The biggest tip we can give you is to have the right attitude when writing a compare and contrast essay, and actively engage the reader a compare contrast essay the discussion. Jot down key things first, the most striking ones. Table of contents When should I compare and contrast? Make a Gift. No matter which option you choose, you have to pay particular attention to topic sentences, a compare contrast essay. What is Compare and Contrast Essay A compare and contrast essay explores two or more topics with the goal to analyze their similarities and differences.
Good Compare and Contrast Essay Examples
Compare and contrast is a rhetorical style that discusses the similarities and differences of two or more things: ideas, concepts, items, places, etc. A compare and contrast essay does two things: It discusses the similarities and differences of at least two different a compare contrast essay. First, you must find a basis of comparison to be sure that the two things have enough in common. After that, you identify their differences. You may structure the compare and contrast essay using either the alternating method stating one aspect of one thing and immediately discussing the same aspect of the other item and how they are similar or different or the block method discussing all of the aspects of one thing and then discussing all of the aspects of another. Write Read Educators.
Forgot your password? Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password. Please give us your feedback! NOTE: When you write a compare and contrast essay, be sure that the two things have enough in common, a compare contrast essay. For example, you would have a difficult time writing an essay comparing and contrasting your favorite television program with a popular vacation spot in your state. Writing Lab Menu open all close all. Titlex 1 Titlex 2 Titlex 3 Titlex 4 Titlex 5 Titlex 6 Titlex 7 Titlex 8. xContent 1. Sign in New account. Remember me. A compare contrast essay in.
Select a Role Educator Learner. Create account. Reset password.
stamp act essay
This is usually not what college instructors are looking for in a paper—generally they want you to compare or contrast two or more things very directly, rather than just listing the traits the things have and leaving it up to the reader to reflect on how those traits are similar or different and why those similarities or differences matter. Thus, if you use the subject-by-subject form, you will probably want to have a very strong, analytical thesis and at least one body paragraph that ties all of your different points together. Rather than addressing things one subject at a time, you may wish to talk about one point of comparison at a time.
There are two main ways this might play out, depending on how much you have to say about each of the things you are comparing. Be aware, too, of the placement of your different points. Our handout on organization can help you write good topic sentences and transitions and make sure that you have a good overall structure in place for your paper. The following words may be helpful to you in signaling your intentions:. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4. You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Make a Gift. Skip to main content. To do so, ask yourself a few questions: What are you trying to show in your compare-and-contrast essay? What do you want your reader to take away? For example, do you want to emphasize that Elon Musk is a modern-day Thomas Edison, or that they are tey two very distinct individuals? Compare-and-contrast essays follow our own recommended essay structure. While the linked guide goes into more detail, in a nutshell, your compare-and-contrast essay should follow a simple format of beginning, middle, and end:.
The introduction, usually one or two paragraphs, should include a thesis statement to show the reader what to expect for the rest of your essay. You can write your introduction following the same guidelines as other essay types, though be sure to mention all your subjects. Likewise, you can write an essay conclusion with the standard rules and best practices. Do you write about both subjects at the same time, or switch back and forth? The hardest part of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay is knowing when to talk about which subject.
Essentially, you have three options:. No matter which option you choose, you have to pay particular attention to topic sentences. The block method is usually divided into paragraphs: a paragraph about one subject and then a new paragraph about another subject. Take the compare-and-contrast essay example When Nothing Lies Beyond the Mask: Comparing Moby Dick and The Raven. In the first paragraph after the introduction, the author talks only about Ahab from Moby Dick , but in the next paragraph talks only about the narrator from The Raven. Each subject gets its own paragraph.
Using the block method, you can go back and forth like this for pages, covering as many topics as you need. This approach is best for giving each subject its own attention but tends to slightly weaken the connection between the two. As another option, you can break paragraphs up by a specific topic and issue, and in each paragraph discuss both or all subjects. Some essays may only focus on comparing, while others only consider contrasting. Teachers often assign this type of essay to teach students comparative analysis. Such essay is the most frequent task during literature classes when students are asked to compare two characters from one book or two works of the same author.
The purpose of a compare and contrast essay goes far beyond instruction. This essay type also teaches students important cognitive skills and helps them see the problem not as black and white but from several different angles. But before you pick one, consider your goals. Whether you want to exercise a certain skill or deepen the knowledge of a certain subject, think about how the essay will help you achieve that. Here are a few solutions to find the right topics:. Any phenomenon can become a potential topic for this special essay. The key point here is to choose the topic you are interested in. If you are still hesitating, which topic to choose for your essay, here are a few ready-made compare and contrast essay ideas for you:.
The most effective topic for this type of essay is the one that resonates with you and allows you to practice critical thinking and objective analysis. This essay type should follow a very strict outline because its goal is to present the similarities and differences in the logical order. A compare and contrast essay outline usually follows the typical introduction-body-conclusion pattern, but there are several methods you can use to organize it:. Your outline will depend on the topic of your essay and whether the goal is to compare or contrast or both. The length of the essay matters as well — the block method suits shorter assignments more than lengthy essays. Here are a few essential points to consider:. The more extended your compare and contrast essay structure is, the better.
Discussion: compare and contrast the perks and pitfalls of studying at a university vs. community college. Once you have your outline and structure prepared, consider the resources you have to support your claims. This kind of essay can be about your points of view, but its main goal is to look at things objectively. So, create a list of credible resources to provide evidence for your arguments. Be ready to revisit your essay several times before submitting. The introduction should give a sneak peek of your essay but not give crucial details away. Think of it as a movie trailer. The conclusion of your essay is as important as the introduction.
It gives the general outcomes of your analysis and provides an objective overview of the topic. Your conclusion should not be too long as well, but it can be a bit lengthier than an introduction. Even though it may seem straightforward at first, writing such a type of essay is not an easy job. Here are a few main reasons why students usually get stuck when writing these essays:. If you recognize yourself here, you can always ask for custom essay writing help at A-Writer. Our writers specialize in various academic topics and can craft an outstanding compare and contrast essay in no time. Compare and contrast essays are among the most common tasks for students.
What is Compare and Contrast Essay A compare and contrast essay explores two or more topics with the goal to analyze their similarities and differences.
No comments:
Post a Comment