compare contrast essay ne demek

Compare and Contrast Essay Taslağı – Essay Nasıl Yazılır?

Herkese merhabalar. Bugün yeniden bir essay type’ı ile karşı karşıyayız. Bu essay type’ını birçok hazırlık geçme sınavında, TOEFL ve IELTS sınavlarında kullanabilirsiniz. Bu essay type’ı eğer biraz İngilizce altyapınız varsa sizler için çok yararlı olacaktır. Eğer İngilizce altyapınız bulunmuyorsa hazırlık okumanızı tavsiye ediyoruz. Peki Compare and Contrast essay nasıl yazılır?

• It is widely known that …….……. Or ….. Some prefer …. While others choose ….. . Despite the fact that there are several similarities between ….. and ……. .There are also numerous differences in terms of …… .

2. To begin with, one point is parallel between the 2 types of ……..

3. Notwithstanding these similarities, there are also significant differences between….. . …… is the primary difference…….. More in comparison with those two …… Furthermore……. On the contrary/on the other hand dissimilar to unlike….. The other difference is related to …..

4. All things considered, …… While there are some similarities, there are countless differences between ….. It is likely that each has some pros and cons according to …..

Eğer yazdığınız essayleri kontrol ettirmek istiyorsanız Write And Improve adlı siteyi kullanmanızı tavsiye ediyoruz. Yazdığınızı kontrol ettirebilir üzerine geliştirmeler bile yapabilirsiniz.

Burada sizlerle birlikte compare and contrast essay taslağını sizlerle paylaştık. Bu taslağı bizlerle paylaşan Sümeyye’ye çok teşekkür ediyoruz. Kendisi BUEPT’den A ile geçti. Bizler de bu taslağı deneyerek sınavdan A ile geçtik ve sizlere tavsiye ediyoruz.

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Essay Kalıpları [5 Essay Türünde 100 Örnek]

Essay kalıpları, kolayca essay yazmak için kullanılan yapılardır. Essay kalıpları başlığını bir kaç alt başlıkta incelemek mümkündür. Essay kalıpları yazılan essay türüne göre değişiklik gösterebilir.

Bu yazıda size değişik essay türlerinde kullanmanız için essay kalıpları vereceğiz. Bununla beraber, size değişik essay türlerinin yapıları nedir ve bu essay türlerinde hangi essay kalıplarını kullanmak gerekir, bunlara da değineceğiz. Bu yazıyı okuduktan sonra ve bu yazı içindeki öteki linklere tıklayarak hangi türde nasıl essay yazılır bildikten sonra essay yazmak sizin için sorun olmayacak.

Akademik yazımda, bir argümanı açık ve tutarlı bir şekilde sunmak önemlidir. Ayrıca, tartışılan konuyla ilgili mevcut araştırmaları veya fikirleri tartışmanız ve değerlendirmeniz gerekebilir. Genellikle her ikisini de yapma yeteneğiniz değerlendirilecektir. Akademik yazımda fikirleri birbirine bağlayacak dili geliştirmek, bu iki görevde de size yardımcı olacaktır. ‘Söylem belirteçlerinin’ uygun kullanımı, yani bir ilişkiyi belirten kelimeler veya deyimler, argümanınızın aldığı yönü ortaya çıkarabilir ve güçlendirebilir ve yazınızın bölümleri arasındaki ilişkileri netleştirebilir.

Burada opener’lar, cümleler içinde ve paragraflar arasındaki linking word’ler ve transition kelimeleri ve fikirleri yazılı olarak birleştirirken kullanabileceğiniz alternatif kelime seçimleri için öneriler sunuyoruz.

Bu konuda danışmanlık almak isterseniz bize sağ aşağıda bulunan mesaj butonundan, iletişim bölümünden ya da  [email protected]  adresinden ulaşabilirsiniz. Hadi başlayalım : )

İçindekiler

• 1.1 Narrative Essay
• 1.2 Descriptive Essay
• 1.3 Example – Illustrative Essay
• 1.4 Definition Essay
• 1.5 Process Essay
• 1.6 Classification Essay
• 1.7 Compare and Contrast Essay
• 1.8 Cause and Effect Essay
• 1.9 Problem Solution Essay
• 2.1 Sebep ve sonuç vermek için kullanılan essay kalıpları:
• 2.2 Örnek vermek için kullanılan essay kalıpları:
• 2.3 Benzerlik yaratmak için kullanılan essay kalıpları:
• 2.4 Önceki fikirleri açıklamak için kullanılan kalıplar
• 2.5 Başkalarının fikirlerini açıklamak için kullanılan essay kalıpları:
• 2.6 Koşul yaratmak için kullanılan essay kalıpları:
• 2.7 İki olay arasındaki neden ve sonucu belirtmek için essay kalıpları:
• 2.8 Yaygın biçimde kabul edilmiş fikirleri anlatmak için:
• 2.9 Yaygın biçimde kabul görmemiş fikirleri anlatırken:
• 2.10 Fikrimize ekleme yapmak için kullanılan essay kalıpları:
• 2.11 Açıklama yapmak için kullanılan essay kalıpları:
• 2.12 Conclusion paragrafı için essay kalıpları:
• 3.1.1 Bir zıtlıktan bahsedeceksek kullanabileceğimiz kalıplar,
• 3.2.1 Argumentative Essay Pro paragrafı kalıpları
• 3.2.2 Argumentative Essay Con paragrafı kalıpları
• 3.2.3 Genelleme yapacağımız zaman:
• 3.2.4 Tartışmaları fikirleri anlatırken:
• 3.3 Cause and Effect Essay Kalıpları
• 3.4 Problem Solution Essay Kalıpları
• 3.5 Compare and Contrast Essay Kalıpları

Essay Türleri

Essay kalıplarını  anlayabilmek için önce essay türleri konusunu bilmeliyiz. Essay, düşünce kalıplarını ve günlük yaşamınızda her bir düşünce kalıbını uyguladığınız belirli yolları düşünün.

