Comparison and Contrast Essays

What is comparison and contrast? Comparison=similarities Contrast= differences Used together

Establishing a basis for comparison must have enough in common move beyond the obvious (i.e., plot) If two things are very similar, the contrasts may be worth writing about

Searching points for discussion Determine your emphasis—similarities, differences, both Determine the major focus Address the same or similar elements for each subject Novel A Novel B Major characters Minor characters themes

Do not discuss entirely different elements for each subject Novel A Novel B Major Characters Plot Minor Characters Author’s Life Themes symbolism Do not discuss entirely different elements for each subject

Brainstorm everything you know about each subject Go back and find connections Identify connections as similar and/or different Points of C/C Autumn Spring Temperature (-) Cooler Warmer Changes (-) Leaves change Flowers bloom Colors (+) Brilliant colors Location (-+) Precedes winter Precedes summer Symbolism (-) Death Birth

Formulating a Thesis Statement Identify not only the subjects to be compared and contrasted in your essay, but the point you will make about them. Also indicate whether you will focus on similarities or differences, or balance the two. EXAMPLE: “Although Melville’s Moby-Dick and London’s The Sea Wolf are both about the sea, the minor characters, major characters, and themes of Moby-Dick establish its greater complexity.”

Structuring a Comparison and Contrast Essay Subject by Subject Address one subject first, the other second—discuss the same points for both Use brainstorming to guide your selection of points Arrange points in logical order, usually order of importance. Good for short, uncomplicated papers.

Point by Point Comparison Good for longer, more complex papers Make a point about one subject, and then follow it with a comparable point about the other subject. Alternating pattern BAD: Ping-Pong effect **To avoid this problem, vary sentence structure as you move from point to point.

Student Example: Comparison and Contrast Essay

WRITING EXERCISE: LOVE! Auguste Rodin, The Kiss (Sculpture) Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture) What significant characteristics do these two sculptures share? Do they share enough characteristics to establish a basis for comparison? Explain.

Auguste Rodin, The Kiss (Sculpture) Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture) In your journal, create a venn diagram to list the similarities and differences of these two works of art.

Auguste Rodin, The Kiss (Sculpture) Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture) What general statement could you make about these two sculptures? Do the points you listed on your venn diagram provide enough support for this general statement?

Auguste Rodin, The Kiss (Sculpture) Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture) Write a short comparison-contrast essay in your journal on the following: How does each sculpture convey the idea of love? Which one do you believe conveys this idea more effectively? Why?

Grammar: parallelism Parallelism is the use of matching nouns, verbs, phrases, or clauses to express the same or similar ideas. “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities. Click here to visit Purdue University website on parallelism.