Compare and Contrast Essay Compare and Contrast Essay WritingWriting

Compare and Contrast Essay Compare and Contrast Essay WritingWriting

Do I want this car … ?

Do I want this car … ?

… or do I want that

other car?

… or do I want that

other car?

Instructions for the Comparison or Instructions for the Comparison or Contrast EssayContrast Essay

Do I want this guy … ?

Do I want this guy … ? … or do I

want that guy?

… or do I want that

guy?

Do I want to visit Egypt on my next vacation

… ?

Do I want to visit Egypt on my next vacation

… ?

… or do I want to go to Las

Vegas?

… or do I want to go to Las

Vegas?

Do I want to eat something

healthy… ?

Do I want to eat something

healthy… ?

… or do I want something

bad?

… or do I want something

bad?

Understand what comparison or Understand what comparison or contrast requires you to do.contrast requires you to do.Understand what comparison or Understand what comparison or contrast requires you to do.contrast requires you to do.

Always choose two Always choose two equalequal items—two cars, items—two cars, two vacations, two sports stars—two vacations, two sports stars—notnot two two unequal items, like a car and an octopus.unequal items, like a car and an octopus.Next, decide if you want to Next, decide if you want to comparecompare or or contrastcontrast as your primary strategy. The essay as your primary strategy. The essay should be 80/20 in favor of one strategy, not should be 80/20 in favor of one strategy, not 50/50.50/50.Your job is to Your job is to interestinterest the reader. Choose the reader. Choose points to discuss that are points to discuss that are not immediately not immediately obviousobvious. .

Now let’s test Now let’s test your your

understanding .understanding . .. ..

Now let’s test Now let’s test your your

understanding .understanding . .. ..

A baby is like a vacuum cleaner.A baby is like a vacuum cleaner.A baby is like a vacuum cleaner.A baby is like a vacuum cleaner.

WRONG!WRONG!

Even though my little brother Fred Even though my little brother Fred is 20 years my junior, he and I have is 20 years my junior, he and I have much in common.much in common.

Even though my little brother Fred Even though my little brother Fred is 20 years my junior, he and I have is 20 years my junior, he and I have much in common.much in common.Yeah, Yeah, baby!baby!

My sister and I look alike, have My sister and I look alike, have common hobbies, and enjoy the common hobbies, and enjoy the same foods.same foods.

My sister and I look alike, have My sister and I look alike, have common hobbies, and enjoy the common hobbies, and enjoy the same foods.same foods.

Boring!Boring!

Even though Venus and Serena Williams are Even though Venus and Serena Williams are both professional tennis stars, they differ in their both professional tennis stars, they differ in their opinions about men, movies, and music.opinions about men, movies, and music.

Even though Venus and Serena Williams are Even though Venus and Serena Williams are both professional tennis stars, they differ in their both professional tennis stars, they differ in their opinions about men, movies, and music.opinions about men, movies, and music.

Excellent!Excellent!

Make the comparison or contrast Make the comparison or contrast interestinginteresting..Make the comparison or contrast Make the comparison or contrast interestinginteresting..

Be sure that your essay has a Be sure that your essay has a purposepurpose. Ask . Ask yourself this important question: Why would yourself this important question: Why would anyone want to read this comparison or anyone want to read this comparison or contrast?contrast?

Pick a pattern for your essay.Pick a pattern for your essay.Pick a pattern for your essay.Pick a pattern for your essay.

Pattern APattern A is a typical is a typical 5-paragraph essay.5-paragraph essay.The thesis statement The thesis statement will read like this:will read like this:

Because of X, Y, Because of X, Y, and Z, Subject A is and Z, Subject A is similar to similar to [[or or different fromdifferent from] ] Subject B.Subject B.

Each body paragraph Each body paragraph will discuss both will discuss both Subject A and Subject A and Subject B.Subject B.

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

All about All about Point XPoint XAll about All about Point XPoint X

All about All about Point YPoint YAll about All about Point YPoint Y

All about All about Point ZPoint ZAll about All about Point ZPoint Z

ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion

Pattern B will look a bit different.Pattern B will look a bit different.Pattern B will look a bit different.Pattern B will look a bit different.Pattern BPattern B has only 4 has only 4 paragraphs.paragraphs.Alas, the essay must Alas, the essay must still be 500 words.still be 500 words.The thesis statement The thesis statement should should notnot include include restrictions. It should restrictions. It should read like this:read like this:

Subject A is similar Subject A is similar to to [[or different or different fromfrom]] Subject B. Subject B.

One body paragraph One body paragraph will discuss will discuss XX, , YY, and , and ZZ for for Subject ASubject A; the ; the other body paragraph other body paragraph will do the same for will do the same for Subject BSubject B..

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

All about All about Subject ASubject AAll about All about Subject ASubject A

All about All about Subject BSubject BAll about All about Subject BSubject B

ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion

If we follow the If we follow the advice above …advice above …If we follow the If we follow the advice above …advice above …

Do we have two like things? Do we have two like things? How are they alike? How are they alike? Would it be better to compare Would it be better to compare or contrast?or contrast?What is the purpose?What is the purpose?What will make the essay What will make the essay interesting?interesting?Would Would Pattern APattern A or or Pattern BPattern B work the best?work the best?

Format the Format the Pattern APattern A outline outline correctly.correctly.Format the Format the Pattern APattern A outline outline correctly.correctly.

