What is a Comparison and Contrast Essay?

In a comparison and contrast essay, the writer compares two objects, problems,
things, or events, and discuss their similarities and differences.

Here are some sample topics for comparison essays:

Watching movies at the theater or at home
Electric vs. conventional cars
Breakfast dishes in Japan and Turkey

Here are some sample essay exam prompts for comparison essays:
Compare the forms of government of Great Britain and the United States
Compare and contrast Mac and Windows
Discuss the differences and similarities between Rugby and American Football

BLOCK ORGANIZATION FOR COMPARISON AND CONTRAST ESSAYS

I) INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH
o a) Background information about the two subjects
o b) Thesis Statement
II) BODY PARAGRAPH 1: Topic Sentence on SIMILARITIES
a) 1st Similarity between Subject A and Subject B
b) 2nd Similarity between Subject A and Subject B
c) 3rd Similarity between Subject A and Subject B
II) BODY PARAGRAPH 2 – Topic Sentence on DIFFERENCES
a) 1st Difference between Subject A and Subject B
b) 2nd Difference between Subject A and Subject B
c) 3rd Difference between Subject A and Subject B
IV) CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH
o a) Summary/Final thought
INTRODUCTION
• Introductory Statement(s)
• Thesis Statement
BODY PARAGRAPH 1
• Topic Sentence
• Similarity 1
• Similarity 2
BODY PARAGRAPH 2
• Topic Sentence
• Difference 1
• Difference 2
• Difference 3
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH
• Summary of Main Points
• Closing Thought
Topic: Similarities and Differences between Istanbul and Kayseri
No doubt that cities, even within the same country, can have their
own unique characters while sharing some common features. This
is because every city has its unique character shaped by its history,
geography, and culture. Istanbul and Kayseri, two major cities in
Turkey, serve as good examples of this showing both similarities
and differences.
SIMILARITIES
Both Istanbul and Kayseri share rich historical and cultural
significance. Istanbul boasts iconic landmarks like the Hagia Sophia
and the Blue Mosque, while Kayseri has ancient sites such as the
Kayseri Castle. Additionally, both cities offer diverse culinary
experiences. Istanbul is famous for its street food culture and
Kayseri is known for its traditional Anatolian dishes.
DIFFERENCES
On the other hand, Istanbul and Kayseri differ significantly in
several ways. Istanbul is known for its fast-paced lifestyle and
higher cost of living, while Kayseri maintains a slower pace of life
and lower expenses. Moreover, Istanbul's cosmopolitan nature
attracts a diverse population from around the world, while Kayseri
has a more homogeneous population with a predominant Turkish
identity. Geographically, Istanbul is located near the Bosphorus
Strait. This gives it a variety of landscapes. In contrast, Kayseri is
further away from the sea, in the center of Anatolia. It is drier
there and closer to a big mountain called Mount Erciyes.
In conclusion, while Istanbul and Kayseri differ significantly in
terms of pace of life, geographical features, and profile of their
populations, they share common ground in their rich cultural
heritage and food traditions. No matter which you pick, both cities
will show you a unique side of life in Turkey.
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WRITING THE INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH

The organization of introduction is as follows:

- Background information that introduces the 2 subjects and helps the reader
understand the purpose for comparing them.
- The thesis statement that tells the reader which two subjects the essay will
compare and the points of comparison. Note that sometimes writers do not state
the points of comparison in the thesis.

A good thesis statement should

1) include the two subjects you are discussing

Living alone has many advantages.
Living alone brings several benefits compared to living with roommates.

2) use language that shows if you will focus on similarities, differences, or on both.

3) use parallel structure to list the points of comparison. Read the examples:
Learning to sing and learning to read were different in how I learned,
I learned from different people, and why I learned.
who taught me

Online and traditional classes are similar because they both require students
to participate, take exams, and they have to work in groups.
work in groups

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 Sample Thesis Statements
- Online and traditional education have many similarities, such as the use of
assignments, tests, and lectures, but they also have significant differences, such as
the level of interaction, flexibility, and cost.

- There are several similarities and differences between a tram and a metro system.

- Japanese and American university students have some similarities; however, they
differ in one important way.

- While New York and London have some similarities and may be attractive to various
people depending on their lifestyles and preferences, they are greatly different,
especially in their climate, housing, and population.

- Adopting dogs and cats as pets results in both similar and distinct experiences.

