Comparison and Contrast Moving on…
What does it mean to compare two things?
(I will discuss their similarities)
What does it mean to contrast two things?
(I will discuss their differences)
May I do both?•(Yes!)
Let’s discuss the similarities and differences between:
Friends Acquaintances
Think about what the similarities would be.
Then determine the differences write these down.
So, do you have more similarities or more differences?
Which are more important and why?
What will you focus on based on your brain-storming?
Should you write in point by point or whole by whole? Why?
Therefore, once you determine a topic, you will brainstorm similarities and differences.
From this, you will determine whether you will focus on similarities, differences or both.
You then have another decision to make: Whole by Whole or Point by Point.
What is the difference?
Point by Point or Whole by Whole?
If I planned to write about my friends and my acquaintances in point by point, what would I do?
I would write, for instance, that my friends are there for me when there is a crisis but my acquaintances are not.
I would then say that my friends know me and my personality while my acquaintances do not.
I may note that my friends spend a lot of time with me while my acquaintances do not.
I would do this, side by side.
If, however, I wanted to use the same topic as Whole by Whole, what would I do?
I would first note that my acquaintances are not there for me when I need them. I would go on to say that they don’t know me very well. I would also state that they don’t spend much time with me.
Then, I would discuss how my friends are there for me when I need them, know me very well, and spend a lot of time with me.
No turning back
The reader doesn’t have to go back and review and make the comparisons/contrasts. They are made for the reader clearly because they are side-by-side.
The writer doesn’t get lost and “unbalance” his/her essay with information not given about each topic. Since it’s side-by-side, it is very clear.
* Your essay must be at least two pages set up in MLA style.
What a Comparison/Contrast entails
1. Select a topic
2. Brainstorm
3. From this determine whether it will be a comparison/contrast or both
4. Determine whether you will write point by point or whole by whole.
5. What is the point of the essay? What is the thesis (topic/stand/why)?
6. Which point of view will you write in (again—it’s easiest to write in first, but you may now write in third).
Four Basics of Good Comparison and Contrast Essays:
1. It uses subjects that can be compared because they have enough in common to make sense.
2. There is a clear thesis/purpose to the comparison or contrast.
3. There are many examples of the differences or similarities between the two things.
4. It is clearly organized either point by point or whole by whole.
5. A clear conclusion
Topic is
Two of your friends. Focus on either
similarities or differences.
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