Comparison and Contrast Essays

   LENG 102 FRESHMAN ENGLISH

   What is a comparison/contrast essay?

 In a comparison/contrast essay, you explain the similarities and differences between two items.

 Comparison and contrast is a very common pattern in most academic fields.

   Venn diagram

 Useful when comparing and contrasting only two things.

 

 Organization of a comparison/contrast essay?

 The first key to writing a successful comparison/contrast essay is to organize it carefully. There are two ways to do this:

 • Point-by-point organization

 • Block organization

   Point-by-point organization

 In this organization, each point of comparison/contrast becomes the topic of a paragraph. You can put the paragraphs in any order you wish – perhaps in the order of importance to you personally.

   Block organization

 The other way to organize a comparison/contrast essay is to arrange all the similarities together in a block and all the differences together in a block. You should discuss either the similarities first or the differences first.

   THE INTRODUCTION

 For both types of organization, the  introduction is the same.

 

ØPresents the topic or subject that is being compared and contrasted in the topic sentence.

 

ØGives some general information about the topic.

 

ØEnds with a thesis statement that tells the reader specifically what will be compared and contrasted.

 

   Thesis  Statement

                       An acceptable thesis statement is crucial in the process of writing an essay.  It is usually placed as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.

 

   Thesis statement samples

Ø Although X and Y have a number of differences/similarities, they also have many similarities/differences. 

ØWhile X and Y share some similarities, they also have many differences.

ØX and Y have several differences; however, they share many similarities as well.

   Body paragraphs (Point by Point method)

First body paragraph:

§ The first similarity/difference (between X and Y) is + NOUN/NOUN GROUP/ Ving

§ The first similarity/difference is that + FULL SENTENCE

 

Second body paragraph:

§ The second similarity/difference is + NOUN/NOUN GROUP/ Ving

§ The second similarity/difference is that + FULL SENTENCE

§ Another similarity/difference (between X and Y) is (that)…

   Body paragraphs (Block method)

First block:

§ Firstly, there are several similarities / differences between X and Y.

§ To start with, a comparison between X and Y shows some surprising similarities/differences.

§ Firstly, X and Y share many similarities.

§ Firstly, X and Y have many differences.

   Body paragraphs (Block method)

 Second block:

Ø  Although X and Y have a number of differences/similarities, they also have many similarities/differences. 

ØWhile X and Y share some similarities, they also have many differences.

ØEven though X and Y have several differences, they share many similarities as well.

 

 

 

   The Conclusion

ØRewrite your thesis statement.

 

ØGive a brief summary of the most  important similarities and differences.

 

ØGive your opinion or feeling about the topic. End with a personal statement, a prediction, etc.

   Conclusion signal words

 

§ All in all,

§ To sum up,

§ As seen above,

§ In conclusion,

§ In short,

§ As you can see,