Comparison Paper Purpose: Compare two subjects (ideas, events, experiments, etc.) to help your reader understand their similarities and differences.

Two different formats: Whole by Whole Part by Part

Whole by Whole:  Describe one entire subject (idea, event, object, experiment, etc.) first. (Use all details for that point in that paragraph).  Use a transition before you describe the second entire subject (idea, event, object, experiment, etc.) This may require one or two paragraphs  Write a conclusion that summarizes their similarities and differences

Example “Whole by Whole” First Subject Paragraph Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate for President. Senator Obama is a 46-year-old lawyer from Illinois who has chosen Senator Joe Biden from Delaware as his running mate. Obama is married to Michelle Obama; they have two young daughters. Throughout this campaign, he has promoted himself as an advocate for the person “on Main Street,” and supports most policies for which Democrats are known. These include ending the war in Iraq as soon as possible, establishing universal health care, and increasing taxes on the wealthy and corporations to lessen the burden of taxes on the middle class. Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate for President. Senator Obama is a 46-year-old lawyer from Illinois who has chosen Senator Joe Biden from Delaware as his running mate. Obama is married to Michelle Obama; they have two young daughters. Throughout this campaign, he has promoted himself as an advocate for the person “on Main Street,” and supports most policies for which Democrats are known. These include ending the war in Iraq as soon as possible, establishing universal health care, and increasing taxes on the wealthy and corporations to lessen the burden of taxes on the middle class.

Transition paragraph (sample start) The Presidential campaign of 2008 is quite interesting. Since President Bush has completed two terms and Vice President Cheney did not desire a run for the Presidency, 2008 is unique in the fact that neither candidate was a member of the present administration. Additionally, the Democrats experienced a very close Primary election season which some say brought renewed interest in the political process. Today, Senator Obama, youthful and relatively new to the Political scene, faces an older (some would say more experienced) opponent in Senator John McCain. The Presidential campaign of 2008 is quite interesting. Since President Bush has completed two terms and Vice President Cheney did not desire a run for the Presidency, 2008 is unique in the fact that neither candidate was a member of the present administration. Additionally, the Democrats experienced a very close Primary election season which some say brought renewed interest in the political process. Today, Senator Obama, youthful and relatively new to the Political scene, faces an older (some would say more experienced) opponent in Senator John McCain.

Example “Whole by Whole” Second Subject Paragraph  John McCain is the Republican candidate for President. A prisoner of war during the Vietnam era, McCain was elected to the US Senate for the first time in He is married to Cindy McCain and lives in Arizona. In August of 2008, John McCain selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. She is the first Republican woman to run for Vice President. Senator McCain wants the voters to view him as a “maverick” who will work to change government for the better. He stresses his bipartisan relationships and his desire to improve Washington for the better. McCain’s platform includes remaining in Iraq until our mission is finished, holding down tax increases, and supporting many common Republican policies.

Sample “Whole by Whole” conclusion With just four weeks to go until the election, many Americans are still undecided. Both Senator Obama and Senator McCain must work diligently to convince voters that their policies are best. A variety of difficult issues face all Americans: difficult economic times, war, health care, terrorism, education, and global warming, just to name a few. The victors on November 4, whether it will be Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin, will have an incredibly important responsibility to all Americans and to the world. With just four weeks to go until the election, many Americans are still undecided. Both Senator Obama and Senator McCain must work diligently to convince voters that their policies are best. A variety of difficult issues face all Americans: difficult economic times, war, health care, terrorism, education, and global warming, just to name a few. The victors on November 4, whether it will be Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin, will have an incredibly important responsibility to all Americans and to the world.

“Part by Part” Comparison  Show differences and similarities by showing a certain trait for both people in one paragraph  Introduction and conclusion introduce the traits you will use and summarize the traits you did use

Sample “Part by Part” organization  Introduction: Introduce candidates. (Could use transition paragraph from “Whole by Whole.” End introduction with thesis that identifies three or four important points of comparison.  Sample thesis: Senators Obama and McCain present two divergent philosophies and backgrounds. Their platforms, choice of running mates, and levels of experience offer voters a clear choice.

“Part by Part” Body paragraph organization  Body paragraph #1: Platforms----First describe Obama’s major platform issues; then describe McCain’s (use same number of platform issues for each—probably three) Platforms----First describe Obama’s major platform issues; then describe McCain’s (use same number of platform issues for each—probably three) Body paragraph #2: Running Mates—First describe Obama and his choice of Senator Biden; then describe McCain and his choice of Governor Palin. Explain impact of each on campaign (from your perspective) Body paragraph #3: Experience—First describe Obama’s experiences as an Illinois State Senator and US Senator; then describe McCain’s experience as a POW and US Senator

Overall differences  Whole by Whole: Introduction, body paragraph that describes first candidate as a whole, transition paragraph, body paragraph that describes second candidate as a whole, conclusion  Part by Part: Introduction, three body paragraphs that each focus on one trait for both candidates (platform-running mate- experience), conclusion