Comparison and Contrast Essays

What is comparison and contrast?

Comparison=similarities Contrast= differences Used together

Establishing a basis for comparison

must have enough in common move beyond the obvious (i.e.,

plot) If two things are very similar, the

contrasts may be worth writing about

Searching points for discussion Determine your

emphasis—similarities, differences, both

Determine the major focus

Address the same or similar elements for each subject

Novel A Novel B

Major characters

Major characters

Minor characters

Minor characters

themes themes

Do not discuss entirely different elements for each subject

Novel A Novel B

Major Characters

Plot

Minor Characters

Author’s Life

Themes symbolism

Points of C/C Autumn Spring

Temperature (-) Cooler Warmer

Changes (-) Leaves change Flowers bloom

Colors (+) Brilliant colors Brilliant colors

Location (-+) Precedes winter Precedes summer

Symbolism (-) Death Birth

1. Brainstorm everything you know about each subject2. Go back and find connections 3. Identify connections as similar and/or different

Formulating a Thesis Statement Identify not only the subjects to be

compared and contrasted in your essay, but the point you will make about them.

Also indicate whether you will focus on similarities or differences, or balance the two.

EXAMPLE: “Although Melville’s Moby-Dick and London’s The Sea Wolf are both about the sea, the minor characters, major characters, and themes of Moby-Dick establish its greater complexity.”

Structuring a Comparison and Contrast Essay

Subject by Subject Address one subject first, the other second

—discuss the same points for both Use brainstorming to guide your selection

of points Arrange points in logical order, usually

order of importance. Good for short, uncomplicated papers.

Point by Point Comparison Good for longer, more complex papers Make a point about one subject, and then

follow it with a comparable point about the other subject.

Alternating pattern BAD: Ping-Pong effect**To avoid this problem, vary sentence

structure as you move from point to point.

Student Example: Comparison and Contrast Essay

Auguste Rodin, The Kiss (Sculpture)

Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture)

What significant characteristics do these two sculptures share? Do they share enough characteristics to establish a basis for comparison? Explain.

WRITING EXERCISE: LOVE!

Auguste Rodin, The Kiss (Sculpture)

Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture)

In your journal, create a venn diagram to list the similarities and differences of these two works of art.

Auguste Rodin, The Kiss (Sculpture)

Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture)

What general statement could you make about these two sculptures? Do the points you listed on your venn diagram provide enough support for this general statement?

Auguste Rodin, The Kiss (Sculpture)

Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture)

Write a short comparison-contrast essay in your journal on the following:

How does each sculpture convey the idea of love? Which one do you believe conveys this idea more effectively? Why?

Grammar: parallelism

Parallelism is the use of matching nouns, verbs, phrases, or clauses to express the same or similar ideas.

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities.

Click here to visit Purdue University website on parallelism.