Comparison and Contrast Essay

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Comparison and Contrast Essay

• Dr. Alan J. M. Haffa

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Purpose of Comparison and Contrast

• A contrast draws out differences between two
  subjects
• A comparison outlines both similarities and
  differences between two subjects
• To demonstrate how one subject is superior in
  some way to the other
• To demonstrate how two subjects, which appear
  dissimilar, are actually similar
• Instead of judgmental, your purpose may be
  informational.

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Method

• Brainstorm everything that you can think of for
  your two subjects
• Identify points that are relevant to both
  subjects
• Establish a dominant idea after examining your
  points of similarity and difference. This is the
  basis of your comparison/contrast.
• Select those you want to focus upon based upon
  the dominant idea
• Arrange them
• Make all of these choices subject to your
  purposewhat do you want to accomplish

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Vertical or Horizontal Arrangement

• Vertically (Block) Treats all of the elements
  for each subject separately. Example School A,
  point 1, School A, point 2, School A, point 3
  School B, point 1, School B, point 2, School B,
  point 3.
• Horizontally (Alternating) Treats each element
  with respect to each subject sequentially. School
  A and B, point 1 School A and B, point 2 School
  A and B, point 3.
• If the comparison is short (a paragraph or two),
  then the vertical method is fine.
• Horizontal is usually preferable for longer
  comparisons there is a risk that a vertical
  essay will sound like two separate essays weakly
  connected with a transitional paragraph or
  sentence.

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Use of Indicators

• Good comparison or contrast essays feature the
  use of indicator words to convey to the reader at
  any given moment whether a comparison or contrast
  is being made and the nature of it.
• Similarity likewise, the same as, too, also,
  similarly, in like manner
• Contrast but, yet, however, nevertheless, on the
  contrary, contrary to, unlike, the opposite of

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Rules of thumb with Comparison and Contrast essays

• Be sure to treat both subjects equally in terms
  of coverage
• Be sure to treat the same elements for each
  subject do not treat of one element for one
  subject and not do so for the other!
• Use indicators to clarify what you are doing
• Decide either upon horizontal or vertical
  arrangement do not mix.
• Have a clear purpose that your comparison/contrast
  achieves

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Essay 2 Comparison Essay

• Compare or contrast two couples or families
• In contrasting or comparing them you should use
  their examples to offer commentary and insight on
  an issue confronting family or marriage
• What are some examples of such issues?

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Issues

• Gay marriage
• Living together
• Waiting for sex versus indulging in it while
  dating or living together
• Single parent families
• Divorce
• Commitment and adultery
• Managing money
• Raising children
• Inter-racial marriage
• Mixed Families (Brady Bunch)
• Religion in family or marriage (inter-religion
  marriage)
• Household duties and gender in family or marriage
• Managing dual careers

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Journal

• Write a paragraph comparing or contrasting two
  teachers that you have had
• After identifying the two teachers, ask yourself
  what your main idea and purpose is before writing.

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Rembrandt Self-Portraits