A compare-and-contrast essay, then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both. The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities Apr 16, · Compare and contrast essays are taught in school for many reasons. For one thing, they are relatively easy to teach, understand, and format. Students can typically understand the structure with just a short amount of instruction. In addition, these essays allow students develop critical thinking skills to approach a variety of topics Compare and contrast essays seem like a no brainer. However, having a template to follow is important. Like every essay, compare and contrast essay templates include an introduction, body, and conclusion. However, the body needs to be focused in a specific way since you are comparing and contrasting two different topics
Comparing and Contrasting – The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Comparison in writing discusses elements that are similar, while contrast in writing discusses elements that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay, then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both, comparison contrast essay. The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is comparison contrast essay to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities.
For example, if you wanted to focus on contrasting two subjects you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to compare and contrast two types of oranges or two types of apples to highlight subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny Smiths are tart and acidic. Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a comparison essay, comparison contrast essay, you likely would not choose two apples or two oranges because they share so many of the same properties already.
Rather, you might try to compare how apples and oranges are quite similar, comparison contrast essay. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, comparison contrast essay, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.
The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both and the reason for doing so, comparison contrast essay. The thesis could lean more toward comparing, contrasting, or both. Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide useful knowledge to the reader. Take the following thesis as an example that leans more toward contrasting:.
Thesis Statement: Organic vegetables may cost more than those that are conventionally grown, but when put to the test, they are definitely worth every extra penny. Here the thesis sets up the two subjects to be compared and contrasted organic versus conventional vegetablesand it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.
The organizational structure you choose depends on the nature of the topic, your purpose, and your audience. Given that compare-and-contrast essays analyze the relationship between two subjects, it is helpful to have some phrases on hand that will cue the comparison contrast essay to such analysis.
First choose whether you want to compare seemingly disparate subjects, contrast seemingly similar subjects, or compare and contrast subjects. Once you have decided on a topic, comparison contrast essay it with an engaging opening paragraph.
Your thesis should come at the end of the introduction, and it should establish the subjects you will compare, contrast, or both as well as comparison contrast essay what can be learned from doing so. The body of the essay can be organized in one of two ways: by subject or by individual points. The organizing strategy that you choose will depend on, as always, your audience and your purpose. You may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other.
Make sure to use comparison and contrast phrases to cue the reader to the ways in which you are analyzing the relationship between the subjects. After you finish analyzing the subjects, write a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the essay and reinforces your thesis. Both Washington, comparison contrast essay, DC, and London are capital cities of English-speaking countries, and yet they offer vastly different experiences to their residents and visitors.
Comparing and contrasting the two cities based on their history, their culture, and their residents show how different and similar the two are. Both cities are rich in world and national history, though they developed on very different time lines. London, comparison contrast essay, for example, has a history that dates back over two thousand years.
It was part of the Roman Empire and known by the similar name, Londinium. It was not only one of the northernmost points of the Roman Empire but also the epicenter of the British Empire where it held significant global influence from the early sixteenth century on through the early twentieth century. Washington, DC, on the other hand, has only formally existed since comparison contrast essay late eighteenth century. Though Native Americans inhabited the land several thousand years earlier, and settlers inhabited the land as early as the sixteenth century, the city did not become the capital of the United States until the s.
From that point onward to today, however, Washington, DC, has increasingly maintained significant global influence. Even though both cities have different histories, they have both held, and continue to hold, significant social influence in the economic and cultural global spheres.
London has a much richer past than Washington, DC, and consequently has a lot more material to pull from when arranging its collections. Both cities have thriving theater districts, but again, London wins this comparison, too, both in quantity and quality of theater choices. With regard to other cultural places like restaurants, pubs, and bars, both cities are very comparable, comparison contrast essay. Both have a wide selection of expensive, elegant restaurants as well as a similar amount of global and national chains.
While London may be better known for its pubs and taste in beer, DC offers a different bar-going experience. With comparison contrast essay and pubs comparison contrast essay tend to stay open later than their British counterparts, the DC night life tend to be less reserved overall.
Both cities also share and differ in cultural diversity and cost of living, comparison contrast essay. Both cities share a very expensive cost of living—both in terms of housing and shopping.
These high costs create socioeconomic disparity among the residents. Perhaps the most significant difference between the resident demographics is the racial makeup. Even though Washington, DC, and London are major capital cities of English-speaking comparison contrast essay in the Western world, they have many differences along with their similarities. They have vastly different histories, art cultures, and racial demographics, but they remain similar in their cost of living and socioeconomic disparity.
Skip to main content. Unit 4: Types of Writing. Search comparison contrast essay. KEY TAKEAWAYS A compare-and-contrast essay analyzes two subjects by either comparing them, contrasting them, or both. The purpose of writing a comparison or contrast essay is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities between two subjects.
The thesis should clearly state the subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both, and it should state what is to be learned from doing so. There are two main organizing strategies comparison contrast essay compare-and-contrast essays. Organize by the subjects themselves, one comparison contrast essay the other. Organize by individual points, in which you discuss each subject in relation to each point.
Use phrases of comparison or phrases of contrast to signal to readers how exactly the two subjects are being analyzed. Licenses and Attributions. CC licensed content, Shared previously.
How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay
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Compare and contrast essays seem like a no brainer. However, having a template to follow is important. Like every essay, compare and contrast essay templates include an introduction, body, and conclusion. However, the body needs to be focused in a specific way since you are comparing and contrasting two different topics A compare-and-contrast essay, then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both. The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities Apr 16, · Compare and contrast essays are taught in school for many reasons. For one thing, they are relatively easy to teach, understand, and format. Students can typically understand the structure with just a short amount of instruction. In addition, these essays allow students develop critical thinking skills to approach a variety of topics
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