English homework help

English homework help. The classification and division assignments require you to break down a large topic into smaller categories and then define and describe what makes each category unique.

Your classification and division outline and essay must have

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  • An introduction with a thesis statement
  • Body paragraphs that support the thesis
  • A conclusion that brings the essay to a close and restates the thesis in different words

The essay is called a classification and division essay because you start with a broad topic like music and classify it into different categories: rock, pop, hip hop, jazz, classical, and so on. Once you’ve done that, you divide each category into its defining characteristics.

TOPIC

Choose one topic from your list in the digital study guide. Please note: for the topics “Places I’ve visited, lived, or vacationed” or “Movies, video games, or television shows,” you should only choose one of the three options.

  • The topics are broad and can be narrowed down. For example, if you were writing about pets, you could classify the topic into dogs, fish, and cats. You could also narrow it further and focus on dogs and three specific breeds.
  • You can’t make up your own topic; it must be one from the study guide.

 

WHAT IS YOUR TOPIC?

CATEGORIES

The three categories will be the result of your classification and division. If your topic is pets, you could classify pets into dogs, fish, and cats. Your thesis should include all three categories and the claim you’ll make about them. Each category needs to be discussed in its own body paragraph.

WHAT ARE YOUR CATEGORIES?

O Category 1 __________________________________________

O Category 2 __________________________________________

O Category 3 __________________________________________

THESIS

  • The thesis statement must be one sentence that makes a debatable claim about your classification and division.
  • It must include the three categories and what point you want to make about them. Think about your three categories and what claim or argument you could make. Is one the best of the three? Is one more appropriate for a specific audience than another? Ask yourself questions along these lines, then explore different arguments you can make about your classification. This will lead you to your thesis statement.

EXAMPLE THESIS STATEMENT

Of dogs, cats, and fish, fish make the best pets for someone living in a small, city apartment. This works as a thesis statement because you’re making a claim:

  • fish make better pets than cats and dogs.
  • Fish live in bowls, but dogs and cats don’t. This doesn’t work as a thesis statement because it’s a fact, not a debatable claim.

WHAT IS YOUR THESIS STATEMENT?

CHARACTERISTICS

  • A characteristic is a feature or quality of a person, place, or thing and serves to identify it.
  • The three characteristics must be unique to each category and support your thesis. If you’re saying fish make the best pets for a small apartment, don’t give characteristics to show how cats and dogs can be a good choice for a small apartment.
  • Examples can be included, but an example isn’t the same thing as a characteristic. If you’re writing about fish, “betta fish” isn’t a characteristic. That’s an example. A characteristic of fish is that they don’t require any grooming.
  • Your characteristics will be used as evidence to support/prove the thesis in the body paragraphs.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHARACTERISTICS?

Category 1

Characteristic 1: ________________________________________________

Characteristic 2: ________________________________________________

Characteristic 3: ________________________________________________

Category 2

Characteristic 1: ________________________________________________

Characteristic 2: ________________________________________________

Characteristic 3: ________________________________________________

Category 3

Characteristic 1: ________________________________________________

Characteristic 2: ________________________________________________

Characteristic 3: ________________________________________________

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

  • Avoid first person when you define and describe your categories, and limit it to examples of your experience.
  • Avoid using outside research. If you do include ideas that aren’t your own, make sure you cite your sources using MLA format in the text and in a Works Cited list. See pages 617-638 of your textbook.
  • The categories in your thesis must match the categories in your body paragraphs.
  • Your conclusion should paraphrase the thesis. It shouldn’t introduce any new material.
  • Classification and division is very different than comparison/contrast. Avoid best versus worst in a classification and division essay. You can claim one category of the three is the best and explain why using your characteristics.
  • The classification and division outline/essay isn’t a personal narrative because you aren’t focusing on your experience of the topic. Here’s an example of each:

Personal Narrative:

When I was in Sedona, I was impressed by the number of artists and craftsmen who sell their work in galleries, shops and even on the street.

Classification:

Sedona, Arizona, features a vibrant artistic community. There are galleries and shops devoted to supporting local artists and craftsmen, while others simply set up on the sidewalks to showcase and sell their work.

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