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Classification Essay Guide

This guide takes a closer look at classification and division essays ; what’s more, it helps distinguish the difference between classification and division, as it is often bundled into one entity because “classifying” is “dividing” into categories, groups, or types by a certain principle. 

First, let’s define the terms separately since a pure classification essay can be a bit different from a pure division essay in methods and purposes that should be taken into account during writing.

What is a Classification Essay?

A classification essay is a paper that focuses on different items that have something in common. The essay intends to group tangible or intangible things, break them down into categories, classify them, and inform the readers about this classification. This essay type is valuable in that it helps the writer gather things that share some characteristics and examine how the whole relates to parts and vice versa.

Vocabulary definition of “classify”: arrange (a group of people or things) in classes or categories according to shared qualities or characteristics.

What is a Division Essay?

A division essay deals with one item and divides it into smaller parts it’s composed of. This type is somewhat similar to a process essay , which describes how something is done step-by-step. However, a division paper examines a single unit by separating it into smaller components and making it easier to understand.

Vocabulary definition of “divide”: separate or be separated into parts.

Classification vs. Division

The main difference between classification and division is that while the former works with different items that have something in common, the latter type is confined to just one piece.

For example, were you to write a classification essay about friends, you would point out several types of friends there are according to a single principle you choose, such as, for instance, how well you know a person or what type of things you can discuss with them, etc. Division, in turn, would explore the concept of being a friend in a broader scope by diving it into things that make a person someone’s friend. 

Signal Vocabulary to Use

There are certain phrases and words that tell the reader about the sorting and grouping nature of the paper and contribute to its coherence. Check the following lists to see what vocabulary to use when writing a classification essay.

Nouns: kind, type, sub-type, sub-class, category, part, group, basis, criterion, feature, order.

Verbs: divide, categorize, classify, fall under, belong, fit, relate, associate, group, arrange, distinguish, subdivide, put into.

8 Steps to Writing a Classification Essay

With a practical approach, you can compose a classification paper in a timely manner. The next eight fundamental steps will show you how to write a classification essay, tackle all the requirements, and, as a result, score high. 

1. Pick a topic (might be optional)

Your teacher decides whether to provide a list of topics to pick or assign students the exact topic. For that reason, make sure to clarify that in advance. Your educator can also let you come up with your own topic and write a classification essay based on it. Provided below are several exemplary prompts.

Assignment Prompt Examples 

  • Multiple study habits and mnemonics can improve students’ learning sessions and thus boost their average grades. Classify these habits into distinct types.
  • Smoking is a detrimental habit, which has, thankfully, been dropping in the U.S. gradually over the years. Write a classification essay about ways to quit smoking.
  • Fashion is a broad field that touches upon various aspects. Using a classification structure, create clear yet different categories related to fashion.
  • We spend lots of time scrolling feeds, chatting with friends, and interacting with various posts. Social media platforms play a crucial role in our lives. Classify these platforms into categories.

an example of a prompt for a classification essay assignment

Download a Classification Essay Assignment Sheet Example

Examples of things to classify

Classification essays can work with most concepts. You can choose to classify any of the following examples of things or think of something else. There are also three essay examples linked in the list below.

  • Cell phones
  • Dance styles
  • Relationships
  • Restaurants
  • Social media
  • Study habits
  • Video games

260 Unique Classification Essay Ideas – take a look at a huge list of categorized classification topics.

2. Decide on categories and purpose

Suppose you have come up with the topic and are ready to kick off the essay writing process . What are your next steps? Before writing, it is necessary to determine what you plan to reveal within your paper. 

In other words, defining the purpose of your writing, along with the categories, would be your first task. While there shouldn’t be any problems with the purpose (ask yourself why you think this specific group of items needs to be classified), deciding on particular categories might be tricky. The following section will help you complete this task.

Choose a single classification basis 

Choosing a single classification basis is essential because it establishes the direction your classification essay will go. The paper must be meaningful and organize things logically. You must deliver some message and make sure the included information A) makes sense and B) is valuable to the readers . 

For instance, let’s assume your task is to classify homework. In that case, you can organize things differently, for instance, by the deadline, subject, complexity level, type of assignments, form, etc. Importantly, remember to make different categories mutually exclusive. 

Besides, avoid jumping from classes, mainly if they don’t pertain to the items. Leave some space for exceptions and/or exclusions; there are many categories, so don’t limit your classification essay by two or three widely accepted options.

3. Develop a thesis statement

Once you have a clear purpose, categories, as well as a single classification basis, you can begin writing a classification essay. Your thesis statement should indicate the object of your essay (what you categorize), the categories of your classification, and the principle you chose. 

Thesis statement examples

The following are a few examples to show you what a strong thesis looks like:

  • Professional hikers point out three types of hiking when exploring the mountains based on their difficulty: intense, semi-challenging, and picturesque.
  • Students often classify lectures into three types, depending on the level of excitement: monotonous, acceptable, and fascinating.
  • Based on the education methods employed, teachers usually fall into one of three categories: explainers, involvers, and enablers.

4. Create an outline (optional but recommended)

An outline is typically an optional element for a classification essay task. Teachers rarely ask students to attach outlines to their papers. However, it doesn’t mean that outlines aren’t helpful. As a matter of fact, they are a convenient tool that helps you structure the easy better. Here is an example of a simple yet effective outline.

Outline example

Topic: Classifying street food in Mexico.

  • Then, slowly whittling down the dishes and focusing more on the notion of street food.
  • Writing a thesis statement with clear categories– Street food in Mexico can be divided into groups based on the ingredients used: corn, avocado, and jalapeno.
  • 1st paragraph: A topic sentence about the historical significance of corn in Mexican lands. 
  • Example of street food that contains corn 
  • Explaining why corn is used and how it fits the dish
  • Conclusion with transition
  • Example of street food that is served with avocado (the second category)
  • Explaining why avocado is added and how it underscores the meal’s taste
  • Example of street food that includes the third category – jalapeno
  • Explaining why jalapeno is served and how it enhances the flavor
  • Reinforcement of the main points alongside the categories– Mexican street food usually includes corn, avocado, and jalapeno. 
  • Remind the audience of key thoughts stated within the body and move toward the end.
  • The last sentence might include recommendations on which street food the audience is encouraged to try.

Here’s a fillable outline template in PDF for a short classification essay – Download .

Deciding on the order of your categories

It would be reasonable to decide on the order of your categories before writing the classification essay. Depending on the topic, the order of objects may vary and be either chronological, logical, or emphatic (importance). Try using the one you think pertains to the context the most. For example, if your group of elements has historical value and is scattered in time, opting for chronological order would be a good option.

5. Write the introduction

The best way to write an efficient introduction is to start broad and narrow down the content before including a thesis statement. Make sure your introduction has:

  • Hook (opening sentence, can be optional)
  • Background information

How to Start an Essay – here’s our separate guide on writing introductions (with examples).

The introduction of a classification essay must establish several things:

  • What things you are classifying
  • Why you are classifying them, and
  • What classification principle you use

6. Write the body paragraphs

Body paragraphs in a classification essay don’t differ from other paper types. A body paragraph comprises a topic sentence, focuses on a single point (a category in this case) from your thesis, provides supportive evidence, and gives examples.

Plus, it must have a brief wrap-up and smoothly move to the next section with a transition. Remember to use specific vocabulary and phrases to increase the paper’s quality.

In classification essays, each body paragraph usually starts with the introduction of one of the categories of your classification. For division essays, it would be one of the parts of the whole.

Each category should be accompanied by its characteristics and traits backed up by solid examples.

7. Write the conclusion

The conclusion’s primary purpose is to end a classification essay properly, encapsulating the information you’ve provided in the previous sections. Notably, a conclusion can begin by rephrasing your thesis and providing major points described in the body. You can conclude a classification essay with a question, recommendation, or implication. Regardless of your choice, ensure it doesn’t include any additional information or new categories.

How to End an Essay – you can read our full article on writing conclusions here (with examples).

8. Revise and edit

It’s best to take a step back upon writing the first draft and let your attention and productivity restore before editing the piece. The editing process requires approaching the classification essay from various angles, e.g., reviewing the categories, correcting spelling and punctuation errors, and polishing the content. The order of methods depends on your preferences. 

Seven questions to ask yourself when revising a classification essay

Asking questions is yet another practical way to ensure your classification essay meets the requirements and is coherent, comprehensive, and mistakes-free. Try asking questions related to different parts of this essay type. Here are some questions to pose when revising:

  • Does my essay fall into a classification/division type, as was required?
  • Are my categories mutually exclusive and include room for exceptions?
  • Have I used the most appropriate order to arrange my categories?
  • Does my thesis statement contain all three components, namely the subject, classification basis, and categories?
  • Have I provided strong examples to highlight the significance of my chosen categories?
  • Does the conclusion re-emphasize each category with a view to reminding the audience of the core statement and its significance?
  • Have I paid equal attention to each category, or does any category look lacking compared to others?

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References used

  • Classification and Division Guidelines – Tidewater Community College
  • Rhetorical Patterns – Classification/Division – Lincoln University
  • Structuring a Division-and-Classification Essay (+ Sample) – IRSC

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A classification essay is a type of academic essay that categorizes a topic into distinct groups based on shared characteristics or criteria. The writer's purpose is to create a clear organization of information. Classification should be logical, making it easier for readers to remember the information being presented.

Let us guess: your professor asked you to write a classification essay. But they didn't explain how to even write one, did they? They often drop students like that as a part of self-learning. That's exactly why you're here! Writing a classification essay requires research. And making sure you've got enough information, you must double check what you've already gathered. Besides, classifying may sound simple, but it takes discipline and logical thinking. Putting thoughts into words and all that… What a task! But we heard a little rumor that those who continue reading would master classification papers. It's time for you to see if this rumor is true!  

What Is a Classification Essay: Definition

Classification essay doesn’t want to hide its essence, considering its name. But the primary goal of this type of article is to classify. Now, what you want to rank is up to you or your professor. Your main goal is to select topics and later put them into categories. The primary purpose of this type of essay is to show your skills in categorisation and generalization. We can take food as a good and tasty example. For instance, apples and oranges belong to the fruit category, while cucumbers will definitely be vegetables. As for avocado, you have to do the research and classify this type of food. Nevertheless, you’ll definitely need to write one of those essays during your college. So to master academic and classification writing, keep reading!  

How to Write a Classification Essay

We will start by teaching you how to write a classification essay. In this case, preparation is our little saving grace. So before you begin the actual writing, typing, or scribbling, it’s a good idea to think about the overall essence of your article. For starters, here are several valuable tips worth remembering:

  • Select a type of organization (you can use tables, documents, or anything that will help you in organizing your work).
  • Choose your categories for classification.
  • Make sure that each category is distinct and clear.
  • Include different examples for visualization.

These several steps will be handy for writing a thesis and starting your introduction. Buy essay papers online once you want good results with as little time spent as possible.

Developing an Effective Classification Essay Thesis Statement

Like with other articles, the classification essay thesis is one of the most vital parts of your work. A good thing worth keeping in mind is that your thesis is the last statement of your introduction. It also determines whether your audience will continue reading your article. Here are several things you should follow to write a good thesis:

  • Summarize your work.
  • Identify your main topic, objective, or goal of your essay.
  • Above all, make readers understand what point you’re making and what your paper is gonna be about.
  • Mention the categories you have chosen.

If you can nail our list given above, congratulations, you’ve got yourself an outstanding thesis.

Classification Essay Outline

Creating a classification essay outline is one of the easiest ways to approach an excellent classification paper. It’s true that it requires a lot of research and remembering. You will not only have to write about a single subject but group topics into categories. In order to do it correctly and understandably for the reader, it’s best if you use an outline. First and foremost, your essay should follow a traditional five paragraph essay format structure. It should have a minimum of three paragraphs. But typically, professors prefer around five. So your introduction must initially include an introduction, several body paragraphs depending on the length of your article, and a conclusion. In your body paragraphs outline, it’s a good idea to describe the groups you will include in your article. So your first paragraph will group fruits according to their color, while the second one can use nutrition for a classification. This will help you to remember your points before writing.  

How to Start a Classification Essay: Introduction

Classification essay introduction is very similar to any other introduction you have probably written. You should never forget that you are writing for an audience. Doesn’t really matter if your reader is your professor or some person online. The rules of good writing apply to any kind of paper. The first thing worth doing is introducing your overall concept. There is no need to give all the information at once. Just start with something more general and narrow it down later to a thesis we’ve talked about. Make sure that you also include the relevant information. Using our previous metaphor, if you’re talking about fruits, maybe mentioning vegetables will not be a good idea. Besides, staying on one topic will help you to write more clearly. And that’s our final requirement for your introduction.  

Body Paragraphs of a Classification Essay

Classification essay's main body commonly has around 1-3 paragraphs. But don't forget to ask your professor about the length. The important thing to remember is that you are classifying items in your work. In order to achieve precise and successful organization, your body paragraphs must be concise. Each body paragraph should focus on a certain group. You're not making mashed potatoes. So stacking all of your ideas in one section would create a mess. Keep it simple in terms of structure:  

  • Paragraph 1 — fruits organized by their color
  • Paragraph 2 — fruits arranged by expert location
  • Paragraph 3 — fruits ordered by size or shape

A simple and understandable organization will make your writing sharp. And your readers will definitely say thank you!