Essay türleri ve essay kalıpları

Narrative Essay

Narrative essay, amacı bir hikaye anlatmak veya bir olayı anlatmak olan essay türüdür. Narrative essay, ayrıntıları ve bilgileri genellikle kronolojik olmak üzere bir tür mantıksal sıraya yerleştirmek veya sıralamak için özellikle yararlı bir essay türüdür. Edebiyat, narrative essay türünü yoğun bir şekilde kullanır, ancak narrative essay güçlü bir etki için kurgusal olmayan ve akademik yazılarda da faydalı olabilir.

Descriptive Essay

Descriptive essay amacı, okuyucunun anlatılanı hayal edebilmesi için bir kişiyi, yeri, olayı veya eylemi yeniden yaratmak, icat etmek veya görsel olarak sunmaktır. Descriptive essay, büyük ölçüde görme, ses, koku, his, tat gibi duyusal ayrıntılara dayanır.

Example – Illustrative Essay

Her türlü durumda kullanılan örnekleri görmek olasıdır – bir fikir, fikrin bir örneğini görene kadar çok genel veya soyut olarak kabul edilebilir. Illustrative essay, bu fikri daha da genişleterek karmaşık bir sorunun ayrıntılarını okuyucuların anlayabileceği bir şekilde göstermek için bir veya daha fazla örnek vererek okuyuculara fikri açık bir şekilde anlatmaya çalışan essay türüdür.

Definition Essay

Definition essay, bir kelimeyi veya kavramı gerçekten kullandığımız ve anladığımız şekliyle derinlemesine incelemek için yazılan ve sözlük tanımından daha da ileri giderek derinlemesine bilgi veren essay türüdür.

Process Essay

Process essay, bir süreci analiz etmek ve “nasıl yapılır” talimatı oluşturmak için kullanılan essay türüdür. Akademik yazı, örneğin, birçok süreç analizi içerir. Process essay, bir dizi adım izleyerek mevcut bir sorunun nasıl ortaya çıktığını veya nasıl çözülebileceğini göstermek için yazılabilir.

Classification Essay

Sınıflandırma, büyük bir kavramı alır ve onu ayrı parçalara böler. Bu tür yazılardan elde edilen güzel bir sonuç, okuyucunun karmaşık bir konuyu daha küçük bölümlerine odaklanarak anlamasına yardımcı olmasıdır. Bu, özellikle bir yazarın kavramları bölmek için benzersiz bir yolu olduğunda, görülebileceği yollara yeni bir bakış açısı sağlamak için kullanışlıdır.

Compare and Contrast Essay

Karşılaştırma, olaylar arasındaki benzerliklere odaklanır; kontrast ise, farklılıklarına odaklanır. İnsanlar olarak her zaman karşılaştırmalar yaparız ve bu karşılaştırmalar birçok yazı türünde görünür. Akademik makalelerde karşılaştırmanın amacı, genellikle, yazının bir parçası olarak dahil edilen bir dizi değerlendirmeye dayalı olarak, bir öğenin diğerinden üstün olduğunu göstermektir.

Cause and Effect Essay

Anlatım bir dizi olay sunuyorsa, cause and effect essay türü bu olayların birbirini nasıl etkilediklerini veya nasıl neden sonuç ilişkisi ile birbirlerine bağlı olduklarını anlatmaya çalışır. Cause and effect essay, özellikle, yazarın okuyucunun beklemediği bir neden/sonuç ilişkisi ile okuyucuyu etkilediği ve sonuç olarak durumu yeni bir açıdan okuyucuya sunabildiği zaman güçlüdür.

Problem Solution Essay

Problem solution essay türünün eşit derecede önemli iki görevi vardır: bir sorunu açıkça belirlemek ve ardından bu sorun için mantıklı, pratik bir çözüm sunmak. Belirli bir durumun bir sorun olduğunu belirlemek bazen zor olabilir – pek çok kişi, örneğin belirli bir durumun “olduğu gibi” olduğunu varsayabilir. Herkes her sorunu göremez, sonuç olarak.

Akademik çalışmalarınızda genellikle bir essay ödevinde belirli bir essay türünü uygulamanız hocanız tarafından istenecektir. Her ödevin yönergeler kısmında essay’in nasıl yazılacağı ve hangi essay türü ile yazılacağı belirtilir. Örneğin:

• Maynard Keynes ve Milton Friedman’ın ekonomik teorilerini karşılaştırın. (compare and contrast essay türü)
• ABD iç savaşının, savaş sırasında ve savaştan hemen sonraki on yılda ABD pamuk endüstrisi üzerindeki etkilerini tartışın. (cause and effect essay türü)
• Faulkner’ın “A Rose for Emily” adlı kısa öyküsünde uyguladığı farklı edebi teknikleri, hikayenin gerilimini artırmak için her bir tekniği nasıl kullandığını açıklayarak belirleyin. (Classification essay türü)
• Piaget’nin çocuk gelişiminin aşamalarını vaka çalışmaları olan #1: Rebecca ve #2: Luke’a atıfta bulunarak tartışın. (process essay türü)

Doğrudan belirli bir essay türü uygulamanız istenmese bile, bu söylediğimiz essay türlerini hakkında düşünerek, hangi essay türünde essay yazacağınızı bulabilirsiniz. Yukarıda belirtilen dört essay türü ve kalıpları hem akademik hem de günlük  hayatta düşünme ve yazmada çok yaygındır.

