Comparing and Contrasting

Morales

English 120

Definition:

Comparing=finding similarities between two or more subjects or objects

Contrasting=finding differences between two or more subjects or objects

Why use this approach?

We can understand the relationship between two subjects:

When my mother was a child, she barely had enough to eat; when I was a child, I lived like a princess.

We can study two different approaches to a subject:

Although Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung once studied together, each developed completely different notions about the meaning of dreams.

We can clarify an unfamiliar topic by comparing something unfamiliar to something familiar:

To understand the game of cricket, we can compare it to the game of baseball.

We can show superiority of one thing over another:

While the film Million Dollar Baby was quite good, the book from which it was taken, Rope Burns, was far superior.

We can examine two works to find similar themes:

In both Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, we see examples of women characters who are struggling to be free.

4 Points To Remember:

Be fairKnow your purposeGive both subjects equal timeUse a clear pattern

Decide which points you want to compare

When writing a paper about my neighbor’s behavior before her husband’s death and after her husband’s death, I must decide which points to talk about.

• Her attitude towards children? • Her treatment of her grandsons? • Her love of shopping?

Subject by Subject OutlineThesis: Mrs. Caruso’s character underwent a

dramatic change for the worse after the death of her husband

I. Before husband’s deathA. Neighborhood childrenB. GrandsonsC. ShoppingD. Church

II. After husband’s deathA. Neighborhood childrenB. GrandsonsC. ShoppingD. Church

Point by Point Outline

Thesis: Mrs. Caruso’s character underwent a dramatic change for the worse after the death of her husband

I. NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDRENA. before husband’s deathB. after husband’s death

II. CHURCHA. before husband’s deathB. after husband’s death

III SHOPPINGA. before husband’s deathB. after husband’s death

IV. CHURCHA. before husband’s deathB. after husband’s death

Thesis: My childhood was much easier than

my grandmother’s childhood. I. MY CHILDHOOD

A. financially stableB. U.S. citizenshipC. reasonable parentsD. never sick a day in my life

II. MY GRANDMOTHER’S CHILDHOODA. Financially unstableB. Did not have citizenshipC. Abusive parentsD. Was very sickly

Thesis: My childhood was much easier than my grandmother’s childhood.

I. MONEYA. MeB. My grandmother

II. CITIZENSHIPA. MeB. My grandmother

III. PARENTSA. MeB. My grandmother

IV. HEALTHA. MeB. My grandmother

Thesis: Abortion is a difficult issue: both sides have valid arguments

I. Is abortion murder?A. Supporters say it is not murderB. Opponents say that it is murder

II. Should women have ownership over their bodies?

A. Supporters say they should B. Opponents say not if it involves

anotherIII. Who should be allowed to have an abortion?

A. All women or girls (if necessary)B. nobody, of any age

IV. What are the health effects/dangers?A. Supporters say it can be safeB. Opponents say many health risks!

Thesis: Abortion is a difficult issue: both sides have valid points

I. ProponentsA. Abortion is not murderB. Women’s bodies are private propertyC. All females deserve this rightD. Abortions are safe with few health risks

II. OpponentsA. Abortion is murderB. Women’s bodies are vehicles for new lifeC. Nobody should be allowed to do thisD. Abortions are unsafe, physically and psychologically

Writing Exercise:

• Write 2 simple outlines using the subject by subject pattern AND the point by point pattern.

• Your topic: Compare your childhood to either your mother’s childhood or your father’s childhood.