Level 7: Paragraphs that present classifications--and how to write concisely and respectfully

The fourth type of paragraphs delineates some taxonomy or classification scheme.  For example, the paragraph might indicate that various objects or findings can be divided into three or four categories.

Here is an example

Many characteristics of people affect their success at work, such as intelligence and networks.  Smith and Jones (2016) divided these characteristics into three clusters: intelligence, motivation, and resources. Brown (2017) then extended this taxonomy, introducing a fourth cluster as well, called fortune.  The first cluster consists of measures of intelligence or cognitive ability.  For example, abstract thinking (White, 2010) and numerical ability (Red, 1993) have been shown to be positively associated with income.  The second cluster comprises various features of motivation.  To illustrate, successful employees tend to report intrinsic motivation or the degree to which individuals perceive their work as interesting and challenging.  The cluster includes material and human resources.  Resources that range from material wealth (Blue, 2015) and property (Green, 2011) to social support and breadth of networks (Purple, 2016), increase the likelihood of success.  Finally, fortunate events, such as supervisors with similar values to employees, may also be beneficial (Brown, 2017).  

To write these paragraphs, follow these suggestions

Variants of this paragraph

Sometimes, you want to include more details or evidence about these categories.  In these instances, each category could be assigned a separate paragraph.  To write these paragraphs, you could follow the suggestions on how to summarise several studies in one paragraph, presented earlier.  

Exercise

7.1 Identify four or more taxonomies or classifications you want to include in your work.  For example

• you might want to divide various methodologies into several clusters, such as four kinds of grounded theory
• you might want to divide people, teams, organisations, or communities into several categories 
• you might want to divide interventions into several kinds

Exercise

7.2  Utilise the previous suggestions to write a preliminary version of these paragraphs.  That is

• start the paragraph with a sentence that refers to the diversity of some object, practice, and so forth—and indicate the number of divisions, categories, or classes
• define each division, category, or class in sequence; you might even need to devote a separate paragraph to each division, category, or class
• if you like, include or adapt relevant sentences you have already written

Improving these paragraphs: Phrases that are unnecessary or disrespectful

Exercise

7.3  To write more concisely, you can delete phrases that are invariably redundant. To help you identify these phrases

• scan the phrases in the following table that are written in bold
• apply the find option in Microsoft word to uncover these phrases in your sentences or paragraphs
• usually, you can delete these phrases

Exercise

7.4  Nevertheless, to write respectfully, you sometimes need to lengthen some phrases.  Words or phrases that might seem reasonable and concise to you can elicit feelings of hurt and resentment in some readers.   In particular, attempt to improve the flawed sentences in the left column of the following table.  The middle column specifies the flaw.  The right column presents a preferred sentence.

Exercise

In your sentences and paragraphs

• identify instances in which you have labelled a community
• determine whether these labels are appropriate and correct if necessary

Exercise

7.6  Besides demonstrating respect, you also want to attract respect.  To achieve this goal, in your sentences and paragraphs, avoid contractions—unless you deliberately want to write informally. For example

• write do not instead of don’t
• write cannot instead of can’t
• write will not instead of won’t and so forth

Exercise