Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay | Tips & Examples,Trending Writing Articles
WebTo write a good compare-and-contrast paper, you must take your raw data—the similarities and differences you've observed—and make them cohere into a meaningful Web Compare and Contrast Essay Topics About Scientific Research. Hubble Telescope vs. James Webb Telescope. Stem Cell Therapy vs. Stem Cell Transplant. Cloning vs. WebChoose two or more things to compare: The first step in writing a compare and contrast essay is to choose two or more things to compare. These can be anything from two ... read more
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. Here, both subjects are discussed in the same paragraph, one right after another. This approach works best when you want to emphasize the connection between your subjects, or lack thereof. In our example above, the author wishes to highlight just how different the aliens of Arthur Clarke are from those of other authors, particularly H.
To emphasize this, the essay author juxtaposes the two points right next to each other in the same paragraph. The third option is quite similar to the alternating approach, with each subject being discussed side by side in the same paragraph. The first paragraph after the introduction discusses what the governments in the two books have in common, but the next paragraph explains how they differ. This method works best if you want to focus on a particular similarity or difference between your subjects, or if you want to build up to a powerful conclusion or reveal at the end. Want to know how to write a compare-and-contrast essay step by step? The writing process is the same as all essay writing, although adapted specifically for drawing comparisons:.
Throughout your academic career, you'll be asked to write papers in which you compare and contrast two things: two texts, two theories, two historical figures, two scientific processes, and so on. In the "lens" or "keyhole" comparison, in which you weight A less heavily than B, you use A as a lens through which to view B. Just as looking through a pair of glasses changes the way you see an object, using A as a framework for understanding B changes the way you see B. Lens comparisons are useful for illuminating, critiquing, or challenging the stability of a thing that, before the analysis, seemed perfectly understood. Often, lens comparisons take time into account: earlier texts, events, or historical figures may illuminate later ones, and vice versa.
Faced with a daunting list of seemingly unrelated similarities and differences, you may feel confused about how to construct a paper that isn't just a mechanical exercise in which you first state all the features that A and B have in common, and then state all the ways in which A and B are different. Predictably, the thesis of such a paper is usually an assertion that A and B are very similar yet not so similar after all. To write a good compare-and-contrast paper, you must take your raw data—the similarities and differences you've observed—and make them cohere into a meaningful argument. Here are the five elements required. Frame of Reference. This is the context within which you place the two things you plan to compare and contrast; it is the umbrella under which you have grouped them.
The frame of reference may consist of an idea, theme, question, problem, or theory; a group of similar things from which you extract two for special attention; biographical or historical information. The best frames of reference are constructed from specific sources rather than your own thoughts or observations. Thus, in a paper comparing how two writers redefine social norms of masculinity, you would be better off quoting a sociologist on the topic of masculinity than spinning out potentially banal-sounding theories of your own. Most assignments tell you exactly what the frame of reference should be, and most courses supply sources for constructing it. If you encounter an assignment that fails to provide a frame of reference, you must come up with one on your own. A paper without such a context would have no angle on the material, no focus or frame for the writer to propose a meaningful argument.
Grounds for Comparison. Let's say you're writing a paper on global food distribution, and you've chosen to compare apples and oranges. Why these particular fruits? Why not pears and bananas? The rationale behind your choice, the grounds for comparison , lets your reader know why your choice is deliberate and meaningful, not random. For instance, in a paper asking how the "discourse of domesticity" has been used in the abortion debate, the grounds for comparison are obvious; the issue has two conflicting sides, pro-choice and pro-life. In a paper comparing the effects of acid rain on two forest sites, your choice of sites is less obvious. A paper focusing on similarly aged forest stands in Maine and the Catskills will be set up differently from one comparing a new forest stand in the White Mountains with an old forest in the same region.
You need to indicate the reasoning behind your choice. The grounds for comparison anticipates the comparative nature of your thesis. As in any argumentative paper, your thesis statement will convey the gist of your argument, which necessarily follows from your frame of reference. But in a compare-and-contrast, the thesis depends on how the two things you've chosen to compare actually relate to one another. Do they extend, corroborate, complicate, contradict, correct, or debate one another? In the most common compare-and-contrast paper—one focusing on differences—you can indicate the precise relationship between A and B by using the word "whereas" in your thesis:.
Whereas Camus perceives ideology as secondary to the need to address a specific historical moment of colonialism, Fanon perceives a revolutionary ideology as the impetus to reshape Algeria's history in a direction toward independence.
By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. We'll see you in your inbox soon. They both have eyes. They have hair. They have skin. They require food, oxygen, and water. They have legs. You just described two mammals. A compare and contrast essay requires deeper thought. Those considerations can hopefully deliver some sort of greater insight about life, humanity, and art. Or a video game character and a character from a movie? In reality, you could compare and contrast whatever you wanted maybe even Grandpa and a baked potato , but a lot of it comes down to framing.
