Compare and Contrast Essays A compare and contrast essay focuses on how two items are similar, different, or similar in some ways and different in others. You can compare and contrast any number of items including events, people, types of music, book genres, movies, etc.

Getting Started 1. Choose a topic that you can argue. Remember you need to do more than just list how items are similar or different. 2. Plan to discuss both items equally. Don’t write a whole paragraph about one item, and just one sentence about the other. Similarly, if you plan to make three or four points about one of the items, you should plan to make the same number of points about the other.

Getting Started 3. Remember to connect your ideas! The point of a compare and contrast essay is to actually compare the items – not just summarize information about each one. One way to connect ideas is to use transitional words and phrases that emphasize how items are similar or dissimilar. Question: What are five transitional words we might have used in our personal narratives?

Writing a Thesis Statement 1. Choose your topic. 2. Make a point (assertion) about your topic 3. Add these together to form a Working Thesis Statement (WTS)

Writing a Thesis Statement Topic: Dogs and cats Point: They are both excellent animals that are entirely lovable. = WTS: Dogs and cats are excellent animals that are entirely lovable. Topic: Coffee and energy drinks Point: Both are used by many people for many reasons, except thirst. = WTS: Coffee and energy drinks are used by many people for many reasons, except thirst. Topic: Books and movies Point: Both provide entertainment in opposite ways. = WTS: Books and movies, though somewhat similar, provide entertainment in opposite ways.

Organizing Your Essay Point by Point - Alternates arguments about the two items (A and B) that you are comparing and contrasting. (For example: rock music vs. classical music) - Point 1: Discuss A (Types of people who like rock music) - Point 1: Discuss B (Types of people who like classical) - Discussion about overall links between A and B - Point 2: Discuss A (Instruments used in rock music) - Point 2: Discuss B (Instruments used in classical music) - Discussion about overall links between A and B

Organizing Your Essay Point by Point - Often easier for the reader because similarities and differences are more obvious when placed next to each other. - For this reason, writers generally use this method for longer essays.

Organizing Your Essay Block Method - Presents all arguments related to A, and then compares and/or contrasts them to all arguments related to B. - It is a little bit more difficult to use because there is so much space between points about A and points about B. - It can be useful for shorter arguments.

Organizing Your Essay Block Method Paragraph 1: Point 1 about A (types of people who listen to rock music) Point 2 about A (types of instruments in rock) Paragraph 2: Point 1 about B, including connections to A (types of people who listen to rock music, and how they compare with those who listen to classical) Point 1 about B, including connections to A (types of people who listen to classical music, and how they compare with those who listen to rock)

Please Consider: Block Method - Don’t just list everything about A and then everything about B without actually making connections between them. - Or, when making those connections, do not list all the connections in one paragraph towards the end. Since your whole essay is supposed to compare/contrast two things, you need to make those connections throughout, not just in one paragraph at the end of the essay. - Please note that on both of these structures, I’m giving you just the outline. Remember, every good essay has an intro that hooks the reader and a conclusion that wraps up the writing!

Compare/Contrast Transition Words To compare: alsoasas well asbothliketoo and in the same mannerin the same waylikewise similarsimilarlymost important samein addition To contrast: Althoughhowevereven thoughyet but On the other handotherwise unlikeinstead On the contrarydifferin contrastunlesswhile nevertheless Question: Why are these words different than those we would use with narrative?

Topics *Dogs vs. Cats *City vs. Country *Christmas morning vs. New Year’s Eve *Soccer vs. Football *Beach vs. Mountains *Rap vs. Country *Rock vs. Classical *Pizza vs. Burgers*Vader vs. Skywalker *Hunger Games vs. Maze Runner *Band vs. Choir *Six Flags vs. NRH2O *Heels vs. Boots *Breakfast vs. Dinner *Makeup vs. Natural *Books vs. Movies *ELA vs. Math *Coffee vs. Energy Drinks *Luxury Hotel vs. Camping