1. Comparison and Contrast Essays
ACS 205
WRITING

2. What are Comparison and Contrast Essays?
Comparing things is something we do every day when we have to make decisions.
For example, you might think of similarities or differences when we are buying a new MP3 player or choosing a place to study English.
You may need to evaluate two sides of an issue you have studied in a class or two proposals for research or projects at your workplace.
In these cases, you will need to write an essay or report to discuss your ideas about the topic. This is a comparison and contrast essay.

3. Comparison/Contrast Essay Organization
Like other types of essays, a comparison and contrast essay must have a clear introduction and conclusion.
The body of the essay can be organized many ways. We will look at one of the most common organizational styles:
Point by point organization

4. The introduction is the first paragraph of an essay.
Presents the topic or subject that is being compared and contrasted in the first sentences.
Gives some general information about the topic
Ends with a thesis statement that tells the reader specifically what will be compared and contrasted.

5. Point by Point Organization
The body paragraphs explain the similarities and differences
In the body paragraph:
one paragraph will explain similarities between one main idea in the two subjects
one paragraph will deal with differences in the same main idea, and so on.

6. Essay Organization Introduction OR Introduction Similarity #1
Difference #1
Similarity #2
Difference #2
Difference #1
Similarity #1
Conclusion
Conclusion

7. The Conclusion
The conclusion is the last paragraph of an essay. In conclusion paragraph the writer should:
1.Restate the topic
2. Restate or summarize the similarities and differences between the two topics
3. Give his/her opinion or feeling about the topic make a prediction, or explain the results

8. Let’s look at a sample essay

9. Introduction paragraph
A nation’s purpose in educating its children is to prepare them to become productive members of society. Each country in the world has developed a system of education based on its needs, economic resources, and traditions. One would think that industrial societies such as the United States and the countries of Europe would have similar systems for educating their children.
However, a comparison of school systems in Europe and the United States reveals several similarities but also differences.
Thesis Statement
The introduction gives general information about the topic and introduces the thesis statement.

10. 1st Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence
One way the educational systems of Europe and the United States are similar is the elementary school system.
Elementary school classes look the same everywhere: There are about twenty to twenty-two pupils per class, and the classes are coeducational. Also, there is one teacher for all subjects for each grade (except in Scandinavia), and the majority of elementary school teachers are women. In addition, the subjects taught at the elementary level are basically the same everywhere: reading and writing, mathematics, introductions to the sciences, music, sports, and art.
The first similarity is introduced and explained with specific details and examples

11. 2nd body paragraph
Topic Sentence
Students spend approximately the same number of years in school in both places.
Both the United States and most European countries
require children to attend school for at least nine or ten years. Germany and Belgium have the highest requirement: twelve years of education. Also, children in most countries start compulsory schooling at a similar age, usually age six, and they may leave school at a similar age, usually sixteen.
The second similarity is introduced and explained with specific details and examples

12. 3rd Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence
While the elementary school systems in Europe and the United States are similar, there are differences in the types of schools available.
In the countries of Northern Europe, there is no division between elementary and secondary school; school just flows from the first day of first grade until the end of compulsory schooling at age sixteen. However, in the United States, school is divided in to nine years of elementary and four years of secondary education. Furthermore, some countries require students to make a choice between academic preparatory and vocational training schools. In Germany, pupils must make this decision as early as age ten. In the United States, in contrast, they never have to make it. Anyone in the United States who graduates from high school has the opportunity to go on to a college or university.
The difference is introduced and explained.
Notice the transition sentence at the beginning of the paragraph

13. Conclusion paragraph
It is clear that the experience of school children varies from country to country. Even though the United States and the countries of Europe seem very similar in many ways, their educational systems are actually quite different. No one can say if one system is better than another system, for each one fits its own needs, economies, and traditions best.
The conclusion restates and summarizes the topics in the essay.

14. Notice that the introduction introduces the topic clearly and does not give too many details. It also clearly states the writer’s opinion about the topic.
In the body paragraphs, the similarities and differences are put together logically. For example, the nicknames of each city are discussed before the next similarity is brought up. The colors in each city are discussed before another difference is brought up, etc.
The conclusion restates the information presented in the introduction in different words but does not bring in new ideas about the topic.

15. References
Oshima, A. & Hogue, A. Introduction to Academic Writing: Second Ed. New York, USA. Addison Wesley Longman, 1997.
Savage, A. & Mayer, P. Effective Academic Writing 2: The Short Essay. New York, USA. Oxford, 2005.