Comparison and Contrast
Essay
Comparison and Contrast Essay
Explain the similarities and the
differences between two items.
e.g.

a)
b)
Compare the education system in the Malaysia
and England.
Compare and contrast distance learning with
traditional classroom instruction.
Organisation of Comparison and
Contrast Essay.
The key to writing a successful
comparison and contrast essay is to
organise it carefully.
 There are two types of organisation

1. Point-by-point organisation
2. Block organisation
Point-by-Point Organisation
If you want to compare two jobs.
- make a list of factors that important
(e.g. salary, benefits, opportunities for
advancement, etc.)
Point of
Comparison
Salary
(frequency of
raise)
Job X
Similar or
Different?
$24/hour
annual
evaluation
different
good
good
same
not good
good
different
Workplace
atmosphere
friendly
competitive
different
Commuting
distance
27minutes
29minutes
same
Benefits
(vacation
health insurance
pension plan)
Advancement
opportunities
$25/hour
Job Y
1.Introduction
Thesis statement: One way to decide between two jobs
offers is to compare them on important points
2.Body
- Salary
- Benefits
- Opportunities for advancement
- Workplace atmosphere
- Commuting distance
3.Conclusion
Block Organisation
Arrange all the similarities together in a
block and the differences together in a
block.
 Discuss either similarities first or the
differences first.
 Insert transition sentence or paragraph
between two blocks.

1.
Introduction
Thesis statement: One way to decide between two jobs
offers is to compare them on important points
2.
Body
`
A. Similarities
- benefits
- commute distance
B. Differences
- salary
- opportunities for advancement
- workplace atmosphere
3. Conclusion
Comparison and Contrast Signal Words

The second key to writing successful
comparison/contrast essays is the appropriate
use of comparison and contrast signal words.
Comparison Signal Words
a) Transition Words and Phrases
- similarly, likewise, also and too
b) Subordinators
- as, just as
c) Coordinators
- and, both…and, not only…but also,
neither…nor
d) Others
- like ( + noun ), just like ( + noun ), similar to
( + noun ), (be) like, (be) similar (to), (be) the
same as, (be) the same, (be) alike, (be) similar ,
to compare (to/with).
Contrast Signal Words
Fall into two main groups according to
their meaning.
a) The first group show a relationship that is
called concession.
b) The words in the second group show an
opposition relationship.
Contrast Signal Words : Concession
(Unexpected Result)
a)
b)
c)
d)
Transition Words and Phrases
- however, nevertheless, nonetheless, still
Subordinators
- although, even though, though
Coordinators
- but, say
Others
- despite ( + noun ), in spite of ( + noun )
Contrast Signal Words : Direct Opposition
a)
b)
c)
d)
Transition Words and Phrases
- however, in contrast, in (by) comparison, on the
other hand, on the contrary
Subordinators
- while, whereas
Coordinators
- but
Others
- differ ( from ), compared ( to/with ), (be) different
( from ), (be) dissimilar to , (be) unlike