Name: __________________________
Period: ____
Due Date: February 24
English I: Price
Writing a Compare/Contrast Essay – general information
A comparison essay notes similarities while a contrast essay notes differences. The comparison/contrast
should make a pint or serve a purpose. Often such essays do one of the following:
 Clarify something unknown or not well understood.
 Lead to a fresh insight or new way of viewing something.
 Bring one or both of the subjects into sharper focus.
 Show that one subject is better than the other.
2. The thesis will present the subjects.
3. The same points should be discussed for both subjects.
4. The organizational structures:
Body Paragraph 3
Body Paragraph 2
Body Paragraph 1
Introduction
1.
Point-by-Point Method
Introduction of general topic
Specific topic
Thesis = areas to be covered in this essay: Both Zaroff and Ulrich are hunting a man and face
the same fate, but their motivations differ as well as their personal growth during the story.
Three to four sentences (can use up to 5 since this is a longer essay)



Transition Sentence: use transition words (go from introduction to hunting)
Topic Sentence – Aspect 1: Zaroff hunting Rainsford and Ulrich hunting Georg. (compare)
 Topic 1: Zaroff
o Detail 1: hunted man - Rainsford
o Detail 2:
 Topic 2: Ulrich
o Detail 1: hunted man - Georg
o Detail 2:
Six to eight sentences
Transition Sentence: use transition words (go from hunting to fate)
Topic Sentence – Aspect 2: Zaroff’s fate and Ulrich’s fate (compare)
 Topic 1: Zaroff
o Detail 1: Rainsford kill Zaroff (solves the conflict)
o Detail 2: Feeds the dogs
 Topic 2: Ulrich
o Detail 1: Ulrich and Georg resolves conflict
o Detail 2: Feeds the wolves
Six to eight sentences
Transition Sentence: use transition words (go from fate to motivations)
Topic Sentence – Aspect 3: Zaroff’s motivation and Ulrich’s motivation (contrast)
 Topic 1: Zaroff
o Detail 1: Boredom, created “game”
o Detail 2: Challenge of a skilled hunter Rainsford
 Topic 2: Ulrich
o Detail 1: Family feud
o Detail 2: Poachers
Six to eight sentences
1
Body Paragraph 4
Name: __________________________
Period: ____
Due Date: February 24
English I: Price
Transition Sentence: use transition words (go from motivation to personal growth)
Topic Sentence – aspect 4: Zaroff’s growth and Ulrich’s growth (contrast)
 Topic 1: Zaroff
o Detail 1: Learns that Rainsford has a great skill
o Detail 2: Did not gain personal growth - died
 Topic 2: Ulrich
o Detail 1: Reconciles with enemy
o Detail 2: Learns that life is better than hatred
Conclusion
Body Paragraphs
5 & 6 (optional)
Six to eight sentences
Continue with the same format as above – only if you have more points (aspects) than this example.



Summary of main points
Restatement of thesis (re-word that thesis do not just copy the thesis)
Author’s Opinion: one or two sentences giving your opinion (cannot use “I” statements,
example: For these reasons mentioned above and others, life in the city is more advisable for
individuals for whom a better quality of life is non-negotiable. Instead of saying In my opinion
…)
Three to four sentences (but can have 5 sentences for longer essays – be careful do not make it too
long!)
5. Use detailed topic sentences and the following connecting words to make the relationship between your subjects
clear to your reader.
a. Connectors for comparison (similarities)
In addition
Correspondingly
Similarly
Just as
Likewise
Same as
b. Connectors for contrast (differences)
Compared to
As well as
At the same time
However
Even though
Unlike
On the other hand
Although
meanwhile
On the contrary
In contrast
Conversely
Assignment:
Directions: You will write a six to eight-paragraph essay (2-3 pages typed, double spaced – extra 15 points) comparing
two characters (cannot be from the same story) from the short stories we have read. Include a creative, interesting title.
Final drafts must be done in ink, neat and easy to read, and accompanied by rough draft(s), notes (refer to attached
graphic organizer), and evaluation forms.
Suggested stories and characters to compare/contrast:
“The Cask of Amontillado”: Montressor and Fortunato
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”: Walter Mitty
“The Most Dangerous Game”: Zaroff and Rainsford
“The Gift of the Magi”: Jim and Della
“The Interlopers”: Ulrich and Georg
“The Necklace”: Mr. Loisel and Madame Losiel
2
Name: __________________________
Period: ____
Due Date: February 24
English I: Price
Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer
Character 1: ____________________________
Character 2: _________________________
How are they alike?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
How are they different?