Classification Essay Conclusion

A classification essay conclusion is, just like always, crème de la crème of any article. At this point, your reader knows everything you were telling them. They know all your data, issues, and ideas. Thus, quickly summarizing what they’ve read in your body paragraphs will help a lot. But the last thing to do is organize your conclusion while leaving an impression. Now, their impressions can be different. However, your readers must think about your work for at least some time. So your conclusion must end with something intriguing like the possible future of your topic or piece of mind for the readers. Just don’t include any new information, and you’ll do fantastically!  

Classification Essay Writing: Useful Tips

Even with our help, classification essay writing is challenging. So we prepared for you several good tips that will help you improve and ease your academic life. Check them out:  

  • Define the purpose of the article before you start writing.
  • Avoid popular and often used topics.
  • Write down a number of topics before picking one. (We have a list of classification essay topics at your disposal.)
  • Choose a subject that will be personally interesting for you.
  • Remember that you are also writing for someone else who might not know everything about your topic.
  • Edit and proofread your work.
  • Take a break from writing once in a while and come back with a fresh mind and new look.
  • Don’t try writing about everything simultaneously. Instead, focus on one category and lead with it.

With these steps, we can definitely say that you’re ready.

Classification Essay Examples

How could we leave you without classification essay samples? You’re right; we couldn’t. Check out this example. Keep in mind that our examples always have characteristics that we talked about. So you can read the sample and return back for this article or do some revision. It will help you a lot. What are you waiting for? You can find the example right here. Or simply buy essay for college to avoid any hard work this evening. 

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Classification Essay: Bottom Line

Who knew that  writing a classification essay  wasn’t that hard? We did, and now you know that, too. You have everything it takes to create an excellent paper. You know that:  

  • Your thesis is the most essential part of the essay.
  • The introduction must contain general information on the subject.
  • Body paragraphs must be carefully organized.
  • A conclusion should leave an impression without including new information.

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But if you’re still looking for proficient help, our academic writing services got you covered. Our writers do excellent research before writing a paper and deliver high-quality results. We are also proud of our timely delivery of the papers.

FAQ about Classification Essays

1. what is the purpose of a classification essay.

The purpose of a classification essay is to organize and classify. In the beginning, you have several unique items. They indeed have some things in common. So your job is to identify in what categories they fit best. After doing the research and careful learning, you must put everything you have gathered into words. But still, keep in mind that the second purpose is to make your essay and classification clear to the reader.

2. How long is a classification essay?

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to classification essay length. Everything will depend on the guidelines. Usually, such articles are 3 to 5 paragraphs long. Their minimum is always an introduction, one body paragraph, and conclusion. However, professors definitely enjoy 5 paragraphs as a standard length. But you always need to remember that the essay should be long enough to provide necessary information for the reader. Or it must be short enough not to drag it out.

3. What is the difference between a division and classification essay?

Division and classification essays are only slightly different. The items you choose for classification essays must belong to strict and certain categories. They cannot overlap or belong to two different groups. On the other hand, division essays allow the subjects to move from one group to another. They might be divided into different groups or categories and thus overlap.

4. What are different types of classification?

There are several types of classification. Depending on the particular topic, you can choose a specific type that fits the best. Here’s what you can choose from:

  • Spatial classification (location, place and so on).
  • Chronological (you must take time and dates into consideration).
  • Classification by attributes (qualitative).
  • Classification by size (quantitative with numbers and statistics).

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Common Essay Structures / Patterns of Development

Classification and division.

decorative image

Classification and Division asks you to break something down into its component parts, offering an insight or analysis into the thing you’re breaking down.  You actually use classification and division thinking a lot, perhaps without realizing it (e.g., different personality types of the people you know, different types of cars, different types of activities for your children, etc.).

In college writing, in addition to grouping and classifying, you’re also asked to make a point about the groupings that offers an analytical insight (e.g., Of all the sixteen personality types that Myers-Briggs identify, the ___ type is the best to hire in a ___ type of job, for a number of reasons.)  Your point – your main idea, angle, assertion – should be complex enough for you to develop creatively.  Division and classification thought is a way of organizing and dealing with complex and/or abundant information in order to provide additional understanding.

Essays using a classification and division pattern have topic sentences and units of support for each group or class.  The topic sentences themselves should have angles that relate back to the main angle in the thesis.

View the following video for a clear definition and multiple basic examples of the concepts of division and classification. (Note that you will be expected to apply the concepts of division and classification to more complex concepts for college essays.)

View the following video for a further explanation of classification and division pattern in essay writing.

Here’s a graphic organizer for the Classification and Division pattern.

Hierarchical diagram; Top = Thesis, makes a point about types or categories of something; middle = Topic sentences (point about first type, point about second type); bottom = Supporting paragraphs (details about first type, details about second type)

Classification and Division in Action:

Make sure to read sample Classification and Division essays in the Sample Essays section of this text.

  • Classification and Division. Authored by : Susan Oaks. Provided by : Empire State College, SUNY OER Services. Project : College Writing. License : CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial
  • image of fruit divided and organized into boxes. Authored by : shnomoe. Provided by : Pixabay. Located at : https://pixabay.com/en/farmers-market-berries-fruit-1311017/ . License : CC0: No Rights Reserved
  • video Division and Classification. Authored by : Clay Rooks. Provided by : City College. Located at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DRPwPeOxWY . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License
  • video Classification Essay or Paragraph. Authored by : Shaun Macleod. Provided by : Smrt English. Located at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm3ObvB0mLE . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License

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10.4 Classification

Learning objectives.

  • Determine the purpose and structure of the classification essay.
  • Understand how to write a classification essay.

The Purpose of Classification in Writing

The purpose of classification is to break down broad subjects into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts. We classify things in our daily lives all the time, often without even thinking about it. Cell phones, for example, have now become part of a broad category. They can be classified as feature phones, media phones, and smartphones.

Smaller categories, and the way in which these categories are created, help us make sense of the world. Keep both of these elements in mind when writing a classification essay.

Choose topics that you know well when writing classification essays. The more you know about a topic, the more you can break it into smaller, more interesting parts. Adding interest and insight will enhance your classification essays.

On a separate sheet of paper, break the following categories into smaller classifications.

  • The United States
  • Colleges and universities

The Structure of a Classification Essay

The classification essay opens with an introductory paragraph that introduces the broader topic. The thesis should then explain how that topic is divided into subgroups and why. Take the following introductory paragraph, for example:

When people think of New York, they often think of only New York City. But New York is actually a diverse state with a full range of activities to do, sights to see, and cultures to explore. In order to better understand the diversity of New York state, it is helpful to break it into these five separate regions: Long Island, New York City, Western New York, Central New York, and Northern New York.

The underlined thesis explains not only the category and subcategory but also the rationale for breaking it into those categories. Through this classification essay, the writer hopes to show his or her readers a different way of considering the state.

Each body paragraph of a classification essay is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subcategories. In the previous example, then, each region of New York would have its own paragraph.

The conclusion should bring all the categories and subcategories back together again to show the reader the big picture. In the previous example, the conclusion might explain how the various sights and activities of each region of New York add to its diversity and complexity.

To avoid settling for an overly simplistic classification, make sure you break down any given topic at least three different ways. This will help you think outside the box and perhaps even learn something entirely new about a subject.

Using your classifications from Note 10.43 “Exercise 1” , write a brief paragraph explaining why you chose to organize each main category in the way that you did.

Writing a Classification Essay

Start with an engaging opening that will adequately introduce the general topic that you will be dividing into smaller subcategories. Your thesis should come at the end of your introduction. It should include the topic, your subtopics, and the reason you are choosing to break down the topic in the way that you are. Use the following classification thesis equation:

topic + subtopics + rationale for the subtopics = thesis.

The organizing strategy of a classification essay is dictated by the initial topic and the subsequent subtopics. Each body paragraph is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subtopics. In a way, coming up with a strong topic pays double rewards in a classification essay. Not only do you have a good topic, but you also have a solid organizational structure within which to write.

Be sure you use strong details and explanations for each subcategory paragraph that help explain and support your thesis. Also, be sure to give examples to illustrate your points. Finally, write a conclusion that links all the subgroups together again. The conclusion should successfully wrap up your essay by connecting it to your topic initially discussed in the introduction. See Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” to read a sample classification essay.

Building on Note 10.43 “Exercise 1” and Note 10.46 “Exercise 2” , write a five-paragraph classification essay about one of the four original topics. In your thesis, make sure to include the topic, subtopics, and rationale for your breakdown. And make sure that your essay is organized into paragraphs that each describes a subtopic.

Key Takeaways

  • The purpose of classification is to break a subject into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts.
  • Smaller subcategories help us make sense of the world, and the way in which these subcategories are created also helps us make sense of the world.
  • A classification essay is organized by its subcategories.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Macdonald DeWitt Library at SUNY Ulster

Eng 101 oer: classification.

  • Reading to Write
  • Why We Write
  • Rhetorical Context
  • Brainstorming
  • Proofreading & Editing
  • Paragraph Development
  • Thesis Statements
  • Introductions
  • Conclusions
  • Transitions & Phrases
  • Peer Reviews
  • Exemplification
  • Classification
  • Cause/Effect
  • Grammar Resources

Learning Objectives

  • Determine the purpose and structure of the classification essay.
  • Understand how to write a classification essay.

The Purpose of Dividing & Classifying

The purpose of  classification  is to break down broad subjects into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts. We classify things in our daily lives all the time, often without even thinking about it. Cell phones, for example, have now become part of a broad category. They can be classified as feature phones, media phones, and smartphones.

Smaller categories, and the way in which these categories are created, help us make sense of the world. Keep both of these elements in mind when writing a classification essay.

The Structure of a Division/Classification Essay

The classification essay opens with an introductory paragraph that introduces the broader topic. The thesis should then explain how that topic is divided into subgroups and why. Take the following introductory paragraph, for example:

When people think of New York, they often think of only New York City. But New York is

actually a diverse state with a full range of activities to do, sights to see, and cultures to

explore.  In order to better understand the diversity of New York state, it is helpful to

break it into these five separate regions: Long Island, New York City, Western New York,

Central New York, and Northern New York.

The thesis explains not only the category and subcategory but also the rationale for breaking it into those categories. Through this classification essay, the writer hopes to show his or her readers a different way of considering the state.

Each body paragraph of a classification essay is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subcategories. In the previous example, then, each region of New York would have its own paragraph.

The conclusion should bring all the categories and subcategories back together again to show the reader the big picture. In the previous example, the conclusion might explain how the various sights and activities of each region of New York add to its diversity and complexity.

Writing a Division/Classification Essay

Start with an engaging opening that will adequately introduce the general topic that you will be dividing into smaller subcategories. Your thesis should come at the end of your introduction. It should include the topic, your subtopics, and the reason you are choosing to break down the topic in the way that you are. Use the following classification thesis equation:

topic + subtopics + rationale for the subtopics = thesis.

The organizing strategy of a classification essay is dictated by the initial topic and the subsequent subtopics. Each body paragraph is dedicated to fully illustrating each of the subtopics. In a way, coming up with a strong topic pays double rewards in a classification essay. Not only do you have a good topic, but you also have a solid organizational structure within which to write.

Be sure you use strong details and explanations for each subcategory paragraph that help explain and support your thesis. Also, be sure to give examples to illustrate your points. Finally, write a conclusion that links all the subgroups together again. The conclusion should successfully wrap up your essay by connecting it to your topic initially discussed in the introduction. 

Classification Essays

Amy Tan describes relationship with her heritage, her mother, and her languages in  Mother Tongue :

  • http://www.scribd.com/doc/13297165/Mother-Tongue-By-Amy-Tan-I-Am-Not-A
  • http://learning.swc.hccs.edu/members/donna.gordon/sum-2010-engl-1301-5-wk-crn-33454/1301-reading-block-crn-33454/Tan_Mother%20Tongue.pdf
  • http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/mcunningham/grapes/mother%20tounge.pdf

Jonathan Koppell discusses anonymity, your name, and how the Internet has changed in  On the Internet, There’s No Place to Hide :

  • http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2000/on_the_internet_theres_no_place_to_hide

Student Sample Essay

Types of Higher Education Programs

Today’s students have many choices when it comes to pursuing a degree: four-year programs, two-year programs, large or small classroom settings, and even daytime or evening classes. With all the different options to consider, potential students should learn about the different types of colleges so they can find a school that best fits their personality, budget, and educational goals.

One type of higher education program for students to consider is a liberal arts college. These schools tend to be small in size and offer a range of undergraduate degrees in subjects like English, history, psychology, and education. Students may choose a liberal arts college if they want a more intimate classroom setting rather than large lecture-style classes. Students may also consider a liberal arts college if they want to gain knowledge from a variety of disciplines, rather than focus on a single area of study. Many liberal arts schools are privately owned, and some have religious affiliations. Liberal arts schools can come with a hefty price tag, and their high cost presents an obstacle for students on a tight budget; moreover, while some students might appreciate a liberal arts school’s intimate atmosphere, others might encounter a lack of diversity in the student body. Still, students seeking a well-rounded education in the humanities will find liberal arts colleges to be one option.

Universities, another type of higher education program, offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Usually universities are larger than colleges and can accommodate tens of thousands of students in many different majors and areas of study. A large student body means that class sizes are often larger, and some classes may be taught by graduate students rather than professors. Students will feel at home at a university if they want a focused academic program and state-of-the-art research facilities. While some universities are private, many are public, which means they receive funding from the government, so tuition is more affordable and some even offer discounted in-state tuition for state residents. Also, universities attract many international students, so those looking for a variety of campus cultural groups and clubs will appreciate a greater sense of diversity among the student body. Universities can be overwhelming for some, but they are the right fit for students who seek research opportunities and academic studies, especially in the fields of mathematics and science.

