Comparison Contrast Essay

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Comparison Contrast Essay

• What are the similarities and differences between
  the pair of items or concepts? Think carefully
  about the question.
• Write an essay of approximately 300 words
  comparing and contrasting one pair.

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Structure

• Thesis Statement (were not writing an entire
  Introductory paragraph).
• Similarities Paragraph
• Differences paragraph
• Concluding statement

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Thesis Statement

• Complete sentence with an action verb that tells
  the reader what this paper is about. It does NOT
  express a preference. Do NOT open with This
  paper is about)
• My example While apples and oranges share
  similar qualities, they also differ in specific
  areas making each unique and valuable.

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Sample Thesis StatementsFor Compare Contrast
Essay

• On first glance, apples and oranges seem to be
  quite different however, on closer examination,
  many similarities appear as well.
• After careful analysis, Ive come to the
  conclusion that apples and oranges have almost as
  many similar as dissimilar qualities.
• The differences in apples and oranges cannot be
  overshadowed by the similarities that they share.
• Apples and oranges have similar qualities in
  terms of their basic design, but they are
  different in their uses and the benefits they
  offer.

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Similarities paragraph

• This is your paragraph telling the similarities
  between the two items being discussed.
• It should be complete sentences with specific
  examples to explain how they are alike.

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Brainstorm similar aspects

• Apples to Oranges Similarities
• Round
• Grow on trees
• Leaves
• Easy to eat
• Nutritional
• Seeds
• Skin (peel)
• Available and cheap

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Choose strongest main pointsand add details

• Pick the 3 main points of comparison
  (similarities) youll include in your essay.
• Add details and support for each
• Decide what order youll present them.
• my example
• Nutrition vitamin C and fiber
• Easy to eat dont have to cook them or
  refrigerate
• Cheap and available

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Similarities paragraph

• Write paragraph including 3 points of comparison
  and details about each point.
• Topic sentence to let reader know that youll be
  presenting similarities.
• Use transitional words. (Another, Likewise, Along
  with, Furthermore )
• Combine simple sentences to create more
  interesting COMPOUND and COMPLEX sentences.

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Topic sentence

• Apples and Oranges have a plethora of
  similarities.

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Nutrition vitamin C and fiber

• Both apples and oranges are nutritious fruits.
  They contain vitamin C and fiber which are highly
  beneficial.

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Easy to eat dont have to cook them or
refrigerate

• Along with nutrition, these fruits are an easy
  snack. They do not have to be refrigerated, and
  both can be eaten on the go without utensils or
  cooking.

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Cheap and available

• Another trait both have is that both apples and
  oranges are easily available. These fruits can be
  grown easily, sold in an assortment of locations,
  and are relatively inexpensive.

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• Apples and Oranges have a plethora of
  similarities. Both apples and oranges are
  nutritious fruits. They contain vitamin C and
  fiber which are highly beneficial. Along with
  nutrition, these fruits are an easy snack. They
  do not have to be refrigerated, and both can be
  eaten on the go without utensils or cooking.
  Another trait both have is that both apples and
  oranges are easily available. These fruits can be
  grown easily, sold in an assortment of locations,
  and are relatively inexpensive.

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Write in 1st person or 3rd person

• I see many similarities (1st person)
• People may not notice (3rd person)
• The word you should be nowhere in your essay.
• This is 2nd person and is not appropriate for
  expository writing

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• Now follow the same steps to write your
  Differences paragraph

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Concluding Statement

• The conclusion restates the Thesis Statement in
  different words and may include a statement of
  opinion for preference.

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Editing and IMPROVING your essay

• Done Good

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Marking your draft

• Get access to a red pen and two different colored
  highlighters (yellow and pink preferably)
• You may certainly share with a close neighbor

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• Highlight your thesis statement and your
  concluding statement in yellow.
• Do they say pretty much the same thing but in a
  different way?
• Highlight the topic sentence of each body
  paragraph in pink.
• Do these sentence tell what will be examined in
  each paragraph without giving any specific
  details?
• Circle the first word of each sentence in red.
• Have you used this word to begin a sentence more
  than twice? Try to keep in to less than 3.
• Eliminate the word YOU entirely.

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Type Final Copy

• Double spaced
• Format Paragraph Line Spacing - Double
• 12-point font
• (Arial or Times New Roman)
• Full heading in upper left
• First and Last Name (capitalize)
• Period
• Date
• Title on top line

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• Submitted to www.turnitin.com
• Before 800 AM on
• Wednesday, 9/19/12