ENGLISH 1301 COMPARISON/CONTRAST TOPICS
Directions: List one similarity and three differences between two subjects in the
introduction. Below are some of the approved topics. If you don’t like any of them, get
approval from me on another topic. Important: Do not use the internet or any other
secondary sources in this paper. You are to write it from your own experience. Be sure
to use either the whole-by-whole or the point-by-point method. Review the PowerPoint
on the Learning Web if you need to refresh your memory.
1. Choose two people with whom you have the same kind of relationship
(grandparents, aunts, uncles, close friends …) How do these individuals
differ? Consider the following and choose three of these areas to write on.
a. background
b. personalities
c. attitudes about life
d. women’s roles in society
e. education
f. finances
g. work ethic
h. success
i. marriage
j. divorce
2. Contrast two different jobs you have had. Consider the following and choose
three of these to write on.
a. kind of companies
b. title and duties
c. co-workers
d. teamwork
e. job satisfaction
f. working environment
g. opportunities for promotions
h. employee recognition
i. pay
j. morale
3. Contrast the roles of men and women in your family. Consider the following
and choose three of them to write on.
a. Do your parents have different expectations for boys and girls?
(expectations)
b. Do your parents treat boys differently than girls? (behavior)
c. Are boys supposed to act in one way and girls in another? (behavior)
d. Are members of one sex admired for doing things that members of
another sex are condemned for? (actions)
e. How does age account for parents’ expectations of their children in
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your family? (oldest, middle, or youngest child)
f. How do your parents feel about women working outside the home?
(supporting a family, being a single parent)
g. How do your parents feel about who should control the finances in
a relationship? (responsibility)
h. What kind of work ethic does your parents endorse? (importance of
doing a competent job in any area)
i. How do your parents feel about women in politics? (political
aspirations)
4. Contrast two radio shows in three of these areas:
a. Type of music played
b. Audience appeal
c. Number of commercials
d. Personality of the DJs
e. Contests
f. Guests
5. Contrast two TV shows in three of these areas:
a. Type of show
b. Subject matter
c. Actors’ ability to assume their TV persona
d. Likelihood of surprising incidents
e. Viewing time (when shown)
f. Audience appeal
6. Contrast two pets you have owned or own now in three of these areas:
a. Type of animals
b. Personality of pets
c. Temperament of pets
d. Ability to train pets
e. Cost of the pets in terms of owning, feeding, and grooming them
f. Suitability of pets for your lifestyle
7. Contrast two places you have lived in three of these areas:
a. Size of the cities or towns
b. Climate
c. Tourist attractions
d. Cost of living
e. Job availability
f. Cleanliness
g. Public transportation
h. Friendliness of people
i. Beauty
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