Her Türde Essay Kalıpları

Essay kalıpları, “in general” ifadesi gibi, okuyucunun geçiş yapmasına yardımcı olmak için bir cümlenin başındaki veya cümleye göre ortasındaki bir kelime öbeğidir. Onlar olmadan yazı düzensiz, bağlantısız kalabilir ve bu nedenle de okunması zor olabilir. Ancak hangilerinin kullanılacağını ve ne zaman kullanılacağını bilmek çok önemlidir.

Bağlaçlar, bir cümledeki ifadeler arasındaki veya cümleler arasındaki ilişkiler hakkında daha kesin olmamızı sağlar. Belirli ifadeler ve kelimeler, fikirleri ve argümanları birbirine bağlamada farklı işlevlere sahiptir. Örneğin, farklı tümceler veya kelimeler, ek veya benzer bilgileri, karşıtlığı veya karşıtlığı, tavizi, sebep veya sonucu, vurguyu, açıklamayı veya zaman veya sıradaki bir ilişkiyi işaret edebilir veya “işaret direği” verebilir. Her birinin bazı yararlı örnekleri aşağıda işleve göre sınıflandırılmıştır.

Bu terimlerin çoğunun yeni paragraflara başlamak için de kullanılabileceğini unutmayın. Bununla birlikte, opener olarak etkili olmaları için bazılarının daha dolgun cümlelere dahil edilmesi gerekir. Örneğin, opener olarak notwithstanding kelimesini kullanırsanız, “Nothwithstanding a lack of natural resources, the region has…” gibi daha fazla bilgi sağlamak için başka içerik kelimeleri eklemeniz gerekebilir.

Bu makalede, “in this article” öbeğine oldukça benzeyen essay kalıplarını anlatacağız. Bunları ne zaman ve nasıl kullanacağınızı açıklayacak ve ardından yazınızda kullanabileceğiniz kalıpları essay türlerine ayırıp size yüzlerce örnek vereceğiz.

Essay kalıpları hakkında başlangıçta genel bir bakış vermek adına şu kalıplar kullanılabilir;

• Throughout history, the society has been faced with … : Tarih boyunca, insanlar … ile karşı karşıya kalmışlardır.
• It’s obvious to observe that…: Şüphesiz ki, açıkça görülüyor ki
• In today’s society- in the twenty first century – in recent years – for decades – in the ancient times- lately: Bugünün toplumunda, 21. yüz yılda, geçtiğimiz yıllarda, on yıllar boyunca, antik zamanlarda, son zamanlarda

gibi kalıplarla anlatacağımız konuya bir giriş yapabiliriz.

Ama tabi ki bunlar basit kalıplardır, bizim hocalarımız çok daha kompleks kalıplarla yazarlar. Sadece örnek olsun diye verilmiş kalıplardır bunlar. Siz de essay’leriniz, research paper’larınız, bitirme tezleriniz ve daha nice ödevleriniz için danışmanlık hizmeti almak istiyorsanız bize [email protected] ’dan ve canlı yardımdan ulaşabilirsiniz. Eğer siz de essay kalıpları kullanarak essay yazmak isterseniz Essay Sepeti’nin uzman hocalarının sizler için hazırladığı essay yazma outline kullanabilirsiniz.

Bunların dışında her essay kalıbı için kullanabileceğimiz kelimeler ve kalıplar da vardır;

• it is worth bearing in mind that – it should be noted that: akılda tutmakta yarar var ki, not edilmeli ki
• essential, crucial, vital: gerekli
• highlight,  emphasize,  stress,  underline: önemli ki, altını çizmek
• predominantly, chiefly, principally, largely, essentially, especially,  particularly, : özellikle
• exactly, precisely, accurately, truthfully, definitely, without a doubt,  in fact: kesinlikle, tam olarak
• Bir örnek verirken: For instance, for example, as an instance to that matter: örnek olarak, bu konuya örnek olarak

Sebep ve sonuç vermek için kullanılan essay kalıpları :

• because of,
• as a result,
• that is why,
• consequently,
• for this reason: çünkü, bağlı olarak, bundan dolayı, sonuc olarak, sonuc olarak.

Örnek vermek için kullanılan essay kalıpları:

• For example, …
• … as can be seen in …
• … supports …
• For instance, …
• … as demonstrated by …
• … is observed …
• Specifically, …
• … is shown …
• … exemplifies …
• Such as …
• As an example …
• To illustrate, …

Örnek vermek için kullanılan essay kalıpları

Benzerlik yaratmak için kullanılan essay kalıpları :

• in the same way mentioned,
• compared to …

Önceki fikirleri açıklamak için kullanılan kalıplar

• In the past, …
• Historically, …
• Traditionally, …
• Customarily, …
• Beforehand, …
• Originally, …
• Prior to this, …
• Earlier, …
• Formerly, …
• Previously, …
• Over time, …
• At the time of …
• Conventionally, …
• Foundational to this is …
• In earlier …
• Initially, …
• At first, …
• Recently …
• Until now, …
• The traditional interpretation …

Başkalarının fikirlerini açıklamak için kullanılan essay kalıpları:

• According to …
• Based on the findings of …
• it can be argued…
• … proposed that …
• As explained by …
• … states that …
• … claims that …
• However, …
• stated that …
• … suggested …
• … concluded that …
• Similarly, …
• stated that ….
• … for example, …
• … agreed that …
• Based on the ideas of …
• … defined …. as ….
• … relates …
• As identified by …
• … disputed that …
• … contrasts …
• With regard to …
• argued that …
• … confirmed that …
• … argues ….
• … highlights …
• … demonstrates …
• … found that …
• … identifies …
• … wrote that …
• … demonstrated …
• … reported ….
• … pointed out that …
• … maintained that …
• … hypothesised that …
• … expressed the opinion that …
• … also mentioned …
• … asserts that ….
• … identified …
• … goes on to state/suggest/say
• … emphasises
• … challenges the idea ….
• … showed that …
• … explored the idea …

