1. Compare & Contrast Essay Writing
Much more than, “Apples to Oranges”
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2. PURPOSES FOR COMPARING AND CONTRASTING
COMPARE: To show both the
similarities and differences
CONTRAST: To show only the
differences.
PURPOSES FOR COMPARING AND CONTRASTING
TO EXPLAIN CONCEPTS
Using metaphors, similes, and analogies to help others understand something foreign or new to them, or to simply identify the similarities and differences
TO EVALUATE VALUE
Identifying the shared and differing characteristics that qualify and separate one thing as better than another.
To Inform
To Explain
To Analyze
To Evaluate
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3. PLANNING THE ESSAY
Consider the Rhetorical Situation surrounding the writing task.
Rhetorical Situation
Speaker: the voice, point of view, values, demographic brought to the text by author.
Occasion/Context: the broad and immediate circumstances that prompted the writing of the text.
Audience: the values and demographic of the person or group addressed by text.
Purpose: the specific goal of the text or intended impact on the audience.
Subject: the broad and specific topic addressed within the text.
Compare/Contrast Steps
STEP 1: Identify the topic and related SUBJECTS that need to be compared/contrasted
STEP 2: Define your AUDIENCE and PURPOSE for comparing the items (explanation or evaluate value)
STEP 3: Brainstorm and record the defining qualities of each subject. Categorize the subjects’ similar and differing qualities. (use graphic organizers)
STEP 4: Establish your point of view as the SPEAKER and draft a thesis statement.
STEP 5: Choose an essay format and draft your paper.
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4. Compare/Contrast Literature Author Study
Writing an Essay
Compare/Contrast
Literature
Author Study

5. Writing Process Prewriting Drafting Revising Editing Publishing
Before you begin “writing”
Drafting
“Writing” the essay
Revising
“Writing” the essay better
Editing
Fixing your “writing”
Publishing
Submitting, posting and sending your “writing”

6. Prewriting Brainstorming Planning
Typically in essay writing you will have been assigned a topic.
Use the question, topic or prompt to list similarities and differences
Use a graphic organizer like a Venn diagram or listing columns
Planning
Focus your list or Venn diagram
Choose contrasts that relate to each other.
Make sure that your choices can be supported by evidence from the stories.
Evidence will include quotations (both direct and indirect)

7. Prewriting Researching Review or re-read the stories
Use the plan to find quotes, both direct and indirect, to support the similarities and differences chosen
Direct quotes are those from the story which are dialogue.
Indirect quotes are those from the story which are narrative (description).
Find more quotes than needed (3 for each similarity and difference)
Copy the quotes; include page number
Use a graphic organizer
Story by Story
Point by Point

8. Prewriting
Outlining
Create an outline or chart to develop the structure (or skeleton) of the essay
Decide which organization structure to use
Point by Point
Choose three ideas (setting, theme, literary devices, characterization, symbolism, etc.)
Each body paragraph will compare and contrast one idea in both stories.

9. Prewriting Outlining Write thesis sentence.
Refer to notes.
Include topic of essay and opinion.
Include three points to be made in the essay
These will be the basis of the topic sentences
Write topic sentences for body paragraphs
A topic sentence is the first sentence of each body paragraph and expresses the main idea of the paragraph.
Click here for Outline Frames
Story by Story
Point by Point

10. Drafting Writing the essay
Using the outline or chart begin to write your essay
Use present tense
Do not use first or second person pronouns
Avoid: I, me, my, mine, you, your, yours, we, our
Vary the length and complexity of your sentences.

11. Drafting Writing the essay (continued)
Begin with Introduction which should include:
Hook/Grabber
A hook/grabber is the first sentence of the essay. It should hook or grab the reader’s attention and make the reader want to continue reading. They should always be interesting, thought-provoking, or even dramatic.
Focus Statement, including titles and author(s)
A focus statement is the topic or subject of your essay, written as a complete sentence.

12. Drafting Writing the essay (continued)
The introduction which should include:
Point by Point
2-4 sentences of background orienting reader to the plots
Thesis sentence, which should be the last sentence in the introduction paragraph

13. Drafting Writing the essay (continued)
Continue to the 1st body paragraph which should include:
Topic Sentence
The sentences that follow in the paragraph must support this one.
Integrated Quotes
Make the quote part of the sentence
Cite it properly according to MLA rules: author (if unmentioned in the sentence)and page number
Indicate any changes to words (tense, pronoun, etc.) by putting square brackets [ ] around the changes

14. Drafting Writing the essay (continued) Integrated Quotes (continued)
Indicate words omitted by using ellipses (...) to show where the words were
Refer to literature in the present tense
Use active verbs in signal phrases to indicate the author’s tone (i.e.)
Acknowledges admits agrees
Argues claims confirms
Declares denies describes
Emphasizes illustrates suggests

15. Drafting Writing the essay (continued) Integrated Quotes (continued)
Use proper MLA citation for quotes
If the author’s name is used in the sentence containing the quote
Put the page number in parenthesis and add the end punctuation after
(64).
If the author’s name is NOT used in the sentence containing the quote
Put the author’s last name and page number in parenthesis and add the end punctuation after
(Pinon 64).

