Name: _________________________________________
6B- _____
Date: _________________________________
Writing: Sample Compare-Contrast Outlines + Essays: Cats + Dogs
Directions: Use these sample outlines and essays to help you plan and write your own comparecontrast essays. These essays use (pretend) articles to demonstrate how to use them.
Sample Question: Compare and contrast cats and dogs. Discuss their personalities and the rewards of
cat and dog ownership.
Point-by-Point Form / Similarities and Differences
Plan / Outline:
H: catch reader’s attention on topic
L: both titles & authors and a “Google Earth” summary of the entire text; tie hook to line.
I
THESIS: Despite their differences, cats and dogs have at least one significant quality in common.
TS: POINT #1 / DIFFERENCES (PERSONALITIES)
Subject #1: Cats
 Independence: Large area
 Predators
 Relationship with human
Subject #2: Dogs
 Social: Humans as “adopted packs”
 Hierarchy / power positions
 Playful
 Local
B
TS: POINT #2 / SIMILARITIES (REWARDS)
Subject #1: Cats
 Love: Earned
 Warm, pleasant
 Purr, preen
Subject #2: Dogs
 Love: Honor
 Jump, catch, preen
 “Man’s best friend”
B
R: Repeat THESIS and TS’s
I.S.: Conclusive transition; text reference; springboard; real-world insight (H.I.S.)
(over)
C
From the Westminster Kennel Show to all the silly cats in viral videos online, we see pets everywhere. But
what makes them so loveable? In both “Of Cats and Men” by John Smith and “For Whom the Dog Barks” by Kate
Williams, the authors provide many reasons both animals are loveable… and a few reasons that sometimes they’re
not. Despite their differences, cats and dogs have at least one significant quality in common.
In particular, cats and dogs have very different personalities. According to Smith, cats demonstrate their
independence by defining their territory to include an area far larger than their owner’s house and property. In
fact, some cats wander up to a mile from the house of their owner. In doing so, they often act as predators, hunting
small rodents and bringing them back to the house of their owners, as if it is they, the cats, who provide for their
owners and not the other way around. On the contrary, dogs, according to Williams, see their owners as “adopted
packs.” In fact, dogs are known to fit themselves into a power structure, or hierarchy, paying respect, in most
cases, to the authority of their new pack, the family that has taken them in. Within the pack, dogs are known to be
playful animals who, depending upon their breed, are generally not likely to stray too far from their homes.
While their personalities are likely to differ, cats and dogs offer a similar reward to their owners. Because
cats tend to exhibit independent personalities, the rewards of cat ownership are special. Smith says that a cat’s
love is rare and must be earned; it’s not automatic. However, once an owner earns a cat’s love, the relationship
between pet and human can become warm and pleasant. For example, cats are known to purr in their owners’
laps, preening their owners as a sign of their affection. Similar to cats, dogs are loving animals who honor their
owners with fondness and adoration. Depending on their size, dogs are known to jump on a lap, play “catch,” and,
like cats, preen their owners. The often-used expression, “Dogs are man’s best friend,” is, according to Williams,
based on solid evidence.
In review, the differences between cats and dogs are clear, but they also have an important similarity.
Namely, cats and dogs have dramatically different personalities; however, they both make the people around them
very happy. Ultimately, these similarities and differences suggest that our pets are everywhere  from dogs
shows to videos  because they’re so loveable, and they’re so loveable largely because they’re so loving,
themselves!
(over)
2
Subject-by-Subject Form / Block Form
Plan/Outline:
H: catch reader’s attention on topic
L: both titles & authors and a “Google Earth” summary of the entire text; tie hook to line.
I
THESIS: Despite their differences, cats and dogs have at least one significant quality in common.
TS: SUBJECT #1 (CATS)
Point #1: Personality
 Independence: Large area
 Predators
 Relationship with human
B
Point #2: Rewards
 Love: earned
 Warm, pleasant
 Purr, preen
TS: SUBJECT #2 (DOGS)
Point #1: Personality (Difference)
 Social: Humans as “adopted packs”
 Hierarchy
 Playful
 Local
B
Point #2: Rewards (Similarity)
 Love: Honor
 Jump, catch, preen
 “Man’s best friend”
R: Repeat THESIS and TS’s
I.S.: Conclusive transition; text reference; springboard; real-world insight (H.I.S.)
C
(next)
3
From the Westminster Kennel Show to all the silly cats in viral videos online, we see pets everywhere. But
what makes them so loveable? In both “Of Cats and Men” by John Smith and “For Whom the Dog Barks” by Kate
Williams, the authors provide many reasons both animals are loveable… and a few reasons that sometimes they’re
not. Despite their differences, cats and dogs have at least one significant quality in common.
In particular, cats tend to have very independent personalities, but they offer great rewards to their
owners. According to Smith, cats demonstrate their independence by defining their territory to include an area far
larger than their owner’s house and property. In fact, some cats wander up to a mile from the house of their
owner. In doing so, they often act as predators, hunting small rodents and bringing them back to the house of their
owners, as if it is they, the cats, who provide for their owners and not the other way around. Because cats tend to
exhibit independent personalities, the rewards of cat ownership are special. Smith says that a cat’s love is rare and
must be earned; it’s not automatic. However, once an owner earns a cat’s love, the relationship between pet and
human can become warm and pleasant. For example, cats are known to purr in their owners’ laps, preening their
owners as a sign of their affection.
Unlike cats, dogs are very social animals, so not surprisingly they, like cats, offer tremendous rewards to
their owners. According to Williams, dogs see their owners as “adopted packs.” In fact, dogs are known to fit
themselves into a power structure, or hierarchy, paying respect, in most cases, to the authority of their new pack,
the family that has taken them in. Within the pack, dogs are known to be playful animals who, depending upon
their breed, are generally not likely to stray too far from their homes. Similar to cats, dogs are loving animals who
honor their owners with fondness and adoration. Depending on their size, dogs are known to jump on a lap, play
“catch,” and, like cats, preen their owners. The often-used expression, “Dogs are man’s best friend,” is, according to
Williams, based on solid evidence.
In review, the differences between cats and dogs are clear, but they also have an important similarity.
Namely, cats and dogs have dramatically different personalities; however, they both make the people around them
very happy. Ultimately, these similarities and differences suggest that our pets are everywhere  from dogs
shows to videos  because they’re so loveable, and they’re so loveable largely because they’re so loving,
themselves!
4