CHAPTER 3

Basic Techniques
in Technical Writing

Lesson 2
Classifying, Synthesizing, and Outlining

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

Genus – the class to which the term to be explained

You cannot explain your topic
well through classification Basis –
unless you understand how
crucial the roles of these three Species -
elements are to the
classification technique.
belongs
the main reason or principle that causes
the objects to fall into one class
(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
Species
Glass Species Cubic
Hexagonal Alum
Genus Crystal
Glass Crystals
Genus

Species Species
Trigonal Sulfur
Glass Crystals

Basis: Shapes of Basis: Crystal with three

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

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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
of the original text. The rewording and rephrasing are done to
and chronicles, could greatly benefit
achieve clarity of the text. A paraphrased material is usually the
us who are living in today’s
technically driven society. same length as the original text.

ORIGINAL
ExcerptTEXT: The
from One ancient
Step masters
to Higher IQ might no have Paraphrased:
By Josetheir
known it, but studying Antonio Cangco can increase one’s
teachings
intelligence quotient. Pondering over what they said, An analysis and study on these teachings of
which had been passed on to us through their writings, as 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 arrange
the ideas, details and examples based on importance or chronology. There are two
(2) kinds of numbering system: traditional and modern.

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 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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