Comparison/Contrast Essay: Peer Evaluation Form, NAME ___________________________
Directions: Refer to your Grading Rubric and essay assignment to evaluate the essay.
I.
Ideas/Organization/Fluency
A. Paragraph #1
1. Does the writer introduce the story and the characters specifically, and provide a thesis? If not,
what is missing?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Does the writer begin the essay in an interesting way? Can the introduction be improved? If so,
how?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Paragraphs #2-4
1. Does the writer give three clear points of comparison with examples from both stories? Explain.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
3
Name: __________________________
Period: ____
Due Date: February 24
English I: Price
2. What pattern of comparison is used?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Does the writer use effective transitional strategies to move from one paragraph to the next?
Explain.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
C. Paragraph #5
1. Does the author tie ideas together in the conclusion? Explain.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Does the writer end the essay in an interesting way? Can the conclusion be improved? If so,
how?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
II.
Word Choice/Voice
A. Are there any weak or vague words? Circle any.
B. Identify a phrase or sentence that you believe is weak. How could it be improved?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
C. Identify a phrase or sentence that you believe is strong. Explain why.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
D. Is the essay written in third person point of view? If not, identify any first or second person usage.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
III.
IV.
Conventions
A. Is the essay correctly divided into paragraphs? Indicate any areas to change.
B. Identify any misspelled words, sentence fragments, run-on sentences, or punctuation mistakes.
Title: Is the essay's title creative and interesting? Does it represent the topic or thesis? If not, explain.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
V.
4
Use the rest of this space to offer any additional thoughts to help the writer improve his/her essay.
Name: __________________________
Period: ____
Due Date: February 24
English I: Price
Essay Grading rubric and Scoring Sheet
Ideas
_____
Voice
_____
Organization
_____
Fluency
_____
Word Choice
9,10-Outstanding
8-Proficient
7-Competent
5,6-Limited
1-4-Minimal
-demonstrates
outstanding critical
thinking
-clear, complex thesis
-convincing specifics
-explains and justifies
specifics in depth
-demonstrates
strong critical
thinking
-clear thesis
-appropriate
specifics
-explains and
justifies all specifics
-effectively develops
a point of view
-proper use of
person
-demonstrates
critical thinking
-Identifiable thesis
-adequate specifics
-explains majority
of specifics
-demonstrates some
critical thinking
-Vague or underdeveloped thesis
-lists specifics without
adequate explanation
-demonstrates
minimal critical
thinking
-ineffective thesis
-poorly chosen
specifics lacking
explanation
-develops a point of
view
-generally proper
use of person
-effective intro,
conclusion
-body develops the
thesis
-adequate intro,
conclusion
-body paragraphs
relate to thesis
-develops a point of
view that is vague or
limited
-use of person somewhat inconsistent
-has a beginning,
middle, and end
-thesis loosely
controls essay
-point of view is
unclear
-inappropriate or
inconsistent use of
person
-beginning, middle,
and/or end partially
missing
-thesis inadequately
developed in essay
-clear, effective
transitions
-varied, complex
sentences
-effective transitions
- variety in
sentences
-appropriate
transitions
-some variety in
sentences
-somewhat adequate
transitions
-little sentence
variety
-inadequate or
ineffective transitions
-sentence variety is
minimal or lacking
-clear, thoughtful word
choice
-clear, appropriate
word choice
-standard
vocabulary
-vague, awkward, or
colloquial language
-poor use of
language, or
inappropriate word
choice
-virtually free of errors in
grammar and mechanics
-generally correct in
grammar and
mechanics with no
major errors in
sentence structure
-generally correct in
grammar and
mechanics with few
major errors in
sentence structure
-frequent errors in
grammar and
mechanics
-repeated errors in
standard English
-effectively and
insightfully develops a
point of view
-proper, consistent use of
1st, 2nd, or 3rd person
-strong intro, conclusion
-body advances the
thesis
-logical progression of
ideas
_____
Conventions
_____
Scoring: 100 points (15 extra possible), WORTH 2 TEST GRADES!
1. Notes (includes graphic organizer and rough outline): 20 points
2. Rough draft which shows evidence of proofreading/editing: 20 points
3. Evaluation form (completed): 20 points
4. Presentation: Neatly typed (extra 15 points) or handwritten in blue or black ink (other colors will result in 15 points
being subtracted): 20 points
5. On time: 20 points (each day that it is late, -5 points)
Essay Grader: February 24th and 25th you will type or copy (you can email the copy to me, you must have a hard copy as
well) the final copy to the online essay scorer. This will be a separate test grade. You will have 12 times to submit after
corrections.
This essay will be worth a total of 3 TEST GRADES!
5