From Patterns for College Writing

What is it?Compare means to tell how things are

similar; contrast means to tell how things are different.

Analogy: a special form of comparison that explains one thing by comparing it to a second thing that is more familiar than the first.

Example of Analogy:“If Americans want to understand their high

schools at work, they should imagine them as shopping malls. Secondary education is another consumption experience in an abundant society. Shopping malls attract a broad range of customers with different tastes and purposes. Some shop at Sears, others at Woolworth’s or Bloomingdale’s. In high schools, a broad range of students are also available to shop.”

-from Patterns for College Writing

Recognizing Compare and Contrast Assignments• Your assignment (or prompt!) may not directly

state that you should compare and contrast! • Key words and phrases that indicate compare

and contrast are similarities and differences, relative merits, and advantages and disadvantages.

• Sometimes there might not be a key phrase and you have to figure it out for yourself.

• i.e. Which of the two Adamses, John or Samuel, had a greater influence on the timing and course of the American Revolution.

Establishing a Basis for Comparison• When you get to choose what you’re

comparing and contrasting, or what elements of two things you are comparing and contrasting, be sure that the elements have enough in common or different to justify the comparison or contrast.

• Additionally, be sure that the differences/similarities aren’t so obvious that your essay seems pointless.

AVOID THE TRIVIAL!

Selecting Points for DiscussionBe sure that you treat the same (or similar)

elements for each subject you discuss.example:

Novel A Novel BMajor characters Major charactersMinor characters Minor charactersThemes Themes

Keep It Relevant!• Avoid discussing entirely different elements

for each subject. Novel A Novel B

Major characters PlotMinor characters Author’s lifeThemes SymbolismThis makes your essay irrelevant.i.e. “While Huck Finn is a story about a young

boy and a slave, Eyes is a short novel.

Formulating a Thesis Statement• The thesis should tell readers what to expect in your essay,

identifying not only the subjects to be compare and contrasted, but also the point you will make about them.

• Your thesis should indicate whether you will concentrate on similarities or differences, but should address both.

• A thesis should highlight the central concern of the essay (comparing or contrasting) by placing it as the independent clause, and the lesser concern as the dependent clause.

• Example: Despite the fact that television and radio are distinctly different media, they use similar strategies to appeal to their audience. (This essay will focus mainly on similarities).

Structure: Subject by Subject ComparisionChoose this structure when your purpose is

to emphasize overall similarities or differences (more general, shorter).

The subjects are the items being compared and contrasted, and the points are the individual elements of the subjects you will be comparing/contrasting.

More Subject by Subject• In the subject by subject format, you address all

of the points for the first subject at once, and all of the points for the second subject at once.

Introduction: Despite the fact that television and radio are distinctly different media, they use similar strategies to appeal to their audiences.

TV audiences (Subject 1 ) Radio Audiences(Subject 2)

Men (point 1) Men (point 1)Women (point 2) Women (point 2)Children (point 3) Children (point 3)

Point by Point ComparisonUse point by point comparison for longer,

more complex essays.You make a point about one subject and

follow it with a comparable point about the other.

More Point by PointExample: 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

Minor Characters (Point 1)Book 1: The Sea Wolf (subject)Book 2: Moby Dick (subject)Major Characters (Point 2)Book 1: The Sea Wolf (subject)Book 2: Moby Dick (subject)Themes (Point 3)Book 1: The Sea Wolf (subject)Book 2: Moby Dick (subject)

Transitions!Transitions are especially important in

comparison and contrast essays because you must supply readers with clear signals that indicate whether you are discussing similarities or differences.

Useful Transitions for ComparisonJust as…soLikeLikewiseIn comparisonSimilarlyIn the same way

Useful transitions for contrast• Although• But• Conversely• Despite• Even though• However• In contrast• Instead• Nevertheless• Nonetheless• On the contrary• On the one hand…on the other hand• Still

Quick Assignment!Create BOTH a point by point and subject by

subject outline for the following prompt:

Compare and contrast your middle school experience with your high school experience.