Chapter 13: Compare and Contrast

CHAPTER 13: COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

This chapter goes over writing a comparison and contrast essay. Your goal is write an essay that has two or more subjects side by side, shows how they are similar and different, and draws conclusions or makes some point.

Keys for success:

· Know your reader. What do they know? What should they know? Why should they care?

· Know your purpose. What do you want to do? Inform, explain, or persuade.

· Be logical. Helps understand the subject.

Topics to consider:

· Topics that are related in some way

· Objects, events, places, processes, people, ideas, beliefs.

Guidelines for writing a compare and contrast essay:

1. Select a topic. At least 2 subjects that are different but similar, interesting, perplexing, distinguishing, infuriating, charming, and informing.

2. Get the big picture. Brainstorm using 3 columns, traits of number 1, shared traits, traits of number 2.

3. Gather information. Review your list, highlight important topics, and research your subject.

4. Draft a working thesis. Review expanded list, eliminate unimportant information, state the core of what you learned.

5. Get organized. Decide how to organize, subject by subject, or trait by trait.

6. Draft the essay.

· Subject by subject:

Opening

Middle: traits of first subject parallel to second subject

Closing: similarities and differences, significant, and restate main point.

· Trait-by-trait

Opening

Middle: compare and contrast

Closing: summarize key relationships, note significance, and restate main point

7. Revise the essay. Check for balance in comparisons and contrasts, complete treatment of each subject, objective voice, clear sentences, and thoughtful conclusions.

8. Get feedback. Get peer reviewer to check for clear thesis, engaging introduction, middle compares, contrasts, and parallel traits, ideas offer insight, and conclusion restates main point.

9. Edit your essay. Transitions signal comparisons and link paragraphs, correct quotations and documentation, correct spelling, punctuations, usage, and grammar.

10. Publish your essay.