Koşul yaratmak için kullanılan essay kalıpları:

• even the case,
• provided the information that

İki olay arasındaki neden ve sonucu belirtmek için essay kalıpları:

• Therefore …
• As a result …
• For that reason …
• Hence, …
• Otherwise, …
• Consequently, …
• The evidence suggests/shows …
• It can be seen that …
• With regard to …
• After examining ….
• These factors contribute to …
• It is apparent that …
• Considering …
• it can be concluded that …
• Subsequently, ….
• The effect is …
• The outcome is …
• The result …
• The correlation …
• The relationship …
• The link …
• The convergence …
• The connection …
• … interacts with …
• Both ….
• … affects …
• Thus it is …
• … causes …
• … influences …
• … predicts …
• … leads to …
• … informs …
• … presupposes
• … emphasizes
• demonstrates …
• … impacts on …

Yaygın biçimde kabul edilmiş fikirleri anlatmak için:

• Numerous …
• Many …
• More than …
• Several …
• Almost all …
• The majority …
• Most …
• Commonly …
• Significant …
• … is prevalent …
• .. is usual …
• Usually …

Yaygın biçimde kabul görmemiş fikirleri anlatırken:

• Seldom …
• Few …
• Not many …
• A few …
• … is uncommon
• … is scarce …
• Rarely …
• … is rare …
• … is unusual …

Fikrimize ekleme yapmak için kullanılan essay kalıpları:

• Equally important …
• Subsequently, …
• Furthermore, …
• Moreover, …
• As well as ….
• Another essential point…
• Additionally, …
• More importantly, …
• In the same way …
• Another …
• In addition, …
• Besides, …
• Then again, …
• Firstly, … secondly, … thirdly, … finally, …
• To elaborate, …

Bunlara örnek olarak şu cümleleri kurabiliriz.

• Additionally , the train service will run on Sundays, every three hours.
• He said he had not discussed the matter with her.  Furthermore , he had not even contacted her.
• We are unable to repair this TV. Also , this is the third time this has occured.
• I love wearing socks. I design and make them too .
• We went to the cinema yesterday. As well as that , we did some shopping.
• Along with  parties and parliaments, elections have lost their charm.
• I can’t afford to go to the cinema. Besides , I don’t really like pop music.
• You haven’t paid the rent yet.   In addition , you owe me money.
• The report is badly presented.  Moreover , it contains inaccuracies.
• John’s grades are terrible because he has been so lazy these days.  In addition to this , his relationship to his parents got worse.
• Apart from this  paragraph, the report contains a number of sensible initiatives.

Açıklama yapmak için kullanılan essay kalıpları:

• in other words,
• to be more accurate,
• that is to say,
• if another explanation needed

Introduction paragrafı için essay kalıpları

Conclusion paragrafı için essay kalıpları:

• Consequently,
• ultimately,
• as a result
• In summary, …
• To review, …
• In conclusion, …
• In brief, …
• To summarise, …
• To sum up, …
• To conclude, …
• It has been shown that, …
• In short, …

Conclusion paragrafı için essay kalıpları

Değişik Essay Türlerinde Essay Kalıpları

Opinion essay kalıpları.

Opinion essay , adı da üzerinde olduğu gibi, bir fikri belirmek için yazılmış bir essay türüdür.

• Despite the fact that: … böyle olmasına rağmen (cümlenin devamı olarak)… in deed/frankly, the case is vice versa: aslında durum tam tersi. Bu kalıp genellikle fikrimizin pek de popüler olmadığı bir konuda önce baskın fikri vererek daha sonra kendi fikrimizi söyleyip sonraki cümlede ise fikrimizi temellendiren araştırmalar vermek için kullanılır.

Bir zıtlıktan bahsedeceksek kullanabileceğimiz kalıplar,

• Nonetheless,
• nevertheless,
• though gibi “ama” ve “-e rağmen” manası taşıyan kelimeleri kullanabiliriz.
• nonetheless,
• nevertheless:  -e rağmen, buna rağmen
• although … : …’ya rağmen(noktalı yerin ardına bir cümle ile devam edilir.)
• even though … : öyle olmasına rağmen (noktalı yerin ardına bir cümle ile devam edilir.)
• in spite of the fact that:  bu tümceden önce veya sonra söylediğimiz sözün tersini yazacağımız zaman kullanılır. Örnek: In spite of the fact that some claim that coke leads to obesity, reality is controversial.

Argumentative Essay Kalıpları 

Argumentative essay bir fikri tartışmak için yazılır. Daha önce opinion essay başlığında gördüğümüz kalıpların çoğu argumentative essay kalıpları için de geçerlidir. Argumentative essay genel olarak 3 paragraftan oluşur ve bunlar pro, con ve refutation başlıklarıdır.

Argumentative Essay Pro paragrafı kalıpları

• At glance: ilk bakışta / First of all’dan daha kaliteli bir tümcedir.
• It’s good to keep in mind that: Akılda tutulmalıdır ki / Bundan sonra fikrimizi ilk paragrafın ilk cümlesinde belirtmeliyiz. İlk paragrafın ilk cümlesi topic sentence’dır.

Argumentative Essay Con paragrafı kalıpları

• On the one hand – on the other hand (diğer taraftan – diğer bir yandan)
• whereas: oysa, halbuki
• while: -iken
• On the contrary,  in contrast: aksine, bilakis
• Otherwise: aksi halde
• Even if: olsa bile

Genelleme yapacağımız zaman:

• In general,
• in most cases

Tartışmaları fikirleri anlatırken:

• Perhaps …
• … may be …
• … might be …
• There is limited evidence for …
• … is debated …
• … is possibly …
• … could …
• … may include …

gibi kalıplardan ve kelime öbeklerinden faydalanabiliriz. Bu kalıplarla pro paragrafında verdiğimiz fikrin zıttını ya da zıt anlamdaki başka bir fikri savunarak essay’imize karşıt bir fikir katarız.

