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Writing a Classification Essay

This guide will assist students in the process of writing an Classification Essay

Research

Evaluating sources

When doing research, it is important to find information that is reliable, accurate, and appropriate for your assignment. Some assignments may require you to use or limit certain sources such as:

  • primary or secondary sources,
  • specific types of periodicals, and/or
  • Internet sources.

In all cases, you should evaluate the information before you use it in your assignments.

Types of Sources

When doing research the following types of sources will be available:

  • Primary Sources: These sources are records of events or evidence during the time period of an event. First hand accounts. examples: government documents, Diaries, autobiographies.
  • Secondary Sources: These sources offer an analysis or retailing of an event. Information after the fact or event. Textbooks, Literary analysis, edited work
  • Tertiary Sources: These are sources that index, abstract, organize, compile, or digest other sources. Examples: dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs

How to Evaluate sites

Evaluating sources involves recognizing that not all information you read is valid or credible especially when using online resources. The following links will give you a general breakdown of sources and the process of conducting research

 

Information on conducting research by Pressbooks

 
When looking online for credible websites look for sites ending in .Gov or .Edu, some .Org websites can be credible as well.

Google Search Tips

Use Google Advanced Search for more tailored search and to find credible sources. Note you will be able to limit your search to a particular domain such as .gov, .edu.  Use the google preference button  Settings (Windows) - Wikipedia  to get to the advanced settings.