Graphic Representation of the
Compare – Contrast Literary Essay
Graphic Representation of Introduction
Paragraph 1:
1st sentence: General overview of topic
2nd & 3rd sentence: Introduction of author(s) / literary work(s)
4th sentence to “?” Description / development of literary work as it pertains to topic
Last sentence: Thesis
Graphic Representation of First Argument
Paragraph 2:
Topic Sentence: this sentence INTRODUCES only the argument in this paragraph
Introduce a support: explain you argument in general terms; Development consists of
ideas which will support the topic sentence and thesis statement.
Choose a quotation for the 1st piece of literature: which will develop / support this
topic and establish connection to topic / thesis (remember to being the quotation with a
lead)
Discussion of how the 1st quotation relates to the general topic: how does it prove
your argument and your overall thesis statement?
NOTE: You need to write a linking sentence to help you transition from one piece of
literature to the other.
Paragraph 3:
Topic Sentence: this sentence INTRODUCES only the argument in this paragraph
Introduce a support: explain you argument in general terms; Development consists of
ideas which will support the topic sentence and thesis statement.
Choose a quotation for the 2nd piece of literature: which will develop / support this
topic and establish connection to topic / thesis (remember to being the quotation with a
lead)
Discussion of how the 2nd quotation relates to the general topic: how does it prove
your argument and your overall thesis statement?
Linking sentence will reinforce what was stated in this paragraph and connect it to the
following paragraph.
Paragraph 4:
Write a concluding comparison – relating the two topics to the topic sentence/thesis
statement. This will likely take more than one sentence.
Graphic Representation of Second Argument
Paragraph 5:
Topic Sentence: this sentence INTRODUCES only the argument in this paragraph
Introduce a support: explain you argument in general terms; Development consists of
ideas which will support the topic sentence and thesis statement.
Choose a quotation for the 1st piece of literature: which will develop / support this
topic and establish connection to topic / thesis (remember to being the quotation with a
lead)
Discussion of how the 1st quotation relates to the general topic: how does it prove
your argument and your overall thesis statement?
NOTE: You need to write a linking sentence to help you transition from one piece of
literature to the other.
Paragraph 6:
Topic Sentence: this sentence INTRODUCES only the argument in this paragraph
Introduce a support: explain you argument in general terms; Development consists of
ideas which will support the topic sentence and thesis statement.
Choose a quotation for the 2nd piece of literature: which will develop / support this
topic and establish connection to topic / thesis (remember to being the quotation with a
lead)
Discussion of how the 2nd quotation relates to the general topic: how does it prove
your argument and your overall thesis statement?
Linking sentence will reinforce what was stated in this paragraph and connect it to the
following paragraph
Paragraph 7:
Write a concluding comparison – relating the two topics to the topic sentence/thesis
statement. This will likely take more than one sentence.
Graphic Representation of Third Argument
Paragraph 8:
Topic Sentence: this sentence INTRODUCES only the argument in this paragraph
Introduce a support: explain you argument in general terms; Development consists of
ideas which will support the topic sentence and thesis statement.
Choose a quotation for the 1st piece of literature: which will develop / support this
topic and establish connection to topic / thesis (remember to being the quotation with a
lead)
Discussion of how the 1st quotation relates to the general topic: how does it prove
your argument and your overall thesis statement?
NOTE: You need to write a linking sentence to help you transition from one piece of
literature to the other.
Paragraph 9:
Topic Sentence: this sentence INTRODUCES only the argument in this paragraph
Introduce a support: explain you argument in general terms; Development consists of
ideas which will support the topic sentence and thesis statement.
Choose a quotation for the 2nd piece of literature: which will develop / support this
topic and establish connection to topic / thesis (remember to being the quotation with a
lead)
Discussion of how the 2nd quotation relates to the general topic: how does it prove
your argument and your overall thesis statement?
Linking sentence will reinforce what was stated in this paragraph and connect it to the
following paragraph.
Paragraph 10:
Write a concluding comparison – relating the two topics to the topic sentence/thesis
statement. NOTE: you will discuss them in terms of their similarities and their
differences.
Graphic Representation of Conclusion
Paragraph 10:
Sent. 1: Restate thesis (different wording)
Sent 2, 3, & 4: Sum up main pts. of argument from each paragraph which proves thesis
Sent 5-6: Make one final last concluding point
NOTE: do not introduce any new info in the conclusion!