If you want to compare artists of different mediums, maybe they worked within the same movement or tradition, like retrofuturism. How do themes of retrofuturism influence the two artists? Thinking more about framing is definitely the key to figuring out how to get into your writing, but choosing a topic is understandably daunting. As you're choosing a topic, use the K. method and keep it simple. Before you even think too hard about the overall structure of your compare and contrast essay, it's helpful to start with a good old-fashioned list.
Take a sheet of paper; draw a vertical line down the center; and list the similarities and differences between the two subjects. This is basically a Venn diagram but in list form. Perhaps they both painted with acrylics or were drawn to similar subjects. Once you've covered as many similarities as you can, move on to their differences. Monet started studying at an early age, while Van Gogh started in pastoral studies before developing an interest in art in his 20s. Much like any part of your essay, you can change this, add new similarities and differences, and otherwise make this list useful to you. The introduction and conclusion of your essay will largely be similar to other essays , but the body paragraphs are where compare and contrast essays really set themselves apart.
This is maybe the most basic structure for a compare and contrast essay. With this method, you write one body paragraph with all the similarities of your two subjects and one body paragraph covering all the differences. The block method involves grouping all your points about your first subject together into a block of paragraphs and grouping all of your points about your second subject into a block of paragraphs while analyzing similarities and differences. This method of comparing and contrasting works better on shorter papers or more focused topics. With more in-depth analyses, things can easily get confusing. With this method, each body paragraph covers a specific point about both subjects, including the similarities and differences.
This method keeps things close together, so you know exactly what is being compared between your two subjects. Finding some credible sources to backup your essay points serves two important purposes. First, the evidence you find can inform new similarities and differences. Maybe it turns out that the two artists grew up in similar environments. Maybe new discoveries about Grandpa show that he has the same inner warmth as a baked potato. These are all things you might have overlooked without the right research. Second, once you're comfortable with your topic and the direction of your essay, use evidence to support your points.
In these types of informative or analytical essays , statistical evidence is helpful. This includes:. Sign in with Google Dictionary Thesaurus Sentences Examples Knowledge Grammar Biography Abbreviations Reference Education Spanish More About Us Contact Us Suggestion Box Editorial Policy Privacy Policy Cookie Settings Terms of Use © LoveToKnow Media. All rights reserved. Wordfinder Words with Friends Cheat Wordle Solver Word Unscrambler Scrabble Dictionary Anagram Solver Wordscapes Answers. Knowledge Dictionary Thesaurus Sentences Examples Knowledge Wordfinder. Daily Grammar Tips Word of the Day Fun Language Articles.
Thank you! Grammar Writing By Alvin Park , Staff Writer. blue check and red X compare and contrast essay tips dos and don'ts. Used under Getty Images license. The main things to consider: The two subjects need to have some sort of demonstrable overlap. Figuring out differences is almost always easier than finding similarities. compare and contrast venn diagram. Vincent Van Gogh Similarities Claude Monet Self-portraits, portraits, landscapes, still lifes Oil painters Mostly landscapes Started art profession later in life in his 20s Influenced by impressionists Studied art at an early age Dutch Rejected realism French Bold, striking use of color A lack of straight lines or linear perspective Realistic, natural use of color Died by suicide at 37 Died of lung cancer at 86 Post-impressionist Impressionist Much like any part of your essay, you can change this, add new similarities and differences, and otherwise make this list useful to you.
This includes: Facts and stats Scholarly articles Testimonials Expert opinion from known critics and academics Personal encounters. Link copied!
How to Write a Comparative Analysis,What this handout is about
WebChoose two or more things to compare: The first step in writing a compare and contrast essay is to choose two or more things to compare. These can be anything from two WebTo write a good compare-and-contrast paper, you must take your raw data—the similarities and differences you've observed—and make them cohere into a meaningful Web Compare and Contrast Essay Topics About Scientific Research. Hubble Telescope vs. James Webb Telescope. Stem Cell Therapy vs. Stem Cell Transplant. Cloning vs. ... read more
We bring the most affordable services for you with multiple revisions. Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes. In other words, it is not only my hope to help you improve the specific piece of writing we are working on, it is also my hope to help you develop your skills as a writer. Psychologist or Psychiatrist. Finding some credible sources to backup your essay points serves two important purposes. However, distance learning presents its own accessibility challenges; not all students have a stable internet connection and a computer or other device with which to participate in online classes, and less technologically literate students and teachers may struggle with the technical aspects of class participation.
Your writing teacher plays a big role in your writing journey. Anxiety Attack Criminal Psychology vs. Are you confident in your writing skills? Here's how to put together a fun read that shows the chemistry of the two characters and leads them toward their eventual how to write a compare contrast essay. Just one click and your writing gets the professional editor treatment. Flexible pricing to meet your needs Our learning experiences are meant to meet your budget—and your first one is on us. The hardest part of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay is knowing when to talk about which subject.
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