1. Division & Classification Essays A complex topic is broken into parts and the parts are classified into groups that have something in common with each other. Example Essay: p. 103-104

2. Example You can divide & classify the topic of CARS in many ways: Size of Cars (compact, Intermediate, Full Size) Fuel (Diesel, Gas, Hybrid, Electric) Manufacturer (Toyota, Chevrolet, Jeep, etc.) Where the Car is Manufactured (U.S. or foreign)

3. IMPORTANT TIP: There is NO ONE RIGHT WAY to divide and classify a topic. The IMPORTANT thing is that you pick ONE way to divide & classify your topic and STICK WITH THAT WAY THROUGH YOUR WHOLE ESSAY! Example: Don’t start your essay classifying cars by size and then start talking about different brands of cars half-way through your essay!

4. How to Narrow Down a Topic: Clustering is a GREAT way to plan a division & classification essay. The topic goes in the center The ways you can divide the essay are attached to the topic The ways you can break-down and classify the divisions are attached to the divisions

5. How to Narrow Down a Topic: Let’s try making a division & classification cluster as a class. The topic is FOOD.

6. Narrowing Down Your Cluster As you can see, we can choose to divide our topic in many different ways. We want to pick ONLY ONE WAY to divide our topic for our essay. Once you pick your division, you are going to pick THREE classifications to discuss in your essay, as this first essay will have 3 body paragraphs.

7. Try It Out Yourself! Think about the topic your group is assigned for 5 minutes, and come up with a cluster that includes as many different ways you can divide & classify them as you can think of. Clothes Schools Books Games

8. YOUR ESSAY! You have been given instructions for your essay. Pick ONE of the topics for your essay. Spend 20 minutes clustering about that topic. Share your cluster with a partner. Discuss which divisions or classifications will make the best essay. Pick TWO groups you can divide your topic into to write about in your essay.

9. The Thesis Statement The next step in planning and organizing is to develop your thesis statement. Division and classification essays have specific language that you will need to use in your thesis statement. See p. 100 in your textbook for examples.

10. Thesis Statement Sentence Patterns There are (#) (kinds, types, classes of ______: (list). Examples: There are several types of alternative fuels including biomass, electricity and natural gas. There are two types of cars: foreign made and domestic made.

11. Thesis Statement Sentence Patterns: I can (divide, classify, group, categorize) _______ into (#) (parts, groups, types, kinds): (list) Example: I can classify my friends into three groups: school friends, work friends, and neighborhood friends.

12. Thesis Statement Sentence Patterns: _________ can be (divided, classified, grouped, categorized) into (#) (parts, groups, types): (list). Examples: News articles can be divided into three types: local, national, and international. Learning styles can be classified into three types: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.

13. Practice! Number off into 5 groups. In your groups, think about EACH of our 4 previous examples (clothes, school, books and games). Write a thesis statement using the sentence patterns we just learned about for EACH example. (You should have 4 thesis statements total) Write your group’s thesis statements on the whiteboard when you have them completed.

14. More Practice! With a partner: Look at the topics on p. 101 in your textbook. Write a thesis statement for each of the topics.

15. Example: Let’s look at our FOOD topic again. I’ve decided to divide the topic into my 2 favorite types of food. My thesis statement is: I can divide my favorite types of food into two groups: Mexican and Italian.

16. Example Now we need to think up ideas for our body paragraphs. Expanding or making a new cluster is the best way to do this.

17. YOUR ESSAY Review your essay topic and the way you will classify and divide it. Write the thesis statement for your essay.

18. Planning Your Body Paragraphs Now that you know what groups you are going to use in your essay and what your thesis statement is, you need to think of what information you want to include in your body paragraphs. The body paragraphs for your essay will DESCRIBE your groups. The first body paragraph will describe your first group. The second body paragraph will describe your second group. You need at least 3 supporting details and 3 elaborating details for each paragraph.

19. Body Paragraph #1 Example One of my favorite types of food is Mexican food. The first reason why Mexican food is one of my favorites is because it is spicy. I can order dishes with Jalapenos and other hot peppers, and if the dishes aren’t hot enough I can ask for hot salsa to go with them. Another reason I like Mexican food is because of the variety. Many Mexican restaurants have menus that are several pages long with

20. Body Paragraph #2 Example

21. YOUR ESSAY Expand your existing cluster or make a new one to come up with ideas for your body paragraphs. You need 3 supporting details for each classification (these will connect to your classifications) You need 3 elaborating details (these will connect to your supporting details)

22. YOUR ESSAY Now that you have determined which ideas you will write about, it’s time to fill in your outline. You will be given an outline worksheet to complete as homework.

