Table 1

Compare and contrast format1

Approach A Approach B
1. Introduction 1. Introduction
a) Introduce significance of subject matter a) Briefly introduce significance of
b) Provide thesis statement subject matter
c) Introduce major supporting points b) Provide thesis statement
2. Resource A 2. Brief explanation of resource A
a) Summary of resource 3. Brief explanation of resource B
b) Relationship of resource to each major *Continue as needed
point from the introduction 4. First comparative point
c) Conclusion a) Relation of point to resource A
d) Transition b) Relation of point to resource B
3. Resource B *Continue as needed
a) Summary of resource 5. Second comparative point
b) Relationship of resource to each major a) Relation of point to resource A
point from the introduction b) Relation of point to resource B
c) Conclusion *Continue as needed
d) Transition 6. Third comparative point
4. Resource C a) Relation of point to resource A
a) Summary of resource b) Relation of point to resource B
b) Relationship of resource to each major *Continue as needed
point from the introduction ** Continue as needed
c) Conclusion 7. Conclusion
d) Transition d) Remind the reader of the thesis of the
**Continue as needed paper
5. Conclusion e) Remind the reader how the thesis was
a) Remind the reader of the thesis of the proved
paper f) Last opportunity to make an impression
b) Remind the reader how the thesis was on the reader
proved
c) Last opportunity to make an impression
on the reader

1
Adapted from the University of Washington Writing Center (n.d.). Compare/contrast papers. Retrieved from
http://depts.washington.edu/pswrite/compare.html