1. Compare and Contrast Essay for Compare and Contrast Essay

2. To compare means to point out similarities
To compare means to point out similarities. To contrast means to point out differences

3. A Comparison/contrast essay shows how things are alike or different to help the reader choose between alternatives or to increase understanding of a literary work

4. Two things must be alike enough to result in a meaningful comparison
Two things must be alike enough to result in a meaningful comparison. Choose subjects that are similar enough to be compared or contrasted.

5. You need to find points of comparison that are parallel to show how the subjects are similar or different.

6. A baby is like a vacuum cleaner.
WRONG!

7. Even though my little brother Fred is 20 years my junior, he and I have much in common.

8. Use an inquiry question to help develop your ideas and create a synthesis
Eg. What does it take for society to fight injustice?
Note that you can change the question to fit your topic. For example, I am going to compare “Harrison Bergeron” and “The Dollhouse” so I am going to change my question to be “What does it take for an individual to fight discrimination?”. This is more specific to the stories.

9. Brainstorm by using either a chart or a Venn Diagram
Story #2
Story #1
Story #1
Story #2

10. Highlight the key ideas that present an insightful argument
Which one of your points is the most interesting?
Which one of your points is the most insightful and shows a deep understanding of the text?
Which one of your points answers your inquiry question the best?
Eg. Saying that HB is different from DH because one is set in the future and one in the past may not be a relevant difference to focus upon.

11. Now for the tough thinking….
Thesis Statement
Now for the tough thinking….

12. Thesis The thesis statement in the essay includes the two subjects you are comparing or contrasting and the main point you want to make about them.

13. Thesis Statements This is your argument- your big idea
It must include BOTH stories
It must be specific and insightful
It should not include the first or second person (no “I” or “you”)

14. Bad thesis: I am going to compare the similarities and the differences between Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T.
Good Thesis: A close examination of the way Roy Neary, the protagonist in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Elliott, the protagonist in E.T. react to their encounters with aliens demonstrate that Steven Spielberg uses both films to tell similar stories about the difficulties of growing up.

15. What effect can negative stereotypes have on cultural identities?
Bad thesis: Both stories are about fighting discrimination but they are different because one is a slam poem and one is an opinion piece.
Good Thesis: Negative stereotypes can effect many cultures. Although “Sorry for Being a Stereotype” is an opinion piece about the First Nation identity and “What Kind of Asian Are You” is a slam poem about the Asian identity, both these pieces show that stereotypes may lead to shame, confusion of one’s self, and a feeling of isolation in one’s own country.

16. What conflicts arise when determining gender identity?
Bad Thesis: “No Bikini” and “What it feels like” are different because one is a short story and one is a slam poem but both are about conflict about gender identity.
Good Thesis: “No Bikini”, and “What it feels like to be Transgender”, are about the experience of being transgender. Although one is a short story and the other is a slam poem, both these mediums illustrate the conflict within families when a child is struggling with their gender identity.

17. Organization Whether you decide to write about similarities or differences, you will have to decide how to organize your essay. You can choose between two patterns of organization:

18. Block Method Say everything (your details) about your first subject and then you say everything about your second subject. The same points should be discussed for both subjects in the same order. Usually this means a four paragraph essay but not always. Best for shorter essays.

19. Subject by subject Outline I -Introduction: lead-in and thesis II- Body: Topic sentence Subject 1(No Bikini) point 1 point 2 point 3 Topic sentence Subject 2 (What it feels like…) point 1 point 2 point 3 III. Conclusion

20. Point by Point You support and explain your thesis statement by discussing each point of comparison or contrast, switching back and forth between subjects. Works better if you have more than one point of contrast or comparison.

21. What effect can negative stereotypes have on cultural identities?
Bad thesis: Both stories are about fighting discrimination but they are different because one is a slam poem and one is an opinion piece.
Good Thesis: Negative stereotypes can effect many cultures. Although “Sorry for Being a Stereotype” is an opinion piece about the First Nation identity and “What Kind of Asian Are You” is a slam poem about the Asian identity, both these pieces show that stereotypes may lead to shame, confusion of one’s self, and a feeling of isolation in one’s own country.

22. Point by Point Outline I- Introduction: Lead-in and Thesis II- Body: Topic sentence point 1 (shame) subject 1 subject 2 Topic sentence point 2 (self identity) subject 1 subject 2 Topic sentence point 3 (isolation in one’s own country) subject 1 subject 2 III - Conclusion

23. Why does one bully? (a grade 10 example)
According the short stories “The Dollhouse” by Katherine Mansfield and the movie “The Help”, the reason people bully is because of jealousy, peer pressure, and the need to be accepted. Although the means and reason for bullying is different, the root causes for this hurtful behaviour is the same in both pieces of media.
This is better for point by point organization.

24. Use Transitions One similarity Another similarity Similarly Like Both
As well as
Also
Too
In addition
One difference
Another difference
In contrast
Unlike
Although
But, yet
Instead of
On the other hand
Whereas

25. Don’t forget comparative of adjectives and adverbs: more … than less … than as … as the same …as

26. Quote Integration One or two lines from the story
More than four lines from the story
No quote bombs!
Use a comma or colon before the quote
Use quotation marks around the quote
Cite your source at the end of the quote with brackets and page number. Eg. (pg. 11)
End your text with a colon before..
Indent and make a block quote so the lines line up
Insert a blank line between your text and the quote
No quotation marks necessary
Cite your source at the end of the quote Eg. (pg. 12)

27. Parts of a quote- no comma before the quote.
The character Else was a “wishbone of a child” (166) and portrayed as innocent and vulnerable.
The girls wanted to be “horrid to them” (166) as a way to gain playground power.

28. One to two lines of quotes- -need commas or colons before the quote -use one quotation mark for dialogue within the double quotation marks
The effect of the bullying made the Kelvey’s feel inferior: “Burning with shame, shrinking together, Lil huddling along like her mother, our Else dazed, somehow they crossed the big courtyard and squeezed through the gate” (page 169).
One way the girls bullied the Kelveys was to point out their parents occupations. As Lena, the playground bully asks, “ ‘Is it true you’re going to be a servant when you grow up, Lil Kelvey?’ shrilled Lena” (pg. 168).

29. Block Quotes -no quotation marks around quote -indent and insert a space -use a colon before the quote
The effect of excluding the Kelvey’s from the wealthier girls was exhilarating:
This was such a marvellous thing to have said that the little girls rushed away in a body, deeply, deeply excited, wild with joy. Someone found a long rope, and they began skipping. And never did they skip so high, run in and out so fast, or do such daring things as they did that afternoon. (pg. 168)
It is clear the girls felt great power by discriminating.