Comparison/

Comparison/ contrast
contrast essays
essays
Windy
Windy Freska,
Freska, Ns.
Ns. Skep
Skep

Compare
tell what is the same about two
or more things

Oranges and Bananas

You eat both of them.

They are both fruits.
You have to peel both of them.

Contrast
tell what is different about two
or more things

Oranges and Bananas

Oranges are orange. Bananas are yellow.

Oranges are round. Bananas are long.
Oranges have seeds. Bananas dont have seeds.

Instructions for the

Comparison or Contrast Essay

Do I want
this car ?

or do I
want that
other
car?

Do I want
this guy
?

or do I
want that
guy?

Do I want to visit
Egypt on my
next vacation
?
or do I want
to go to Las
Vegas?

Do I want to eat
something
healthy ?

or do I want
something
bad?

Understand
Understand what
what comparison
comparison or
or
contrast
contrast requires
requires you
you to
to do.
do.
Always choose two equal itemstwo cars,
two vacations, two sports starsnot two
unequal items, like a car and an octopus.
Next, decide if you want to compare or
contrast as your primary strategy. The
essay should be 80/20 in favor of one
strategy, not 50/50.
Your job is to interest the reader. Choose
points to discuss that are not immediately
obvious.

Now lets test

your
understanding . . .

A
A baby
baby is
is like
like a
a vacuum
vacuum cleaner.
cleaner.

WRONG!

Even
Even though
though my
my little
little brother
brother
Fred
Fred is
is 20
20 years
years my
my junior,
junior, he
he
and
and II have
have much
much in
in common.
common.

Yeah,
baby!

My
My sister
sister and
and II look
look alike,
alike, have
have
common
common hobbies,
hobbies, and
and enjoy
enjoy the
the
same
same foods.
foods.

Boring!

Even
Even though
though Venus
Venus and
and Serena
Serena Williams
Williams are
are
both
both professional
professional tennis
tennis stars,
stars, they
they differ
differ in
in
their
their opinions
opinions about
about men,
men, movies,
movies, and
and music.
music.

Excellent!

Make
Make the
the comparison
comparison or
or
contrast
contrast interesting
interesting..

Be sure that your essay has a purpose.

Ask yourself this important question: Why
would anyone want to read this comparison
or contrast?

Format
Format the
the Pattern
Pattern A
A outline
outline
correctly.
correctly.

I.I.Point
Point X
X
A.
A. Subject
Subject A
A
1.
1.Detail
Detail 11
2.
2.Detail
Detail 22
3.
3.Detail
Detail 33

B.
B. Subject
Subject B
B
1.
1.Detail
Detail 11
2.
2.Detail
Detail 22
3.
3.Detail
Detail 33

Roman numerals
address the X, Y, and
Z from the thesis
statement.
Capital letter A is
always for the first
subject; capital
letter B is always for
the second
subject.
A detail for Subject A
must correspond to a
detail for Subject B.

Pattern
Pattern B
B Outline
Outline Topics:
Topics:
Expectation
Expectation vs.
vs. Reality
Reality
Vacation
Class
Date
Car
Friend
Pet
Job

Computer
School
Scholarship
Church
Concert
Sports event
Membership

Your
Your two
two movie
movie options:
options:
Title: Cinderella
Directors: Clyde
Geronimi, Wilfred
Jackson, and
Hamilton Luske
Studio: Walt
Disney Pictures
Year: 1950

Title: Snow White

and the Seven
Dwarfs
Director: David
Hand
Studio: Walt
Disney Pictures
Year: 1937

Your
Your two
two author
author options:
options:
Authors: Jacob
Grimm and Wilhelm
Grimm
Title: Cinderella
or Little Snow
White
Website: National
Geographic

Author: Anne
Sexton
Title: Cinderella
or Snow White and
the Seven Dwarfs
Website: Miami
University or
Poets.org

Comparison
Comparison Transitions
Transitions
in the same way
in a similar way
and, also, in addition
as well as
both, neither
each of
just asso
similar to
moreover

similarly
like
too
the same

Contrast transitions
Although
unlike
Whereas
different from
But
in contrast with
however
conversely
on the other hand
on the contrary
in contrast

The End.

Look, I dont have

time for this. Im
going to get to work.