The Comparison/Contrast Essay
For the essay that you are working on right now, you are supposed to compare and
contrast qualities for two universities to which you might apply in the future. As you
keep track of points about these universities, you will notice both similarities and
differences. Therefore, when you organize your critical essay, you will utilize the
comparison/contrast format.
The what
Comparison: systematically analyzes and evaluates the similarities of two or more
things.
Contrast: a comparison that emphasizes the differences rather than the similarities.
YOUR ESSAYS might EMPHASIZE CONTRAST OR COMPARISON
OR ESTABLISH A BALANCE.
An effective comparison/contrast demonstrates one of three general
purposes:
1. Two things thought to be different are shown to be quite similar
2. Two things thought to be similar are shown to be not equal
3. Two things, although comparable, are shown to be not equal (one is better or
more accurate than the other)
Organization
You will need to develop your comparison according to either the divided (A + B)
pattern or the alternating (A/B + A/B) pattern.
The Divided pattern of Comparison: A + B
The divided pattern, the more common of the two strategies, divides the
comparison into two sections, the first devoted to a discussion of A (in your case,
university one) and the second devoted to a discussion of B (in your university
two).
Linking the examples in A to those in B—for example, by making three points
about A and three similar points about B—unifies the two contrasting parts.
These points should be in the same sequence and, where possible, paired points
should be treated in the same amount of space. Although such exact pairings
are not always necessary, in working out your purpose you should demonstrate
that A and B are related.
A. Diplodocus
1. Enormous size
2. Small brain
3. Gentle behavior
4. Eating habits
B. Blue whale
1. Enormous size
2. Large brain
3. Gentle behavior
4. Eating habits
The divided pattern is perhaps easier to organize and control, particularly in short
essays, but unless you connect the two subjects with a clear thesis, you may discover
that you have written two separate essays.
The Alternating Pattern of Comparison A/B + A/B
The alternating pattern develops your material through matched pairs of A and B,
expressed either in the same paragraph or the same sentence. The alternating pattern
requires you to organize your material more precisely than the divided pattern,
especially in a longer essay, but the pattern is often more interesting and accessible for
your reader because the point-by-point development can be written in balanced
sentences that reinforce the comparison with every pair of matched details.
A. Size
1. Diplodocus size
2. Blue whale size
3. Diplodocus brain
4. Blue whale brain
B. Behavior
1. Diplodocus behavior
2. Blue whale behavior
3. Diplodocus eating habits
4. Blue whale eating habits
If you want to write the coveted “A” essay, you will
probably be more successful by utilizing the alternating
pattern of organization because it is more sophisticated!