23. The Introduction General or background information Explain the purpose for the classification (why are you making this classification – is it to describe your favorite things, to explain how to select something, etc.) Provide a clear thesis statement that: -States how you are dividing your topic into classifications -The number of classifications/groups you have made (2) -The names of your classifications/groups

24. Introduction Techniques Move from general to specific. Everyone loves food. There are lots of different types of food. Everyone also has their favorite types of food. I can divide my favorite types of food into two groups: Mexican and Italian.

25. Introduction Techniques Use an anecdote (tell a story) When my family decides to go out to dinner, we always have a hard time deciding which restaurant to go to. We all love food, and there are lots of different types of food to enjoy. Everyone in my family has their own favorite types of food. I can divide my two favorite types of food into two groups: Mexican and Italian.

26. Introduction Techniques Use a Quotation Voltaire once said “Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.” One reason eating is a pleasure is because of all the different types of food available. Everyone has their own favorite types of food. I can divide my favorite types of food into two groups: Mexican and Italian.

27. Introduction Techniques Ask a Question What are you eating for dinner tonight? Chances are, it is something you enjoy. Everyone has their own favorite types of food. What’s yours? I can divide my favorite types of food into two groups: Mexican and Italian.

28. Introduction Techniques Present Facts and Statistics According to the National Restaurant Federation, in 2013 Americans spent over $683 billion dollars in restaurants, and there are over 990,000 restaurants in the United States. We clearly love food. While there are lots of options available, everyone has their own favorite types of food. I can divide my two favorite types of food into two groups: Mexican and Italian.

29. Your Turn to Try! Find the group you wrote the 4 thesis statements with. In your groups, pick ONE of your thesis statements. Develop that idea into an introduction paragraph using ONE of the techniques we just looked at.

30. YOUR ESSAY Complete your outline for your essay. Write your introduction paragraph.

31. Conclusion Techniques Restate your main points Ask a question Make a recommendation or prediction

32. Restate Your Main Points In conclusion, my two favorite types of food are Mexican and Italian. I like Mexican food for three reasons: it’s cheap, there’s lots of variety, and it’s spicy. Similarly, I like Italian food for three reasons: it’s easy to make at home, there’s lots of restaurant choices from casual to very fancy, and it’s got a lot of garlic in it.

33. Ask a Question In conclusion, while there are many different types of food, I have two favorites. My favorite types of food are Mexican and Italian. I like them both for many reasons. What are your favorite types of food and why do you like them?

34. Make a Recommendation or Prediction In conclusion, while there are many different types of food, I have two favorites. My favorite types of food are Mexican and Italian. I recommend that you try a Mexican or Italian restaurant the next time you don’t want to cook dinner. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

35. Your Turn! Decide which technique you want to use in your conclusion. Mark it on your essay plan. Write your conclusion paragraph.

36. What You Should Now Have: 1 Introduction Paragraph = Fully Written 2 Body Paragraphs = Fully Written 1 Conclusion Paragraph = Fully Written In other words, you just wrote a whole essay! Congratulations!!!

37. What’s Next Prewriting – DONE! Writing – DONE! Revising & Editing = NOW!

38. Revising & Editing Read through both the front and back of your checklist. Work through the front (content) part of the checklist first. Mark or make any changes/corrections on your paper. Then work through the back (editing) part of the checklist. Mark or make any changes/corrections on your paper. Find a partner to switch essays with. Give them YOUR checklist and essay. Read THEIR essay, and complete the peer review part of THEIR checklist. Mark any simple changes on their paper. Make a list on a separate piece of paper of any big suggestions or comments or questions you have. SHARE your responses with your partner and EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING to them. DO NOT just hand them back their paper with no explanation. Using the suggestions and comments you and your partner found for you essay, make ALL edits and revisions to your essay. TYPE your essay. DOUBLE SPACE IT. E-mail your essay to me by MONDAY MORNING at 8:00 a.m.

39. After I Turn My Essay In: I will read your essay, make suggestions and comments, and give your essay a PRACTICE grade. You will then have the opportunity to look at my edits and suggestions, make corrections as appropriate and re-submit your essay for a final grade. If you like the practice grade, let me know, and it will also be your final grade.