I.I. Point XPoint XA.A. Subject ASubject A

1.1. Detail 1Detail 1

2.2. Detail 2Detail 2

3.3. Detail 3Detail 3

B.B. Subject BSubject B1.1. Detail 1Detail 1

2.2. Detail 2Detail 2

3.3. Detail 3Detail 3

I.I. Point XPoint XA.A. Subject ASubject A

1.1. Detail 1Detail 1

2.2. Detail 2Detail 2

3.3. Detail 3Detail 3

B.B. Subject BSubject B1.1. Detail 1Detail 1

2.2. Detail 2Detail 2

3.3. Detail 3Detail 3

Roman numerals Roman numerals address the address the XX, , YY, and , and ZZ from the thesis from the thesis statement.statement.

Capital letter ACapital letter A is is always for the always for the first first subjectsubject; ; capital capital letter Bletter B is always for is always for the the second subjectsecond subject..

A A detaildetail for Subject A for Subject A must correspond to a must correspond to a detaildetail for Subject B.for Subject B.

Thesis statement:Thesis statement: The two Sigourney Weaver The two Sigourney Weaver movies, movies, AliensAliens and and Gorillas in the MistGorillas in the Mist, have three , have three important points of comparison [or contrast]: X, Y, and important points of comparison [or contrast]: X, Y, and Z.Z.

Thesis statement:Thesis statement: The two Sigourney Weaver The two Sigourney Weaver movies, movies, AliensAliens and and Gorillas in the MistGorillas in the Mist, have three , have three important points of comparison [or contrast]: X, Y, and important points of comparison [or contrast]: X, Y, and Z.Z.

I.I. Point XPoint XA.A. Gorillas in Gorillas in

the Mistthe Mist1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

B.B. AliensAliens1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

I.I. Point XPoint XA.A. Gorillas in Gorillas in

the Mistthe Mist1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

B.B. AliensAliens1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

II. Point YII. Point YA.A.Gorillas in Gorillas in

the Mistthe Mist1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

B.B.AliensAliens1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

II. Point YII. Point YA.A.Gorillas in Gorillas in

the Mistthe Mist1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

B.B.AliensAliens1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

III. Point ZIII. Point ZA.A. Gorillas in Gorillas in

the Mistthe Mist1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

B.B. AliensAliens1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

III. Point ZIII. Point ZA.A. Gorillas in Gorillas in

the Mistthe Mist1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

B.B. AliensAliens1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

A A Pattern BPattern B outline looks a little different:outline looks a little different:A A Pattern BPattern B outline looks a little different:outline looks a little different:

I.I. Subject ASubject AA.A. First Point of C/CFirst Point of C/C

1. Detail1. Detail

2. Detail2. Detail

3. Detail3. Detail

B.B. Second Point of C/CSecond Point of C/C

1. Detail1. Detail

2. Detail2. Detail

3. Detail3. Detail

C.C. Third Point of C/CThird Point of C/C

1. Detail1. Detail

2. Detail2. Detail

3. Detail3. Detail

II.II. Subject BSubject BA.A. First Point of C/CFirst Point of C/C

1. Detail1. Detail

2. Detail2. Detail

3. Detail3. Detail

B.B. Second Point of C/CSecond Point of C/C

1. Detail1. Detail

2. Detail2. Detail

3. Detail3. Detail

C.C. Third Point of C/CThird Point of C/C

1. Detail1. Detail

2. Detail2. Detail

3. Detail3. Detail

Thesis Statement:Thesis Statement: Subject A is different from/similar to Subject B.Subject A is different from/similar to Subject B.

Add support with Add support with direct quotationsdirect quotations..Add support with Add support with direct quotationsdirect quotations..

First, First, introduceintroduce the source with a speaker tag. the source with a speaker tag.The Queen says, …The Queen says, …

According to “Little Snow White,” …According to “Little Snow White,” …

Then use the Then use the exact wordsexact words of the source in of the source in quotation quotation marksmarks..

You can make You can make small changes small changes with with brackets brackets like these: like these: [ ][ ]

You can You can omit omit chunks of text with chunks of text with ellipsesellipses, three periods in a , three periods in a row where you have removed words in the middle or at the end.row where you have removed words in the middle or at the end.

Follow with an Follow with an in-text citation in-text citation [aka parenthetical [aka parenthetical reference]reference]

If you have one or more authors, use the name(s) of the If you have one or more authors, use the name(s) of the author(s) in author(s) in parenthesesparentheses:: (Grimm and Grimm) (Grimm and Grimm)

If you do If you do not not have an author, use the have an author, use the abbreviated abbreviated title of the title of the work in work in parenthesesparentheses: : (“The Story”) (“The Story”)

Format the quotations like this:Format the quotations like this:Format the quotations like this:Format the quotations like this:

According to _____ [story or poem’s title],According to _____ [story or poem’s title], “exact “exact words”words” (In-text citation)(In-text citation)..

__________ says,__________ says, “exact words”“exact words” (In-text citation)(In-text citation)..

According to “Little Snow White,”According to “Little Snow White,” our heroine our heroine “was as beautiful as the day, and more beautiful than “was as beautiful as the day, and more beautiful than the Queen herself”the Queen herself” (2, Grimm and Grimm)(2, Grimm and Grimm)..

The queen says,The queen says, “[B]ring me her heart … and I will “[B]ring me her heart … and I will salt and eat it”salt and eat it” (212, Sexton)(212, Sexton)..

Remember:Remember:Remember:Remember:

Draft, Edit, ReviseDraft, Edit, Revise

Alot is not a wordAlot is not a word

Write in present tense about the storiesWrite in present tense about the stories

Use a TAG statement for both storiesUse a TAG statement for both stories

Your TaskYour TaskYour TaskYour Task

Compare and contrast the destruction Compare and contrast the destruction of art in “The Happy Prince” and “The of art in “The Happy Prince” and “The Smile”.Smile”.