COMPARE AND
CONTRAST ESSAY
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
You will be writing a compare and contrast essay
taking a position on ONE of the following
elements:
setting, mood, protagonist
You will then be comparing and contrasting the
element in the stories “The Monkey’s Paw” and
“The Third Wish”
Your essay will be four paragraphs long with an
Introduction paragraph, two body paragraphs, and
a Conclusion paragraph
COMPARING…
 When comparing, we look at similarities between
two things. Think of the two stories and the ONE
element you chose and find a minimum of three
things about the stories that are similar. YOU MUST
FOCUS ON THE ELEMENT YOU CHOSE.
 For example, if you chose setting, you must find
three things about the setting that is similar in the
stories. Write down a passage that you can turn into
an ICE quote. Include the author’s name from the
story the passage came from. Write it down word for
word.
AND CONTRASTING
 When contrasting, we look at the differences
between two things. Again, think of both stories and
the ONE element you chose (same as when you were
comparing, you cannot change your element half way
through the paper) and find a minimum of three
things about the stories that are different. Again
FOCUS ON THE ELEMENT YOU CHOSE.
 For example, if you chose to use mood, find three
things about the mood of the stories that is different.
Again, write down a passage from one of the stories
that you can turn into an ICE quote. Include the
author’s name.
ABOUT ICE QUOTES
You will need a minimum of TWO ICE quotes
in your essay. Pick at least ONE from each
story.
Remember to INTRODUCE the quote, CITE it
with the author’s name, and EXPLAIN how the
quote supports your position (that the stories
are similar or different.)
READY TO BEGIN?????
You can do this!!!
FIRST…
Look at the two charts you created in your journal
for “The Monkey’s Paw” and “The Third Wish”
You should have found information and details
regarding the setting, mood, and protagonist.
CHOOSE ONE ELEMENT TO COMPARE AND
CONTRAST IN YOUR ESSAY. WHATEVER ELEMENT
YOU CHOOSE, YOUR ESSAY MUST FOCUS ON
COMPARING THIS ELEMENT IN BOTH STORIES.
Circle the element on the bottom of your sheet.
YOUR THESIS
You come up with your thesis first as this is the
main focus of your essay. But is it the first
sentence in your essay?
NO!!!
Your thesis should include the topic (You are being
asked to compare and contrast one element
(setting, mood, or protagonists) in the stories “The
Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs and “The Third
Wish” by Joan Aiken.
Practice writing a thesis statement.
IN YOUR COMPARE AND CONTRAST
THESIS:
 Include the titles of the stories “The Monkey’s Paw” and “The
Third Wish”
 Include the element you will be comparing (either protagonist,
mood, or setting.)
 Include the words “comparing/contrasting” or
“similar/different” or “similarities/dif ferences”
CAN’T COME UP WITH YOUR OWN?
EXAMPLE PRACTICE THESIS:
The protagonists from “The Monkey’s Paw”
and “The Third Wish” are more different than
similar.
Even though the settings in “The Monkey’s
Paw” and “The Third Wish” are very different,
they both have similar effects on the story.
The mood of the two stories “The Monkey’s
Paw” and “The Third Wish” have several
similarities and differences.
NEXT…FIND SUPPORT
(STORIES FOUND ON PAGES 85 AND 101)
Comparing:
 Now you will need to find a minimum of three
things about the element you chose in stories
that are similar. Again FOCUS ON THE ELEMENT
YOU CHOSE. Find a passage to write down that
you can quote.
Contrasting:
 Then find three things about the element you
chose in the stories that is different. Again, write
down a passage from one of the stories that you
can turn into an ICE quote. Include the author’s
name.
CREATE A CHART TO GATHER SUPPORT
STORIES ON PAGES 85 AND 101
Similarities
Differences
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
Write down one passage from
one story that best shows
how the element is similar:
(Write down the author’s
name with the passage.)
Write down one passage from
one story that best shows
how the element is dif ferent:
(Write down the author’s
name with the passage.)
