Comparison-Contrast Literary Paper

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Comparison-Contrast Literary Paper

• To compare to show/describe/demonstrate how
  things are similar.
• To contrast to show/describe/demonstrate how
  things are different.
• This PowerPoint addresses both concepts
  however, for the purpose of your paper, you will
  focus on comparisons only.

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What is comparison and contrast?

• Comparison shows how two or more things are
  similar
• Contrast shows how two or more things are
  different
• In most writing situations, the two related
  processes are used together.
• An analogy explains one thing by comparing it to
  a second, more familiar, thing.

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Lets practice comparing and contrasting

• What similarities do Mr. Boardman and Mr./Mrs.
  _________ share? What are the obvious
  similarities and what are the not-so-obvious
  ones?
• What differences do Mr. Boardman and Mr./Mrs.
  _________ share?

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Why is a comparison/contrast important?

• The process of evaluating comparisons and
  contrasts is central to our understanding of the
  world we are constantly bombarded with bits of
  information, and yet somehow we must make sense
  of those bits to remain sane. We make sense of
  the world by comparing and contrasting the
  information we encounter with what we already
  know. By evaluating and understanding new
  information with known information, we make the
  information our own.

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What is a comparison/contrast paper?

• The comparison essay may be used to compare and
  contrast different authors, two or more works by
  the same author, different drafts of the same
  work, or characters, incidents, and ideas within
  the same work or different works.
• Not only is comparison/contrast popular in
  English classes, but it is also one of the most
  common approaches you will find in other
  disciplines. For instance, the actions of two
  different monarchs may be compared or the
  approaches of two different scientists.

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Establishing a basis for comparison

• The two things to be compared must have enough in
  common to justify the comparison.
• In making comparisons, you should move beyond the
  obvious (i.e., people and places)
• When two things are very similar, it is the
  contrasts that may be worth writing about.

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Searching points for discussion

• Determine your emphasis on similarities,
  differences, or both.
• Determine the major focus of your paper.
• Make sure you treat the same or similar elements
  for each subject you will discuss

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• Do not discuss entirely different elements for
  each subject.

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How do I write a comparison/contrast paper?

• Step 1 Topic question
• Look for a common link in the texts under
  consideration. The link may be on a character in
  each, on a narrative technique of the authors, or
  on the topics that both novels address, i.e.
  hypocrisy, courage, alienation, etc.
• Formulate a general idea of either similarity or
  difference. This generalization may, perhaps,
  state the obvious, the self-evident. If so,
  explore the subtle differences or similarities
  that emerge.
• Your exploration here must lead you beyond the
  obvious because a discussion of self-evident
  conclusions is both pointless and boring. The
  idea is to illuminate areas formerly dark.
• Express your topic as a question which indicates
  the direction your argument will take. For
  example What is the role of women in both Things
  Fall Apart and The Count of Monte Cristo?

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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.
• For example In The Count of Monte Cristo by
  Alexander Dumas and Things Fall Apart by Chinua
  Achebe, the connection between father and son
  constantly disintegrates into a lack of intimacy,
  which causes the fathers to abdicate their
  parental roles.

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Another Sample Thesis statement

• In the novels, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
  and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas,
  Okonkwo and Dantes' overwhelming sense of
  superiority to those around them serves as this
  impediment. Okonkwos and Dantes' superiority
  complex prevents them from learning from those
  around them.

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How do I write a comparison/contrast paper?
contd.

• Step 2 Preliminary Thesis
• Answer your question as specifically as you can
  at this time. Since this thesis is only
  preliminary, you may change it later if
  necessary. Your preliminary thesis will also
  probably not be as developed as it will be during
  later stages. It may still be somewhat vague,
  and it may not yet incorporate an organizing
  element. Remember, in a comparison/contrast
  essay, the thesis is your evaluation of
  similarities or differences in literary works
  stated in a clear, specific, and arguable
  fashion. The evaluative thesis always takes a
  stand. It evaluates.
• Example Women in The Good Earth and The Count of
  Monte Cristo remain powerless because the
  patriarchal societies of both novels only allow
  women to hold one of two positions servant or
  wife.