Cause and Effect Essay Kalıpları

Cause and effect essay kalıpları da diğer türdeki essay kalıplar ına benzer bir yapısı vardır. Öteki türler için var olan kalıplar bu tür için de kullanılabilir. Bu türde bir olayın-olgunun nedenlerini ve bu nedenlerin doğurduğu sonuçları inceleriz. Bu halde,

• On one hand, on other hand gibi iki görüşü de belirtebileceğimiz tümceler,
• Bir görüşü belirtip zıttın söylecebileceğimiz; however, nevertheless, nonetheless, but, though gibi kalıplar. Örnek: Doing sport can be beneficial for our body, however, we need to take care of weights that would hurt us if they fall upon us.
• Paragraf başı için on the contrary, in contrast gibi kalıplar bizi öteki paragrafın aksini söylemeye hazırlarlar.

Problem Solution Essay Kalıpları

Problem solution essay, adından da anlayabileceğimiz üzere, bize bir sorunu çözmeye yönelik cümleler yazdıran bir essay türüdür. Problem solution essay kalıpları bir çözümü belirttikten sonra onun bu sorunu nasıl çözeceğini belirten kelime gruplarından oluşabilir. Yani;

• henceforth gibi / yani, böylece, bundan sonra, bu halde gibi kelimelerle söylediğimiz çözümün soruna nasıl derman olacağını açıklayan kelime gruplarından oluşabilir.

Bu essay türünde sorunu belirttikten sonra bu sorunu ortadan kaldıracak birden fazla çözüm üretmeliyiz. Bu bağlamda,

• In addition,
• furthermore gibi dahası manası taşıyan kelimeleri
• On the other hand, to better explain, to better clarify, to better elucidate gibi daha iyi açıklamak gerekirse ve öte yandan gibi kelime gruplarını da kullanabiliriz.

Compare and Contrast Essay Kalıpları

Compare and contrast essay türünde karşılaştırmalar yapmak, fikrimizi desteklerken başka fikirlerden bahsetmek ve bunları kıyaslamak için  şu kalıplar kullanılabilir:

• Likewise, …
• In comparison …
• Complementary to this …
• This is in contrast to …
• In contrast, …
• Nevertheless, …
• Conversely, …
• On the contrary, …
• On the other hand, …
• Notwithstanding …
• In contrast to …
• That aside, …
• While this is the case …
• … disputes …
• Despite this, …

Bunun yanı sıra Türkiye’nin ve dünyanın en iyi okullarından mezun ve hala o okullarda yüksek lisans ve doktora yapan hocalarımız sizlere essay, tez, research paper ve her türlü ödevlerinizde hizmet vermek için 7/24 hazırlar.

Herhangi bir sorunuz varsa lütfen aşağıya yorum olarak yazın, hocalarımız en yakın zamanda cevabını verecektir.

Essay Nasıl Yazılır? Detaylı Anlatım

Essay yazmak; kriterleri öğrenildiğinde herkesin yazabileceği bir metin türüdür. Yazılan bir essay, daha sonra ilgili kanıtlarla desteklenen sağlam bir tartışma konusu yaratabilmelidir. Essay yazmadan önce yaptığınız araştırma, standart bir kural dizisini takip eder.

Essay yazmak için bazı temel ilkeleri hatırlamak, zaman sıkıntısı yaşıyor olsanız bile etkili ve akılda kalıcı metinler oluşturmanıza olanak tanır. Peki essay nasıl yazılır ? Essay yazma konusunda kendinizi nasıl geliştirebilirsiniz? Etkili bir essay yazmak ve essay yazma becerinizi geliştirmek için bilmeniz gereken bazı temel adımlar vardır. Bu yazımızda, bu soruların cevaplarını ele alacağız.

Essay Nasıl Yazılır?

1.Essay Türünüze Karar Verin

Essay yazmanın ilk adımı hangi essay türünde yazacağınıza karar vermektir. Pek çok essay türü vardır. Bunlardan bazıları şu şekildedir;

• Narrative essay:  Kişisel deneyimlerin hikaye anlatır gibi yazıldığı essay türüdür.
• Persuasive essay:  Yazıyı okuyan okuyuculara düşüncelerin güçlü argümanlarla kanıtlamaya çalışıldığı essay türüdür.
• Opinion essay:  Bir konu hakkında bakış açısını örneklerle belirtildiği essay türüdür.
• Cause-effect essay:  Bir konunun nedenlerinin ve sonuçlarının anlatıldığı essay türüdür.
• Compare-contrast essay:  Bu essay türünde iki benzer şeyi karşılaştırılarak bir argüman ortaya konulur.

2.Giriş–Gelişme ve Sonuç Bölümlerinin Olmasına Dikkat Edin

İngilizce essay yazılırken etkili bir giriş yapmalısınız okuyucu bu giriş yazısından etkilenip diğer bölümlere geçmek için istekli olabilsin. Her zaman başlagıçlar önemlidir etkili bir başlangıç içinse tavsiye olarak genelde bir paragraf olması önerilir. Karşıdakini sıkmayan içine alan bir giriş yazısı. Dikkat çekici bir başlangıç için essaye ilgi çekecek, tartışmalı bir alıntı ya da şaşırtıcı bir istatistiki bilgi ile başlayabilirsiniz. çok fazla ayrıntılı vermemelisiniz.