Community college is a type of higher education program popular with students on a limited budget who want to take college courses but may not know what they want to major in. Most schools offer degrees after two years of study, usually an associate’s degree that prepares students to enter the work force; many students choose to study at a community college for two years and then transfer to a four-year college to complete their undergraduate degree. Like liberal arts schools, classes are small and allow instructors to pay more attention to their students. Community college allows students to live at home rather than in a dormitory, which also keeps costs down. While some young people might not like the idea of living at home for school, many adults choose to attend community college so they can advance their education while working and living with their families.

Online universities are another type of higher education program that are gaining popularity as technology improves. These schools offer many of the same degree programs as traditional liberal arts colleges and universities. Unlike traditional programs, which require students to attend classes and lectures, online universities offer greater academic flexibility and are a great option for students wishing to pursue a degree while still working full time. At online universities, students access course materials, such as video lectures and assessments, remotely using a personal computer and are able to speed up or slow down their progress to complete their degree at their own pace. Students may attend classes in the comfort of their own home or a local library, but students hoping for the social community of higher education might not enjoy this aspect of higher education.

With so many colleges and universities to choose from, it may be difficult for a student to narrow down his or her selection, but once a student knows what he or she is looking for, the process may become much easier. It is very important for students to learn about the different types of higher education programs available before making their selections.

how to start a classification and division essay

Key Takeaways

  • The purpose of classification is to break a subject into smaller, more manageable, more specific parts.
  • Smaller subcategories help us make sense of the world, and the way in which these subcategories are created also helps us make sense of the world.
  • A classification essay is organized by its subcategories.

This is a derivative of  WRITING FOR SUCCESS  by a publisher who has requested that they and the original author not receive attribution, originally released and is used under CC BY-NC-SA. This work, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License .

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How to Develop and Organize a Classification Essay

Basic Approaches to Drafting a Five-Paragraph Essay

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Classification is a method of developing an essay by arranging people, objects, or ideas with shared characteristics into particular classes or groups. After you have settled on a topic for a classification essay * and explored it through various prewriting strategies, you should be ready to attempt a first draft . Here is how to develop and organize a five-paragraph classification essay .

Introductory Paragraph

In your introduction , clearly identify your subject — in this case, the group you are classifying. If you have narrowed your subject in any way (for example, types of bad drivers, rock guitarists, or annoying moviegoers), make this clear from the start.

You may also want to provide some specific descriptive or informative details to attract the interest of your readers and suggest the purpose of the essay .

Finally, include a thesis sentence (usually at the end of the introduction) that briefly identifies the main types or approaches that you're about to examine. 

Intro Paragraph Example: Baseball Fans

Here's an example of a short but effective introductory paragraph to a classification essay:

It's a warm evening in July, and all across the country Americans are gathering to watch a game of professional baseball. Armed with hot dogs and cold drinks, they stroll to their seats, some in grand stadiums, others in cozy minor-league parks. But no matter where the game is played, you will find the same three types of baseball fan: the Party Rooter, the Sunshine Supporter, and the Diehard Fan.

Notice how this introduction creates certain expectations. The specific details provide a setting (a ballpark on "a warm evening in July") in which we expect to see the various fans described. In addition, the labels assigned to these fans (the Party Rooter , the Sunshine Supporter , and the Diehard Fan ) lead us to expect descriptions of each type in the order they're given. A good writer will go on to fulfill these expectations in the body of the essay.

Body Paragraphs

Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence that identifies a particular type of approach. Then  illustrate each type with specific details.

Arrange your body paragraphs in whatever order strikes you as clear and logical — say, from the least effective approach to the most effective, or from the most common type to the least familiar (or the other way around). Just make sure that the order of your body paragraphs matches the arrangement promised in your thesis sentence.

Body Paragraphs Example: Types of Fans

Here, in the body of the essay on baseball fans, you can see that the writer has fulfilled the expectations set up in the introduction. (In each body paragraph, the topic sentence is in italics.)

The Party Rooter goes to games for the hot dogs, the gimmicks, the giveaways, and the companionship; he's not really that interested in the ballgame itself. The Party Rooter is the sort of fan who shows up on Buck-a-Brew Night, often with a gang of fellow partiers. He cracks jokes, hurls peanuts at the team mascot, applauds the exploding scoreboard, blasts an electronic horn whenever he pleases—and occasionally nudges a companion and asks, "Hey, who's winning?" The Party Rooter often wanders out of the park in the sixth or seventh inning to continue his celebrations in the car on the way home. The Sunshine Supporter, usually a more common type than the Party Rooter, goes to the park to cheer on a winning team and bask in its glory. When the home side is on a winning streak and still in contention for a playoff spot, the stadium will be packed with this sort of fan. As long as her team is winning, the Sunshine Supporter will be roaring at every play, waving her pennant and shouting out the names of her heroes. However, as the name implies, the Sunshine Supporter is a fickle fan, and her cheers quickly turn to boos when a hero strikes out or drops a line drive. She will stay around until the end of the game to celebrate a victory, but should her team fall a few runs behind, she's likely to slip out to the parking lot during the seventh-inning stretch.​ Diehard Fans are also strong supporters of the local team, but they go to the park to watch good baseball, not just to root for a winner.  More attentive to the game than other fans, Diehards will study the stance of a power hitter, note the finesse of a quick fielder, and anticipate the strategy of a pitcher who has fallen behind in the count. While the Party Rooter is chugging a beer or dropping wisecracks, Diehards may be filling in a scorecard or commenting on a player's RBI tally over the past few months. And when a Sunshine Supporter boos an opposing player for tagging out a local hero, Diehards may be quietly applauding the expert moves of this "enemy" infielder. No matter what the score is, Diehard Fans remain in their seats until the last batter is out, and they may still be talking about the game long after it's over.​

Comparisons Ensure Cohesion

Notice how the writer uses comparisons to ensure cohesion in the body of the essay. The topic sentence in both the second and third paragraphs refers to the preceding paragraph. Likewise, in the third body paragraph, the writer draws explicit contrasts between the Diehards and the other two types of baseball fans.

Such comparisons not only provide smooth transitions from one paragraph to the next but also reveal the sympathies of the writer. He begins with the type of fan he likes the least and ends with the one he most admires. We now expect the writer to justify his attitudes in the conclusion.

Concluding Paragraph

The concluding paragraph gives you an opportunity to draw together the various types and approaches you have been examining in the body of the essay. You may choose to offer a final brief comment on each one, summarizing its value or its limitations. Or you may want to recommend one approach over the others and explain why. In any case, make sure that your conclusion clearly emphasizes the purpose of your classification.

Concluding Paragraph: Only the Diehard Fans Remain

In the concluding paragraph to "Baseball Fans," consider whether the author has been successful in his effort to tie his observations together.

Professional baseball would have trouble surviving without all three types of fans. The Party Rooters provide much of the money that owners need to hire talented players. The Sunshine Supporters bring a stadium to life and help boost the morale of the home team. But only the Diehard Fans maintain their support all season long, year in and year out. By late September in most ballparks, enduring chilly winds, rain delays, and sometimes humiliating losses, only the Diehards remain.

Connecting the Conclusion to the Introduction

Notice how the writer hooks his conclusion back to the introduction by contrasting the chilly night in September with the warm evening in July. Connections such as this help to unify an essay and give it a sense of completeness.

As you develop and organize your draft , experiment with various strategies, but keep this basic format in mind: an introduction that identifies your subject and the different types of approaches; three (or more) body paragraphs that rely on specific details to describe or illustrate the types; and a conclusion that draws your points together and makes the overall purpose of the classification clear.

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Essay Papers Writing Online

Master the art of crafting a well-structured and engaging classification essay to captivate your readers effortlessly.

How to write a classification essay

Mastering the art of organizing and presenting information is an essential skill in academic writing. And what better way to demonstrate this proficiency than by crafting a well-crafted categorization composition?

In this comprehensive exposé, we will dive deep into the art and science of creating a classification essay that is both informative and captivating. By harnessing the power of categorization, you will learn how to draw connections, identify patterns, and present your ideas in a structured, logical manner.

Throughout this enlightening journey, we will explore various techniques, guidelines, and practical tips that will enable you to transform a jumble of concepts into a cohesive and meaningful piece of writing. So, whether you are a seasoned writer or just starting your academic journey, join us on this quest to master the art of crafting a remarkable classification essay.

The Importance of Understanding Classification Essays

The Importance of Understanding Classification Essays

Comprehending the significance of classification essays is crucial for students seeking to enhance their writing abilities and develop a comprehensive understanding of various topics. These types of essays enable individuals to categorize different objects, ideas, or concepts based on specific criteria, facilitating a deeper analysis and organization of information.

By delving into the realm of classification essays, students can sharpen their critical thinking skills and learn to identify distinct similarities and differences between various elements. This form of writing requires individuals to break down complex subjects into manageable groups, facilitating the readers’ comprehension and providing a structured framework for organizing information.

  • Enhances analytical thinking
  • Promotes effective organization
  • Facilitates understanding of complex subjects
  • Enables clear and concise communication

Furthermore, by mastering the art of classification essays, students can communicate their thoughts and arguments more clearly and concisely. This form of writing encourages individuals to present their ideas in a logical and systematic manner, ensuring that readers can follow their reasoning effortlessly.

Having a strong grasp of classification essays also enables individuals to navigate through a vast amount of information more effectively. Whether conducting research or analyzing various topics, the ability to classify information into distinct groups allows individuals to process and retain the information more efficiently, improving overall comprehension.

In conclusion, understanding the significance of classification essays is paramount for students striving to enhance their writing skills and develop a structured approach to organizing information. Mastering this form of writing not only promotes critical thinking and effective communication but also empowers individuals to navigate complex subjects with ease.

What is a Classification Essay?

A Classification Essay is a type of academic writing that organizes and categorizes different items or subjects into specific groups or classes. It aims to classify the given objects based on common characteristics, features, or qualities they possess. By using classification, the essay writer can effectively analyze and categorize a vast array of objects, ideas, or concepts, helping to better understand and explain their relationships and differences. The main goal of a classification essay is to provide a comprehensive and structured overview of a particular topic or subject by dividing it into smaller subcategories and presenting them in a logical and organized manner.

Why is it Important to Learn How to Write a Classification Essay?

Understanding the art of crafting a classification essay is an essential skill to have in the world of academic writing. This type of essay allows you to categorize and organize various subjects or ideas into distinct groups based on their shared characteristics. By learning how to write a classification essay, you can develop your critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills.

One of the main reasons why learning how to write a classification essay is important is because it encourages you to think critically and analyze information in a systematic manner. Through this process, you are required to examine different objects or concepts and identify their common traits. This analytical thinking helps you to develop a deeper understanding of the subjects you are studying and enhances your overall cognitive abilities.

Furthermore, mastering the art of classification essay writing enables you to effectively organize information. This skill is particularly valuable in academic and professional settings where clear and logical organization is highly regarded. Being able to categorize subjects or ideas into specific groups allows you to present information in a structured and coherent manner, making it easier for your readers or audience to comprehend and follow your arguments.

In addition, learning how to write a classification essay can improve your writing skills. This essay requires you to clearly define categories and provide thorough descriptions for each group. By practicing this type of writing, you can enhance your ability to express your thoughts and ideas in a concise and well-structured manner. It also encourages you to use evidence and examples to support your claims, thereby strengthening your overall persuasive writing skills.

Lastly, being proficient in writing a classification essay can open doors to various academic and professional opportunities. Many disciplines, such as literature, history, psychology, and marketing, frequently utilize classification essays as a means of organizing and analyzing information. By mastering this skill, you can excel in your academic pursuits and demonstrate your expertise in your chosen field.

In conclusion, learning how to write a classification essay is an important skill that can greatly benefit your academic and professional development. It enhances your critical thinking, analytical, and writing abilities, while also allowing you to effectively organize information and present your ideas in a structured manner. By mastering this art, you can open doors to various opportunities and establish yourself as a knowledgeable and capable individual.

Steps to Writing a Successful Classification Essay

Classification essays are a form of academic writing that require you to categorize and group different objects, ideas, or topics based on specific criteria. To write a successful classification essay, you need to follow a series of steps that will help you effectively organize your thoughts and present your ideas to the reader in a clear and logical manner.

The first step in writing a successful classification essay is to carefully choose a topic that is broad enough to provide you with ample material to classify, but also narrow enough that you can explore it in depth. Consider selecting a topic that you are passionate about or have prior knowledge of, as this will make the writing process more enjoyable and informed.

Once you have selected your topic, the next step is to develop a clear thesis statement that encapsulates the main focus of your essay. Your thesis statement should highlight the categories you will use to classify your subject matter and provide a brief overview of how you will categorize them. This will serve as a roadmap for your essay and guide your readers through your classification process.

After establishing your thesis statement, you can proceed to creating an outline for your essay. Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each body paragraph should focus on a different category and provide supporting evidence and examples to justify the classification. Ensure that your body paragraphs are well-organized and flow logically from one category to another.

Once you have completed your outline, you can start writing your essay. Begin with a captivating introduction that hooks the reader’s attention and provides background information on your topic. In the body paragraphs, present each category separately and explain its significance, providing relevant examples and evidence to support your claims.

In the conclusion, summarize the main points discussed in the essay and restate your thesis statement in a concise manner. Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion and strive to leave your readers with a lasting impression of your classification process.

