CHAPTER 3

Basic Techniques
in Technical Writing

Lesson 2
Classifying, Synthesizing, and Outlining

Lesson Proper
What is Classification is a technical writing technique that
makes you explain a thing by breaking this thing into
Classification? its categories and explaining each class based on their
similarities. It requires the presence of these three
elements:

You cannot explain your topic Genus – the class to which the term to be
well through classification unless explained belongs
you understand how crucial the Basis – the main reason or principle that causes
roles of these three elements are the objects to fall into one class
to the classification technique. Species - (singular and plural form) the class
member having characteristics or
distinctive qualities of its own.

For example, you will be explaining what the word glass means, you cannot do
this by giving its dictionary, parenthetical, sentential, amplified or extended meaning.
First, you have to give a formal definition of glass. Second, create categories or classes
of glass. Lastly, explain each class of glass focusing on the similarities of the species
composing such class of glass.
The basis is the reason or the one that tells why a thing should belong to class.
For example, using structural make up of a glass as the basis, you can have these
species of class: wired glass, fiberglass, volcanic glass, crystal glass, or sheet glass.
Another basis is the use of class, and you can have Venation glass, window glass, and
laminated glass.

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 Construction Materials Basis: Materials for
Genus building something

Species Species Species

Glass Glass Glass

Glass Basis: Composition of

Genus glass

Species Species
Species
Crystal Lime
Glass Rock
Glass Glass

Species Species
Cubic Salt
Glass Crystals

Crystal
Glass Cubic Species
Species
Genus Hexagonal Crystal Alum
Glass Genus Crystals

Species Species
Trigonal Sulfur
Glass Crystals

Basis: Shapes of Crystal Basis: Crystal with three equal

Glass axes at right angle

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 Classifying information is sorting similar details or items and arranging them into groups based
on one or two features common to all species in the group. This method of presenting information is
useful because it makes you zero in just a small or specific group that can give you the information that
you are looking for.
Comparing Classification with Definition, these two technical writing techniques are the same in
this aspect-both specify the genus or class where the topic belongs to; thus explanations are limited
mainly to the species belonging to the genus. This results in a total disregard of any alternative meanings
of the word or of any choice between or among meanings given to the word.

Guidelines for Classification-Writing Technique

1. Know your purpose, audience, and topic very well.
2. Define your topic first in a one-sentence logical definition before breaking it into various groups.
3. Have a clear and specific basis, reasons, or guiding principle for putting species in one group.
4. Use only one basis to explain or justify the presence of species under one genus.
5. Base your grouping on important and practical basis.
6. Identify all species based on one given basis or guiding principle.
7. Provide a minimum number of two classes per basis and two species per genus.
8. Include species that are relevant or applicable only to one particular genus or class rather than for
all genera.

9. Present all classes based on one Classification is not a natural occurrence but a
criterion or guiding principle but human endeavor. It makes you identify nature,
discuss only one class fully and impose categories on it, and explain these classes
thoroughly at a time. consecutively rather than randomly. So, an
effective use of classification –writing technique
10. Explain what you know about the depends greatly on your determined effort as a
topic in logical or an organized way by technical writer to give the subject matter a certain
starting your discussion from one genus order or shape, so that your readers can easily
understand the text. (Netzley, 2010)
to the last class.

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l Synthesizing Text Through Summarizing l
Summarizing involves condensing the text into a shorter form. It involves getting only the
most important parts of the material. A summary is normally a one-third length of the original text.

l Synthesizing Text Summarized:

ORIGINAL TEXT
Reflecting on the teachings of ancient masters written and
The ancient masters might compiled by writers help us in this modern world.
not have known it, but studying their
teachings can increase one’s said,
which had been passed on to us
Through Paraphrasing l
through their writings, as well as from Paraphrasing entails the use of rewording and rephrasing
other sources complied by scribes and
of the original text. The rewording and rephrasing are done to
chronicles, could greatly benefit us
achieve clarity of the text. A paraphrased material is usually the
who are living in today’s technically
driven society. same length as the original text.

ORIGINALExcerptTEXT: TheStep
from One ancient masters
to Higher IQ might no have Paraphrased:
By Jose Antonio Cangco
known it, but studying their teachings can increase one’s
intelligence quotient. Pondering over what they said, An analysis and study on these teachings
which had been passed on to us through their writings, as of the ancient masters can improve our
well as from other sources complied by scribes and intellectual aspect. Reflecting on these
chronicles, could greatly benefit us who are living in teachings, which were compiled by writers,
today’s technically driven society.
could benefit us in this modern world.
Excerpt from One Step to Higher IQ
By Jose Antonio Cangco

OUTLINING

Reading is an act of getting additional information on a specific topic. These new information will
be incorporated with your already existing. Ideas on the same topic. Your task, as a good reader is to
organize these pieces of information you obtained from reading. You have to do outlining as your
method or organization.

It is a process of organizing information gathered from reading. It uses an

What is outline – a skeletal framework – which includes the ideas separated by a specific
outlining? heading and uses a numbering system. Outlining makes it possible for you to

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arrange the ideas, details and examples based on importance or chronology. There are two (2) kinds of
numbering system: traditional and modern.
Outlining has two types: topic outline and sentence outline. The topic outline simply includes
the specific word or phrases. Whereas, the sentence outline as the term suggests uses a sentence or
sentences.

Examples:

Traditional Outline Modern Outline

I. 1.
A. 1.1.
B. 1.2.
C. 1.3.
1. 1.3.1.
2. 1.3.2.
3. 1.3.3.
a. 1.3.3.1.
b. 1.3.3.2.
c. 1.3.3.3.

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