Name: ______________________________ Class: ____ Date Due: ________
Turn In Date: ________
Unit 1 Comparison/Contrast Essay Outline
“Straw Into Gold” and “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens”
¶I. Introduction Hook Statement(Can be a quote that supports your thesis, a general interesting statement that goes along
with your topic…): ____________________________________________________________________________
Thesis Statement: ___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
¶II. Topic Sentence for Topic 1 (with transition):___________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
A. Story X Point of Comparison: ______________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: __________________________________________________________________________
Transition Phrase that Compares: _________________________________________________
B. Story Y Point of Comparison: _____________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: _____________________________________________________________________
A. Story X Point of Contrast: __________________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: __________________________________________________________________________
Transition Phrase that Contrasts: _________________________________________________
B. Story Y Point of Contrast: __________________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: _________________________________________________________________________________
¶III. Topic Sentence for Topic 2 (with transition): __________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
A. Story X Point of Comparison: ______________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: __________________________________________________________________________
Transition Phrase that Compares: _________________________________________________
B. Story Y Point of Comparison: _____________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: _____________________________________________________________________
A. Story X Point of Contrast: __________________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: __________________________________________________________________________
Transition Phrase that Contrasts: _________________________________________________
B. Story Y Point of Contrast: __________________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: _________________________________________________________________________________
¶V. Concluding Paragraph (Summarize your points)
Transition Phrase/First sentence: _______________________________________________________________
Restatement of Thesis in New Words: ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Final Comment: ____________________________________________________________________________
Name: ______________________________ Class: ____ Date Due: ________
Turn In Date: ________
Unit 1 Comparison/Contrast Essay Venn Diagram
“Straw Into Gold” and “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens”
Prompt Chosen: __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Topic 1 to be Compared/Contrasted: _________________
_________________
___________________
Topic 2 to be Compared/Contrasted: _________________
Rough Draft of Thesis Statement:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: ______________________________ Class: ____ Date Due: ________
Turn In Date: ________
Unit 1 Comparison/Contrast Essay Outline“X Factor” and “American Idol” Example
¶I. Introduction Hook Statement(Can be a quote that supports your thesis, a general interesting statement that goes along with your
topic…): “You sound like a legend”, praised Simon Cowell when judging a contestant on this Fox’s current
season of “X Factor”, a reality singing competition television show.
Thesis Statement: Though “X Factor” and “American Idol” are comparable in terms of the auditions and the
prizes that draw contestants to them, major variations separate these popular singing competitions.
¶II. Topic Sentence for Topic 1 (with transition): When one watches the auditions of “X Factor” and “American Idol”,
general similarities can be seen, but ” X Factor” stands apart from “Idol”.
A.Point of Comparison: X Factor auditions held w/ celebrity panel of judges to find pop star w/ stage presence
Support/Example: Judges LA Reid & Simon Cowell are major producers-often comment on vocal ability, Spears &
Lovato are major pop stars- often comment on stage presence
Transition Phrase that Compares: Likewise
B. Story Y Point of Comparison: Idol audition judges are recognizable celebrities looking for hidden vocal talent
Support/Example: Jackson-producer looking for quality of artist, Lopez &Tyler are seasoned singers-comment
often on uniqueness of voice
A. Story X Point of Contrast: What stands apart with Factor, is that Competitors are forced to show they can
command a huge audience from the very first round
Support/Example: audition held in front of thousands of people, it often affects whether a singer moves on.
Judges notes like “You have the most amazing stage presence,” by Spears characterize those that move on.
Transition Phrase that Contrasts: Idol, on the other hand,
B. Story Y Point of Contrast: only in front of judge panel for first round
Support/Example: when a singer is given their “golden ticket” to Hollywood, they perform then for other
contestants. It is at the next stage that there’s a real audience.
¶III. Topic Sentence for Topic 2 (with transition): The average contestant wants to win the singing competition they
have entered not just for the fame and glory but also for the physical rewards offered. American Idol and X
Factor both provide hefty prizes, X Factor weighing in heavier.
A. Story X Point of Comparison: ______________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: __________________________________________________________________________
Transition Phrase that Compares: _________________________________________________
B. Story Y Point of Comparison: _____________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: _____________________________________________________________________
A. Story X Point of Contrast: __________________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: __________________________________________________________________________
Transition Phrase that Contrasts: _________________________________________________
B. Story Y Point of Contrast: __________________________________________________________________________
Support/Example: _________________________________________________________________________________
Name: ______________________________ Class: ____ Date Due: ________
Turn In Date: ________
¶V. Concluding Paragraph (Summarize your points)
Transition Phrase/First sentence: _______________________________________________________________
Restatement of Thesis in New Words: ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Final Comment: ____________________________________________________________________________
Unit 1 Comparison/Contrast Essay Venn Diagram
Prompt Chosen: Compare/Contrast
the audition formats and prizes
awarded in American Idol and X Factor.________________________
Topic 1 to be Compared/Contrasted: Audition Formats
X Factor
•
American Idol
Auditions in front of a live
audience, which contributes
somewhat to outcome
•
starts at 12-no age restriction
Multiple rounds
of auditioning
Need multiple
• Auditions in front of
judges
• Must be between ages
of 15-28
• Only solo artists
Celebrity judges
Allows groups
X Factor
on to Hollywood
“yes”s to move on
beyond this
•
Audition to move
decide
Topic 2 to be Compared/Contrasted: Prizes
 Money- $5 million
 Contract with
Sony Records
 Pepsi Commercial
during Super Bowl
American Idol
 Offer money
and
recording
contract
 Give
automatic
fame and
exposure
 Some sort
of TV
commercial
 Money- $1 million
 Contract with
Records
 Car commercials
during the show
Name: ______________________________ Class: ____ Date Due: ________
Turn In Date: ________
Rough Draft of Thesis Statement:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
When one watches the auditions of “X Factor” and “American Idol”, general similarities can
be seen, but ” X Factor” stands apart from “Idol”. “X Factor”s auditions are held in front of a
celebrity panel of judges to find a potential pop star who can sing and show promising stage
presence.