How do you choose a relevant and interesting topic for a classification essay?

1 Brainstorm ideas

The first step is to generate some possible ideas for your classification essay. You can use various techniques, such as freewriting, mind mapping, listing, clustering, or asking questions, to explore your interests, knowledge, experience, or curiosity. Try to think of topics that are broad enough to have several categories, but not too general or vague. For example, instead of writing about animals, you could narrow it down to pets, endangered species, or marine mammals.

2 Evaluate your ideas

The next step is to evaluate your ideas and choose the one that suits your purpose, audience, and assignment requirements. You can use some criteria, such as relevance, interest, feasibility, and originality, to assess your ideas. For example, you should ask yourself: Is the topic related to the course or the theme of the assignment? Is the topic interesting to you and your readers? Can you find enough information and examples to support your categories? Is the topic unique or different from the common ones?

3 Define your categories

The third step is to define your categories and decide how you will classify your topic. You can use different principles, such as function, type, feature, or criteria, to group your items into categories. For example, if you are writing about types of music, you could classify them by genre, by era, by region, or by mood. You should also make sure that your categories are clear, consistent, and mutually exclusive, meaning that each item belongs to only one category.

4 Write your thesis statement

The fourth step is to write your thesis statement, which is the main idea or argument of your essay. Your thesis statement should state the topic, the categories, and the purpose of your classification. For example, if you are writing about types of music by genre, your thesis statement could be: Music can be classified into four major genres: rock, pop, jazz, and classical, each with its own characteristics and influences.

5 Outline your essay

The fifth step is to outline your essay, which is the plan or structure of your writing. Your outline should include an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. In the introduction, you should introduce the topic, provide some background information, and state your thesis statement. In the body, you should have one paragraph for each category, where you explain and illustrate the features and examples of that category. In the conclusion, you should summarize the main points, restate your thesis statement, and provide some final remarks or implications.

6 Revise and edit your essay

The final step is to revise and edit your essay, which is the process of improving and polishing your writing. You should check your essay for content, organization, style, and mechanics. For example, you should ask yourself: Does your essay have a clear and coherent thesis statement? Does your essay follow a logical and consistent order? Does your essay use appropriate language and tone? Does your essay have correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation? You should also proofread your essay carefully and ask for feedback from others.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?