Gelişme bölümünde ise asıl konuya geçip açık ve net bir şekilde konunuzdan bahsetmelisiniz. farklı alıntılarla ve örneklerle ilgi çekici hale getirebilirsiniz.

Sonuç bölümüne geldiğinizde tüm yazıda bahsettiklerinizin kaba bir özeti olan bu paragraf yalnızca birkaç cümleden oluşmalıdır giriş bölümünde bahsettiğiniz ana fikri bu bölümde de yinelemelisiniz.

Yaptığınız alıntılar ve örnekler muhakkak konu ile uyumlu olmalıdır. Gelişme paragrafları yazınızın özünü oluşturmaktadır. Bol bol araştırma yapıp okuyarak  düşüncelerinizi en sağlam şekilde ortaya koymalısınız.

3.Konu Fikri Bulmak için Beyin Fırtınası Yapın

Konunuza karar veremediyseniz essay yazamazsınız. Konu bulmak konusunda kararsızsanız beyin fırtınası yapabilirsiniz. Tek yapmanız gereken, sakince oturup düşünmektir. Bu süreçte elinize bir kağıt kalem alıp aklınıza gelen fikirleri yazabilirsiniz. Beyin fırtınası konunuzu bulmanın yanında konuyla ilgili çeşitli bakış açıları edinmenize de yardımcı olacaktır.

4.Essay Yazmadan Önce Taslak Oluşturun

Bir essay yazmanın en önemli adımlarından birisi, o essay için bir taslak (outline) oluşturmaktır. Taslak oluşturmadan önce essayin ele aldığı konuyu tam olarak anlamanız oldukça önemlidir. Bir essay etkili bir şekilde ifade edilebilir ve düşünülebilir ancak konuyu yeterince yanıtlamazsa etkisiz bir metin olarak nitelendirilecektir. Yazacağınız essay için bir taslak oluştururken aşağıdaki konuları ele almanız sizin için büyük kolaylık sağlayacaktır:

• Essayin konusu nedir?
• Essayinizin kelime hacmi ne kadar olmalı?
• Konuyu tam olarak anlamak için ne tür bir araştırma yapmanız gerekir?

Bu aşamalardan sonra essayiniz için taslak oluşturmanın ilk adımını tamamlamış olursunuz. Sıradaki adım ise tüm metninize rehberlik edecek bir tez cümlesi (thesis statement) belirlemektir. Tez cümlesinden yola çıkarak, makalenizin nasıl ilerlemesi gerektiğini ve hangi bilgileri dahil etmek istediğinizi belirleyebilirsiniz.

Peki essayinizde ele alacağınız konu nedir? Tez cümleniz kısa olmalı ancak ele almak istediğiniz konuyu tüm ana hatları ile metninize dahil etmelidir. Makalenizi yazarken sürekli olarak tez cümlenize bakın ve konuyu ana hatlarından saptırmamaya özen gösterin.

Taslağı oluşturduktan sonra metninizi yazmaya başlayabilirsiniz. Genel olarak herkes essay yazmaya giriş (introduction) paragrafından başlar. Essay yazarken giriş paragrafından başlamak birçok insanın bildiği en büyük yanlışlardan birisidir. Essayinizi yazmaya gelişme (body) paragrafından başlamak size büyük avantaj sağlayacaktır. Metninizin akıcı olmasını istiyorsanız giriş paragrafını daha sonra yazmanız gerekir. Bu şekilde, düşüncelerinizi ve fikirlerinizi tam olarak oluşturabilir ve geri dönüp ana fikirleri giriş paragrafınız ile entegre edebilirsiniz.

5.Essayi Oluşturmadan Önce Ön Araştırma Yapın

Essay yazmadan önce yapacağınız ön araştırma, yazacağınız metin hakkında yeterince bilgi sahibi olmanıza yardımcı olur. Bu şekilde hem essayiniz etkili olacak hem de metninizi sağlam kanıtlarla yazmış olacaksınız.

Konuyla ilgili araştırma yaparken öncelikle essay yazacağınız konu ile ilgili makaleleri incelemek size artı puan kazandıracaktır. Konuyu nasıl savunacağınızı anladıktan sonra essay için bir giriş (introduction) ve sonuç (conclusion) paragrafı yazmanız gerekir.

Essay yazarken en çok gözden kaçan hususlardan birisi de sonuç paragrafıdır. Sonuç paragrafı, tez cümleniz ile tüm araştırmanızı birbirine bağlayan paragraftır. Sonuç paragrafı, tez cümlesiyle veya giriş paragrafı ile aynı olmamalıdır.

Uygun bir sonuç paragrafı, bir essayde tartışılan tüm olguların ana hatlarını ortaya koymalıdır. Bu olgular, kişinin araştırmasının ana argümanını nasıl kanıtladığını veya çürüttüğünü göstermek için doğrudan tez cümlesine bağlı olmalıdır. Tüm bunları destekleyecek nitelikli bir essay için ise ön araştırma ve bilgi sahibi olmak oldukça önemlidir.

