

but is restrained by a false respect

for their physical appearance

The third has a few books or many

every one of them dog eared

and dilapidated

shaken and loosened by continual use

marked and scribbled in

from front to back

This man owns books

Now analyze the classification in this paragraph

According to the author

book owners can be divided into three kinds

those who do not read their books

those who carelessly read short

sections of their books

and those who read closely

and carefully every one of their books

In his opinion

only the third kind can be said to own books

After analyzing the above three examples

I believe you have a better overview of

how to write a paragraph

using the method of classification

Now

can you list the signal words and phrases

used for classification

yes you might say

The signal words include

Main kinds of

Kinds of

Basic kinds

Minor

Primary

secondary

Classify/classifications

Divide/divisions

Similar/similarities

Dissimilar/dissimilarities

Differences

Opposing

Opposite

Aspects

types

classes

parts

categories

regions

characteristics

or you might use phrases or structures like

Fall into… categories

Can be divided into…

kinds/types/classes/parts…

Now let us work on an exercise

Please add items to the following lists

1

Cities can be classified according to

the following criteria

size

or living space for its residents

Can you come up with more criteria which classify cities

administration ranks

population

geographic location

economic development

all of these criteria can also be used to classify cities

the second question Museums can be classified

according to the following criteria

history

popularity

Any other criteria

yes we might say location

theme

characteristic

or size

OK let’s summarize

Classification is a process of sorting people

things

or ideas into groups

or categories

to help make them more understandable

A successful classification

should follow one principle

Because several different principles can be used

to categorize any group

the writer’s purpose and audience

should determine the principle of classification

Therefore

you are supposed to choose a principle

that will both interest your readers

and fulfill your purpose

Enough for now

See you in the next session