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What is the structure of a comparison/contrast
paper?

• As you read the following comparison of the
  famous writer, Thomas Wolfe, and his mother,
  notice how the author, John Skelly Terry, has
  arranged the details

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• Paragraph 1
• The heads of mother and son showed little
  physical resemblance. Mrs. Wolfe had a
  delicate-boned face, and fair, thin skin which
  was as delicate as ivory. Her nose was small
  with a strong, but not prominent bridge, and was
  rounded at the end. Her small cheekbones just
  broke the flatness of her wide, round face.
  Toms olive-complexioned face was large and
  unusually pale his brow was massive, his nose
  long and not well formed, for it too had a
  smaller bridge than one would have expected. His
  black hair was always unruly, and since he seldom
  took time to get it cut, his great head often
  resembled, in its titanic nobility and volume,
  the Bourdelle bust of Beethoven. His large brown
  eyes dominated all his other features, and often
  in moments of deep thought he would close them,
  almost as if to cut off the outside world, and to
  hide what he was undergoing.

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• Terry might have also done this
• Paragraph 2
• But mother and son differed in their sense of
  values. Mrs. Wolfe was deeply impressed by
  wealth and social power. Tom evaluated people
  more for their intrinsic spiritual value. He
  always satirized great fortunes and magnates.
  Mrs. Wolfe made no bones about her respect for
  power and money. She was extremely opportunistic
  in her outlook. She planned to get rich herself,
  and she positively threw nothing away she was of
  the string-saving type. Tom did not care for
  money at all. He spent it lavishly as long as
  any remained in his pocketbook.

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Whats the difference in structure?

• The first paragraph is an example of divided
  structure. In this structure, one of the
  compared objects is developed in the first part
  of the paragraph and then the second subject is
  developed in the second part. If we called the
  two things being compared and contrasted A and B,
  then we can easily see how the details of each
  side of the comparison fall into this simple
  structure A B. The topic sentence (The heads
  of the mother and son showed little physical
  resemblance.) could be used to cover two
  paragraphs if the material on each subject is too
  extensive to be covered comfortably in one
  paragraph.

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Whats the difference in structure?

• The second paragraph is an example of
  interlocking structure. This structure compares
  or contrasts the two subjects detail for detail
  throughout the composition. A detail of A is
  compared to a detail of B, then another detail of
  A with another detail of B, and so on. This
  structure can be represented by A/B A/B A/B.
• Except in rare cases, using alternating sentences
  like this can prove awkward and confusing.
  Therefore, for the purpose of this paper, you
  will NOT use the interlocking structure.
  Instead, you will use the divided structure.

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Sample of a Divided Structure.

• Thesis In The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander
  Dumas and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the
  connection between father and son constantly
  disintegrates into a lack of intimacy, which
  causes the fathers to abdicate their parental
  roles.
• One way the relationship disintegrates is when
  the sons disown their fathers because of their
  fathers disgrace. For instance, Albert de
  Morcerf, upon discovering that his father has
  viciously wronged the Count, loses all intimacy
  with him and denounces his father's name.
  Consequently, Monsieur de Morcerf commits
  suicide, and Dumas captures his final moments
  when his son abandons him " Morcerf rushes
  into his bedroom to catch one last glimpse of all
  he has loved on earth, but the carriage goes
  past without either of their heads appearing at
  the window to take a farewell glance at the
  lonely house or the forsaken husband and father
  (328). The abandonment and loneliness portrayed
  in this scene reveals the total disintegration of
  the relationship between father and son, in that
  the son turns his back on his father never to
  look at him again. By Albert leaving him,
  Morcerf has completely failed his son and
  abandoned him to obtain his own reputation.
  Similarly, Okonkwo rejects any connection with
  his father, Unoka. Okonkwo loathes the laziness
  that Unoka exudes, which initiates Okonkwo's
  desire to separate himself from his father and
  eliminate all associations with him. He works for
  years to make a reputation distinguished from
  Unoka's. This opposition to his father shows that
  Okonkwo has no desire to have a connection with
  him. Okonkwo shall live the rest of his days
  fearing that he will become like Unoka this fear
  serves as a barrier to intimacy and a gap between
  father and son that can never be bridged. The
  intimate bond between father and son ceases to
  exist because neither son can find honor in their
  father's reputation.