Finally, revise and edit your essay to ensure that it is free from grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistencies. Pay attention to the clarity and coherence of your writing, and make any necessary revisions to improve the overall structure and flow of your essay. Additionally, proofread your essay to check for any spelling or punctuation mistakes that may distract the reader.

By following these steps, you can easily write a successful classification essay that effectively categorizes and organizes your subject matter, providing a clear and insightful analysis to your readers.

Choosing a Topic for your Classification Essay

When embarking on the journey of writing a classification essay, the first and most crucial step is selecting a topic. A well-chosen topic can make the writing process more enjoyable and ensure that your essay is engaging and informative. In this section, we will explore some strategies for finding the perfect topic for your classification essay.

One approach to choosing a topic is to think about your personal interests and hobbies. What are the things that you are passionate about? Whether it’s sports, books, movies, or fashion, selecting a topic that aligns with your interests will not only make the research process more enjoyable but also allow you to bring a personal perspective to your writing.

Another strategy is to consider current trends and popular topics. What are the buzzworthy subjects in your field of study or society? By focusing on popular topics, you can ensure that your essay will be relevant and appealing to readers. Additionally, researching and discussing current trends can demonstrate your ability to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in your chosen field.

Furthermore, it can be beneficial to choose a topic that has a clear and logical structure. Classification essays organize information into distinct categories based on shared characteristics. Therefore, selecting a topic that naturally lends itself to classification can help ensure a well-structured and coherent essay. For example, if you are writing about different types of pets, you can categorize them based on size, temperament, or maintenance requirements.

In conclusion, selecting the right topic is a crucial step in writing a successful classification essay. By considering your personal interests, popular trends, and the potential for logical categorization, you can find a topic that will captivate your audience and allow you to showcase your knowledge and expertise.

Organizing your Classification Essay

Organizing your Classification Essay

Arranging the contents of your classification essay is like sorting a collection of items into different groups based on their similarities or differences. This process requires careful planning and organization to ensure that your essay flows smoothly and effectively communicates your main points.

Introduction: Begin your classification essay with a captivating introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and provides a brief overview of what will be discussed in the essay. You can start with a relevant anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a statistical fact to engage your readers and set the tone for the rest of the essay.

Thesis statement: After introducing the topic, present a clear thesis statement that states the categories you will be using to classify the items. Your thesis statement should give the reader a preview of the main categories and how they will be organized in the essay.

Body paragraphs: The body of your essay should consist of several paragraphs, each addressing a specific category. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the category and provides a transition from the previous paragraph. Within each paragraph, use relevant examples and evidence to support your classification. Be consistent in your classification criteria and provide clear explanations for each category.

Transitions: To ensure a smooth flow between paragraphs and categories, use transition words and phrases. These words and phrases help the reader understand the relationship between different categories and how they contribute to the overall classification. Examples of transition words and phrases include “firstly,” “in addition,” “on the other hand,” “another category,” etc.

Conclusion: Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points discussed in the body paragraphs and restating the significance of your classification. Reinforce the thesis statement and leave the reader with a final thought or reflection related to the topic.

Proofreading and editing: After organizing your essay, take the time to proofread and edit your work. Check for grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, and other areas of improvement. It is also a good idea to read your essay aloud to ensure that the flow and coherence are maintained.

In summary, organizing your classification essay involves carefully arranging the contents in a logical and coherent manner. By following the steps outlined above, you can create an essay that effectively classifies the items and engages the reader.

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How to Write a Classification Essay

Short classification essay video guide.

Need more tips and pieces of advice on classification essay writing? You can watch the video on our YouTube channel to get many ideas on topics, hacks on outlining, samples, etc. Simply follow the link below.

Let’s have a closer look at what is a classification essay, and why you need to write it, aside from it being a mandatory assignment. While mastering a classification essay, you will also develop categorization and generalization skills, broaden your understanding of the topic, and improve your writing, and learn how to develop a working thesis statement.

Don’t you just enjoy when the name of a paper is straightforward, and the instructions are clear? If yes, then writing a classification essay is for students like you and the guide prepared by our essay writing service will be helpful for sure.

What’s so special about a classification essay?

Let us proceed with formulating the classification essay definition. A classification essay is a type of formal writing that requires the organization of subjects into different categories or groups using the same classification principle. It is vital to add examples for each group and category. The classification must have a purpose explained by the author and a correctly formulated thesis statement. This type of academic writing develops the generalization and categorization skills of the author, establishing logical connections between the items and evaluating their shared characteristics.

When preparing for writing a classification essay, you should focus on a particular broad subject and examine it for the elements that make it up. For instance, when you think about music, you may classify it by genre (rock, pop, jazz, electronic), mood (aggressive, fun, wistful, relaxing, intense), tempo (moderate, dynamic, lyric), etc. In this way, the primary objective of writing a proper classification essay is developing categorization skills and the ability to classify items based on a single criterion. When you turn to our experts with a “ write my essay online ” request, you get a chance to see how they do it with ease and elegance.

Once we’ve dealt with theory, it’s time to move to the practical part. Before we start talking about the writing process, here are some general tips to consider while you write a classification essay:

  • First of all, identify the categories. After the topic for your future essay is selected, divide it into groups and establish logical connections between elements. You might say: “I take a similar approach when I need to do my term paper ,” and you are right. Try to be as thorough as you can, as leaving out an important category is entirely inappropriate if you want to write classification essay that will be appreciated by your teacher.
  • Remember that it’s crucial to sort by a single standard. Once you have determined the categories, ascertain whether they fit the single organizing criteria set. Organizing criteria are how you categorize the items into groups. Do not let an inappropriate principle destroy the logic of the paper. For instance, if your topic is water sports and classification principle is tourist benefit, you should not use any other unifying principle and write about extreme or dangerous sports.
  • Make sure you provide each group with examples equally for an objective and non-biased classification essay . Remember that you should write the same number of examples for each group. However, the biggest and the most critical group is usually reserved for last, so it might need a bit more detailed elaboration.

Learn more on the classification essay outline

One of the significant stages of creating any essay is structuring.

It is also our top tip for those who wonder: “What is the most crucial thing I pay attention to when I do my dissertation ?”  That is why we will start answering the question, “how to write a classification essay?” with a detailed explanation on how to write a classification essay outline while making it detailed and proficient. Detailed outlining will let you to create a first draft and then polish it on the next stage of writing a good classification essay.

How to write a classification essay INTRODUCTION

Let’s take a closer look at the structure of a good classification essay. Remember that you should build your paper around the categories you write about, and I suggest using the following method of organizing your thoughts.

As with any other essay, you start with an introduction. Here you are supposed to state your topic, add a couple of descriptive details (don’t make it too long!) and suggest the purpose of your essay.

Remember to put your thesis statement in the last sentence of the introductory paragraph. You should also include the information about the topic and classification principle in your thesis statement. When you write a classification essay, feel free to name the categories if you wish and remember that your thesis statement should justify the specific groups chosen for classification. For example: Hawaiian tourists can enjoy many entertaining activities (topic), but some of the most popular are represented by three types of water sports (classification principle): sailing, snorkelling, and surfing (categories).

How to write a classification essay MAIN BODY

We’ve finished dealing with the introduction, and it’s time to start working on the body of your paper. “What is the right order of the arguments I list in the body paragraphs when I do my coursework or write a classification essay?” – we hear you asking. Let’s find out.

Remember that each body paragraph in the classification essay outline should open with a topic sentence that serves as a central element of the whole paragraph. Your topic sentence should narrow the focus of the entire essay to the category discussed in a particular paragraph. For example: “Sailing in Hawaii is one tradition that has remained unchangeable over the years.” After your topic sentence is ready, maintain it with additional details and provide a more comprehensive illustration of the category. Classification essays require many details and examples.

You may structuralize your body paragraphs in any order, just make sure it is logical. For instance, you may start writing about the most common types of water sports and move to the least familiar. However, do not forget to establish logical connections between the categories – compare them, comment, summarize or augment some essential details. Feel free to use the following transitional words, which are the most appropriate for usage in a classification essay: firstly, subsequently, lastly, initially, in regard to, in terms of, the first kind (group, type), the second group (kind, type), the third type (group, kind), etc.

How to write a classification essay CONCLUSION

Now let’s focus on the conclusion for a classification essay. In the concluding paragraph, you have an opportunity to blend all the categories and approaches you have been investigating. You are free in structure for the closing paragraph. For instance, you may write about each type discussed in the classification essay again, summarizing its strong and weak points, or you may emphasize the advantages of one category over the other and explain the reasons – just make sure your classification essay conclusion meets the purpose of the essay and conveys your main idea or inference properly.

Briefly speaking, when you write a classification essay, you should identify the topic in the introduction, present your classification principle in the thesis statement, develop the topic and establish connections in the main body, and, finally, draw some inferences about the group or the topic in general in your conclusion. Do I use the same logic when I do my personal statement and write a conclusion? Yes, and you should not hesitate to ask our writers for help if you need to craft an insightful concluding paragraph.

Stages of writing a classification essay

We’ve finished with the theoretical part of our guide, and now we are moving to the practical one. We know that the writing process is highly creative and it’s hard to set rules and time limits, but we still believe that having a plan will help you while writing. So, how to write a classification essay? We can offer you the following set of actions:

  • Select a topic of interest and limit it. If your instructor does not provide you with a particular topic, choose it independently and refer to the subject of your interest. For instance, consider the following options and use them as a basis for a classification essay:
  • Evaluate local daycare options by affordability.
  • Establish an individual classification criteria set for evaluating movies and TV-programs .
  • Break the topic of a classification essay into patterns . After your topic is selected, you should consider all the possible options of its classification and carry out some research.
  • Choose a classification principle. You need to choose the most important aspect of a certain topic and select the categories related to this aspect. Make sure that all of your categories are logically connected and have the same basis of classification. For instance, if you are writing about jobs and you classify them by type of employment, you should write about freelance, part-time, and full-time jobs, but omit the details about workplace routine, difficulty, purpose, etc.
  • Consider the importance of each category. Once you have divided your topic into groups under similar classification criteria, evaluate the importance of each group and decide how you will organize your essay. You may begin with the most important group and finish with the least necessary or vice versa.
  • Establish the purpose of the classification essay. Once you have evaluated the importance of each category, set up the purpose of your writing and do your best to achieve it!
  • Put your ideas into a diagram or outline. It will help you to begin your first draft successfully, and finally organize your ideas in the most logical way. It is also one of the first things our experts do when you ask them: “Help me do my college essay .”
  • Develop a thesis statement. Remember that your thesis statement should refer to the specific topic, establish a basis for categorization, and name the groups you have developed. A working thesis statement must be meaningful and clear.
  • Start writing an introduction. Open your classification essay by explaining the importance and purpose of writing, evaluate your role in the research, and explain which classification method you use and why.
  • Write topic sentences and body paragraphs of a classification essay. Dedicate each topic sentence to a certain element or group from your thesis statement and expand their meaning in the body paragraphs. Do not dedicate one paragraph to highlighting the specifics of two or more categories, as it will ruin the logical order of developing a thought.
  • Sum up the ideas in the conclusion for a classification essay. Summarize the main concepts highlighted in the body paragraphs and draw some inferences. Express the limitations of your classification, if there are any.
  • Proofread the classification essay. One of the biggest mistakes students make is forgetting to proofread the paper and submitting it with grammar or spelling mistakes. Proofread the classification essay thoroughly and correct the mistakes, if there are any.
  • Check the classification essay for plagiarism. Even if you did not use someone else’s words, you could forget to cite all the sources properly. To avoid misunderstandings, check your paper and make sure it is 100% original.

Guidelines and tightening your essay

Now you know a lot about a great classification essay, but the question is: what to write about? Though the choice of the classification essay ideas seems exceedingly difficult, there is a classical way of moving your ideas in the right direction. Look through the classification essay topics suggested below and develop your own.

  • Types of users in a social network (evaluate them by appearance, behavior, or activity)
  • Types of artists (classification by area of proficiency, popularity or artistic values)
  • Extracurricular activities: unusual, unexpected, and common
  • The most popular ways to keep fit (diets, exercising, giving up bad habits, etc.)
  • Types of health and their importance in modern life (physical, emotional, spiritual, social, mental, and environmental.)

You can find more topics for classification essay and other types of essays in our book Essay Becomes Easy on Amazon. You will forget what struggling over a topic means with our awesome topic list!  It is a universal approach you can use when you think “I need someone to help me do my research paper ” or”I wish there was someone to help me do my powerpoint presentation and choose the right topic for it.”

Read this awesome classification essay example

We want to not only help you in defining the types of friends classification essay, format, structuring, and styling aspects. We also hope that after reading this outstanding classification essay on friends sample, you will see how a working classification essay must be arranged and written.  Keep in mind that you can always turn to our service with a “Help me do my paper for cheap ” request and hire the best writer. Our experts will be glad to assist you with your “Please do my APA paper ” request as well. They know all about formatting.

Classification Essay – Types of Friends

In the world, there are friends, close friends, and best friends. With a friend, you share common interests and find each other’s company pleasant, but your relationship does not delve much deeper. A close friend is someone you have known for at least a few years, and in that time, you have shared emotional experiences. The closest type of friend is a best friend; to be best friends, you have known each other for more than a decade, you have shared emotional experiences, and you have a shared trauma. Being a best friend means you have been there for the fun times as well as the difficult times, and these times bond you to each other.

