1
Compare and Contrast Outline
1984
Your task over the next three days is to generate a thesis and an outline to begin the process of comparison
writing. Next week you will write an essay that follows all the expected conventions of writing and analyzes
an aspect of the novel 1984.
You are expected to compare (or contrast) one aspect of the novel and our society using the point by point
writing style.
This essay should use evidence from both 1984 and from and three additional sources from the articles “5
Things You Should Know About the FBI’s Massive New Biometric Database and “How Companies Learn Your
Secrets (and other articles)----The TedTalk, “Beware neuro-bunk” by Molly Crocket, or V-Sauce Video on
Memory, the packet informative packet of information provided to you and your informational essay---or
outside secondary sources that would show a comparison to your specific topic. As always, the evidence
should be cited correctly and a works cited page should be generated and attached.
Outline
Introduction:
Lead (grab reader’s attention with clever hook): Ancedote---Anology
Background information (states main topic and establishes structure):
Thesis (strong thesis in 3-part, parallel structure):
Some examples: (very simple….not 4-level…but give you a glimpse)
All Similarities: Both George Orwell’s Oceania and today’s society have
_____________________, _________________, and
___________________________.
All Differences: Though George Orwell seemed to believe______________________________,
he was incorrect because in our society _____________________ and
_____________________________.
Both:
While George Orwell accurately predicted that a future society would
_______________________________________ in his book 1984, he failed to foresee
__________________________ and __________________________.
What is your working claim?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2
Body Paragraphs:
1. Topic Sentence (frames paragraph and introduces comparison) How technology is something to fear
TE (first source--1984)—try to go beyond the obvious ----push to 4-level
COMM
TE (second source—comparison to today--) credible--try to go beyond the obvious ----push to 4-level
COMM
TE (first source—1984)
COMM
TE (2nd source—comparison to today)
COMM
CS
-----------------------------------------------------------2. Topic Sentence (frames paragraph and introduces comparison)
TE (first source--1984) try to go beyond the obvious ----push to 4-level
COMM
TE (second source—comparison to today--) credible--try to go beyond the obvious ----push to 4-level
COMM
TE (first source—1984)
COMM
TE (2nd source—comparison to today)
COMM
CS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. Topic Sentence (frames paragraph and introduces comparison)
TE (first source--1984)
COMM
TE (second source—comparison to today--)
3
COMM
TE (first source—1984)
COMM
TE (2nd source—comparison to today)
COMM
CS
Conclusion:
Reimagines thesis
Summarizes body paragraphs
Leaves reader with a feeling of understanding the topic.