- Learning a language and learning to play an instrument are both enjoyable

activities that need practice, but they offer different benefits for our personal
development

Activity 1: Complete the thesis statements with the correct point of comparison

1. Higher education today is very different from higher education 20 years ago,
especially in the technology in the classroom, the subjects that you can major in, and
……………………………………………………………………………… .
a) there are more students in a class
b) how many students are in a class
c) the number of students in a class period

2. Good teachers are like good parents because they care about you, they listen
when you are troubled, and ……………………………………………………….. .
a) helpful when you need it
b) they offer help when you need it
c) are helpful when you need advice

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3. Successful students are different from unsuccessful students in how much time
they study, how they deal with stress, and ……………………………………………………….. .
a) they deal with failure
b) ways to deal with failure
c) how they deal with failure

Activity 2: Work with a partner. Complete the thesis statements with your own
ideas. Use a parallel structure.

1. Learning another language is like learning a musical instrument because they both
require time, ……………………………………………., and …………………………………………………. .

2. Learners and adult learners differ in how they study, …………….……….…………………,

and …………………………………………….. .

3. Learning to read is like learning to drive a car because for both you must have
patience, you ……………………………………………., and you ……………………………………………..

WRITING THE BODY PARAGRAPHS

The 1st body paragraph describes similarities between the Subject A and Subject B
with specific details and examples.

The 2nd body paragraph describes differences between the Subject A and Subject B
with specific details and examples.

Both paragraphs start with a topic sentence that states the point of discussion
(similarity or difference).

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Sample topic sentences in body paragraphs that discuss similarities:

- Primary and secondary school share some similarities.

- Online and traditional education have some major features that do not create
differences in educational process.

- One major feature that makes big and smaller cities very similar is their cultural
identities.
- Living alone and living with roommates offer similar experiences, especially in
terms of independence and responsibility.

Sample topic sentences in body paragraphs that discuss differences:

- On the other hand, there are notable differences between these modes of
education.

- However, New York and London also differ in several ways.

- Despite these similarities, New York and London offer distinct experiences shaped
by their geography and history.

- Although they have some commonalities, online and traditional education bring
totally different experiences for teachers and students.

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Activity 3: With a partner, write sentences to fill in the gaps in the sample body
paragraphs.

BODY PARAGRAPH 1

Primary school and secondary school share some similarities. In both

settings, students are required to take lessons with several different teachers
and complete homework in each subject. Another similarity is that
……………………………………………………………………………………….......................................
Finally, ………………………………………………………………………………….……..........................

BODY PARAGRAPH 2

Despite the similarities between primary and secondary school, they

……………………………………………………………….. . Firstly, primary school students have
much shorter school days. They attend school for about 7 hours, whereas
secondary school students ………………………………………………………………………………. .
Primary school students have more time for fun activities, while secondary
school students …………………..……………………………………………………………………………….
Finally, secondary school students must wear a uniform to class. However,
primary school students ……………………………………………………………………………………. .

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WRITING THE CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

- The concluding paragraph reminds the reader of the writer’s purpose for writing.

- The first sentence can restate the thesis statement in one sentence.

- The second sentence can restate the differences and similarities.

- It ends with a final comment. This comment tells the reader what writer has
learned or realized about the subjects by comparing them. The comment may be:

Advice: People should look forward to the freedom that they will have less debt.

A prediction: Businesses that offer both online and in-store options will continue to
grow.

An opinion: I think that caring nature is everyone’s responsibility.

A realization: It seems that it is important that people take time to get to know their
neighbors.

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 Comparison highlights the similarities between two or more similar objects. There is specific
vocabulary which is used to express comparison and similarity:

Comparison Structure Words and Phrases

similarly, likewise, equally, not only … but also,

both … and, too, and, also,

the same as, alike, like, just like ,

just as, comparable to

similar to, comparable to,

London is the financial heart of Great Britain. Similarly, Istanbul is the center of banking and
finance in Turkey.
A dog park has a fence where people and their dogs can play together. Similarly, a dog run
is a small fenced area that is often located within an existing park.
The streets in Istanbul are similar to the ones in Athens.
New York and Tokyo are similar to each other in several aspects.
Athens and Istanbul are similar in that they are both densely populated.
There are some striking similarities between the two cities.
London is the cultural capital of Great Britain. Likewise, Istanbul is the center of music,
culture and art in Turkey.
Istanbul and Athens are equally noisy.
Not only Tokyoites but also New Yorkers dress fashionably.
Both New York and Tokyo have many international restaurants.
The two cities have both positive and negative features.
Both PCs and Apple Macs can use Microsoft office.
London is the financial heart of Great Britain. Istanbul is an important center of banking and
finance, too.
Tokyo is a center of fashion, and New York is, too.
Laser printers and inkjet printers require good quality paper to work well.

