ACADEMIC ENGLISH III
October 10th 2012
Today
• Continue compare/contrast writing.
- Thesis statements.
- Comparison and contrast signals.
Comparison/contrast essays
• In a comparison/contrast essay, we explain the differences
and similarities between two subjects.
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- The ‘subjects’ can be most anything.
(transportation systems, governments, kinds of ice cream).
Organization
• A key feature of comparison/contrast essays is organization.
• Careful organization is necessary for an effective essay of this
kind.
• There are two ways to organize a comparison/contrast essay.
Two types of organization:
• 1. Point-by-point organization.
• 2. Block organization.
• Point – by – Point Basic outline: Job X and Job Y
• I. Introduction (opening, purpose of the essay, thesis statement).
• - Job X and Job Y share similarities in benefits and workplace
environment, but differ on salary and advancement opportunities.
• II. Body
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1. benefits
1.1. Job X
1.2. Job Y
2. workplace environment
2.1. Job X
2.2. Job Y
3. salary
3.1. Job X
3.2. Job Y
4. advancement opportunities
4.1. Job X
4.2. Job Y
NOTE: Always discuss the topics in the same order!
• III. Conclusion
• Block Organization Basic outline: Job X and Job Y
• I. Introduction (opening, purpose of the essay, thesis statement).
- Job X and Job Y share similarities in benefits and workplace
environment, but differ on salary and advancement opportunities.
• II. Body
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A. Similarities
1. benefits
1.1 Job X
1.2 Job Y
2. workplace environment
2.1 Job X
2.2 Job Y
B. Differences
3. salary
3.1 Job X
3.2 Job Y
4. advancement opportunities
4.1 Job X
4.2 Job Y
NOTE: Always discuss the topics in the same order!
• III. Conclusion
• Basic outline: Job X and Job Y
• I. Introduction (opening, purpose of the essay, thesis
statement).
- Job X and Job Y share similarities in benefits and workplace
environment, but differ on salary and advancement
opportunities.
• II. Body
•
•
1. Job X
1.1. benefits
1.2. workplace environment
1.3. salary
1.4. advancement opportunities
2. Job Y
2.1. benefits
2.2. workplace environment
2.3. salary
2.4. advancement opportunities
• III. Conclusion
Pre-Writing
• Build your essay around your outline.
• Whenever you get lost, refer back to it!
• You can also expand the outline (adding topic sentences
and notes for supporting points).
• I. Intro
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Thesis statement.
• II. Body
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A. Topic: One obvious difference is the people.
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- Japan is homogenous
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B: Topic: group interaction and sense of space
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- Individualism vs. groups
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• In spite of these differences, these two apparently opposite cultures share several important experiences.
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C: Topic: both have transplanted cultures
D: Topic: developed business and commerce
E: Topic: emphasis on the importance of work and penalties paid for commitment to it
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• III. Conclusion
• I. Intro
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Thesis statement: On the surface at least, U.S. and Japanese societies seem totally opposite.
• II. Body
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A. Topic: One obvious difference is the people.
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- Japan is homogenous
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- America is a heterogeneous society
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B: Topic: group interaction and sense of space
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- Individualism vs. groups
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- informality vs. formality.
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-Rising about he crowd, admired, and rewarded versus ‘the nail that sticks up gets hammered down.”
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-Difference in sense of size and scale.
• In spite of these differences, these two apparently opposite cultures share several important experiences.
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C: Topic: both have transplanted cultures
- China for Japan.
- Great Britain for the United States.
D: Topic: developed business and commerce
- Department stores.
- both are consumer societies
E: Topic: emphasis on the importance of work and penalties paid for commitment to it
-12-hour workdays.
- six day work weeks.
• III. Conclusion
Compare/Contrast Thesis Statements
Korea and Japan are similar but different.
NO
Compare/Contrast Thesis Statements
• Korea and Japan are similar but different.
•  Obviously, this sucks.
• So how could we write a thesis statement that indicates
comparison contrast?
Thesis statement example
Topic: The American Civil War (1861-1865).
The Union (North)
The Confederacy (South)
Thesis statement example
The North and South fought the Civil War for many
reasons, some of which were the same and some different.
- Weak:
It provides no actual information.
Naturally, you will be detailing information in the essay, but
it is important for the reader to know…
WHERE IS THIS GOING?
Thesis statement example
The North and South fought the Civil War for many
reasons, some of which were the same and some different.
Ask yourself:
- How are they the same?
Both fought over the issue of slavery
- How are they different?
The South believed slavery upheld their way of life,
and the North believed slavery was immoral.
While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of
slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South
fought to preserve its own institutions.
- Getting better, but:
We could get more specific on the details, to really let the
reader know…
WHERE IS THIS GOING?
Thesis statement example
While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of
slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South
fought to preserve its own institutions.
We have:
A reason for the war (similarity)
and
Some idea of how the two sides disagreed (differences).
Thesis statement example
While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery,
the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to
preserve its own institutions.
Start to characterize (specify) these similarities and differences.
i.e.,
Both sides fought for: moral reasons (tyranny and oppression)
Differed on: Oppression of slaves and rights.
Thesis statement example
While both Northerners and Southerners believed they
fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners
focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners
defended their own right to self-government.
- Compared to:
The North and South fought the Civil War for many
reasons, some of which were the same and some different.
Compare/Contrast Thesis Statements
• So…
Korea and Japan are similar but different…