You share similar interests with a friend, and you enjoy his or her company. Furthermore, according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, “a friend is a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another person” ( Friend Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster). Using this paragraph’s topic sentence and the dictionary’s definition of a friend, one can contend that a friend is a person with whom you attend a party or watch a football game. You and a friend have a good time because, as the definition states, you have a “strong liking for and trust” in each other. However, your time spent with a friend will not go much further than this mutual like and trust of each other. For example, with a friend, you may not share intimate thoughts or experiences. While you trust a friend, you do not trust a friend too deeply. This is not a bad thing, however, for you do enjoy your time with a friend, and it is good to have friends with whom you can keep conversations light and fun.

A close friend is created over time and through shared emotional experiences. To become a close friend, your level of trust goes deeper than with a friend. You and a best friend have had intimate experiences, and the level of friendship goes beyond trust to help. For instance, when a close friend moves, you will help him or her pack his or her belongings. You will, of course, hate to see a close friend move away, but you believe it is an obligation of close friend status to help with the move. Not only will you help a best friend pack and move, but a best friend can improve your emotional and physical health. The online article “Making Good Friends” states that “good friends relieve stress…developing close friendships can also have a powerful impact on your physical health” (Making Good Friends – HelpGuide.org). From the source, we see that not only do close (good) friends help you move your possessions, but close friends can make you more relaxed and promote good health, meaning that close friends are good for you internally and externally.

The final type of friend is a best friend, and a best friend is a person you have known for over a decade, have shared emotional experiences, and shared trauma. For a best friend, you take them to the airport and pick them up; you help a best friend pack, and then you drive the moving truck for a best friend. In addition to helping a best friend travel or move, you and a best friend have shared good times together. These good times can range from road trips to birthday weekend getaways to shared vacations. Time spent with a best friend will be more intense than with a friend or a close friend. These intense times can also mean that a best friend has been there for you when you were at your most vulnerable. A best friend helps you cope with the passing of a loved one, a failed romance, or the loss of a job. Just as we saw that a close friend provides emotional and physical health benefits, a best friend administers those same benefits, with the added plus of knowing you as well as you know yourself. Knowing the nuances of your personality and applying them to the traumatic situation allows a best friend to know the best words to say and the best actions to perform in order to safely get you through a trying time.

As we have seen, there are three types of friends. On the entry-level is a friend, a person with whom you share interests and enjoy being around, but the relationship does not get too serious. The next type of friend is a close friend. You will have known a close friend for a few years, and you will enjoy sharing experiences together. The highest type of friend is a best friend, a person who has all of the elements of a friend and a close friend with the addition of going through hard times with you. Friends are good to have, and it is good to have multiple types of friends for multiple situations in your life.

Works Cited

“friend.” Merriam-Webster.com . Merriam-Webster, 2022. Web. 13 April 2022. https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/friend#:~:text=1%20%3A%20a%20person%20who%20has,a%20friend%20to%20environmental%20causes. Web. 13 April 2022. Robinson, Lawrence, et al. “Making Good Friends.” https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/making-good-friends.htm#:~:text=Friends%20bring%20more%20happiness%20into,impact%20on%20your%20physical%20health. Accessed 13 April 2022.

Mistakes to avoid while writing a classification essay

And we’re almost there. Now that you know everything you are supposed to do, let’s have a look at some mistakes that should be avoided while writing your paper.  If you want to ensure you do not make these mistakes while working on your essay, just leave your “ do my assignment ” request by filling out an order form.

– First of all, make sure you do not leave a category out of attention. For example, if you write about healthy diets, you cannot avoid dairy products just because you don’t like them.

– Secondly, do not write about too many categories. It will blur your essay and make the classification less precise.

– You should use a similar criteria set. For example, if you are writing about water sports popular among tourists, you shouldn’t include ratings of water sports among natives who live near the seaside.

– Support the topic with examples equally. Providing an unequal number of examples for some category will make a particular group less significant than others.

Classification essay writing checklist

Wow, you’ve done an amazing job so far if you have been following this guide while writing. Even if you haven’t, this is still useful! Let’s make sure once again that your paper contains everything it should, and then you can send it to your professor. You can create a similar checklist when you write a cause and effect essay as well. It will help you ensure you do not miss any crucial details.

  • Have you determined the purpose of writing and explained it in the introduction?
  • Have you clearly identified the group you are categorizing?
  • Have you written about your topic, categorizing principle, and groups developed in your thesis sentence?
  • Does your thesis statement justify the groups chosen for deeper analysis?
  • Does each of your body paragraphs open with a topic sentence?
  • Do your topic sentences narrow the topic of the whole paper to the topic of a particular paragraph?
  • Have you complimented topic sentences with background information and descriptive details to expand readers’ knowledge about certain categories?
  • Is the structure of your body paragraphs and connection between them logical?
  • Have you used transitions and comparisons for enhancing the structure of the main body?
  • Have you blended together all the investigated categories in the concluding paragraph?
  • Have you made a logical inference in the conclusion (provided a summary of strong and weak points of each category or emphasized the advantages of one category over the other)?
  • Have you achieved the purpose of writing which was established in the introductory paragraph?
  • Have you used a single classification principle?
  • Have you made sure not to forget about any important categories to write about?
  • Have you avoided including inappropriate or unimportant categories in your essay?
  • Have you supported each category with examples equally?
  • Have you established logical connections between categories?

FAQ on classification essay writing you often ask

1. how do you start a classification essay.

Students should open a classification essay, as any standard essay, with an introduction. The first paragraph must present the subject and explain the topic to readers. Note that it should contain some highlights on how the topic divides into more minor issues and groups.

2. What is the purpose of classification?

The core idea of classification is breaking the vast subject into smaller subgroups of subjects. In addition, classification means dividing the subgroups by categories and developing the overall purpose.

3. How to write a thesis statement for a classification essay?

After you decide on the topic for a classification essay, you need to develop the main thesis. Before you proceed with the core idea for your paper, you must define the core categories and subgroups that relate to the subject. To generate a working thesis statement, you must include:

  • The names of things you will classify.
  • The types of categories you developed.
  • The basics of the complete classification.

4. How does a classification essay differ from other types of essays?

The main idea of writing a classification and division essay is to organize things related to the whole subject into subgroups and categories. It is vital to include examples of items for each group and class.

5. How to write a hook for a classification essay?

The hook must be presented in an introduction part of an essay. In addition to explaining the prerequisites and aims of the classification, it should contain an element that will draw readers’ attention. A hook can be a joke, a quotation, a surprising fact, a rhetorical question, etc., related to the topic.

What else can we offer you except this classification essay guide?

We created this perfect instruction on classification essay writing to keep you updated on the latest trends and rules of writing such papers. Since we work with brilliant authors who know everything about academic writing, we can help you with any problem providing you with guides, blog posts, useful links, videos, and book suggestions. Turn to us for help whenever you have doubts about how to write a reflection paragraph or how to start a career essay to attract the attention of readers. We know what to do.

However, we also can help you to get an individually written essay sample or any other college paper you might need. If you cannot finish your classification essay or other paper, not able to generate a topic, format, and structure the text, our team will give a helping hand in a heartbeat. Order our assistance and find a perfect online essay writer who will follow the teacher’s instructions.

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Classification Essay

Caleb S.

Classification Essay - Outline, Topics & Writing Tips

Published on: Jan 2, 2022

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

Classification Essay

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Classification Essay Outline - A Step-by-Step Guide

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Most high school and college students are often assigned to write a classification essay at some point in their academic life. Teachers assign this task to evaluate the student’s skills to categorize things. It can be a daunting task, but with the help of basic techniques, you can make the writing process easier.

Here are a few tips and guidelines that you can use to structure your classification essays properly. You have to plan your essay and figure out the categories beforehand to complete this assignment easily.

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Classification Essay Definition

A classification essay is a formal piece of writing used to evaluate your categorizing and generalization skills. It mainly aims to arrange various subjects and objects with similar characteristics.

For this, a writer needs to categorize and classify things into different groups and mention examples that fit into each. Similarly, you are also required to follow a single categorizing approach throughout the content. However, it is up to you to decide on criteria for classification to explain the reasoning and logic.

The entire process of classification essay writing is not very different from any other type of essay. Like other academic papers, the principles of essay writing remain the same, but it requires extensive research and analysis.

How to Start a Classification Essay?

Here are some important steps that you should follow to start a classification essay.

Most professors assign you a specific topic to write your classification essay. If you are not assigned, brainstorm different ideas and come up with an engaging topic. Decide on a group of things that can be logically divided into groups. Also, come up with something that has definitive categories for comparison.

After choosing a topic, decide on classification criteria. Think about all the possible categories in which the topic can split up. Some topic ideas have several options; thus, you will have to determine the exact angle to approach the essay’s theme. Furthermore, make sure that none of the categories is overlapping.

A  thesis statement  is the main argument of the writer on the topic. It is the stance that supports your entire essay, including the main body. Therefore, it is important to draft a strong statement. Also, use examples and evidence to make your essay effective and persuasive.

The next step is to conduct thorough research to gather interesting information for the audience. However, make sure to collect data from credible and authentic sources. It will further strengthen the content of your essay by making it more convincing and logical.

After collecting relevant information, you are now required to structure and organize it properly. Thus, write down the main ideas and present a logical connection between them. Eliminate unnecessary ideas if there are any.

Check out the following template outline that you can use for your division and classification essay.

  • Introductory paragraph - (A hook statement and thesis)
  • Body paragraph 1/Category number 1
  • Body paragraph 2/Category number 2
  • Body paragraph 3/Category number 3

How to Write a Classification Essay?

After planning out the basic structure, start the writing process. Follow the below-given steps to write a perfect classification essay.

The introduction is the first and the most important section of the classification essay. Here, you have to identify the subject and mention the objects to be categorized.

State an interesting hook statement to make your introduction appealing. Such as strong opening line will grab the reader’s attention towards the essay. After this, provide the purpose of the essay and explain the reason for categorizing the items.

Lastly, write a strong thesis statement to highlight the subject matter in the discussion. Develop this statement early during the writing process as it will help the writer stay in the right direction.

The body section of the classification essay comprises three or more paragraphs depending on the categories. All the paragraph provides relevant information, examples, and evidence to justify the thesis statement. Also, start each paragraph with a topic sentence.

The right approach is to discuss the most important category in the last paragraph. Use classification essay transition words to ensure that the data flows logically from one paragraph to another.

The following are some common transition phrases. Apply them each time you arrange things into groups and provide examples related to each class.

  • The 1st kind, the 2nd kind, the 3rd kind
  • The 1st group, the 2nd group, the 3rd group
  • The 1st category, the 2nd category, the 3rd category

It is the last section of a classification essay where you put together all the categories mentioned in the main body. Here, a writer will summarize all the central arguments and restate the thesis statement.

Also, mention the various types and approaches that you have examined in your classification essay. Recommend the particular one over the others, depending on the subject matter. However, make sure to emphasize why you have come to that conclusion.

The first draft of your classification essay is full of mistakes, but you can fix it up by editing and revising. For this, read your essay twice or thrice and ensure that it includes all the important points highlighted in the outline.

Eliminate all the language, punctuation, and spelling mistakes to give it a professional look. Similarly, get rid of all the unnecessary and overly complex words and phrases before the final submission.

Classification Essay Examples

Have a look at the following classification essay examples to understand writing a good one in no time.

Classification Essay Sample

Classification Essay Example About Students

Classification Essay About Food

Classification Essay Topics

Not all ideas can be good topics. Here we have mentioned some of the best topics for a classification essay, divided into several categories. It will help you choose a unique one for your essay.

  • Olympic games
  • Different genres of modern music
  • Rare species of animals
  • Types of dogs
  • Ways to treat obesity
  • Types of human relationships
  • Common phobias
  • Psychological disorders
  • Movies about memory loss
  • Meals that may lead to diabetes

Tips for Writing a Classification Essay

Keep in mind the expert tips given below while writing a good classification essay. It will make your essay stand out and draw the reader’s attention.

  • It is better to avoid choosing complex topics because extremely narrow or broad topics are hard to deal with.
  • Conduct extensive research to gather factual data for the essay.
  • Make sure to define and describe all the categories.
  • Provide authentic evidence and examples for each classified group. Make sure it offers a typical representation of the class.
  • Use credible sources of information.
  • Draft a perfect outline to organize the data properly.
  • Use a comparison and contrast technique to point out various similarities and differences between each category.
  • Proofread and revise your essay to make it perfect.

These are a few guidelines that will help you write an A-worthy classification essay. Planning out the assignment early and figuring out the categories is the key to success.

However, if you are still unsure about your research or writing skills, get quality help from our classification essay writing service now!

Our classification essay writers will help you submit a comprehensive piece of paper that will get you the grade you deserve. 

Similarly, utilize our essay writing service for original and plagiarism-free content within the given deadline.

Contact us now at CollegeEssay.org and get a classification essay at affordable rates.

You can also get quality help from our AI writing tool if you're in need of a rapid solution to your essay worries!

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Caleb S. has extensive experience in writing and holds a Masters from Oxford University. He takes great satisfaction in helping students exceed their academic goals. Caleb always puts the needs of his clients first and is dedicated to providing quality service.

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how to start a classification and division essay

How to Write a Classification Essay?

17 July, 2020

8 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

Classification essay is comparable to painting creation - an artist works on a specific structure that holds the picture’s elements together and glues different layers to create a powerful visual effect. The same principle applies to a writing piece, in which the central role is devoted to getting things in order. In this article, we’ll discuss the main features and components of a great classification essay and share some tips and tricks on how to take your piece of writing to the next level.

