writing a compare/contrast paper A compare and contrast essay examines two or more topics (objects, people, or ideas, for example), comparing their similarities and contrasting their differences. You may choose to focus exclusively on comparing, exclusively on contrasting, or on both-or your instructor may direct you to do one or both The Purpose of Comparison and Contrast in Writing. Comparison in writing discusses elements that are similar, while contrast in writing discusses elements that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay, then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.. The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way For example, if you were using a point-by-point method to compare and contrast academic writing and professional writing, you might talk about similarities and differences regarding their paragraph structure, point of view, and tone. If you are using the point-by-point
Writing A Compare/Contrast Paper - TIP Sheet - Butte College
A compare and contrast essay examines two or more topics objects, people, or ideas, for examplecomparing their similarities and contrasting their differences. You may choose to focus exclusively on comparing, exclusively on contrasting, or on both-or your instructor may direct you to do one or both.
First, pick useable subjects and list their characteristics. In fact, their individual characteristics determine whether the subjects are useable. After writing a comparison contrast essay, choose a writing a comparison contrast essay pattern of organization and effective transitions to set your paper above the merely average.
Picking a subject Focus on things that can obviously be compared or contrasted. For instance, if you are examining an idea political or philosophical examine the opposite of that idea. Or, if you are examining a person, like a president, pick another president for comparison or contrast. Don't try to compare a president and a cab driver, or existentialism and a legislative bill on writing a comparison contrast essay tax refunds. Listing characteristics Divide a piece of paper into two sides.
One side is for the first subject, the other for the second subject. Then, begin to list the similarities and differences that writing a comparison contrast essay come to mind. Concentrate on characteristics that either are shared or are opposing between the two subjects. Alternately, you may construct a Venn diagram of intersecting circles, listing the subjects' differences to either side and their similarities where the circles intersect.
Keep in mind that for a balanced paper, you want to make point-by-point, parallel comparisons or contrasts. Similarities between my math and English instructors: Both are welcoming and available to students. Both are organized and keep a neat office. Both are knowledgeable and professional. Differences between my math and English instructors Math teacher listens to classic rock.
English teacher listens to jazz. Math teacher drinks Earl Grey tea. English teacher drinks strong black coffee. Math teacher likes to chat writing a comparison contrast essay movies. English teacher sticks to business. As you create your list, is it clear why you are comparing and contrasting these two subjects? Do you have a preference for one or the other? If so, make sure you are evaluating each side fairly.
A point-by-point list helps you maintain balance. Once you have a list, decide whether there are more similarities or differences between the topics. If there are more similarities, concentrate your paper on comparing. If there are more differences or if, as in the example above, the differences are simply more interestingconcentrate on contrasting.
If there is a balance of similarities and differences, you might concentrate on discussing this balance. Imagine you are examining Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant, both Civil War generals. In your list you have uncovered important points of dissimilarity between them. Those points are their background, personalities, and underlying aspirations.
Call these three points A, B, and C. You have decided to contrast the two subjects. Here is one way to organize the body of this paper, addressing points A, B, and C for each subject. This paper will follow parallel order—A, B, and then C—for each subject:.
Lee's background B. Lee's personality C. Lee's underlying aspirations. Grant's background B, writing a comparison contrast essay.
Grant's personality C. Grant's underlying aspirations, writing a comparison contrast essay. Lee's underlying aspiration C. Grant's underlying aspiration. For a writing a comparison contrast essay paper, the above might represent three paragraphs; if you are writing a long paper and have a great deal of information, you may choose to write about each point, A, writing a comparison contrast essay, B, and C, in separate paragraphs for a total of six.
However you decide to organize, make sure it is clear why you are examining this subject. You might be able to compare apples and oranges, for example, but why would you?
Include any insights or opinions you have gathered. And yes, in general, three is the magic number. While there is no hard-and-fast rule that precludes creating a paper based on two points, writing a comparison contrast essay, or four, or five, a three-point discussion is manageable, especially for complex or abstract subjects.
At the same time, a three-point structure helps you avoid oversimplifying, especially when addressing controversial topics in which discussions tend to become polarized—right or wrong, black or white, for or against. Three-point treatments encourage discussion of the middle ground.
Signaling transitions Learn to use expressions that precisely convey contrast or comparison. These expressions, or transitions, signal contrast:. Signal words such as these help the reader understand the relationships between your sentences, paragraphs, and ideas. In particular, if you are both comparing and contrasting, signal words help sort out what's what. Home Calendars Library Bookstore Directory Apply Now Search for Classes Register Online Classes MyBC Portal. Butte College Butte Campus Drive, Oroville CA General Information Shortcut Navigation: Page Content Sidebar Content Main Navigation Quick links Search Footer.
This paper will follow parallel order—A, B, and then C—for each subject: A. Lee's underlying aspirations A. Grant's underlying aspirations However, here is another way to organize the same paper: A. Lee's background A. Lee's personality B. Grant's underlying aspiration For a shorter paper, the above might represent three paragraphs; if you are writing a long paper and have a great deal of information, you may choose to write about each point, A, B, and C, in separate paragraphs for a total of six.
These expressions, or transitions, signal contrast: on the contrary on the other hand however otherwise whereas still yet These expressions signal comparison: as well as both like in common with likewise also Signal words such as these help the reader understand the relationships between your sentences, paragraphs, and ideas.
How to Write a Comparison-Contrast Essay
, time: 6:19Writing a contrast and comparison essay
Using comparison/contrast for all kinds of writing projects. Sometimes you may want to use comparison/contrast techniques in your own pre-writing work to get ideas that you can later use for an argument, even if comparison/contrast isn’t an official requirement for the paper you’re writing NOTE: When you write a compare and contrast essay, be sure that the two things have enough in blogger.com if you have many differences to analyze, if the topics or items you’re comparing don’t have much in common, your audience may wonder why you’re writing about the two things For example, if you were using a point-by-point method to compare and contrast academic writing and professional writing, you might talk about similarities and differences regarding their paragraph structure, point of view, and tone. If you are using the point-by-point
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