How to Write a
Comparative Analysis
Mr. Pletsch
Comparison-and-Contrast Essay
Writing
• Comparison illustrates how two or more things
are similar
• Contrast illustrates how two or more things are
different
• In most academic writing, the two are combined
to analyze
• In essence, you will be creating an extended
analogy
• An analogy explains one thing by
comparing/contrasting it to a more familiar thing
Comparison-and-Contrast Essay
Writing
• Essay weighs A and B equally (the two things
being compared and contrasted)
• May be about two similar things that have
crucial differences
• May be about two similar things that have
crucial differences, yet surprising
commonalities
Comparison-and-Contrast Essay
Writing
• Both things must have enough in common in
order to justify the analysis
• Be sure to move beyond the obvious
• If the two things are very similar, writing
about the differences may be more
enlightening
Brainstorming 1/3/11
As a small-group, brainstorm
the similarities and differences between
Donny and Holden. Using the paper
provided, organize your answers into a
Venn Diagram. Be sure to write your name
on the Venn Diagram. Using any materials
pertaining to the activity to construct your
answers.
Points for Discussion
• Determine the focus of your piece
• Determine if you will focus on the similarities,
the differences, or both
• Be sure you treat each text, or thing, the
same; each text deserves the same amount of
focus
Comparison-and-Contrast Essay
Writing
• In the “lens” or “keyhole” comparison, you
weight A less heavily than B
• You use A as a lens through which to view B
• Use A as a framework for understanding B in
order to change the way in which B is viewed
• Useful for enlightening, critiquing, or
challenging the status quo of the thing before
your analysis was done
Comparison-and-Contrast Essay
Writing
• Lens comparisons take time into account: earlier texts,
events, or historical figures
• The difficulty of comparison-contrast papers is that
well-developed ones do not merely state all the
similarities of A and B and then the differences
• To write a critically well-developed compare-contrast
paper, you must take raw facts (the similarities and
differences you’ve observed) and make them cohere
into a meaningful argument; next are five elements
required to construct an excellent compare-contrast
essay
Frame of Reference
• The context within which you place A and B to
compare and contrast; in other words, the
“umbrella” under which you have grouped
them
• Consists of the idea, theme, questions,
problem, theory, or group (pair) of similar
things which you are exploring
• Can consist of biographical or historical
information
Frame of Reference
• Constructed from specific sources, not your
thoughts and observations
• Most assignments, especially ours, provides a
frame of reference
• An essay without this context would have no
perspective on the material, or focus and
frame, for the writer to construct a
meaningful argument
Grounds for Comparison
• The grounds for comparison is the rationale
behind your choosing A and B
• Here, you are arguing the meaningful purpose
behind constructing your paper, not merely
stating that the course has you do so
• You must indicate the reasoning behind the
comparison and contrast
• Ask yourself: What is my paper attempting to
accomplish?
Thesis
• Being that it is a comparison-and-contrast
essay, there should be a comparative nature
to your thesis
• You are writing an argumentative essay, not
merely presenting facts
• In a comparison-and-contrast paper, the thesis
highlights how A and B actually relate to one
another; do they corroborate, complicate,
contradict, correct, or debate one another?
Thesis
• Identify not only the subjects being compared
and contrasted, but also the overall point you are
making by doing so; what is the underlying theme
of your piece? In other words, what is your
message?
• Also indicate if you will focus on merely the
similarities or differences, or both
• What general statement could you make about
these two texts? Do the points you listed on your
Venn Diagram provide enough support for this
general statement?
Thesis
• In the most common (the one you are doing)
compare-and-contrast paper (especially one
focusing on the differences) you can indicate the
precise relationship between A and B by using the
word “whereas” in your thesis:
Whereas animal nests can be perceived to be the
same as houses where people abide , nests
lack a certain ambiance that human families create
within their homes.
Thesis
• Whether your paper focuses primarily on
difference or similarity, you need to make the
relationship between A and B clear in your
thesis
• Your introduction consists of a frame of
reference, grounds for comparison, and thesis
statement
Organizational Scheme
• The two basic ways to organize the body of
your paper is in a text-by-text method, where
you discuss all of A, then all of B, or in a pointby-point (feature-by-feature) method, where
you alternate points about A with comparable
points about B
• If you think that B extends A, you’ll probably
use a text-by-text scheme
Organizational Scheme
• If you believe A and B are engaged in debate
(which for this paper, they are more so) the
point-by-point method will draw attention to
the conflict
• To be sure this scheme does not turn into a
ping-pong game of ideas, group more than
one point together, therefore cutting down on
the number of times you alternate between A
and B
Organizational Scheme
• You need not give equal time to similarities and
differences
• Your paper will be more interesting if you get to
the heart of the argument sooner than later
• Usually in a “lens” comparison, you spend
significantly less time on A (the lens) than on B
(the focal point) therefore organizing your paper
in a text-by-text fashion; however, this can be
implemented into the point-by-point method
• This is because A is merely a tool for helping you
discover whether or not B’s nature is actually
what expectations have led you to believe it is
Choose a Method
• Be sure to choose either the point-by-point or
text-by-text method and stick with it; we,
however, will cover the point-by-point method
• Always, as usual, link your points back to your
thesis so that your audience can clearly see how
each section logically and systematically advance
your argument
• Also, you must link A and B together in order for
the paper to be clear, concise, and consistent
Conclusion
• Your conclusion should summarize the main
points in your essay, as well as emphasize your
thesis statement in new words
• Leave your audience with “food for thought”
or enlightening reason for your work
• Be sure your conclusion is not merely your
introduction rehashed
• Extend on the main points in your essay
Transitional Phrases
To Compare
Similarly, likewise, in like fashion, in like manner,
analogous to, comparatively, accordingly, in the
same way, comparative to, as, also, in
conjunction with this
Transitional Phrases
To Contrast
On the contrary, contrarily,
notwithstanding, but, however,
nevertheless, in spite of, in contrast, yet,
on one hand, on the other hand, rather, or,
nor, conversely, at the same time, while
this may be true.
Outline
I. Introduction
A. Frame of Reference
B. Grounds for Comparison
C. Thesis
Outline
II. Body Paragraphs (Point-by-Point Method)
A. Main Idea Statement
B. Points about A with Evidence
C. Points about B with Evidence
D. Link A and B
E. Concluding Statement
*This continues for as long as necessary
Outline
III. Conclusion
A. Summary of Main Points
B. Restate Thesis
C. Enlightening Statement