Objectives fi nding a • basis for classifi cation

Model Paragraph: The Future Car
Everyone knows that this country must develop cars that are more 
effi cient and less polluting. Today’s internal combustion engine uses only 
13% of its fuel to move the vehicle. The race is on to fi nd the car of the future. 
At present, fi ve basic types of cars are in different stages of development.
The fi rst type is the 
hypercar. 
This automobile continues to use gasoline or 
alternative fuels like ethanol to power the car but the car itself as well as 
the engine has dramatic new designs that improve its effi ciency. The second 
type of car is the 
electric car. 
This car uses hybrid electric batteries to store 
energy, but its main disadvantage is its dependence on frequent recharging. 
The third type is the 
hybrid car.
While this car continues to use gasoline, it 
also uses batteries that can improve the effi ciency. The fourth type is a car 
run by 
hydrogen fuel cells.
Its advantage is that the only emission it produces 
is water, but many other problems remain. The fi fth type is the 
solar powered 
car.
Unfortunately, whenever there is no sunlight for a number of days, there 
is no power. No single type of car has yet emerged as the perfect solution 
although some, like the hybrid, are available for purchase now. We will have 
to wait and see if any alternative energy-saving car will be a clear winner in 
the race for a better and more environmentally friendly car.
Topic sentence
Every day items that could be classifi ed:
1. Work clothes
2. Cell phones
3. Hairstyles
4. Desserts
5. Shoes
6. Television sets
7. Magazines
8. Tools
9. Makeup
10. Computers
Ten suggested topics
PART 4
CREATING EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPHS
492
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ASSIGNMENT 2: CLASSIFYING PLACES
Write a paragraph that classifi es places with which you are familiar. The 
following paragraph is a famous example of classifi cation, written in the late 
1940s by the master American essayist E.B. White.