Classification Essay

Classification essay definition

We bet the first thing you want to know concerning the topic is what is a classification essay? This is the task which you’ll most likely deal with at some point in your student life. The essence of this assignment is related to categorization and generalization. Remember these two words because they form the true meaning of classification essay. Also, division and classification are those elements of this essay type which highly correlate and have equal importance for essay creation. Therefore, the main task here is to organize or sort things into categories.

Classification Essay Writing

How to write a classification essay 

Careful attention to planning marks the indication of quality in terms of classification essay. At this point, the main task is to learn how to structure the paper. The length of an article may vary, but the most frequently used “five paragraphs” method is typically applied for classification writing. What does this structure suggest? It has to do with a logical division of your essay into blocks and categories, every one of which should clarify a particular issue.

The first and one of the essential paragraphs is the introductory one. It’s an opening which illuminates the matter you’re going to discuss and the subject you’ll categorize. Besides, you can outline the purpose of your classification essay to readers to bring more clarity into the discussion. Answer the question of why you are categorizing the chosen items and what criteria you use for each of them. Then, you’ll need to close the introduction paragraph with a thesis. It will briefly sum up the objective of your classification and division essay, and identify the categories which you’ll be using for a paper.

The second part is the essay body. Here, a couple of paragraphs are applicable, preferably 3 and more. The most critical nuance you should remember while composing a body is that each paragraph will deal with a separate category. The best way to organize the central part of your division essay is to explain the criteria for each category and desirably, discuss strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, you should include examples that’ll back up your statements with a piece of evidence. Notably, there should be an equal amount of examples for every category to spread the evidence evenly. If your paragraphs in the main body are lengthy, you can also divide them into shorter ones to create a smooth transition between the blocks of text and improve readability.

The final paragraph of your classification essay is a conclusion. The closing statements will sum up the different categories highlighted in the body. Also, it’s advisable to restate each category and advise readers on the subject matter. However, if you choose to recommend this or that topic over the others, don’t forget to state the reason for your stance. This way, readers will take into account your well-grounded explanation, which is deprived of subjectivity, and make relevant conclusions for themselves.

Classification Essay Structure

Apart from the basic understanding of classification essay structure , you should also get prepared for the writing process. For many, implementing theory on practice is even more challenging than the stage of composing an essay. Nonetheless, with enough patience and endurance, this process is really not so bad after all. So, what steps do you need to make in order to prepare well for classification paper writing?

First things first, planning is everything when it comes to the assignment that implies classification. Without a clear and coherent plan, there’s no way you can write a good paper. Therefore, make sure that you have a robust scheme before writing your essay. For this, proceed with the following planning steps:

  • Generate Ideas. Evidently, your essay won’t write itself. If your professor has not assigned you a specific topic, it’s time to do some brainstorming. Remember – you need to choose a group of people, things, or ideas that can be easily divided into categories and then compared.
  • Choose Your Classification Method. Aim at one principle for classification for each category you describe. For example, if you write about people, you can categorize them by age, gender, appearance, or other factors. This will help you better structure your essay and make it look more organized in the eyes of readers.
  • Create a Thesis Statement. As previously mentioned, the thesis statement is the element which closes the introduction of your classification essay. It should include such information as the subject matter, the categories, and the criteria used to classify each category. Besides, you can note down the purpose of your division into these categories.

Preparation for Classification Essay

Classification essay outline

The outline is a general description or plan that schematically displays the main points of your essay. The main point of an outline is to help you see the structure of your essay and use it as a useful guide for writing. Usually, a typical outline describes the essence of each point in one sentence. Also, bullet points are not uncommon, so you can use them to arrange a plan the way you feel is the most appropriate.

Classification essay topics

There is a plethora of themes and subjects for division classification essays to choose from, but most of them are hard to think of straight away. That’s why we’ve collected the list of the top used classification topics for you to facilitate the process of generating ideas or searching for ones elsewhere.

  • The most popular devices students use nowadays
  • Colors and their meaning in the paintings of Frida Kahlo
  • The evolution of rock-music types
  • Standard methods students use to prepare for exams
  • Public speakers that have moved the world  
  • Unique factors to determine a successful relationship  
  • How to improve child-parent relationships
  • Main motives to start a political career
  • Learning techniques for college students
  • Types of TV comedy shows
  • Traveling destinations
  • The main types of mobile applications
  • Communication possibilities online
  • Strategies for making decisions in business
  • Leadership and leader types
  • Conflicts at the job and ways to cope with them
  • The motivation for doing sports
  • Methods to reduce stress

No matter which theme you choose for your classification essay and what techniques you implement to make them elaborated, remember always to keep the structure in mind. The first step to writing this type of assignment is not just sitting and jotting down detached ideas, but planning out clear statements which can later be transmitted on paper. Hopefully, our advice will help you on the way to writing an excellent classification essay which your professor will mark with an A+ grade.

Problems with writing Your Classification Essay? Try our Online Essay Writer Service!

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Classification and Division Essay

Classification and division is a rhetorical style that, in essay format, takes a whole and splits it up into parts and then places the divided information into various categories. While you may see this rhetorical style used within a single paragraph, it’s not uncommon to write an entire essay using a classification and division format.

Division of hierarchy of a topic

A classification and division essay combines two different techniques. First, you would divide a complex and difficult topic into subtopics for clarity and explanation purposes. Next, you would determine what categories are needed and what information fits into those categories. Think of a newspaper. All of the information is divided into different parts: news, advertisements, and classifieds. Then the information is classified into different categories. For example, news may be categorized as sports, international, local, lifestyle, etc.

NOTE:  You have to be very clear in a classification and division essay. Your reader needs to understand how you came up with your categories and why information fits into these categories. Therefore, be sure that you make the guidelines for your categories clear to the reader and that you don’t merge, confuse, or have superficial categories.

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Classification Essay

Caleb S.

A Beginner’s Guide to Classification Essay + Examples, Topics, & Tips

10 min read

Classification Essay

People also read

Classification Essay Outline - A Step By Step Guide

A List of 270+ Classification Essay Topics for Your Next Assignment

Have you ever tried organizing your wardrobe, and separating clothes by color or style to make your mornings smoother? Well, imagine doing the same with your thoughts and ideas.

This is what a classification essay does. It offers a way to understand a topic or idea by categorizing and classifying it.

This type of essay is assigned to evaluate students’ critical thinking skills and their ability to define and categorize things on a specific basis. 

In this guide, we will learn how to write a classification essay step by step. Plus, you will also get to read some good essay examples and interesting topics to write about. 

Let’s read on!

Arrow Down

  • 1. What is a Classification Essay?
  • 2. How to Write a Classification Essay?
  • 3. Classification Essay Examples 
  • 4. Classification Essay Topics
  • 5. Tips for Writing an Effective Classification Essay

What is a Classification Essay?

A classification essay can be defined as an essay that aims to arrange its subjects in categories based on their characteristics. In other words, it's about grouping things together that share common traits.

For example, imagine you're at a library, and each book is a unique idea. The classification essay is your way of creating distinct shelves and arranging those books in an orderly fashion. It is a mixture of expository and analytical essays, as it seeks to establish, discuss, and analyze a subject’s properties and characteristics. 

Moreover, it is also related to definition essays. Things are defined by their characteristics and categories to which they belong, and so the boundaries between a classification and definition essays are often blurred.

How to Write a Classification Essay?

Here are the steps you need to follow to write an excellent classification essay.

Following are the steps that should be taken to start an impressive classification essay:

Step 1: Choose a Topic

The first crucial step is selecting a topic that provides an opportunity for useful classification. Whether it's types of movies, learning styles, or modes of transportation, your topic sets the stage for a well-organized exploration.

Here's how to navigate this crucial first step:

  • Breadth and Relevance: Select for a topic that is broad enough to offer multiple categories but specific enough to maintain focus. For instance, instead of "sports," consider "types of outdoor recreational activities."
  • Consider Your Audience: Think about who will be reading your essay. Tailor your topic to their interests and knowledge level. A topic that resonates with your audience ensures that your classifications have a meaningful impact.
  • Room for Exploration: Look for a topic with room for exploration. A good classification essay not only categorizes but also highlights nuances within each category. This adds depth to your writing and keeps your readers engaged.

Step 2: Conduct Research 

Now that you've chosen a compelling topic, it's time to delve into the world of research. Gather information to ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of the categories you plan to explore. With good research, you will have solid foundations for your classifications.

Here's how to gather the necessary information to enrich your classification essay:

  • Consult Reliable Sources: Start by consulting reputable sources such as books, academic journals, and credible websites. The information you gather should be accurate and up-to-date.
  • Diversify Your Sources: Get a well-rounded understanding by exploring a variety of sources. The more perspectives you study, the more comprehensive your classifications will be.
  • Take Detailed Notes: As you conduct your research, take detailed notes on relevant information, examples, and any noteworthy details. This will help in outlining and drafting your essay later.
  • Stay Organized: Keep your research organized. A systematic approach will save you time when you start outlining your essay.

Step 3: Brainstorm Ideas About Your Subject

To start writing a classification essay, it is important to first decide on a clear and specific criteria for classification. With credible information in hand, let your creativity flow. 

Jot down all the possible categories related to your chosen topic. This brainstorming phase is about exploring various angles and finding the most meaningful ways to categorize your subject matter.

This essay’s purpose is to define and discriminate between subjects, so make sure that the categories are well-defined and clear. 

Step 4: Develop a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement establishes the writer’s stance on the topic and their central argument. It is important to draft a strong thesis statement for an effective and persuasive classification essay. 

Once you’ve researched and established your categories, it's time to distill your focus into a concise thesis statement. Here’s what to keep in mind:

  • Your thesis should clearly state the main categories you will explore in your essay. Avoid vague or overly broad statements. The reader should have a precise understanding of what to expect.
  • The thesis statement is the central idea around which your entire essay revolves. It should convey the main point or purpose of your classification. 
  • It should also provide a roadmap, indicating the organization of your upcoming arguments.

Step 5: Draft an Outline

Now that you have a well-crafted thesis statement, it's time to organize your thoughts and create a roadmap for your classification essay. A classification essay outline should include these points:


- Paragraph 1 (Category 1):

- Paragraph 2 (Category 2):

- Paragraph 3 (Continue with Category Arguments):

Step 6: Write Your First Draft

Once you have the necessary information and an organized plan, it is time to start writing your classification essay. To draft an effective and flawless essay, follow the writing steps given below:

  • Write an Essay Introduction

The introduction is the first part of the essay. In this part, you need to catch the reader’s attention and introduce them to your topic. To make your introduction appealing,

  • Start with a catchy hook statement. A hook statement is the opening line of the introductory paragraph that attempts to draw the reader’s attention. 
  • Provide sufficient background and context for your topic.
  • Close your introduction with a strong thesis statement that highlights your central point. 
  • Draft the Body Paragraphs

The body section will contain three or more paragraphs depending on your arguments. The body paragraphs follow and justify the thesis statement made earlier in the introduction. Here’s how to write your body paragraphs:

  • Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that presents the main point of that paragraph.
  • Provide examples, arguments, and relevant information in each paragraph to establish your argument. 
  • Provide a detailed analysis of your subject to justify your categorizations.
  • Connect body paragraphs to each other through transition words and phrases. This is important for maintaining a logical flow.
  • Write a Strong Conclusion

The conclusion is the last paragraph, where you put together all the arguments made in the body paragraphs. Follow these tips to write a good conclusion:

  • Summarize the main categories without introducing new information.
  • Reiterate the significance of your classifications and their impact on understanding the topic.
  • End with a memorable closing statement that leaves a lasting impression.

Step 7: Revise, Edit, & Improve Your Draft

Congratulations on completing your first draft! However, your work is not done just yet. Your first draft could be full of mistakes and weaknesses, so you need to elevate it through the revision, editing, and improvement process. Here’s what you should do to ensure that your final draft is perfect:

  • Review the Overall Structure: Ensure that your introduction sets the stage effectively, each body paragraph is coherent, and the conclusion ties everything together without introducing new information.
  • Check for Clarity and Consistency: See that your language is clear and your ideas are presented logically. Check for consistency in tone and style throughout.
  • Refine Thesis Statement: Revisit your thesis statement. Does it accurately reflect the content of your essay? Make adjustments if needed to ensure it aligns with the final draft.
  • Trim Unnecessary Details: Trim any redundant or unnecessary details. Keep your writing concise and focused on the defining characteristics of each category.
  • Proofread for Errors: Thoroughly proofread your essay for grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. A polished essay enhances your credibility as a writer.
  • Get Feedback: Consider seeking feedback from peers, professors, or writing professionals. Fresh perspectives can identify areas for improvement that you might have overlooked.
  • Final Polish: Give your essay a final polish. Ensure that it aligns with your original vision and effectively communicates your ideas.

Classification Essay Examples 

Before starting the writing process, it is better to look at some of the classification essay examples. This way, you will get a better understanding of how these essays are written. 

Here are some classification essay examples to help you get started.

Classification Essay Sample

Division and Classification Essay Example

Exemplification and Classification Essay Example

Types of Friends Classification Essay

Classification Essay on Relationships

Classification Essay Topics

Choosing the right topic is the cornerstone of creating a captivating classification essay. Here's a short but diverse list of classification essay ideas to spark your imagination.

  • Types of Social Media Users
  • Genres of Music
  • Learning Styles
  • Forms of Government
  • Types of Movie Endings
  • Modes of Transportation
  • Gaming Genres
  • Personality Types in a Workplace
  • Human Responses to Stress
  • Various Kinds of Study Habits

Need more ideas? Head to our classification essay topics blog and get a list of interesting ideas to choose from!