16. Drafting Writing the essay (continued)
Introductory words and phrases for comparing and contrasting.
like, similar to, also, unlike, similarly, in the same way, likewise, again, compared to, in contrast, in like manner, contrasted with, on the contrary, however, although, yet, even though, still, but, nevertheless, conversely, at the same time, regardless, despite, while, on the one hand … on the other hand.

17. Drafting Writing the essay (continued) Closing sentence
The closing sentence reminds the reader what the topic of the paragraph is really all about, what it means.
Rephrase the topic sentence
Do not use the words "In closing” or "In conclusion.”
Do not repeat something you already said.

18. Drafting Writing the essay (continued)
2nd and 3rd body paragraphs should also include:
Topic Sentence
Integrated Quotes
Closing Sentence

19. Drafting Writing the essay (continued)
Conclusion Paragraph should include:
Restatement of the thesis
Paraphrase topic sentences using key words to remind reader the focus of the essay
Summarize the author’s message.
This should be your last sentence.
Consider using the last four words of your essay as the title.

20. Drafting Writing the essay (continued)
If the draft was typed on the computer, print it for revision
If the draft was handwritten, proceed to revision

21. Revising Writing better
Reread the 1st draft all the way though making sure everything is logical
Underline thesis and topic sentences
Rewrite any phrases or sentences that don’t support your thesis and topic sentences
Rewrite any phrases or sentences that are confusing or unclear
Mark any areas where more support is needed
Replace for over-used words, such as
a lot anyway did every
goes everything fine good
nice got said so
very well goes

22. Revising Writing better
If the draft is handwritten, type the draft with the revisions then print it for editing.
If the draft was typed, make the revisions on the computer then print for editing

23. Editing
Fixing
This is different than revising as the focus is on mechanics rather than content.
Reread your revised draft looking for the following:
Consistent tense (present)
Consistent and correct use of the 3rd person
Spelling errors
Punctuation errors
Be especially aware of use of quotation marks (“smart quotes”) and commas
Author always referred to by last name after initial reference
Quotations are properly cited using MLA
Edit the essay on the computer then print finished essay

24. Publishing Submitting, posting or sending
Follow directions for how to publish the essay
You will turn yours in to turnitin.com

25. Write Your Outline Introduction 1.2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Hook/Grabber Focus Statement 2-4 sentences of background orienting reader to the plots or to the author Thesis Sentence

26. Write Your Outline 1st Body Paragraph – Point by Point 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.6. 7. 8.
Topic Sentence - point
Introduce point for story 1
Embedded quote #1
Introduce point for story 2
Embedded quote #2
Discuss the stories similarities and/or differences as they relate to the point
Suggest how topic is relevant.

27. Write Your Outline 2nd Body Paragraph – Point by Point 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.6. 7. 8.
Topic Sentence - point
Introduce point for story 1
Embedded quote #1
Introduce point for story 2
Embedded quote #2
Discuss the stories similarities and/or differences as they relate to the point
Suggest how topic is relevant.

28. Write Your Outline 3rd Body Paragraph – Point by Point 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.6. 7. 8.
Topic Sentence - point
Introduce point for story 1
Embedded quote #1
Introduce point for story 2
Embedded quote #2
Discuss the stories similarities and/or differences as they relate to the point
Suggest how topic is relevant.

29. Write Your Outline Conclusion 1. Modified Thesis 2. 3.4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Modified Thesis
Rephrase topic sentences
A sentence or two about the author’s message. OR
A sentence or two about why it is important to compare these stories.

30. Organize Your Research
“The Gift of the Magi”
“The Necklace”
Contrast #1
_____________
Contrast #2
Similarity #1
Similarity #2

31. Organize Your Research
“The Gift of the Magi”
“The Necklace”
Point #1
_____________
Point #2
Point #3

32. Outlining – developing a thesis
Thesis Frames for Point by Point
The author uses these stories to highlight ___________, ___________, and ___________.
A study of these stories reveals both similarities and differences in the following areas: _________, _________, and _________.
Point #1
Point #2
Point #3
Point #1
Point #2
Point #3

33. Publishing Venn Diagram – 10 points Notes – 20 points
Quote Chart – 20 points
Outline – 30 points
Rough Draft – 30 points
Final Essay – 50 Test Points