Blending Compare/Contrast with

the non-fiction narrative

Two powerful writing “tools” that
work together in making your
writing more expressive, insightful,
and persuasive.
Comparing and Contrasting
Compare/contrast is a method of analysis we use in
order to make small or large decisions based on
common or dissimilar attributes. We compare and
contrast every time we shop, pick a movie to rent, or
when we choose where to live (sometimes we even
make comparisons subconsciously).

Comparison involves associating or finding

similarities between subjects.

Contrasting involves disassociating or finding

differences between subjects.
Comparing and Contrasting
• The purpose of comparing and contrasting is
(usually) to evaluate or judge which object of
comparison is superior.
• e.g. We might appreciate our feature-rich cell
phones more when comparing them to early
portables.
• Organizing the likeness and differences
between subjects is key to
comparing/contrasting in writing.
Comparing and Contrasting
• Be organized.
• But first... Make sure your subjects have a basis
for comparison.
• Would you compare/contrast a bowling ball with
a bowl of cereal?
• Would you compare a Macintosh with a PC?
Comparing and Contrasting
• A simple tool to consider: Venn Diagrams...

Unique to “X” X & Y Unique to “Y”

Comparing and Contrasting
As HR committee members, use your Venn Diagrams to compare and
contrast two of your company’s employees:

Ginger Delilah
Comparing and Contrasting

Mo Buckley Yancy
Comparing and Contrasting
• You could continue to use variations of Venn
Diagrams for a few more subjects of
comparison... But it is a lot of work and more
difficult to remain neat and organized.
• Matrixes/tables are a great way to organize
information for larger scale comparisons.
 Comparing and Contrasting

MO BUCKLEY YANCY

(Attributes) A. 1

A. 2

A. 3

A. 4
 Comparing and Contrasting

Mo Buckley Yancy
MO BUCKLEY YANCY Draw this chart as we
A1. come up with attributes
to compare these three
A2. fine gentlemen.

A3.

A4.
 Comparing and Contrasting

Mo Buckley Yancy
MO BUCKLEY YANCY
A1. Gender Male Male Male

A2. Facial Hair Moustache Beard and Beard

moustache
A3. Outfit Formal Formal Formal

A4. Facial expression

  
Comparing and Contrasting
Exercise:

Using either my sample chart or the one we just drew,

how are these good fellows comparable?

Do you think it would have been harder to contrast

them?

What statement does the representation of these three

fellows make? Look at your table and see what story
the picture tells.
Comparing and Contrasting... and
narrative!
- With our analysis, we have discovered a
narrative.
- The narrative tells a story in order to advance an
idea for the reader’s consideration.
- Integrating compare/contrast into the narrative,
then, enables you to advocate a position based
on cross-evaluation (remember the purpose of
compare/contrast?)
Comparing and Contrasting... and
narrative!
- In writing your own narrative, begin by establishing why you’re
comparing/contrasting the subjects you’re comparing (use
Ginger and Delilah this time). This is your thesis.

- Use the block method ... Or the alternating method:

- Intro + Thesis -Intro + Thesis

- Block A (Ginger) -Block A (Attribute 1)
1. Attribute 1 -1. Ginger
2. Attribute 2 -2. Delilah
3. Attribute 3 -Block B (Attribute 2)
- Block B (Delilah) -1. Ginger
1. Attribute 1 -2. Delilah
2. Attribute 2 -- Block C (Attribute 3)
3. Attribute 3 -1. Ginger
-Delilah
Comparing and Contrasting... and
narrative!
- Your conclusion should offer your views of the two
subjects – your evaluation!

- Make sure to use transitions in your writing such as:

- “like”
- “unlike”
- “on the one hand... ... On the other hand...”
- “in contrast...”
- “similarly...”
- “although...”
Comparing and Contrasting... and
narrative!

TWO VIEWS OF THE MISSISSIPPI

By Mark Twain
Comparing and Contrasting

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How does this tool enhance my writing?

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Comparing and Contrasting

• In academics?

• It will enhance your theses!

• It will serve research! Falsification (comparing
experiment results is an important step in the
scientific method.)
Comparing and Contrasting

• In business?

• Businesses face fierce competition, comparing and

contrasting with competitors in order to find an
effective niche, evaluate vendors, evaluate grants or
contracts is very important.
• Writers can use this style of analysis along with
effective narrative writing to make points as writers
of internal memos and newsletters, marketing
materials, or even product reviews or corporate
emails!
Comparing and Contrasting

• In law?

• The American legal system is adversarial by

design. In jury trials, jurors compare and
contrast the arguments of the accused with the
arguments of the accuser.
• Legal writing advances arguments by comparing
litigants’ actions with regulations, civil codes,
and laws.
Comparing and Contrasting

• In... Love letters!

• “... shall I compare thee with a summer’s day?”

▫ William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet