Writing a Comparison or Contrast Essay

1. Writing a Comparison or Contrast Essay Catherine Wishart Literacy Coach, Senior Adjunct Instructor

2. What Is the Purpose of a Comparison or Contrast Essay? • A Comparison or Contrast Essay is meant to demonstrate how two things of equal value are alike or how they are different. • If the two things chosen are easily compared, then the writer should strive to contrast them. • If the two things chosen are easily contrasted, then the writer should strive to compare them.

3. Why? How? • The audience reading the essay is not interested in the obvious. The audience wants to learn about the unique or unusual. • By comparing two items that are obviously different, the writer is flipping the switch and engaging the reader to assure he/she pays attention. • A simple way to set up contrasting two things that are obviously closely related is to use the hook and the thesis statement. In the hook, point out how they are related. In the thesis statement, try this construction: • Although X and Y are obviously similar in nature, X and Y can be contrasted in the manner in which they _________, _______________, and _________________.

4. Remember: • You want to interest your audience. • If you have thought how two items are similar as soon as you think of the two items, your audience also will have thought about that. • If you have thought how two items are different as soon as you think of the two items, your audience also will have thought about that. • Do you like reading something obvious and boring? Your audience wants to read something unusual and thought-provoking.

5. Coordinate vs. Subordinate Items • Coordinate items are of equal value. • Two different types of vacations are coordinate. • Two different ways to raise a family are coordinate. • Subordinate items are not of equal value. • Apples and Winesap apples are subordinate because a Winesap is a type of apple. • Sports cars and Porsches are subordinate because a Porsche is a type of sports car.

6. Coordinate vs. Incongruent Items • Coordinate items are of equal value AND are in a similar class. • Two stars are coordinate because they are both bright items in the sky that can be compared or contrasted. • Incongruent items are not in a similar class. • A television show and a shark are not in a similar class. • Family life and types of cars are not in a similar class. • Make sure you are comparing or contrasting two items that are of coordinate value and congruent in nature.

7. Boring Thesis Statements • Although the Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples differ in color, they are similar in sweetness, texture, and price. • Although my family members differ in interests, we are similar in religious beliefs, income level, and housing arrangements.

8. Incongruent Thesis Statements • A child is like a screen door. • Although a diamond ring is important in the process of being engaged, marriage and a diamond ring differ in their nature of being, symbolic meaning, and financial value.

9. The Importance of Purpose • Besides assuring interest, the essay must have a purpose. • Why will my audience want to read this essay? • Who is my audience? • How can I meet the needs of my audience?

10. Turn and Talk • Think about two articles we read about “Gender.” • How are these two articles similar? How are they different? • Are there any unique similarities or differences that you notice? • Will these similarities or differences meet a need for the intended audience?

11. A Pattern for the Comparison or Contrast Essay The 5-Paragraph Essay • Introduction • Hook, transition, thesis. • 2nd paragraph discusses how X and Y are similar/different according to 1st part of thesis. • 3rd paragraph discusses how X and Y are similar/different according to 2nd part of thesis. • 4th paragraph discusses how X and Y are similar/different according to 3rd part of thesis. • Conclusion • Refer to hook, review some points in creative way, restate thesis in creative way, give reader something to ponder.

12. Another Pattern The 8-Paragraph Essay 5th paragraph discusses Y from the perspective of the 2nd point in the thesis. 6th paragraph discusses X from the perspective of the 3rd point in the thesis. 7th paragraph discusses Y from the perspective of the 3rd point in the thesis. Conclusion Refer to hook, review some points in creative way, restate thesis in creative way, give reader something to ponder. • Introduction • Hook, transition, thesis. • 2nd paragraph discusses X from the perspective of the 1st point in the thesis. • 3rd paragraph discusses Y from the perspective of 1st point in the the thesis. • 4th paragraph discusses X from the perspective of the 2nd point in the thesis.

13. One Last Pattern • Introduction • Hook, transition, thesis statement • 2nd paragraph discusses X from the perspective of all three points made in the thesis. • 3rd paragraph discusses Y from the perspective of all three points made in the thesis. • Conclusion • Refer to hook, review some points in creative way, restate thesis in creative way, give reader something to ponder.

14. Following the Pattern Isn’t Enough • Remember that writing about X and Y isn’t enough. • The writer must also develop an in-depth and thoughtful explanation of how X and Y are or are not related.

15. Transition Words To Compare: To Contrast:

16. Neeld’s Heuristic for Compare/Contrast • What is X similar to? In what ways? • What is X different from? In what ways? • X is superior to what? In what ways? • X is inferior to what? In what ways? • X is most unlike what? (What is it opposite to?) In what ways? • X is most like what? In what ways? • Lindeman, Erika. A Rhetoric for Writing Teachers. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford U P, 1987. 82-3. Print.

17. Works Cited • Lindeman, Erika. A Rhetoric for Writing Teachers. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford U P, 1987. 82-3. Print.