Compare/Contrast Essay
• Main Objectives:
– Discuss the ways that 2 topics are similar.
(compare them)
– Discuss the ways that two topics are different.
(contrast them)
– Identify your preference between options.
– Support your point of view using comparisons
and contrasts.
Recognizing
Prompts for Compare/Contrast Essays:
• May include the words compare and contrast;
• Words like advantages and disadvantages; preference(s);
• Comparative and superlative adjectives, e.g. better, less, more,
etc.
– Examples:
• Would you prefer to work for a higher salary and spend less
time with family, or earn less money and spend more time with
family?
• Compare and contrast the benefits of learning from school
versus learning from experience. Which do you think is better?
• Some people prefer to live in a large city, while other people
prefer small towns. Explain your own preference by describing
the advantages and disadvantages of each.
• Both fiction and non-fiction are important forms of literature.
Which do you prefer to read and Why?
Step 1: Brainstorming
• Use the same brainstorming techniques:
– Listing
• Clustering
» Freewriting
• In addition, set up a “comparison chart” and list the
features of both of the items in the prompt, and the
similarities and differences between them.
• Be sure to cover all the points the prompt requires
you to discuss.
Sample Comparison Chart
Item 1
Similarities
Point A
Point B
Point C
Differences
Point D
Point E
Point F
Item 2
Write your Thesis Statement
• If prompt requires you to choose your preference,
you should express that choice in your ThSt.
– Sample prompt: Compare the advantages and
disadvantages of using a car for transportation versus
using a bicycle. Which do you think is better? Why?
– Sample ThSt: In many cases, the bicycle offers a
healthy, low-cost and environmentally-friendly
alternative to the car.
Writing your Thesis Statement
• However, if the prompt simply asks you to
compare and contrast two things without stating a
preference, your ThSt will simply be a map that
shows three areas of differences.
• Sample prompt: Compare and contrast the business
culture of your own country with that of another country.
• Sample ThSt.: Even social actions that might at first seem
simple, such as greeting a new person, attending a
meeting, or socializing after work can be very different.
Writing the Thesis Statement
• Either way, the ThSt must be clear statement of
your point of view.
• The ThSt should include or be followed by a Map
of your essay.
Step 2: Outlining
• There are two patterns of organizations that can
be used to write a compare/contrast essay:
– Block Format: each of the two items being
compared/contrasted gets its own half of the essay.
– Point-by-point format: each point of comparison gets its
own paragraph of the essay.
Two Formats for Compare/Contrast
Essays:
Block Format:
Paragraph 1: Apples
a. Color
b. Flavor
c. Varieties
Point-by-Point Format
Paragraph 1: Color of Apples and oranges
Paragraph 2: Flavor of apples and oranges
Paragraph 2: Oranges
a. Color
b. Flavor
c. Varieties
Paragraph 3: Varieties of apples and
oranges
Block Format Outline
I.
Introduction
II.
Topic 1: Apples
A. Point 1: Color
B. Point 2: Flavor
C. Point 3: Varieties
III.
Topic 2: Oranges
A. Point 1: Color
B. Point 2: Flavor
C. Point 3: Varieties
IV.
Conclusion
Point-by-Point Format Outline
I.
Introduction
II.
Point 1: Color
A. Topic 1: Apples
B. Topic 2: Oranges
III.
Point 2: Flavor
A. Topic 1: Apples
B. Topic 2: Oranges
IV.
Point 3: Varieties
A. Topic 1: Apples
B. Topic 2: Oranges
V.
Conclusion