STEP-BY-STEP ANSWER:
Step 1: Identify the cell shape present: squamous (flat), cuboidal (cube-shaped), or columnar (tall and column-like).
Step 2: Determine the number of cell layers: simple (a single layer of cells), stratified (multiple layers), or pseudostratified (appearing stratified due to differing cell heights, but actually a single layer).
Step 3: Combine the determined cell shape and layering to classify the epithelial tissue (e.g., simple squamous, stratified cuboidal, etc.).
Final Answer: Epithelial tissues are classified by analyzing both the shape of individual cells and the arrangement (layering) of the cells within the tissue.