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 Contrast Structure Words and Phrases

but, yet, however, although,

even though, though, unlike, not like,

not the same as, dissimilar, different from, in contrast (to),

contrary to, compared to / with, in comparison, while,

whereas, on the other hand

London is the financial heart of Great Britain. Istanbul is also an important center of banking
and finance.
The subway system in New York is the same as the one in Tokyo.
Hand soap and liquid soap both work in the same way.
Olive oil works in the same way as some anti-inflammatory drugs.
The streets in Istanbul and Athens are alike.
Like Tokyo, New York is an important center of fashion.
Like a PC, a Mac is easy to use.
An LCD TV is like an LCD monitor.
My sister, like my cousin, wears glasses.
Like my cousin, my sister wears glasses.
My sister, just like my cousin, wears glasses.
Just like my cousin, my sister wears glasses.
Tokyo is densely populated and noisy just like New York.
Athens is densely populated and noisy just as Istanbul is.
Istanbul has traffic problems just as Athens does.
The new $1000 Canon 5D is comparable to $9000 professional video equipment in
performance.

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Dogs eat a mix of raw and cooked food, but cats mostly eat raw food.
Tahiti is a common destination for “extreme” sport enthusiasts. Yet, Laos is actually a more
suitable location.
Rock music is often very fast; however, folk music is usually very slow.
Although men are often considered better at “hard” science subjects like physics and
mathematics, women often graduate with higher grade point averages.
Although Havana is a city which is popular with tourists, Rio is much more popular.
Even though men in China smoke a higher number of cigarettes, they have lower levels of
cancer than European males.
Though the Pc and the Mac can both perform the same functions, the Mac is much faster.
Flash discs have no moving parts unlike hard drives.
Unlike cats, dogs are social or group animals.
Facilities provided in prison hospitals are not like those provided in regular hospitals.
Facilities provided in state universities are not the same as those provided in private
universities.
Eastern and Western students are dissimilar in their expectations of university.
Istanbul is completely different from Berlin.
A laptop computer is different from a desktop computer because it is smaller and more
compact.
Istanbul and Berlin are different in terms of population and location.
Istanbul and Berlin differ in that the former is a big city while the latter is small.
There is a big difference between the applicants in terms of experience.
In contrast to John, who is a liberal, Bill is a conservative.
Microsoft Office costs about £100 in contrast to Open Office which is free.
Contrary to popular belief, large dogs are less aggressive than small dogs.
London Heathrow airport is very busy compared to / with Berlin International.
A laser printer is cheap to run compared to / with an inkjet.
In comparison with other European countries, house prices in the UK are very high.
He was a loud friendly man. In comparison, his brother was rather shy.
Some people like to exercise indoors, while / whereas others prefer to exercise outdoors. In
Rugby most injuries are related to the neck; on the other hand, football injuries are most often
related to the feet and legs.

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 Activity 4 I Using connectors and transitions
Choose two cities. Write sentences using the connector or transition given.

1. Both _____________and _______________

2.

Conversely,-------------------------------

3. While __________________________

4.

On the other hand,----------------------------

5.

Similarly,-------------------------------

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 ESSAY WRITING SELF-EVALUATION GRID

Course Name: B1+ Writing Class

Student Name:

Date:

1. Understanding of Essay Principles (Excellent/Satisfactory/Needs Improvement)

o Excellent
o Satisfactory
o Needs Improvement

2. Progress Throughout the Course

o I have made significant progress.
o I have made some progress.
o I haven't made much progress.

3. Strengths in Essay Writing (Check all that apply)

o Clear thesis statements
o Well-developed arguments
o Effective use of evidence
o Strong organization and structure
o Coherent and logical flow of ideas
o Compelling introductions and conclusions
o Engaging and relevant hooks

4. Areas for Improvement in Essay Writing (Check all that apply)

o Writing more varied sentence structures
o Using more advanced vocabulary
o Improving coherence between ideas
o Enhancing thesis clarity
o Developing more effective transitions
o Reducing wordiness and improving conciseness
o Mastering a specific aspect of essay writing (please specify):

5. Creativity and Originality in Essays (Excellent/Satisfactory/Needs Improvement)

o Excellent
o Satisfactory
o Needs Improvement

6. Time Management for Essay Assignments (Excellent/Satisfactory/Needs Improvement)

o Excellent
o Satisfactory
o Needs Improvement

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 ESSAY WRITING SELF-EVALUATION GRID

7. Engagement with Feedback (Excellent/Satisfactory/Needs Improvement)

o Excellent
o Satisfactory
o Needs Improvement

8. Proofreading and Editing Skills (Excellent/Satisfactory/Needs Improvement)

o Excellent
o Satisfactory
o Needs Improvement

9. Overall Self-Evaluation and Comments

Reflect on your overall performance in the course. Identify strengths and areas for
improvement. Set goals for future essay writing endeavours.

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

This essay writing self-evaluation grid encompasses various aspects of essay writing, including
understanding, progress, strengths, areas for improvement, creativity, proofreading, time
management, and engagement with feedback. It allows you to assess your essay writing skills
comprehensively and set objectives for continued improvement.