ACADEMIC WRITING IClass 13
April 16, 2013
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Today
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Today• Introduction to compare/contrast writing
Compare/Contrast Writing
In comparison/contrast writing, we explain the differences and/or similarities between two subjects.
(That is part of it, anyway)
- The ‘subjects’ can be most anything. (transportation systems, governments, kinds of ice cream).
Compare/Contrast Writing
This is a very common type of essay in many fields.
Examples:
Compare the forms of government of Canada and the U.S.
Compare the characters of Winston and O’Brien in George Orwell’s “1984.”
Compare and contrast methods for marketing a new product.
Political Science
Literature
Business
Organization
A key feature of comparison/contrast essays is organization.
- Careful organization is necessary for an effective essay of this kind.
- You don’t want to confuse the reader(s).
- There are several ways to organize a comparison/contrast essay.
We will examine two of them.
Organization
Look at these two examples:
- How does each organize its information?
Organization – Example 1
Subjects: beaches & mountains
Points of comparison/contrast: climate, activities, locations
Body 1: Mountains
Body 2: Beaches
Organization – Example 2
Subjects: fresh foods & canned foods
Points of comparison/contrast: flavors, benefits, cost
Body 1: flavor
Body 2: health benefits
Body 3: cost
Organization
Example 1: Block organization
Example 2: Point-by-point organization
- Neither holds advantage over the other.
- Which you use depends on your preference (and to a degree), the goal of your writing.
Block Organization
Contents organized into “blocks”
Discuss all of topic A, then all of topic B.
Block Organization• Basic outline:
• I. Introduction (opening, purpose of the essay, thesis statement).
• II. Body A. Topic A features
- Feature 1- Feature 2
• B. Topic B features- Feature 1- Feature 2
• III. Conclusion
NOTE: Make sure you discuss the same features for each topic!
Point-by-Point Organization
Each point of comparison (“feature”) becomes the topic of a paragraph.
Within each paragraph, the two topics are compared or contrasted on that feature.
Point-by-Point Organization• Basic outline: (Two topics, A & B)
• I. Introduction (opening, purpose of the essay, thesis statement).
• II. Body A. Difference/similarity 1 - Flavor
- Topic 1 - Fresh- Topic 2 - Canned
• B. Difference/similarity 2 – Health Benefits
- Topic 1- Topic 2
• C. Difference/similarity 3 - Cost
- Topic 1 - canned- Topic 2
• III. ConclusionNOTE: Always discuss the topics in the same order!
Which do you prefer?
OR
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Which do you prefer?
OR
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- These both have similarities and differences, BUT
Which would you recommend to a foreign tourist?
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Compare/Contrast Writing - Analysis
- It is not enough to simply say:
“This is how A & B are different; this is how they are similar.”
- The above is just regurgitating information.
- At the university level, some form of analysis is needed in comparison/contrast writing.
Go beyond “here is some information…the end ”
Compare/Contrast Writing - Analysis- Your analysis should begin by considering the information you have collected.
- Ask yourself: “Along what factors are these two topics reasonably comparable?”
Compare/Contrast Writing - Analysis- Ask yourself: “Along what factors are these two topics reasonably comparable?”
If you use information like:
Korea is a peninsula. Japan is an archipelago.Korea has a president as head of state. Japan has a constitutional monarchy.
Korea is mono-cultural. Japan is mono-cultural.
Korea has a large economy. Japan has a large economy.
What kind of argument can you make from this? - Which country is better? Which is more fun? Which has the superior culture?
Compare/Contrast Writing - Analysis- Ask yourself: “Along what factors are these two topics
reasonably comparable?”
- Research factors that will allow for a logical analysis to be made.
Start researching one of the following:
The education systems of two different countries
The business strategies of two companies (in the same field)
Online education and traditional education
Attending a large college and attending a small college
Two leaders from history
NOTE: All topics must be INTERNATIONAL (not Korean)
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