[Heidi Schultz, SW, Essays that Compare and Contrast: Block vs.

Alternating Approaches]
Source: http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/comparative-essay

Two Strategies for Organizing Comparative Essays

Let’s take a hypothetical case: you are going to write an essay comparing three aspects of the
French and Russian Revolutions. Specifically, you are going to compare ideology, military strategy,
and voting rights in both countries during their respective revolutions.

In terms or organizing your comparison, you have two basic strategies: the alternating method,
also known as a point-by-point comparison; and the block method, also known as the subject-by-
subject comparison.

In the ALTERNATING METHOD, you find supporting ideas common to your central subjects A and
B (the French and Russian Revolutions, respectively). In your essay, you then alternate between A
and B, discussing each of these supporting ideas: A-B-A-B-A-B, etc.

For instance, a comparative essay on the French and Russian Revolutions might examine the
ideological basis for each revolution, how military involvement affected each country during its
revolution , and citizens’ participation using the vote. Your essay might have this structure:

Introduction: French Compare ideology in the French & Russian Conclusion: French and
and Russian Revolutions Revolutions (Paragraphs 2-3) Russian Revolutions
(Paragraph 1) Compare military strategy in the French & Russian (Paragraph 8)
Revolutions (Paragraphs 4-5)
Compare voting rights in the French & Russian
Revolutions (Paragraphs 6-7)

Note that the French and Russian Revolutions (A and B) may be dissimilar rather than similar in the
way they affected innovation in any of the three areas of ideology, military strategy, and voting
rights. To use the alternating method, you just need to have something noteworthy to say about
both A and B for each supporting idea. Finally, you may certainly include more than three pairs of
alternating supporting ideas: allow the subject matter to determine the number of supporting
ideas you choose to develop in the body of your essay.

If your essay is very short, you may alternate supporting ideas within a paragraph, writing one or
two sentences for each idea. However, you should only include two or three ideas in each
paragraph. Otherwise, it will be too long.

When to use the alternating method?

The alternating system generally does a better job of highlighting similarities and differences by
juxtaposing your supporting ideas about A and B. It also tends to produce a more tightly integrated
and analytical paper. Consider the alternating method if you are easily able to identify clearly
[Heidi Schultz, SW, Essays that Compare and Contrast: Block vs. Alternating Approaches]
Source: http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/comparative-essay

related ideas between A and B. Otherwise, if you attempt to impose the alternating method, you
will probably find it counterproductive, since there will be few parallels between A and B.

***************************

In the BLOCK METHOD , you discuss all of A, then all of B. For example, a comparative essay using
the block method on the French and Russian Revolutions would address the French Revolution in
the first half of the essay and the Russian Revolution in the second half. If you choose the block
method, however, do not simply append two disconnected essays to an introductory paragraph.
The B block, or second half of your essay, should refer to the A block, or first half, and make clear
points of comparison whenever comparisons are relevant. Use appropriate transition words. Using
the block method, the structure of your essay may look like this:

Introduction: French Body Block A: ideology, Body Block B: ideology, Conclusion: French and
and Russian Revolutions military strategy, and military strategy, and Russian Revolutions
(Paragraph 1) voting rights in the voting rights in the (Paragraph 8)
French Revolution Russian Revolution
(Paragraphs 2-4) (Paragraphs 5-7)

When do I use the block method?

The block method is particularly useful in the following cases:

• You cannot easily find supporting ideas about A and B that are closely related to each
other.
• A and B are very closely related. For example, you write about labor unions in Ecuador in
the 1920s and the 1940s.
• You are comparing three or more subjects as opposed to the traditional two.

A French Revolution B Russian Revolution C Mexican Revolution

ideology ideology ---
Military strategy --- Military strategy
--- Voting rights Voting rights

Refer to the two example essays written by ESL students about their experience in the United
States.