Classification

This week’s style is CLASSIFICATION, which is the most scientific style to write in because scientists must classify all things into the categories they fit into based on their characteristics. I’m certainly not a scientist, but all people do this without thinking too much. When we do the laundry, we separate our clothes according to the temperature they are to be washed in: dark colors–cold, whites are usually washed in hot, and so on. When we look at an animal in the zoo, we try to figure out what “family” it comes from: it is from the “cat family,” such as a lion, tiger, puma, leopard, or is from the “deer family,” such as an Ibex, antelope, and so forth. We are instinctively classifying by doing that.

 
PERSON refers to the pronouns you use. Remember French or Spanish class? “I” is first person, “you” is second, and so on (see the info on Person in the Preview Lesson). I prefer some essays in the third person without them sounding too stuffy, so I’ll have some tips. Now that you are aware of unity and person, I’ll expect you to work on keeping papers unified and the Person under control. You will be expected to be improving your essays with these techniques, so the same quality of writing that received an A on your first essay will not receive an A on your 5th because you’ll know a great deal more by then.

Next week, we’ll discuss the concept of COHERENCE in your writing, and again, I’ll expect that you’ll keep that in mind as you write future papers as well. You will be juggling more and more balls in the air as you go, but that is the only way to improve your skills, whether you are a writer, tennis player, or doctor. As always, please E-mail me with questions.