Tips for Writing an Effective Classification Essay

Mastering the art of classification essays requires more than just following a set of steps. Consider these tips to enhance the quality and impact of your classification essays:

  • Choose a Niche Topic: Opt for a topic that allows for meaningful categorization. A focused and specific subject ensures a more in-depth exploration of categories.
  • Provide Clear Criteria: Clearly define the criteria used to categorize items. Whether it's characteristics, functions, or behaviors, explicit criteria add depth and clarity to your classifications.
  • Ensure Balanced Categories: Strive for balance in the depth and coverage of each category. Avoid spending disproportionate time on one category, as it can disrupt the overall equilibrium of your essay.
  • Use Consistent Characteristics: Maintain consistency in the characteristics you use to define each category. This ensures a coherent and logical progression throughout your essay.
  • Think About Your Audience: Consider your audience's interests and knowledge level. Tailor your classifications to resonate with your readers, making the essay more engaging and relevant to them.
  • Include Vivid Examples: Illustrate each category with vivid and relevant examples. Concrete examples provide a clearer understanding and make your classifications more compelling.
  • Stay Objective: Maintain objectivity in your classifications. Avoid biases and ensure that your categories are based on observable and verifiable characteristics.
  • Read Widely: Expose yourself to a variety of classification essays. Knowing other points of views can provide inspiration, insights, and a deeper understanding of effective categorization.

In conclusion,

A classification essay is a unique and interesting kind of writing with a few special requirements. Having read its definition and writing steps above, you now know what they are: It requires you to categorize your subject based on its features and argue for its validity. 

Following the steps and tips above will allow you to craft an A-worthy classification essay. The key to success comes down to pre-writing preparation and meticulous editing and revisions. Start early, plan your essay, figure out the categories, write, and rewrite until you’re satisfied.

Still need expert help? No worries! We fully understand your writing challenges. 

At MyPerfectWords.com, you can get assistance from professional writers for any type of essay, regardless of your topic. Our experienced and expert writers write amazing essays for you according to your needs and requirements.

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Writing A Classification Paper

TIP Sheet WRITING A CLASSIFICATION PAPER

Classification is sorting things into groups or categories on a single basis of division. A classification paper says something meaningful about how a whole relates to parts, or parts relate to a whole. Like skimming, scanning, paraphrasing, and summarizing, classification requires the ability to group related words, ideas, and characteristics.

Prewriting and purpose It is a rare writer, student or otherwise, who can sit down and draft a classification essay without prewriting. A classification paper requires that you create categories, so prewriting for a classification paper involves grouping things in different ways in order to discover what categories make the most sense for the purpose you intend.

An important part of creating useful categories is seeing the different ways that things can be grouped. For example, a list of United States presidents may be grouped in any number of ways, depending on your purpose. They might be classified by political party, age on taking office, or previous occupations, but you could just as well, depending on your purpose, classify them by the pets they keep or how they keep physically fit. If your purpose was to analyze presidential administrations, you would group information focusing on the presidents' more public actions–say, cabinet appointments and judicial nominations. On the other hand, if you intended to write about the private lives of presidents, you might select information about personal relationships or hobbies.

Make sure the categories you create have a single basis of classification and that the group fits the categories you propose. You may not, for example, write about twentieth century presidents on the basis of the kinds of pets they kept if some of those presidents did not keep pets. The group does not fit the category. If you intend to talk about all the presidents, you must reinvent the categories so that all the presidents fit into it. In the example below, the group is "all U.S. presidents" and the two categories are "those who kept pets and those who did not":

Some U.S. presidents have indulged their love of pets, keeping menageries of animals around the White House, and others have preferred the White House pet-free.

Alternatively, in the following example, the group is "twentieth century U.S. presidential pet-keepers" and the three categories are "dog lovers, cat lovers, and exotic fish enthusiasts."

Among the twentieth century presidents who kept pets, presidential pet-keepers can be classified as dog-lovers, cat-lovers, or exotic fish enthusiasts (for who can really love a fish?).

Developing a thesis Once you have decided on your group, purpose, and categories, develop a thesis statement that does the following three things:

names what group of people or things you intend to classify describes the basis of the classification labels the categories you have developed

Here is a thesis statement for a classification paper written for a Health and Human Fitness class that includes all three of the above elements, underlined:

Our last five U.S. presidents have practiced physical fitness regimens that varied from the very formal to the informal . They have been either regular private gym-goers, disciplined public joggers, or casual active sports enthusiasts.

Ordering categories Order is the way you arrange ideas to show how they relate to one another. For example, it is common to arrange facts and discussion points from most- to least-important or from least- to most-important, or from oldest to most recent or longest to shortest. The example thesis statement above is ordered from most- to least-formal physical fitness activities. There is no one right way; use an ordering system that seems best to suit your purpose and the type of information you are working with.

For example, suppose you are writing about the last five U.S. presidents for a psychology class. If you wish to show that these presidents' public decisions spring directly from negative issues in their personal relationships, you might order your information from most private to more public actions to clearly establish this connection. Or, if you wish to give the reader the impression that he is moving into increasingly intimate knowledge of personal presidential foibles, you may choose the reverse, ordering your information from public to private.

Signal words Signal phrases, or transitions, typically used for classification papers include the following:

this type of... several kinds of... in this category... can be divided into... classified according to... is categorized by...

These phrases signal to the reader your intention to divide and sort things. They also contribute to the unity of the paper.

Classification requires that you invent (or discover) abstract categories, impose them on a concrete whole, and derive something new-a tall order that you can, nevertheless, manage if you resist the temptation to skip the brainstorming steps. Remember that clinical dissection is never an aim in itself; the point of classification is to reveal and communicate something meaningful.

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Guide: How to write a classification and division essay

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In real life, students are often called upon to classify and divide categories of items. Whether they are classifying and dividing types of jeans for a display at their job, or if they are sorting their expenses into categories for a spreadsheet or for tax purposes, knowing how to classify and divide is an essential skill. This skill is not only useful in everyday tasks but also in academic settings where critical thinking and organization are paramount. Writing a classification and division essay can help you develop these skills and apply them effectively.

The purpose of classification and division essays is to encourage students to think critically about the ways in which items or categories of items relate. Classification and division essays are similar in most regards. Classification can be looked at as assigning disparate items into distinct categories or parts of a whole. In a related manner, division is separating a whole group into separate parts. These strategies are so similar that the terms are often used interchangeably by professors and instructors. By mastering these strategies, students can enhance their analytical abilities and improve their capacity to organize information logically.

Choosing a Topic and Planning

Choosing a topic and planning your essay are crucial steps in the writing process. To plan the essay, consider the purpose. A good place to start is by considering the tone of the essay. If the professor asked for a serious topic that employs outside research, you could begin by thinking about categories of items within your major. For instance, if you are a biology major, you might write about categorizing different types of dinosaurs into modern categories. For example, some dinosaurs exhibit bird-like characteristics, some exhibit characteristics most like reptiles, and some may have been warm-blooded like mammals.

On the other hand, if the professor asked for humorous topics or informal topics, think about some of your observations from everyday life. For example, consider writing about “Three types of clothing stores at the mall: hipster clothing stores, children’s clothing, or clothing that appeals to the elderly.” Then, use personal observations or examples to illustrate the points. This approach can make your essay more engaging and relatable to your audience.

To plan the essay, decide upon the criteria for division or classification. For example, if your topic is artistic styles within modern art, you would write down the major characteristics of each of the styles and then divide the most famous modern artists within each style or movement. Clear criteria will guide your research and writing, ensuring that your essay is coherent and well-organized.

Introduction and Thesis

The introduction should explain the overall topic and why understanding the categories is important. This sets the stage for your essay and provides context for your readers. The thesis should explain the topic as well as the classifications or divisions. For instance, “Dinosaurs in the Cretaceous period displayed characteristics of reptiles, birds, or mammals.” This thesis statement not only introduces the topic but also outlines the specific categories or divisions you will explore in your essay.

Example Introduction

Dinosaurs have long fascinated scientists and the general public alike. During the Cretaceous period, these ancient creatures evolved into distinct categories that reflect their diverse adaptations and characteristics. Understanding these classifications—reptilian, avian, and mammalian traits—provides valuable insights into the evolutionary processes that shaped modern species. This essay will explore how certain dinosaurs exhibited characteristics of reptiles, birds, and mammals, highlighting the significance of these distinctions.

Supporting Paragraphs

The supporting paragraphs should each discuss a category of items mentioned in the thesis. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that clearly relates to the thesis and introduces the specific category or division being discussed. In the dinosaur example, one paragraph would discuss how some species of dinosaurs developed feathers and displayed many of the characteristics of modern birds. This paragraph would include evidence from paleontological research and fossil records to support the classification.

Example Supporting Paragraph

One of the most fascinating developments during the Cretaceous period was the emergence of bird-like dinosaurs. Species such as Archaeopteryx exhibited feathers and lightweight bone structures, which are hallmark traits of modern birds. These adaptations suggest that these dinosaurs were capable of flight or at least gliding. Furthermore, the discovery of feathered dinosaur fossils provides compelling evidence that birds are direct descendants of certain dinosaur lineages. By examining these characteristics, we can trace the evolutionary lineage that connects ancient dinosaurs to contemporary avian species.

In general, outside sources should be used to support these points, unless the professor or instructor gives permission to use hypothetical examples or examples from memory. Utilizing credible sources and scientific evidence strengthens your argument and adds credibility to your essay.

The conclusion should bring the categories or divisions back together and explain their importance again. It should synthesize the information presented in the body paragraphs and restate the significance of understanding these classifications or divisions. For example, “Understanding how dinosaurs evolved into distinct categories is important because it helps to illuminate our understanding of how dinosaurs evolved into modern species of animals.” This reinforces the main points of your essay and emphasizes the broader implications of your analysis.

Example Conclusion

In conclusion, the classification of dinosaurs into reptilian, avian, and mammalian categories not only enhances our understanding of these ancient creatures but also provides valuable insights into the evolutionary processes that continue to shape life on Earth. By examining the distinct characteristics of different dinosaur species, we can better appreciate the diversity and adaptability of life throughout history. This understanding underscores the importance of scientific research in uncovering the mysteries of our planet’s past and informs our knowledge of the natural world.

Practical Tips for Writing a Classification and Division Essay

Time management.

Allocate specific time slots for researching, writing, and revising your essay. Effective time management ensures that you have ample time to develop a well-structured and thoroughly researched essay.

Research Thoroughly

Gather information from credible sources to provide accurate and detailed classifications or divisions. Utilize academic journals, books, and reputable websites to support your analysis and ensure the validity of your findings.

Use Clear Criteria

Establish clear criteria for your classifications or divisions. This will guide your research and help you organize your essay logically. Clear criteria also make it easier for your readers to follow your argument and understand the distinctions you are making.

Stay Objective

Maintain an objective tone and avoid letting personal biases influence your classifications or divisions. Present each category or division fairly and provide evidence to support your analysis.

Proofread and Edit

Carefully proofread and edit your essay to ensure clarity, coherence, and correctness. Check for grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, and proper citation of sources. A well-polished essay demonstrates attention to detail and enhances your credibility as a writer.

Seek Feedback

Share your essay with peers or instructors to receive constructive feedback. Others can provide valuable insights and help identify areas for improvement, ensuring that your essay is well-rounded and effectively communicates your analysis.

By following these steps and tips, you can craft a comprehensive and engaging classification and division essay that effectively analyzes your chosen topic. Whether you are categorizing dinosaurs, artistic styles, or types of clothing stores, the principles outlined in this guide will help you present a clear and compelling argument.

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Division/Classification

Writing modes and essay types: division and classification essays.

  • Classification & Division Essay From the Excelsior Online Writing Lab (OWL).
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Division And Classification Essay

how to start a classification and division essay

How to Write a Division Classification Essay

Mar 15, 2019 | Classification Essay

how to start a classification and division essay

Table of Contents

Essay writing is a broad aspect that most students have to dealwith in school. In other words, college writing has different aspects that the student must learn to do in order to become an all-around writer. Essay ring involves persuasive essays, expository essays, argumentative essays, admission essays division classification essays , and so on. Thewriting skills of a student must be good enough to write top-notch assignments. Most importantly, the perspective from which the student approaches to essaywriting ought to be different. Most students have a negative attitude especially when it comes to essay writing,but that has tochange.

Now, when dealing with a division and classification essay, a student has to follow the requirement of the assignment. First, he must understand the definition of division and classification essay, which brings us to the next important point here. A division and classification essay is defined as the breakdown of a largesubject into smaller ones to enhance the understanding of the subject in a more clear manner.  With classification, you have to take items and put them in different categories. The classification hinges other writer’s decision o classifies the items. You have to pay attention to the most significant elements of the subject and how they can be classified.

all assignments relating to classification division essays are not as hard as they seem, even though sometimes students force essays into unprecedented divisions as they try to create three divisions. If you are writing a three-part structure of your division classification essay, you have several advantages. One, the two-part classification is usuallyvery simple. Secondly, classification and division essays going beyond five paragraphs give the student expandedparameters of discussing the topic as opposed to the typical essay. Since division classification essays have two aspects, it is goodfirst to break them down.

