Classification / 71-^ Develop each of the topics in the order in which they appear in the topic or
thesis sentence.
-^ Follow the organizational plan you chose in Step 7.
-^ Be sure to include sufficient details so that the reader can identify each item
separately and, when finished, see the relationship of each to the whole.
-^ Use a vocabulary and sentence structure appropriate to your audience.
- Use^ effective^ transitions^ to^ make^ the^ paper^ flow^ smoothly.^ [See transitions in
the Glossary.]
-^ End with a conclusion that effectively ties together the ideas in your paper. [See
conclusion in the Glossary.]
STEP 9: Revising—Checking the Content
As you reread your classification paper, ask yourself these questions to see what revi-
sions may be needed:
-^ Does my topic or thesis sentence clearly state the subject, the means of
classification, and the number of items into which the subject is classified?
- Are^ the^ divisions^ logical?
- Does^ the^ topic^ or^ thesis^ sentence^ appear^ at^ or^ near^ the^ beginning^ of^ the^ paper?
- Are^ the^ details^ sufficient^ for^ clarity?^ [See Sample Revision for Specific Detail in
Chapter 3, Revising.] - Have^ I^ maintained^ unity^ throughout^ the^ paper?^ [See Sample Revision for Unity
in Chapter 3, Revising.]
-^ Did I organize the paper effectively, probably according to some order of
importance? [See Checking for Organization in Chapter 3, Revising.]
-^ Have I included effective transitions to help readers move smoothly from one
sentence to the next, from one paragraph to the next? [See Sample Revision for
Transition in Chapter 3, Revising.]
-^ Do my transitions help show the relationships between the subtopics and the
general subject of my classification? - Are^ my^ words^ and^ sentences^ appropriate^ for^ my^ audience?
- Have^ I^ used^ strong^ nouns^ and^ verbs^ and^ avoided^ flowery^ modifiers?^ [See Sample
Revision for Wordiness in Chapter 3, Revising.] - Are^ the^ sentences^ varied^ both^ in^ structure^ and^ in^ length?^ [See Sample Revision
for Sentence Variety in Chapter 3, Revising.]
-^ Do my sentences and paragraphs create the appropriate emphasis for my
subject? [See Sample Revision for Emphasis in Chapter 3, Revising.] - Is^ the^ tone^ appropriate?^ [See tone in the Glossary.]
- Does^ the^ paper^ conclude^ effectively?