Comparative Essay Tutorial

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Comparative Essay Tutorial

1. Prompt
2. Prewrite
3. Thesis
4. Body paragraphs (3) talking points
5. stuff to be sure of

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1. Prompt

• Pick it apart
• Subject? Object? Verb? Key words?
• Ex
• Compare the effect of colonization on Africa and
  India in the 16th century.
• Compare the development of Confucianism and
  Hinduism during the Ancient and Classical periods.

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II. Prewrite

• Necessary
• No longer than 5 minutes
• 1. Organize 3 talking points which will
  become 3 paragraphs
• 2. List 3 facts per talking point
• 3. Write thesis

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III. Thesis Paragraph

• Use comparative words! differences,
  similarities,
• effect of, caused by,
• 1 3 sentences long
• Is this a good thesis?
• -Egypt and Shang China were similar and
  different in religion, social structure and
  politics.

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How to write a thesis paragraph

• Your thesis statement must
•         1) directly address the comparison
•         2) stay within the parameters of the
  question
•         3) take an arguable position on the
  subject (be bold!!!)
•         4) make reference to what will be used
  in the essay.

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• Prompt
• For several hundred years the Mongols ruled
  over both Russia and China.  After casting off
  Mongol domination, both areas began a process of
  political and cultural recovery. Compare and
  contrast these processes in Russia and China.
• HORRIBLE Russia and China both gained freedom
  from Mongol domination.
• BAD The recovery of Russia and China after the
  Mongols had many
• similarities and differences. 
• BETTER When Russia and China recovered from
  Mongol domination they had
• similar political goals but
  different cultural goals.
• BEST While both Russia and China built strong
  centralized governments after
• breaking free from the Mongols,
  Russia imitated the culture and
• technology of Europe while China
  became isolated and built upon its
• own foundations.

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IV. Body Paragraphs (3!)

• Most prompts lead to 3 body paragraphs
• Each paragraph should have a topic sentence
  (use comparative words!)
• MUST address both objects (ex Egypt and Shang)
  of the prompt in every paragraph
• Analysis sentence at end of each paragraph
  BECAUSE, IN ORDER TO, DUE TO

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V. Stuff to be sure of

• MUST write in black pen
• Use PAST tense
• NO pronouns
• Use key words
• Must compare in EACH body paragraph

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• 1st paragraph thesis
• 2nd paragraph talking point 1
• Comparative statement for topic 1
• Fact 1
• Fact 2
• Fact 3
• Analysis statement - why
• 3rd paragraph talking point 2
• Comparative statement for topic
• Fact 1
• Fact 2
• Fact 3
• Analysis statement - why
• 4th paragraph talking point 3
• Comparative statement for topic
• Fact 1
• Fact 2
• Fact 3
• Analysis statement - why

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