When writing a classification essay, you have to organise the details in three or more categories. Every category must have characteristics that stand out. More so, classification essays will use description and examples as evidence and supporting details.  When you describe in division classification essays, you give the means to identify the distinct traits and examples that illustrate the members of each category. They also use anecdotes as well as short narratives as evidence to back up and illustrate a category.

Elements of classification

  • The set of things or items under the classification
  • The principle of selection or the scheme that classifies the set.
  • The classes  into which the sets are divided

In your division, classification essays, any set that is under classification must share similar traits or be differentiated from other things outside that set. For instance, living organisms are classified in biology. Non-living organisms fall outside the set. More so, generic nouns like the student, vacation spots, or pets can fall in a classifiable set.

The principle of selection or the scheme

This standard type, quality, or function is the criteria for selecting the elements for every class, which is why it is referred to as the principle of selection. For instance, biology classifies living organisms on the premise of life process and qualities. In geology, roc is classified into ingenious, sedimentary as well as metamorphic classifications. The classification anchorson how the rocks were formed. When you want to come up with an effective classification scheme, it must have relevance, importance and a valuable way to understand the set of thing under consideration. Thisis what makes division classification essays easy to write.

In your quest of knowing how to write division and classification essays , you have to understand all these elements of classification. Now, when it comes to the classes, you start with the explanation of the descriptor, the characteristics that identify the members of a given class and what makes them stand out from the members of other classes.Provide representative examples of that class and in your discussion, evaluate the worth of this class. On the other hand, you can compare and contact this class with other classes within the same scheme. For instance, in biology, there are frequent references made on how class members are different from the member of other classes. The methods you use in your classification can be description, narration, definition, examples as well as compare and contrast.

When writing your division classification essays, try to come up with a lead that identifies the set that you are classing. It should provide general significance, importance or relevance and the value of the applicable scheme. Your thesis statement must identify the classes in which the set will be identified.

The body paragraphs of your division classification essay have to identify the class that is in consideration. When writing this essay, you need to show the relation of the class to the scheme. Everal classifies re available,but it depends on the reason why you are classifyingthe set and what you want to gain from the scheme of classification. One important aspect to understand is that if you are writing a classification essay separately, you ought to deal with one scheme of set classification.

The conclusion ought to reiterate the importance, relevance, or value of the scheme that has a classified set.

When classification division essays, students must produce examples that illustrate a class. Do not fail to explain and define the class first, and thenfollow it with examples. If you want your division, classification essays to be effective, you need to identify each class by describing its unique characteristics.  Every member or item should belong to a single class,and each class must have several members. Every paragraph must have a topic sentence that identifies the class under consideration. Use the supporting sentence to describe the class members. Give examples of the members that fit theclass and show their connection to the class.

When it comes to division, the writer is supposed to break down the subject into parts to get a better understanding of the subject. In your division classification essays, you ought to explainthe relations; of these parts. In this type of writing, you deal with systems and subsystems. The breakdown transcends list of items and focuses on the individual aspects of the subsystem and how they relate to the whole system.

As part of creating an understanding of how to write division and classification essays, you have to know the elements of the division.  They include the system, the principle of analysis and the subsystem. For instance, if you are dealing with a car, it is the system; its functionality is the principle of analysis. For a mechanic, it is easy to divide the car into subsystems of transmission, engine, and exhaust and so on. For you to understand the entire system, explain the entire functionality of every subsystem, and the other subsystems as well as the entire system.

The subtle difference between classification and division is that embers of a class in classification must be strictly different from those of other classes. They can also not belong to two classes at the same time. In the division, members can belong to two or more classes at sometime. However, the evaluation is based on individual members to identify their relationship with regard to other members of the subsystem.

For instance, the human boy can be subdivided into circulatory, respiratory, and excretory subsystems. Since the blood is the universal element of each system, its function can be interpreted differently with regard to the subsystem under discussion. Division essays use method since they examine functionality. Process essay and division essays are different in that the former focuses on the interdependence of processes of subsystems and the entire system.

With the understanding of the elements of division classification essays, it is time to delve into the planning process and how to write division and classification essays.

Those who know how to write division and classification essaysunderstand that there are two approaches or steps involved in planning for these essays. They include the following:

Deciding on what to classify

Imperatively, choose a topic that sparks interest in you. Just like any other essay, the division classification essays that you write must revolve around an interesting topic not only to the audience but also to you as a writer. Whatever the topic that you choose, you should have a distinct category when you are presenting it.

Divide the topic into three different items within the category that you would have chosen in step one. This will allow for three body paragraphs that culminate in a good and ideal organisation.

Outlining your division classification essay

The d ivision and classification essays take the same standard format of a typical essay. The outline that you formulate must have the following sections:

  • Generic topic
  • Subtopics to be used
  • Definition of subtopics
  • Examples for illustrating each subtopic

Writing the classification and division essay

It is important to understand the categories in division and classification essays because they will help you in revealing the theme of the essay. Even though some categories are seemingly separate hey must follow a logical principle and every category must incorporate examples. These aspects make the writing process of division classification essays easier.

Creating your thesis statement

If you know and understand how to write division and classification essays, it is good to mention that you must have a topic that shows its classification. Your thesis statement must be written in a manner that reveals the topic and how it is going to be classified. As such, you must follow a logical and meticulous structure.

The introduction

This is the first paragraph of yourclassification division essay.  When writing your introduction, you have to identify the classification that you have selected. It should also house your thesis statement and a description of what it means. Your thesis statement usually comes at the end of your introduction,only that this time around it has a simple description.

The body paragraphs

The paragraphs that you write in your classification division essays must discuss your thesis statement exhaustively. To achieve this, every paragraph should have a topic sentence is discusses. The topic sentence is explained through the description and illustration using details. The body paragraphs of your division classification essays must be arranged in a manner that achieves a logicalsequence of items in every category as you mentioned it in your thesis statement.

Comparative analysis is essential in division and classification essays in that it helps in creating smooth transitions between the paragraphs. It also reveals the sympathies for the writer.

The conclusion

This paragraph ends the discussion of your topic. The conclusion of your division and classification essays is anchored on the existing set and class of data and statistics. You can give a final moment and each item or provide a summary of the values and limitations of each item. This conclusion must augment the reason that led to the investigation and justifies the classification. The writer can divide what was made initially before he started writing the division classification essay.

When writing your division classification essays, you can divide three items by mentioning in each of the body paragraphs the specific number that is assigned to it. For instance, you canuse phrases like “the first type,” “the second type,” “the third type” and so on. Onething you should always remember when it comes to writing division and classification essay is that you should organise things into useful categories, use a very distinct organisingprinciple, and illustrate the categories well by providing good examples.

After you are done with your essay, do your proofreading and editing toensure everything is in line with the assignment requirements, after that submit your paper where relevant.

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IMAGES

  1. How to Write a Classification and Division Essay (Free Example)

    how to start a classification and division essay

  2. How to Write a Division Classification Essay

    how to start a classification and division essay

  3. Tips for writing a classification essay

    how to start a classification and division essay

  4. How to Write a Division Classification Essay

    how to start a classification and division essay

  5. Learn How To Create a Classification Essay Outline Like a Pro

    how to start a classification and division essay

  6. Learn How To Create a Classification Essay Outline Like a Pro

    how to start a classification and division essay

COMMENTS

  1. Classification and Division Essay ⇒ Writing Guide and Tips

    In classification essays, each body paragraph usually starts with the introduction of one of the categories of your classification. For division essays, it would be one of the parts of the whole. Each category should be accompanied by its characteristics and traits backed up by solid examples. 7. Write the conclusion.

  2. How to Write a Classification Essay: Guide & Examples

    Avoid popular and often used topics. Write down a number of topics before picking one. (We have a list of classification essay topics at your disposal.) Choose a subject that will be personally interesting for you. Remember that you are also writing for someone else who might not know everything about your topic.

  3. PDF Division and Classification Essays

    This is a brief sample paragraph of a classification and analysis essay. It begins by listing five different objects. The challenge was to find a way to classify these together. The next step was deciding why the teacher asked the students to do this. The teacher was challenging the students to use their higher thinking skills.

  4. Classification and Division

    Essays using a classification and division pattern have topic sentences and units of support for each group or class. The topic sentences themselves should have angles that relate back to the main angle in the thesis. View the following video for a clear definition and multiple basic examples of the concepts of division and classification.

  5. Classification & Division Essay

    In a classification and division essay, it is important that the introduction have three key elements, which are: (1) a thesis statement, (2) a description of the main topic, and (3) the first ...

  6. PDF Classification and Division Guidelines

    Requirements for Accurate Classification. 1. Use only one basis or principle of classification. All items in the same category must have the same fundamental characteristics in common. Determine your basis for classification and then group all items by that trait. Be sure the topic is plural, for example "apples" or "wedding receptions ...

  7. Classification & Division Essay

    A classification and division essay combines two different techniques. First, you would divide a complex and difficult topic into subtopics for clarity and explanation purposes. Next, you would determine what categories are needed and what information fits into those categories. Think of a newspaper. All of the information is divided into ...

  8. 10.4 Classification

    Building on Note 10.43 "Exercise 1" and Note 10.46 "Exercise 2", write a five-paragraph classification essay about one of the four original topics. In your thesis, make sure to include the topic, subtopics, and rationale for your breakdown. And make sure that your essay is organized into paragraphs that each describes a subtopic.

  9. Classification

    Writing a Division/Classification Essay. Start with an engaging opening that will adequately introduce the general topic that you will be dividing into smaller subcategories. Your thesis should come at the end of your introduction. It should include the topic, your subtopics, and the reason you are choosing to break down the topic in the way ...

  10. How to Develop and Organize a Classification Essay

    Updated on July 03, 2019. Classification is a method of developing an essay by arranging people, objects, or ideas with shared characteristics into particular classes or groups. After you have settled on a topic for a classification essay * and explored it through various prewriting strategies, you should be ready to attempt a first draft.

  11. Ultimate Guide on Writing a Classification Essay

    This essay requires you to clearly define categories and provide thorough descriptions for each group. By practicing this type of writing, you can enhance your ability to express your thoughts and ideas in a concise and well-structured manner. It also encourages you to use evidence and examples to support your claims, thereby strengthening your ...

  12. How to Write a Classification Essay

    How do you start a classification essay? Students should open a classification essay, as any standard essay, with an introduction. The first paragraph must present the subject and explain the topic to readers. ... The main idea of writing a classification and division essay is to organize things related to the whole subject into subgroups and ...

  13. How to Write a Classification Essay

    Follow the below-given steps to write a perfect classification essay. The introduction is the first and the most important section of the classification essay. Here, you have to identify the subject and mention the objects to be categorized. State an interesting hook statement to make your introduction appealing.

  14. Classification Essay: Topics, Outline and Writing Tips

    Classification essay outline. The outline is a general description or plan that schematically displays the main points of your essay. The main point of an outline is to help you see the structure of your essay and use it as a useful guide for writing. Usually, a typical outline describes the essence of each point in one sentence.

  15. Video: Classification & Division Essay

    Video: Classification & Division Essay | Outline, Topics & Examples. Kristen has been an educator for 25+ years - as a classroom teacher, a school administrator, and a university instructor. She ...

  16. Classification and Division Essay

    A classification and division essay combines two different techniques. First, you would divide a complex and difficult topic into subtopics for clarity and explanation purposes. Next, you would determine what categories are needed and what information fits into those categories. Think of a newspaper. All of the information is divided into ...

  17. How To Write A Classification Essay in 7 Steps + Examples

    Step 3: Brainstorm Ideas About Your Subject. To start writing a classification essay, it is important to first decide on a clear and specific criteria for classification. With credible information in hand, let your creativity flow. Jot down all the possible categories related to your chosen topic.

  18. Writing A Classification Paper

    Classification is sorting things into groups or categories on a single basis of division. A classification paper says something meaningful about how a whole relates to parts, or parts relate to a whole. Like skimming, scanning, paraphrasing, and summarizing, classification requires the ability to group related words, ideas, and characteristics.

  19. Guide: How to write a classification and division essay

    For example, "Three types of clothing stores at the mall: hipster clothing stores, children's clothing, or clothing that appeals to the elderly.". Then, use personal observations or examples to illustrate the points. To plan the essay, decide upon the criteria for division or classification. For example, if your topic is artistic styles ...

  20. What Does It Look Like?

    Now we will take a look at how we could outline our introduction using our thesis with the goal of writing a classification and division essay. A good introduction provides background on a topic, transitions to the thesis, and then presents the thesis. In this example, we would first provide background on the topic of technology and higher ...

  21. Classification & Division Essay

    Make sure that your categories are distinct. While you may need to explain your choice of categories or principle of classification, avoid confusing the reader by using categories that overlap. Make sure that each category is distinct. Your information will be clear to the reader, and you will have a much stronger essay.

  22. Division and Classification Essays

    Writing Modes and Essay Types: Division and Classification Essays. Classification & Division Essay. From the Excelsior Online Writing Lab (OWL). Classification and Analysis. From the Guide to Grammar. Writing a Classification Paper. From Butte College. Contact library for help.

  23. Division And Classification Essay (pdf)

    Division And Classification Essay Crafting a Division and Classification Essay can be a challenging task that demands careful consideration and meticulous organization. This type of essay requires a deep understanding of the subject matter and the ability to categorize it into distinct groups or classes. The difficulty lies not only in the research and analysis required but also in the art of ...

  24. How To Write A Division Classification Essay

    When writing your division classification essays, try to come up with a lead that identifies the set that you are classing. It should provide general significance, importance or relevance and the value of the applicable scheme. Your thesis statement must identify the classes in which the set will be identified.