Do I want
this car … ?
… or do I
want that
other
car?
Do I want to visit
Egypt on my
next vacation … ?
… or do I want
to go to Las
Vegas?
Do I want to eat
something
healthy… ?
… or do I want
something
bad?
WHAT IS A COMPARISON AND
CONTRAST ESSAY?
Comparison: point out the similarities between two
different things.
Contrast: point out the differences between two similar things.
SO;
 In a compare and contrast essay, you should write either
the similarities or the differences between two things.
 You should define your purpose before you start writing;
Are you going to compare?
Are you going to contrast?
Topic: Deciding which airline to fly
Purpose: To convince the readers to just choose the least expensive
one because airlines are basically the same.
Is it a comparison or contrast?
Comparison
Topic: Deciding which airline to fly
Purpose: To explain how your choice will make the
difference between a good trip and a bad one
Is it a comparison or contrast?
Contrast
I. Introduction (Hook, Background Info, Thesis Statement)
II. First point
A. Explanation of how this point relates to the first item
B. Explanation of how this point relates to the second item
III. Second point
A. Explanation of how this point relates to the first item
B. Explanation of how this point relates to the second item
IV. Third point
A. Explanation of how this point relates to the first item
B. Explanation of how this point relates to the second item
V. Conclusion(Transition, Restatement, Summary, Closure)
Introduction
*Begin with a broad, general statement of your topic
*Narrow it down to your thesis statement.
*Broad general statements ease the reader into your thesis statement
by providing a background for it.
( key words; different, differ, difference, unlike, similarity, similar,
alike, same)
Look at the following example!
For women shopping can be a pleasant and fun experience,
especially when they see a sale on an item that they have wanted to
buy. I think it is a little different for men because some men find it
boring, and they hate to walk through a crowded mall. Females are
very indecisive when it comes to shopping because they can't make up
their minds about what they want to get. Males know what they
want and pick only that item up. Ladies can take hours getting one
item while men can get five items in 20 minutes or less. Women spend
a lot more money than men when they shop because they want
everything they see. Men and women are so different when shopping
is concerned.
BODY
*Thesis statements are extremely important because they will
organize and outline the ideas for your BODY
PARAGRAPHS.
*The three parallel structures will serve as the basis for your
three paragraphs in the body.
*This way, the first item of the parallel structure will be the
topic in the first paragraph,
*The second item will be the topic in the second paragraph,
*and the third item will be the topic
in the third and the last paragraph of the body.
*In any given essay writing, once you write an effective thesis
statement, the body of the paragraph will fall into place
automatically... In the thesis statement you plan the order and
sequence of your essay. For example;
TRANSITIONS FOR THE BODY
PARAGRAPH;
 The (first) notable difference/ similarity is….
 To give another difference/ similarity, + sentence
 Yet another difference/ similarity is …….
 Comparing….., we notice another difference/
similarity which is …
1st
Body
The first thing which makes the men and the women in terms
of shopping is that women are indecisive while shopping, and men
aren't. A women can go into a store with every intention on getting
one item, but she sees all the cute things lying around the store saying
"buy me." For that reason, she feels compelled to buy other items
within the store. That is why a woman can be very indecisive. When
a man says that he is going to get one thing from the store, it's a
guarantee that he will come home with that one item because things
don't
scream
out
at
him,
"buy
me".
2nd
Body
Besides thier way of decide, a female can take a lot longer
time to shop than a male does. For some reasons, a lady has to look at
everything which she finds appealing to the eye. I know when I go
shopping for a pair of jeans, I end up with a shirt and a cute pair of
shoes to match. Normally to buy something may take 20 minutes, but
it may become 2 hours for women. A man just doesn't seem to notice
things as a woman. Or maybe it is because a man just doesn't care. In
any case, when a male says he will be back in 20 minutes from
shopping, he will be back in 20 minutes or less.
3rd
Body
The last but not the least difference is that a female normally
spends more money than a male. Most females want everything to be
name brand regardless of the cost of the item. A male doesn't care too
much if it has Nike or Adidas logo on it or not. All he cares about is
whether or not it does the job. On the other hand, one thing I have
noticed about a man is his tools. He will spend a lot of money on
name
brand
tools.
CONCLUSION
*A concluding paragraph is your chance to remind the
reader
of
your
thesis.
*Also, the conclusion brings the paper to a natural and
graceful end, sometimes leaving the reader with a final
thought
on
the
subject.
For example,
LANGUAGE FOR COMPARING
Like
Not only…but also…
Both
Similar
Neither…nor…
have in common
As
the same as
Same
similarly
in the same way
as well as
Too
Both … and …
Example: The dog, like the cat, is a household pet.
LANGUAGE FOR CONTRASTING
Although
contrary to
Differ
even though
instead
on the other hand
Unless
the reverse
yet
whereas
However
Unlike
but
on the contrary
While
Example: The dog, unlike the cat, is dependent on its master.
COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE
ADJECTIVES
Being able to compare and contrast Comparatives and superlatives are one common way
to do this.
**Comparatives are used to compare two things:
Leopards are faster than tigers.
**Superlatives are used to compare one thing against a group of others:
The leopard is the largest of the four big cats.
TRANSITIONS
 The Middle East produces high levels of oil; however, Japan produces none.
 The USA produces large amounts of natural gas. In contrast, South Korea produces
none.
 European countries make great use of solar power. On the other hand, most Asian
countries us this method of power generation very little
CONJUNCTIONS

The Middle East produces high levels of oil, whereas / while Japan produces none.

Whereas / While the Middle East produces high levels of oil, Japan produces none.

Although the Middle East produced 100 tons oil, Japan produced none.

Not only Israel but also Turkey has an important role in the Middle East.

Neither France nor Israel wants Turkey to join EU.

Both Turkey and the USA want to set up a peaceful atmosphere.
OTHER STRUCTURES

Developing countries are more reliant on alternative energy production than
developed countries.

Solar power accounts for far less of the total energy production than gas or coal
does.

Hydropower is not as efficient as wind power.

Like Japan, South Korea does not produce any natural gas.

The Middle East produces twice as much oil as Europe.

Western countries consume three times more oil than the Middle East.

Russia consumes slightly more oil than Germany.

The UAE produced the same amount of oil as Saudi Arabia.