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How do I write a comparison/contrast paper?
contd.

• Step 3 Structuring a Comparison and Contrast
  Essay
• Topic Outline
• Using your preliminary thesis as a guide, develop
  a topic outline showing the major components of
  your argument. In the outline, make your ideas
  as specific as you can, but do not include
  evidence at this time.
• Since you will use the divided structure for each
  body paragraph, think of your outline in terms of
  point by point

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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 A B A B
• Be careful not to fall into a monotonous, back
  and forth movement between points and be careful
  not to alternate points as done in the
  interlocking structure A/B A/B A/B.
• Each set of points A B make up one body
  paragraph.

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Point by Point Method

• Thesis Women in The Good Earth and The Count of
  Monte Cristo remain powerless because the
  patriarchal societies of both novels only allow
  women to hold one of two positions servant or
  wife.
• Feature 1 patriarchal societies
• Feature 2 the wives
• Feature 3 the innocents and father figures.
• Feature 4 the opportunists

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Point by Point Method contd.

• Patriarchal societies
• A. 1800s-1900s China
• B. 1800s Europe
• II. The wives
• A. O-lans submissiveness
• B. Mercedes marital dissatisfaction
• III. The innocents and father figures.
• A. Pear Blossom and Wang Lung
• B. Haydee and the Count
• IV. The opportunists
• A. . Cuckoo despite her gift for
  self-promotion, she remains a servant for life.
• B. Madame Danglars despite her ability to
  secure a small fortune, she is divorced and
  abandoned by her husband and her love.

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Visual Graphic of the Papers Structure 50/50
balance
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Using Transitions

• Transitions are important in all writing, but
  they are essential in the development of a
  comparison/contrast essay. Use them to indicate
  a shift in ideas and to signal similarities and
  differences.
• The following transitions are especially useful
  in essays of this kind.
• Similarity Difference
• likewise but
• the same as yet
• too/also however
• similarly nevertheless
• in like manner contrary to
• unlike
• the opposite of

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Body Paragraph Frame for a Comparison paper

• Thesis _________________________________________
  __________
• Topic Sentence __________________________________
  _____________
• _________________________________________________
  ___________
• Evidence (Textual support from Culture Novel)
  ______________________
• _________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  _____________________
• Explanation of how the text supports the thesis /
  what the example reveals ________________________
  __________________________________________________
  ______________________________________________
• Transition to be used ___________________________
  _______________
• Evidence (Textual support from Chosen Novel)
  ______________________
• _________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  _____________________
• Explanation of how the text supports the thesis /
  what the example reveals ________________________
  __________________________________________________
  ______________________________________________
• Concluding Sentence _____________________________
  _____________
• _________________________________________________
  ___________

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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.

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Answer the following questions concerning your
chosen works

• Culture Novel Chosen Novel
• Titles
• Authors
• Major Character (Protagonist)
• Major Character (Antagonist)
• Major setting
• Major conflict(s)
• Resolution
• Common Themes/motifs
• Interesting quote
• Copy down the Works Cited information

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Works Cited

• Culture Novel
• Last, First name of author. Title of Novel.
  City of publication Publishers Name, Year of
  publication.
• Chosen Novel
• Last, First name of author. Title of Novel.
  City of publication Publishers Name, Year of
  publication.

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Compare/Contrast Exercise For each character
and concept, brainstorm and write down the name
of the character or concept that is similar. In
the third column, thoroughly explain what the
similarities are between the two (how/why are
they similar go beyond the literal and obvious).
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Reflecting on your charts

• After investigating general ideas of similarities
  be sure your exploration is beyond the obvious,
  choose one that you will focus on for the paper.
• Express your topic as a question which indicates
  the direction your argument will take. For
  example What is the role of women in both Things
  Fall Apart and The Count of Monte Cristo?
• Guided question ________________________
  __________________________________________________
  __________________________