Classification and Division

Classification essays explore types of a subject (e.g. types of mothers, types of students). Division essays break a subject into its various parts and then describe and/or analyze those parts (e.g. parts of a custom car exhaust system, parts of a bee hive). You can learn to use these patterns from these websites:

All writers in this collection speak for themselves—and themselves alone.

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New York Times contributor Peter Andrey Smith examines new ideas about the types of tastes we may be able to perceive.

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Carol S. Dweck, professor of psychology at Stanford University, classifies mindsets as "growth" or "fixed" and explains how the differences either help or hinder student learning. (Watch Prof. Dweck's TED Talk on this subject.)

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Marc Silver, blogger of National Public Radio's intriguingly titled "Goats and Soda: Stories of Life in a Changing World," considers how best to classify the countries of the world.

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Award-winning writer and editor Jason Heller (of the science-fiction genres) evaluates a variety of formulas, or rules, for literary success.

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Pop culture expert Noel Murray describes some of the series currently considered "the best" on television as being "mid-reputable," a status between "prestige" and "trash."

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Author Joshua Wolf Shenk classifies the attributes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney separately and then explains why they were even more gifted when pairing their creativity as a team.

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Blogger Charlie Jane Anders classifies the different types of time travel stories.

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