Division and Classification Essay.

Read the section within The Prentice Hall Reader on “Division and Classification” (163-176).

The general topic for this essay is “People.” However, you must focus on a specific focus group of people to break into three categories. Some examples of specific focus groups of people include: celebrities, authors, athletes, friends, actors, students, teachers, politicians, parents, men, women…etc.

Once you’ve decided on which focus group of people to categorize, you must come up with 3 “labels” for your groups.

Your thesis statement format is as follows:

___________________________ may be classified into three categories: ______________________, ____________________, and ________________________.

An example thesis statement for “teachers” is as follows:

Teachers may be classified into three categories: Professor McConagals, Snapes, and Trelawnys.

A theme is a really nice way to put this essay together. The above example has a Harry Potter theme.

The names of your categories must be creative. Even though the example above includes labels that are names of fictional characters, the essay is not about those characters. The essay is about teachers who fit the characteristics those fictional characters represent.

The names of your categories may not be adjectives (mean, nice, scary, funny)

The names of your categories must be plural (use s not ‘s).

The names of your categories must begin with cap letters.

The names of your categories must be italicized.

The names of your categories must be used throughout the essay.

The 5 paragraph format for the above essay would be as follows:

Introduction – open up the conversation, include thesis statement as the last sentence of the paragraph, should be one of the two shortest paragraphs in the essay.

Body Paragraph #1 – Paragraph about Professor McGonagal kind of teachers, including description, the characteristics that make a teacher a Professor McGonagal teacher (kind, knowledgeable, cares about students, teaches the whole student, not just the academic side, etc.).

Body Paragraph #2 – Paragraph about Snape kind of teachers, including description, the characteristics that makea teacher a Snape teacher (black greasy hair, never smiles, evil, lonely life, gives all students a hard time but for the ones he hates, he pretty much undercuts everything they try to do, lets a select few students get away with anything and everything, etc.).

Body Paragraph #3 – Paragraph about Trelawny kind of teachers, including description, the characteristics that make a teacher a Trelawny teacher (fluffy subject matter, big thick glasses, ditsy, clumsy, high pitched, silly voice, easy to trick, students take advantage of and do not respect, etc.)

Conclusion – close out the conversation. There should be nothing new introduced here, but the reader should be reminded of the point of the essay.

Per the English Handout, this essay must be 600 words, but not more than 625 words.

MLA Format, 3rd person

Thesis Statement: Basketball players may be classified into three categories: Point Guards, Post Players, and Dribblers.