Comparative Writing

HSC Criteria
Elective 1: Intertextual Connections

In this elective, students compare texts in order to develop

their understanding of the effects of context, purpose and
audience on the shaping of meaning. Through exploring the
intertextual connections between a pair of texts, students
examine the ways in which different social, cultural and
historical contexts can influence the composers choice of
language forms and features and the ideas, values and
attitudes conveyed in each text. In their responding and
composing, students consider how the implicit and explicit
relationship between the texts can deepen our understanding
of the values, significance and context of each.

The purpose of comparing

It is to demonstrate your understanding of how

you can draw together two sources, not only
through similarities but also differences.
You must conclude what you have learnt by
placing these sources side by side, why was it
important to do this rather than analyse on
their own.

What do you learn?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
mdRDRZ_L8Rs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
XCLML470y2I

Preparation

Make a list of the similarities and differences

between the two things you're comparing. As
you do this, remember that your goal from this
exercise will be to craft a thesis--an argument
about how the two things are similar and/or
different.

Prepare for an essay that explores the

connections between The Joker and Batman

Thesis statements
The thesis statement is that sentence or
two in your text that contains the focus of
your essay and tells your reader what the
essay is going to be about.
This goes after you have introduced the
author and the texts and is a road map for
the paper; in other words, it tells the reader
what to expect from the rest of the paper.

Create a thesis statement

Create a thesis statement that outlines your
view of Batman and The Joker and the
connections between their characters

Introductions

Start with a general point which establishes

the similarity between the two subjects then
move to the specific (exact) focus of the essay.
The reader must understand which points you
will be examining and which points you will
not be examining within the comparison. At
the end of the introduction, declare your
preference or describe the significance of the
two subjects.

Write an introduction to this

exam question
1. Batman and the Joker behave in
comparable way and ethically they can be
considered to be the same.

Main analysis

This refers to the main body of the essay and

its length will depend on how much time you
have for the task and how many ideas you
have that relate to the exam question.

Method 1

You can discuss each half of the comparison in every paragraph.

For example, begin with a paragraph comparing the two
situations; each paragraph thereafter should compare a single
aspect of both situations until you have completed comparing all
the various points. The advantage of this structure is it continually
keeps the comparison in the mind of the reader, as well as forces
you to pay equal attention to each side of the argument.
EG: Lemons & Apples
Para 1 Color of Lemons/Color of Apples
Para 2 Vitamins found in Lemons/Vitamins found in Apples Para 3
Health benefits of Lemons/Health benefits of Apples
And so on

Batman example

Batman poses a moral dilemma to Gotham City, as though he may

stand opposed to crime and corruption, he is, viewed in a different
light: a vigilante who runs afoul of the laws of the city he proclaims to
protect. In order to defend Gotham, Batman is forced to sacrifice his
morals and calls for retribution against those who transgress moral
norms. Therefore, to declare Batman a hero and the Joker a villain is
to negate the fact that Batman, similarly to the Joker, disregards the
ethical behaviours of his society and inforces social justice through
violence. So as the Joker declares that the citizens morals are just a
bad joke he is in fact correct when we take into consideration
Batmans actions and motivations and ultimately violent behaviour.

Method 2
You can alternate between the two subjects paragraph by paragraph. That
is, the first paragraph of the main body of your essay begins with one side
of the argument. The next paragraph deals with the other, and so on. You
keep repeating this process looking at another point in the comparison until
you reach your conclusion. This method allows you to discuss points in
greater detail, but be sure to keep alternating and ensure you continue
discussing similar aspects of each argument.
EG: Lemons & Apples
Para 1 Color of Lemons
Para 2 Color of Apples
Para 3 Vitamins found in Lemons Para
4 Vitamins found in Apples Para
5 Health benefits of Lemons Para
6 Health benefits of Apples

Batman example

Batman poses a moral dilemma to Gotham City, as though he may

stand opposed to crime and corruption, he is, viewed in a different light:
a vigilante who runs afoul of the laws of the city he proclaims to
protect. In order to defend Gotham, Batman is forced to sacrifice his
morals and calls for retribution against those who transgress moral
norms.
The Joker can be seen to be similar to this for he actively violates the
laws of Gotham and is driven by an egocentric desire to be liberated
from the constraints of society that the average citizen is governed by.
Both men are comparably nonchalant about the laws, rules and
expectations of their society and as such often face the wrath of
Gotham.

Language to apply to image

Salient feature
Foreground of the frame
Background of the frame

Add a comparative paragraph about Batman and

The Joker, adding to your earlier introduction

Conclusions
The conclusion should give a brief, general summary of the
most important similarities and differences. It should end with
a personal statement, an opinion and the "So What" what's
important about both things being compared
It should leave the reader feeling that all the different threads
of the essay have been drawn together in a cohesive way;
they have learnt something - and they must be certain this is
the end not look around for missing pages. When you have
two radically different topics, it sometimes helps to point out
one similarity they have before concluding. (i.e "Although
_______ and _________ don't seem to have anything in
common, in actuality, they both ________.)

Example

Ultimately, Batman and the Joker stand for dichotomized

morals as Batman is seeking justice whilst on the other hand
the Joker wants the world to crumble in a moral calamity. The
Joker is a manipulative antagonist in this film whom
indiscriminately kills, maims, steals and destroys. Whilst
Batman has a facade of a protagonist through his heroic acts
to save Gotham from corruption and terror, in hindsight he is
also leaving a trail of blood as he endures the journey to
reach the Joker. Through the actions of both Batman and the
Joker one can deduce that they are exposed to the tragic
dimensions of our moral universe through breaking the law
and crossing boundaries.

Comparative Examples
Under Compare and Contrast BM find
examples of comparative writing

Example Comparative
essays
What structure has been used?
How many points for comparison/contrast
are made?
Highlight the thesis statement
What does the conclusion offer that builds on
the main essay/introduction?

Choose one exam questions and

write a 2 page comparative response

1. Batman and the Joker behave in the same manner

and ethically they can be considered to be the
same.
2. Batman is unethical but Bruce Wayne is ethical. How
far do you agree with this statement?
3. Batman is driven by good intentions at the start of
the film but by the end he is just driven by a desire
for retribution.
OR find your own exam question you wish to anwer

Helpful tips

First and foremost - Make sure you have answered the

question.
The key principle to remember in a comparative
paragraph or essay is that you must clarify precisely
what you are comparing and keep that comparison alive
throughout the essay.
Make sure you have a great topic sentence. Get the
reader interested; make them want to read on.
Make sure you do not repeat yourself.
Ensure that all points are addressed.

Warnings
One of the most common faults of a poor comparative essay is
that the comparison is not balanced that is when the essay
focuses predominantly on one of the two issues, and gives less
importance to the other.
Beware of the "Frying Pan Conclusion", in which you simply
recount everything that was said in the main body of the essay.
While your conclusion should include a simple summary of your
argument, it should also emphatically state the point in a new
and convincing way, one which the reader will remember clearly.
Avoid, at all costs, the conclusion that the two subjects are
"similar, yet different." This commonly found conclusion weakens
any comparative essay.

Helpful websites