Writing a Successful

1. Writing a Successful Thesis Statement for the Compare/Contrast Essay

2. Why is this compare/contrast thesis weak? The Little Mermaid is a wonderful story of a girl growing up.

3. Because… the assignment is to compare and contrast something, not write an appreciative summary of the story.

4. Is this one better? Arialand Mulan are both young girls who journey from childhood to adulthood and face many challenges.

5. Sure it is… BUT…it's still not clear exactly WHAT it is about their journeys that will be compared and contrasted. We know that they are two different stories, so BE SPECIFIC!

6. How about this one? Although Arial’s reason for leaving home is due to curiosity and Mulan’s reason is to save her father’s life, both Arial and Mulan’s journeys were successful because they each matured in the end.

7. So, which elements were used here? Although Arial’s reason for leaving home is due to curiosity and Mulan’s reason is to save her father’s life, both Arial and Mulan’s journeys were successful because they each matured in the end.

8. Helpful Tip! Beginning your compare/contrast thesis with a subordinate clause, allows you to state the comparisons easily.

9. Some subordinate conjunctions… • Since If • Although As • Though Until • Even though Before • Because Even if • Whenever As if