What are some examples on the topic of family that I can use for a classification/division essay?

Question

I have to divide family into category/classes(at least 3) then, write about each category explaining and giving 3 characteristics. I was thinking on discussing characteristics on being a good parent(responsible, patience, and love) is this considered classifying? 

Answer 1

You are on the right track. There are many ways to divide up a family. You have created one - only some members of the family are parents - and that classification can lead to others that are similar: children, siblings, brothers, sisters - all relationship-based classifications.

If you choose siblings instead of children, you might include one or both of your parents if, in addition to being a parent, they are also a sibling.

And you don't have to choose good or bad - characteristics of being a parent might include age, maturity, responsibility, etc., as well as the ones you mentioned.

You can classify the members of the family that are human as opposed to those who are not such as pets.

Another classification might be by education - who has finished school, who is in high school, college, grammar school, etc

Or by interests, who plays a musical instrument, who is a DJ or a dancer, who likes to read and who hates math...

Once you decide on the classification that you are most interested in exploring, then you can make a list of the characteristics of each of those and who fits them best and you're off and running, making lists and comparing.

After that's done, the essay will be easy to put together:

List the classifications and their characteristics in the introduction

Spend a few paragraphs on each classification, its members and their characteristics

Conclude with something that ties it all together and shows that you discussed all the classifications you mentioned in your introduction

Please feel free to write a draft and ask me to look it over and offer suggestions for improvement!

Good luck

Lisa D

Wyzant Tutor

 

Answer 2

Hi Brenda,

 

From what I understand, you are being asked to write an essay in which you categorize a family into three parts and then describe three characteristics of each category. 

 

I think you're off to a good start. A parent is a good example of part of a family, and I like the characteristics you chose to describe. Now you just need to think of two more parts of a family and their characteristics.

 

If your essay needs to include all three categories, you'll want to consider how you'll bring it all together when you choose the rest of your family. These are some questions you can ask yourself in formulating the rest of your essay.

• What other parts of the family relate most to parents?
• What characteristics are common to all parts of the family and which ones are different?
• How do the characteristics of each category relate to each other? Such as, how does a responsible parent effect a responsible child?

 

Feel free to ask follow up questions if you have any.