Compare and Contrast Essay

1. Compare and Contrast Essay English Notes Mrs. Jewett

2. Comparing and Contrasting • Comparing and contrasting is a type of expository writing. • To compare something would be to note the similarities between two things. • To contrast something would be to note the differences between two things.

3. Where to begin… • Brainstorm for different details about each subject. • Use a Venn diagram, or other chart to organize your details in the right category.

4. Writing your essay • One way of organizing your essay is by using the point-by-point (feature-by-feature) format. • In this format you will compare and contrast both subjects by each point of comparison (what your are comparing or contrasting about your subjects)

5. Feature by Feature Format:Similarities and Differences • Introduction: • Begin with a sentence that catches the reader’s attention. • This might be a question, a reason people find the topic interesting, important, or something that the two subjects have in common. • Name the two subjects and tell whether they are very similar, very different, or if they have many important (or interesting) similarities and differences.

6. Paragraph #2 • Use a transition to introduce the two subjects. \ • Discuss how both subjects compare on one feature or contrast. (How are they similar? How are they different?) • You can add more features as you go along. • For each comparison, make sure to use compare/contrast cue words such as similar to, also, similarly, comparatively, etc.

7. Paragraph #3 • Make sure to use a transitions to introduce each point of comparison the subject’s differences. • Continue the pattern set in paragraph 2 discussing a feature that shows the subjects’ differences. • Make sure to use cue words such as unlike, on the other hand, in contrast, etc. • Be sure to include examples proving that differences exist.

8. Conclusion • In the final paragraph, give a brief, general summary of the most important similarities and differences. End with a personal statement, a prediction, or another catchy statement.

9. For Instruction… • Distrubute Venn Diagram and T-chart • Venn Diagram: note where you would organize details on differences and where you would organize detail on similarities. • Do handout page 105 • Read “Artic Disaster”. Use the graphic organizer (T-chart ) to separate features of historical Artic exploration and modern day Artic exploration.

10. Writing your essay • Another good way of organizing a comparison/contrast essay is through the block format. • This format would, for example, discuss one subject in the first paragraph and another subject in the second paragraph.

11. Block Format: Step by step • Introduction: • Begin with a sentence that catches the reader’s attention. • This might be a question, a reason people find the topic interesting, important, or something that the two subjects have in common. • Name the two subjects and tell whether they are very similar, very different, or if they have many important (or interesting) similarities and differences.

12. Paragraph #2 • The next paragraph describes features of the first subject. • Be sure to include examples proving the similarities and/or differences. • Do not mention the second subject.

13. Paragraph #3 • The next section must begin with a transition showing you are comparing or contrasting the second subject to the first. • For each comparison, use compare/contrast words such as similar to, also, unlike, on the other hand, etc. • Make sure to include examples proving similarities and/or differences exist. • Make new paragraphs to avoid very long paragraphs.

14. Conclusion • In the final paragraph, give a brief, general summary of the most important similarities and differences. End with a personal statement, a prediction, or another catchy statement.

15. Modified Block Format • Example: Despite all these similarities, (two subjects) are different in significant ways. • The modified block format focuses on the two subjects and all their similarities in the first half of the essay. • The second half of the essay focuses on the two subjects an all their differences.