EN20F: Comparative Essay
Guidelines:
1. Select a MAIN IDEA or a MOOD (this will be the FOCUS of the paper)
that can be compared between two short stories in such a way that
both you and your reader will have a better understanding of the
similarities between the two stories.
2. Once you have chosen a common element between the two stories, you
need to explain how TWO OTHER DEVICES affect the chosen focus
within the chosen stories (these will be the FACTORS of the paper).
Some frames to consider as a starter:
_____ and ______ reinforce the main idea of ______ in Story A and Story B .
factor
factor
focus
OR……………
_____ and _______create a ______________mood in Story A and Story B.
factor
factor
focus
One catch…No two students can have the same essay topic!
An example:
Irony and conflict reinforce the same main idea in two stories.
The identified main idea must be the same, but the factors that reinforce the
theme do not have to be identical.
For example, Story A might have dramatic irony and man vs. self conflict that
reinforce the main idea while Story B has situational irony and a man vs. man
conflict.
Eg. (MOOD IS THE FOCUS)
Diction and symbolism create a mood of desperation in Flight by Doris Lessing
and Alicia by Gabrielle Roy.
Eg. (MAIN IDEA IS THE FOCUS)
The idea that a person needs to work through their failure because it will always
make them a person stronger is developed in the short stories Flight by Doris
Lessing and Alicia by Gabrielle Roy through visual imagery and indirect
characterization.
Your essay will be broken down as follows:
Paragraph 1: (not in a specific order….other than start with a grabber)
 Grabber sentence – a broad statement about your theme/mood - importance to
our society? Importance to texts? Avoid sounding cliché/cheesy or boring!
 Thesis statement – includes your two factors and focus here.
 Give us some insight into the plots of the stories.
 Explain in more detail what the specific factors are that influence your focus since
they may be slightly different from each other.
 A closer that transitions into the bodies of your paper.
Paragraph 2: STORY A (factor 1)
 Point
 Example (Integrated Quote)
 Analysis * Discuss how this factor reinforces/affects/establishes/creates the focus
 C/E?? – can you connect to another aspect of the story?
Paragraph 3: STORY B (factor 1)
 Point
 Example(Integrated Quote)
 Analysis * Discuss how this factor reinforces/affects/establishes/creates the focus
 C/E?? Paragraph 4: STORY A (factor 2)
 Point
 Example(Integrated Quote)
 Analysis * Discuss how this factor reinforces/affects/establishes/creates the focus
 C/E?? Paragraph 4: STORY B (factor 2)
 Point
 Example(Integrated Quote)
 Analysis * Discuss how this factor reinforces/affects/establishes/creates the focus
 C/E?? Paragraph 5: Conclusion
 Remind your audience of the purpose of your paper by restating your thesis
statement in your conclusion. Avoid using the exact same words to restate your
thesis though – look for synonyms!!
 End with a thought-provoking statement that gets your reader to perhaps reflect
on the human condition, our society, reader connection to text, etc.
Remember:
 Use direct quotations from text to support your conclusions
 Type your final copy in MLA format – including a works cited page.
 Length of essay: approx. 750 - 1000 words
 See the handout for Grading Rubric breakdown