Compare or Contrast Essay

You compare or contrast every day.

Should you eat pizza for lunch or a salad?

You look at the benefits of pizza, the benefits of salad, and then make your decision.

Why compare/contrast?

To demonstrate:– That one thing is better than another– That things which seem different are

actually alike– That things which seem alike are actually

different

Suggestions – all of these found in the reading

1. Be sure subjects are at least somewhat alike

2. Stay focused3. Formulate a strong thesis4. Select points to be discussed5. Organize the points6. Use clear transitions

Developing Your Essay

Two patterns for organization Choose one and stick to it

throughout. Point-by-point The Block

Thesis Sentence

Mom’s Hamburger Haven is a much better restaurant than McPhony’s because of its superior food, service and atmosphere.

Pattern One: Point by Point

Point 1: Food– A. Mom’s– B. McPhoney’s

Point 2: Service:– A. Mom’s– B. McPhoneys

Point 3: Atmosphere– A. Mom’s– B. McPhony’s

Now, it’s your turn!

Pair up with a neighbor and try a point by point with this thesis:

Hands down, Katy Perry is a better performance artist than Rihanna because of her superior lip-syncing, dancing and costumes.

Here is a template

Point One:– A:– B:

Point Two– A:– B:

Point Three– A:– B:

It Should look like this:

Point One: Lip-Syncing– A:Katy– B:Rihanna

Point Two: Dancing– A:Katy– B:Rihanna

Point Three: Costumes– A:Katy– B:Rihanna

Remember our original thesis statement?

Mom’s Hamburger Haven is a much better restaurant than McPhony’s because of its superior food, service and atmosphere.

Pattern Two: The Block

A. Mom’s– 1. Food– 2. Service– 3. Atmosphere

B. McPhony’s– 1. Food– 2. Service– 3. Atmosphere

Now it’s your turn!

Pair up with your neighbor again and put the same thesis sentence into the block pattern.

Hands down, Katy Perry is a better performance artist than Rihanna because of her superior lip-syncing, dancing and costumes.

Here is a template

A:– 1:– 2:– 3:

B:– 1:– 2:– 3:

Here’s what it should look like

A: Katy– 1: Lip-syncing– 2: Dancing– 3: Costumes

B: Rihanna– 1: Lip-syncing– 2: Dancing– 3: Costumes

Key words to use in your essay

Comparison– Also– Similarly– Too– Both– Like– Not only…but also– Have in common– Share the same– In the same manner

Contrast– However– On the contrary– On the other hand– In contrast– Although– Unlike– Though– Instead of – But

Outline

Why outline? What does an outline look like?

Outline