Classification Essay Practice
Assignment: Complete a simple essay describing the classification of clouds.
- Look at the notes about the types of clouds.
- Copy the introduction paragraph below onto your paper. This gives you your thesis statement.
- Select 3 features about each type of cloud and describe them in three supporting paragraphs (one about each type). Try to use features that are comparable for all cloud types. (You’ll need to pay attention to the grammar as you transform the notes into paragraph format.)
- Write a short conclusion for your essay.
“Classification of Clouds” Research Notes:
Cirrus Clouds
-found about 5 miles (8 kilometers) above sea level
-highest of all clouds
-look white, curly, feathery, delicate, streaky, wispy, thin
-sometimes called “mares tails” because they tend to look like the tails of horses
-move at speeds of 100-200 miles per hour, but their height makes their speed seem much slower
-made entirely of ice crystals because it is so cold at that altitude.
Stratus Clouds
-found 2-4 miles (3-6 kilometers) above the Earth
-usually arranged in smooth, flat layers
-look like a gray sheet or blanket, but sometimes not very thick, so blue sky shines through
-sometimes called mackerel sky” in English, because they look like the scales of fish
-when thick, they signal that bad weather may be coming
-made of water droplets
Cumulus Clouds
-found about 1-4 miles (1.6-6 kilometers) high
-their tops may rise to great heights, making them look like rising towers
-when detached, they look like cauliflowers
-large masses of clouds, fluffy and dome-shaped with a flat base
-usually seen in summer
-if they become too dense and vertical they often produce heavy rain, lightning and thunder
-made of water droplets
The Classification of Clouds: Introduction
The scientific study of clouds began in 1803 when Luke Howard, a British pharmacist and amateur meteorologist, introduced the first system for classifying clouds. Although many other procedures for cloud classification have been devised over the years, Howard’s system is so simple and effective that it is still in use today. It is based on the shape, composition and altitude of clouds. He identified ten different categories, but they are all variations of three basic cloud forms. Howard used their Latin names to identify them: cirrus (meaning “curl”), stratus (“spreading out in layers of sheets”) and cumulus (“a pile or heap”).
Adapted from: Blanchard, Karen, and Christine Root. Ready to Write More. 2nd ed. White Plains, NY: Longman, 2004. (p.96)