HOMEWORK FOR MONDAY…
DUE: You will need to have a rough draft of
your introduction and conclusion paragraphs.
DUE: You should have a list of support you will
use in your body paragraphs (3 for similarities
and 3 for differences.)
Whatever you don’t get done today becomes
homework that is due on Monday. (Have with
you a rough draft of your introduction and
conclusion and a list of support.
REMEMBER…
Stories can be accessed online through the
Holt Textbook website.
I have included this assignment and each
lessons on the webpage to help you.
YOUR INTRODUCTION: (EXAMPLE)
 Introductory sentence:
 Many stories share similarities such as making wishes or using
magic.
 Summary/background:
 Two stories that have similar elements are “The Monkey’s Paw”
by W. W. Jacobs and “The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken. These
stories both tell a story about men who are granted three
wishes that change their fate. Although the stories are similar,
there are many differences making them very unique.
 Thesis:
 The (element) of the two stories “The Monkey’s Paw” and “The
Third Wish” have several similarities and differences.
 Preview (think about what details you will be using in your
body paragraphs):
 The similarities between the (protagonists, mood, setting) is
very subtle whereas there are many differences.
FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH
 COMPARING – means to show similarities.
 Show similarities of the element you chose (setting,
mood, or protagonist) between “The Monkey’s Paw” and
“The Third Wish”
 For example: If you choose the element protagonists,
you will need to think about a topic sentence for saying
how the protagonists Mr. White and Mr. Peters are
similar.
 Use a topic sentence for the paragraph and a concluding
sentence.
 Use at least ONE ICE quote (quotation) from one of the
stories (you will need to find at least one passage from
each story to quote and use as support within your
FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH OUTLINE
 Topic sentence: First the similarities between the two stories
can be shown in the (setting, mood, protagonists).
 Supporting detail 1: One example is…
 Supporting detail 2: Another similarity in (element)…
 Supporting detail 3: The last way the (element) can be
described as similar is…
 Concluding sentence:
SECOND BODY PARAGRAPH
 CONTRAST – means to show the differences
 Focus on showing the differences for the element
(setting, mood, or protagonist) between each story
“The Monkey’s Paw” and “Third Wish”
 Use an ICE quote (quotation) to support how the
stories are different. FOCUS on the ELEMENT you
chose!!!!
 Use a topic sentence and a concluding sentence
SECOND BODY PARAGRAPH
 Topic sentence:
 Although there are many similarities, the stories’ (setting, mood,
protagonists) also have many differences.
 Supporting detail 1: One example is…
 Supporting detail 2: Another difference in (element)…
 Supporting detail 3: The last way the (element) can be
described as different is…
 Concluding sentence:
CONCLUSION
Restate your thesis statement in a new way.
Summarize the main points of your body
paragraphs.
Leave the reader with a final, concluding
thought. (Take a position on which is the
better story in describing the element you
chose?)
CONCLUSION EXAMPLE:
 Restate your thesis statement:
 In conclusion, the (element) in the two stories “The Monkey’s
Paw” and “The Third Wish” have several similarities and
differences.
 Summarize main points: (You have two body paragraphs, you
need two summarizing sentences.)
 First the similarities between the stories’ (setting, mood,
protagonists) are similar in…
 Second the differences shown in the (setting, mood,
protagonists) are…
 Final, concluding thought: (Say which story did a better job
describing the element)
 While the story _________________ is interesting,
_________________ does a better job at describing the (setting,
mood, protagonist.)
DUE DATES
 Introduction and conclusion drafts due today. (Bring
your draft on Monday as you will have some time to
work on it in class.)
 Rough draft of essay including 2 body paragraphs is due
on Tuesday.
 Final draft is due on Wednesday.
 Type AND double-space your final draft (rough draft can
also be typed.)
 If you absolutely cannot type your final draft, it MUST be
written in blue or black ink and skipping every line. If it
is not, you will be asked to redo the final draft.