6. Farklı kalıplar ve bağlaçlar kullanın

Essay yazarken çeşitli kalıp ve bağlaçlar kullanmanız yazınızı zenginleştirir. Kullanabileceğiniz bazı örnek kalıpları beraber inceleyelim;

• Like This: Bunun gibi
• What is more: Dahası
• On the other hand: Diğer taraftan
• For Instance: Örneğin
• Furthermore: Ayrıca
• In summary: Özetle
• In contrast: Aksine
• However: Ancak
• Consequently: Bu nedenle
• As a result: Sonuç olarak
• Generally: Genellikle
• Additionally: Ek olarak
• Such as: Gibi
• Therefore : Bu yüzden

Gelişme paragraflarında fikirlerinizi belirtmek için kullanabileceğiniz kalıplar ise şu şekilde olabilir;

• From my point of view: Benim görüşüme göre
• As far as I know : Bildiğim kadarıyla
• Another objection is that: Bir diğer karşıt görüş ise

Sonuç bölümünde ise aşağıdaki kalıpları kullanabilirsiniz;

• As a result : Sonuç olarak
• In conclusion: Son olarak
• To sum up: Toparlamak gerekirse

Bu Konu Dikkatinizi Çekebilir:  İngilizce Conjuctions (Bağlaçlar) Konu Anlatımı

7.Essayinizi Tekrar Okuyun

Yazdığınız essayi tekrar okumak harika bir essay oluşturmak için oldukça kritiktir. Birçok insan, dilbilgisi açısından zayıf veya yazım hatalarıyla dolu bir metni okumayı dahi tamamlamaz. Dilbilgisi ve yazım kurallarına uygun bir metin oluşturmak için ise her zaman essayinizi kontrol etmeniz gerekir. Konu hakkında bilgi sahibi olabilirsiniz ancak görüşlerinizi uygun bir yazı dili ile ifade etmezseniz, konu hakkındaki bilgileriniz dahi sorgulanabilir. Essayinizi kabul edilebilir ve etkili bir essay haline getirebileceğiniz birkaç madde aşağıdaki gibidir:

• Metninizi yazdırın, okuyun ve gördüğünüz hataları işaretleyin. Metninizi kâğıttan okuduğunuzda bilgisayar ekranında okuduğunuzdan daha detaylı okuyabilecek böylece hatalarınızı daha kolay fark edebileceksiniz.
• Dilbilgisi ve imla kuralları bilgisine güvendiğiniz birinin essayinizi okumasını sağlayın. İkinci bir göz, sizin göremediğiniz hataları fark edebilir.
• Essayinizi yüksek sesle okuyun. Bu şekilde, gramer hatalarınızı daha kolay fark edebilirsiniz.

Essay Türleri Nelerdir?

1- argumentative essay (tartışma yazısı).

Bu makale türünde spesifik bir konuya dair kişisel düşüncelerinizi sebepleri ile birlikte savunmalısınız. Bu  türde size belli bir konu başlığı veya soru verilerek sizden görüşünüzü savunduğunuz bir yazı yazmanız istenilir.

2- Compare and Contrast Essay (Karşılaştırma Yazısı)

Bu makale türünde size verilecek iki ya da daha fazla olguyu birbiriyle karşılaştıran bir yazı yazmanız istenilir. Her iki olgunun birbirine benzeyen tarafları, birbirinden zıt tarafları, birbirlerinden daha iyi ya da daha kötü oldukları noktalar, bu yazının ana hatlarını oluşturan konu başlıkları net bir şekilde olmalıdır.

3- Cause and Effect Essay (Neden-Sonuç Yazısı)

Bu makale türünde bir olgunun sebeplerini ve sonuçlarını tartışmanız ve sebeplerini sunmanız istenilir. Örneğin ‘‘Nesli tükenen hayvanları korumak için neler yapmalıyız‘‘ şeklinde bir soru verildiğinde önce nesli tükenen hayvanlardan bahsetmeliyiz daha sonra neden neslinin tükendiği konusuna değinmeli ve sebep sonuçlarından bahsetmeliyiz.

4- Opinion Essay (Düşünce Yazısı)

Bu makale türünde başarılı olmak için girişten itibaren fikrinizi kısa ve öz bir biçimde ifade ederek başlamanız gereklidir. Görüşlerinizi giriş paragrafında açıkça ifade ettikten sonra gelişme bölümünde bu fikri savunmanızın sebeplerinden bahsetmelisiniz ve bu düşünceye karşı geliştirilen olası  savunmalara cevaplar vermeniz ve sonuç bölümünde ise tartıştıklarınızı özet bir şekilde tekrar ederek fikrinizi belirtmelisiniz.

5- Advantage and Disadvantage Essay (Bir konunun olumlu ve olumsuz yönlerini tartıştığımız yazı)

Bu makale türünde sizden belli bir konu başlığının olumlu ve olumsuz yönlerinden bahsederek fayda ve zarar tartışması yapmanız istenilir. Bu tarz sorularda faydaları ve zararları ayrı paragraflarda sunmak ve üçüncü bir paragrafta bunları birbiri ile karşılaştırarak konu başlığına dair olumlu veya olumsuz bir sonuca varmak düzenli ve sistematik bir makale çıkarmanıza yardımcı olacaktır.

6- Problem Solution Essay (Problem Çözme Yazısı)

Bu yazı türünde sizden özellikle gündemi meşgul eden bir probleme çözüm getirmeniz istenilir. Örneğin: ‘How can we stop global warming?’ ‘Küresel ısınmayı nasıl durdurabiliriz?’. Bu problemin sebepleri ve sonuçlarının kısa bir değerlendirmesinin ardından konuya bir çözüm önerisi getirerek başarılı bir yazı oluşturabilirsiniz.

7- Process Essay (Süreç Yazısı)

Bu yazı türünde belli bir olayın veya belli bir sürede gelişen bir durumun aşamalarını anlattığınız bir yazı yazmanız beklenir. Örneğin, “How to make a cake” yani “Kek nasıl yapılır?”. Burada süreci kronolojik olarak ve ayrıntılı bir şekilde yazılı ifade etmeniz beklenir.

Bu Konu Dikkatinizi Çekebilir:  İngilizce Essay Konuları ve Türleri  

BukyTalk ekibi olarak bu yazımızda sizler için ‘‘Essay nasıl yazılır?’’, ‘‘Essay yazma becerisi nasıl geliştirilebilir?’’ , ‘‘Essay türleri nelerdir?‘‘ konuları hakkında çeşitli öneriler ve bilgiler sunduk. Siz değerli okurlarımız için faydalı olmasını diler, okuduğunuz için teşekkür ederiz. Daha fazla bilgilendirici içerik için bizi takip edin!

