WordPress WP Query boiler plate

wp-query-sample.php

<!-- Use WP Query to get some posts for the home page -->
<div id='' class="">
    <?php 
        // Get an archive of categories with category_name=slug where slug is the slug name for the category
        // Add another option to the query following the &
        // Use post_per_page=# to set the number of most recent posts to display
        $art_post = new WP_Query( "category_name=your-category-name-here&posts_per_page=3" );
        if ( $art_post->have_posts() ) : while ( $art_post->have_posts() ) : 
            $art_post->the_post(); 
    ?>

        <!-- your content here -->

    <?php endwhile; else: ?>
        <h3>Woops... no category departments not found ??</h3>
    <?php endif; ?>    

    <?php wp_reset_postdata(); ?>

</div>