Compare & Contrast
a simple 5 paragraph essay
Nataly Rodriguez
INGL3202 – Fall 2011
CC Essay
One topic
Two subjects
Three points
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
The Contrast and Comparison Essay (C/C)
is easy as one, two, and three.
Choose a topic
• Cars, apartments, gizmos, gadgets…
• Careers, universities
• Exes (ex-car, ex-pet, ex-whatever vs. new)
• Fashion, travel …
• Food, fast foods, restaurants, types…
• Pets, animals
• Characters, setting…
• Famous people
(to you: not necessarily show biz)
Example of a topics
Fast food “restaurants”
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
UNIVERSITIES in PR
Subject: Food –Fast food “restaurants”
• McDonald’s
• Wendy’s
Subject: Universities in PR
• Interamerican University
• University of PR
Example of two universities/fast food
“restaurants” that are very similar to each other.
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
Subject
Features
2. Select the most important and relevant
points to consider for your argument and this
depends on who is attending the university/
consuming fast food.
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
1. Create a list of the features that are important
to consider when selecting an university/
consuming in a fast food “restaurant.”
Depending on the topic chosen:
features to Contrast/Compare
FAST FOOD
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
UNIVERSITIES
Audience and Purpose
Who consumes fast
food?
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
Who’s interested in
universities?
Patterns
1. Subject by subject (also known as block)
2. Point by Point
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
There are two patterns in the
Contrast/comparison essay:
Subject by Subject
Introduction
Subject A
a.
b.
c.
3.
Subject B
a.
b.
c.
4.
5.
Point #1
Point #2
Point #3
Point #1
Point #2
Point #3
Comparison and contrast of subject A & B
Conclusion
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
1.
2.
Point by Point
Introduction
Point 1
a.
b.
3.
Point 2
a.
b.
4.
Subject #A
Subject #B
Point 3
a.
b.
5.
Subject #A
Subject #b
Subject #A
Subject #B
Conclusion
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
1.
2.
Pointers
If subjects are obviously very different, then you
should write about their similarities, for example:
comparing the protagonist and the antagonist of
the story.
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
If subjects are obviously very similar, you have to
point out their differences, for example:
contrasting lions with wild cats or twins.
Pointers
• This is a visual representation of the essay.
• “See” how ideas connect
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
Use Graphic Organizers
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
Pointers: Graphic Organizers
Comparison
Also
Too
Likewise
Similarly
In the like
manner
Just like
Just as
Contrast
However
But
Yet
Although
Instead
In opposition
In spite of
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
Transitions
Transitions
Contrast
Just the opposite
Though
In the same way
Nevertheless
Unlike
Along the same line
Rather
On the contrary
In the same fashion
Actually
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
Comparison
Similar to
Contrast
Despite
While
unfortunately
In contrast
Conversely
Even though
still
None the less
Whereas
In reality
As opposed to
Adapted from Rosa I. Román's
presentation 2010
More Transitions
Questions?