Compare and Contrast

1. Compare and Contrast Essays

2. What is comparison-contrast? • Helps impose meaning on experiences that otherwise might remain fragmented and disconnected • Helps us make choices

3. Use it to demonstrate • That one thing is better than another • That things which seem different are actually alike • That things which seem alike are actually different

4. Suggestions • Subjects must be somewhat alike • Stay focused on your purpose (is it to inform? To evaluate? To draw a conclusion or make a judgment? To persuade? To clear up misconceptions? To draw an analogy? • Formulate a strong thesis which will name the subjects being compared and/or contrasted, indicate whether the essay focuses on similarities or differences, and state the essay’s main point of comparison or contrast

5. Suggestions • Select the points to be discussed • Organize the points to be discussed: either one side at a time or point by point. • Supply the reader with clear transitions.

6. Miscellaneous • Try not to just point out the obvious • Think of an analogy

7. Examples of Theses • Middle-aged parents are often in a good position to empathize with adolescent children because the emotional upheavals experiences by the two age groups are much the same.

8. Examples of Theses • The priorities of most retired people are more conducive to health and happiness than the priorities of most young professionals.

9. Examples of Theses • College students in their thirties and forties face many of the same pressures as younger students, but they are better equipped to withstand these pressures.

10. Topics • Two-career family vs. one-career family • Two approaches for dealing with problems • Children’s pastimes today and yesterday • Two rooms where you spend a good deal of time • Neighborhood store vs. shopping malls • Two characters in a novel or other literary work • Living at home vs. living in an apartment or dorm • Two friends with different lifestyles

11. Topics • Two attitudes toward money • A sports team then and now • Watching a movie on TV vs. a play • Two attitudes about a controversial subject • Two approaches to parenting • Walking or biking vs. driving a car • Marriage vs. living together • Two candidates for an office • Your attitude before and after getting to know someone

12. Topics • The atmosphere in two classes • Two approaches to studying • The place where you live and where you would like to live • Two comedians • The coverage of an event on TV vs. the coverage in a newspaper • Significant trend vs. passing fad • Two horror or adventure movies • Typewriter vs. word processor

13. Topics • Two cities • Two ways to heat a home • Two restaurants • Two sections of the town you live in • Two mountains • Two books by the same author • Two cars • Two teachers • Two brands of pizza

14. Topics • Two characters • One character at the beginning and the end • Two cultures • The book and the movie • Two locations

15. Topics • Describe the relationship between Legolas and Gimli before/after the fellowship’s time in Lothlorien. • Discuss the changes that occur in Frodo after he accepts the responsibility of destroying the ring. • Evaluate the similarities between Frodo and Gollum. • Describe how the ring affects Bilbo and Frodo or Frodo and Gollum. • Compare and contrast the wood elves with the high elves. • Discuss the redemption of Boromir citing using the action which occurs on Amon Hen as a focal point. • Compare and contrast your feelings about Boromir citing the action which occurs prior to and as a result of Amon Hen. • Evaluate two characters from the movie, one that you admire and one that you dislike.

16. You should: • Choose at least two of these topics to research as we watch the movie. • Use a graphic organizer to keep up with information which may be helpful (a chart or a Venn diagram)