CLASSIFICATION AND DIVISION WORKSHEET

INTRODUCTION
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
O An introduction with a thesis statement
O Body paragraphs that support the thesis
O 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.
O 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.
O You can’t make up your own topic; it must be one from the study guide.
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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
O The thesis statement must be one sentence that makes a debatable claim about your classification
and division.
O 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:
O fish make better pets than cats and dogs.
O 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.
If you need further help with thesis statements, check out this video on the Community:
https://community.pennfoster.edu/docs/DOC-61495
WHAT IS YOUR THESIS STATEMENT?
CHARACTERISTICS
O A characteristic is a feature or quality of a person, place, or thing and serves to identify it.
O 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.
O 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.
O 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
O Avoid first person when you define and describe your categories, and limit it to examples of your
experience.
O Avoid using outside research. If you do include ideas that aren’t your own, make sure you cite your
sources using APA format in the text and in a References list.
O The categories in your thesis must match the categories in your body paragraphs.
O Your conclusion should paraphrase the thesis. It shouldn’t introduce any new material.
O 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.
O 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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