Comparative Essay
WHAP
Comparison

Compare & Contrast topic

Does NOT have to be 50/50

Every time you compare – tell why
Thesis

Thesis


The thesis cannot be split and must be located
in either the introductory paragraph or the
conclusion. It cannot simply repeat the
question.
There must be some minimal qualification of
both differences and similarities to be an
acceptable thesis.


“There were many similarities and differences…..” is not
acceptable.
"There were economic similarities but political
differences" is minimally acceptable
Thesis

Thesis MUST haves:
Answer the prompt (AP)
 Time/Place
 3 Categories
 1:2 Ratio

Diff + Sim + Sim = OK
 Sim + Diff + Diff = OK


Sim + Sim + Diff = BAD
Thesis

Try to begin Thesis with:
While…
 Although…
 Despite…
 In spite of…

Thesis

Essay Scores:
No thesis = usually 1 or 2
 With thesis = usually 4 or 5

Thesis

Sample format:
 TOPIC
1 and Topic 2 are similar in
CATEGORY 1 but differ in
CATEGORY 2 and CATEGORY 3.
 You
MUST make a direct comparison!
Thesis: Direct Comparison

Don’t say:


China and Japan had political motivations but
China followed traditions and Japan modernized
economically.
Instead:

Although China and Japan had similar political
motivations, they differed in their following of
traditions and economic modernization.
Direct Comparison

Direct comparison is a sentence that
mentions both topics that you are
comparing and the specific comparison.

Example from 2002:
“Japan and China both chose to have
emperors. They did this because…”
Hint
Empires
 cannot
compare size of
empires
C&C Essay Formats

Point-by-Point Method

Intro


Thesis
Body P X 3


Topic sentence
Direct Comparison of Topic 1 to Topic 2




Analysis (why)
Concrete Detail + Evidence – Topic 1
Concrete Detail + Evidence – Topic 2
Conclusion

Connections, inferences, conclusion based on thesis/analysis