WRITTEN EXPRESSION IN ENGLISH II group B [47153]

Diana Carrascal Tris 2021-22

COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY

- A comparison and contrast essay examines the similarities (compares) and/or differences (contrasts)
between two things in order to make a point.

- In all cases the similarities and differences lead to a convincing conclusion. This is an important feature
in a comparison and contrast essay. It is not simply a list of similarities and differences; it establishes
an opinion about two items and compares and contrasts them to support that opinion.

• Before writing a compare and contrast essay you must ponder the following questions:

 Does my instructor want me to compare AND contrast, or am I only being asked to

do one of those things?
 Are these 2 things similar and/or different, in at least one meaningful way?
 Do I know enough about my topic to write an effective compare/contrast essay?
 Who are the readers? What previous knowledge do they have of this issue?
 What overall pattern is operating in the similarities and why does it matter? How
does the comparison enhance our understanding of the separate entities?
 What is the cause of the differences and why does it matter? What unique and new
insight comes from contrasting the entities?
 Why do we care about any of this anyway?

 Pre-writing a compare and contrast essay:

 Think of all you know about the essay topic

 If necessary, do some research
 Focus on the similarities and/or differences that you can find
 It could be a good idea to arrange your thoughts visually using one of these charts:
Venn Diagram

Chart

List

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 WRITTEN EXPRESSION IN ENGLISH II group B [47153]
Diana Carrascal Tris 2021-22

 Pre-writing a compare and contrast essay:

 Think of all you know about the essay topic

 If necessary, do some research
 Focus on the similarities and/or differences that you can find
 It could be a good idea to arrange your thoughts visually using one of these charts:
 Decide which points you want to include, which you are going to exclude and why.
 Arrange your final points in the order you want to present them
 Decide whether to compare first and then contrast or if you are doing only one of
the two
 Decide on the structure you are going to use

 Point by point:

 Better for only compare or only contrast essays

 Choose at least three similarities of differences
 Then describe the first similarity/difference in the first element, then the same
similarity/difference in the other
 You can deal with one similarity/difference in one paragraph or in two, depending
on how much you have to say

 Block-type:

 Can be used both in compare OR contrast and in compare AND contrast

 Devote one or more paragraphs to dealing with one element, then as many
paragraphs for the other element
 In the second part, you must deal with the points raised in the first part IN THE
SAME ORDER

 Structure of a compare and contrast essay:

 Introduction: identifies the elements to be compared and/or contrasted and states

the argument.
 Body of essay
 Conclusion
 Restate your thesis statement
 Bring the essay to a close highlighting your argument
 Answer again the “so what?” question
 What is the new knowledge we have gained after this
comparison/contrast?

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 WRITTEN EXPRESSION IN ENGLISH II group B [47153]
Diana Carrascal Tris 2021-22

 Guidelines for a successful compare and contrast essay:

◦ Choose items that are related in some way so they can be compared or contrasted.
◦ Compare according to a single organized idea.
◦ Choose a method of development that works well with your organizing idea.
◦ Use specific and relevant examples for support.
◦ Give equal treatment to both elements that you are discussing
◦ Use transitional words or phrases to help the reader understand the similarities and
differences in your subject.
◦ Conclude your paper by restating your thesis, summarizing the main points, and give the
reader the final “so what” of the major similarities and/or differences that you discussed.