Writing the Comparison and Contrast Essay

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Writing the Comparison and Contrast Essay

• Cristina Maldonado for
• the Writing Center
• Roxbury Community College

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Comparison and Contrast

• Involves comparing and contrasting two related
  subjects
• The purpose behind your analysis of these two
  topics must frame the discussion (e.g. you have
  been asked to select one topic over the other,
  make a proposal, etc.)

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Understanding the Assignment

• Compare and Contrast Essay assignments tend to
  use the following language
• "How does X differ from Y?"
• "Compare X and Y"
• "What are the advantages and disadvantages of X
  and Y?"
• Example
• Of the two proposed urban planning projects,
  which should the committee selectPlan 1 or Plan
  2? Compare the Plans.

Writing Essay Exams. The OWL at Purdue. 27 May
2008 lthttp//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print
/general/gl_essay.htmlgt.
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Brainstorming

• Before you begin writing, it is important for you
  to have a working knowledge of the similarities
  and differences between your two topics.
• Identification of the similarities and
  differences will assist you in creating a clear
  thesis statement.

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Brainstorming Create a Table

• Draw a table with two columns
• List every detail you know about each topic
  underneath its respective column
• After filling out the table, try to identify the
  similarities and differences

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Sample
Topic 1 Topic 2
Similarity 1 Similarity 2
Contrast 1 Contrast 2



Berven, Ella. Writing Comparison and Contrast
Essays. The RSCC Online Writing Lab. Roane State
Community College. 27 May 2008 lthttp//www.roanest
ate.edu/owlwritingcenter/OWL/Com_Con.htmlgt.
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Sample Table
Plan 1 Plan 2
Resurface major roads Resurface major roads
Demolition of abandoned buildings Conversion of abandoned buildings (e.g. apartments, lofts)
Improve public parks Add bike lanes
Raise housing taxes Raise business taxes
A comparison/contrast of two urban planning
policies in Boston.
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Developing a Thesis Statement

• Use your brainstorming table to assist you in
  creating a thesis.
• Ask yourself the following
• Does the assignment ask me to answer a question?
• Is there something important, significant, or
  interesting in the similarities and differences
  on my list?
• What will the reader learn by seeing these two
  items compared and contrasted?

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Sample Thesis Statement

• While the two major urban planning initiatives
  share similar goals, a closer analysis reveals
  that Plan 2 is a better policy due to its tax
  generation and neighborhood development.

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Organizing the Paper

• Pattern 1
• Plan 1
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
• Plan 2
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
• Identification of your proposed plan

Writing Essay Exams. The OWL at Purdue. 27 May
2008 lthttp//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print
/general/gl_essay.htmlgt.
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Organizing the Paper

• Pattern 2
• Advantages
• Plan 1
• Plan 2
• Disadvantages
• Plan 1
• Plan 2
• Identification of your proposed plan

Writing Essay Exams. The OWL at Purdue. 27 May
2008 lthttp//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print
/general/gl_essay.htmlgt.
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Transitional Words

• on the other hand,
• similarly,
• yet
• unlike A, B ...
• in the same way
• but

• while both A and B are ..., only B ..
• Nevertheless,
• on the contrary
• though
• despite

Writing Essay Exams. The OWL at Purdue. 27 May
2008 lthttp//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print
/general/gl_essay.htmlgt.
13
Points to Remember

• Brainstorming is essentialit is important for
  you to understand how your topics are related and
  how they are different.
• This understanding will assist you in writing a
  clear thesis statement.
• Transitional words will help pinpoint the
  similarities and differences for the reader be
  sure to use them.