İngilizce Biyografi Örnekleri: İngilizce Biyografi Nasıl Yazılır?

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• Knowledge Base
• Comparing and contrasting in an essay | Tips & examples

Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay | Tips & Examples

Published on August 6, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

Comparing and contrasting is an important skill in academic writing . It involves taking two or more subjects and analyzing the differences and similarities between them.

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Table of contents

When should i compare and contrast, making effective comparisons, comparing and contrasting as a brainstorming tool, structuring your comparisons, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about comparing and contrasting.

Many assignments will invite you to make comparisons quite explicitly, as in these prompts.

• Compare the treatment of the theme of beauty in the poetry of William Wordsworth and John Keats.
• Compare and contrast in-class and distance learning. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?

Some other prompts may not directly ask you to compare and contrast, but present you with a topic where comparing and contrasting could be a good approach.

One way to approach this essay might be to contrast the situation before the Great Depression with the situation during it, to highlight how large a difference it made.

Comparing and contrasting is also used in all kinds of academic contexts where it’s not explicitly prompted. For example, a literature review involves comparing and contrasting different studies on your topic, and an argumentative essay may involve weighing up the pros and cons of different arguments.

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See an example

As the name suggests, comparing and contrasting is about identifying both similarities and differences. You might focus on contrasting quite different subjects or comparing subjects with a lot in common—but there must be some grounds for comparison in the first place.

For example, you might contrast French society before and after the French Revolution; you’d likely find many differences, but there would be a valid basis for comparison. However, if you contrasted pre-revolutionary France with Han-dynasty China, your reader might wonder why you chose to compare these two societies.

This is why it’s important to clarify the point of your comparisons by writing a focused thesis statement . Every element of an essay should serve your central argument in some way. Consider what you’re trying to accomplish with any comparisons you make, and be sure to make this clear to the reader.

Comparing and contrasting can be a useful tool to help organize your thoughts before you begin writing any type of academic text. You might use it to compare different theories and approaches you’ve encountered in your preliminary research, for example.

Let’s say your research involves the competing psychological approaches of behaviorism and cognitive psychology. You might make a table to summarize the key differences between them.

Or say you’re writing about the major global conflicts of the twentieth century. You might visualize the key similarities and differences in a Venn diagram.

These visualizations wouldn’t make it into your actual writing, so they don’t have to be very formal in terms of phrasing or presentation. The point of comparing and contrasting at this stage is to help you organize and shape your ideas to aid you in structuring your arguments.

When comparing and contrasting in an essay, there are two main ways to structure your comparisons: the alternating method and the block method.

The alternating method

In the alternating method, you structure your text according to what aspect you’re comparing. You cover both your subjects side by side in terms of a specific point of comparison. Your text is structured like this:

Mouse over the example paragraph below to see how this approach works.

One challenge teachers face is identifying and assisting students who are struggling without disrupting the rest of the class. In a traditional classroom environment, the teacher can easily identify when a student is struggling based on their demeanor in class or simply by regularly checking on students during exercises. They can then offer assistance quietly during the exercise or discuss it further after class. Meanwhile, in a Zoom-based class, the lack of physical presence makes it more difficult to pay attention to individual students’ responses and notice frustrations, and there is less flexibility to speak with students privately to offer assistance. In this case, therefore, the traditional classroom environment holds the advantage, although it appears likely that aiding students in a virtual classroom environment will become easier as the technology, and teachers’ familiarity with it, improves.

The block method

In the block method, you cover each of the overall subjects you’re comparing in a block. You say everything you have to say about your first subject, then discuss your second subject, making comparisons and contrasts back to the things you’ve already said about the first. Your text is structured like this:

• Point of comparison A
• Point of comparison B

The most commonly cited advantage of distance learning is the flexibility and accessibility it offers. Rather than being required to travel to a specific location every week (and to live near enough to feasibly do so), students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows not only for a wider geographical spread of students but for the possibility of studying while travelling. However, distance learning presents its own accessibility challenges; not all students have a stable internet connection and a computer or other device with which to participate in online classes, and less technologically literate students and teachers may struggle with the technical aspects of class participation. Furthermore, discomfort and distractions can hinder an individual student’s ability to engage with the class from home, creating divergent learning experiences for different students. Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

Note that these two methods can be combined; these two example paragraphs could both be part of the same essay, but it’s wise to use an essay outline to plan out which approach you’re taking in each paragraph.

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Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

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Compare & contrast essay conjunctions - Karşılaştırma yazılarında kullanılan bağlaçlar

Benzerlikleri anlatırken şu bağlaçları kullanabilirsiniz:

Similarly, : benzer şekilde

Likewise, : bunun gibi, aynı şekilde, ... the same ... : aynı, ... the same as ..., also : de, da, both : ikisi de, is similar to : ...'ya benzer, too / either : de, da, as well : de, da, like : gibi, in the same way, : aynı şekilde, x is similar to y in that (they) ... : x ve y birbirlerine ...' da benzerler, x and y are similar in that (they) : x ve y ...'da benzer, like x, y [verb], in like manner, : benzer tarzda, one way x is similar to y is (that) : x ve y nin benzer bir noktası ... 'dır..

Farklılıkları anlatırken ise için şu bağlaçları kullanabilirsiniz:

On the other hand, : diğer bir yandan

However, : halbuki, fakat, unlike: aksine, while : oysa, in contrast : tersine, by contrast : aksine, tersine, even though / although / though : rağmen, whereas : oysaki, halbuki, unlike : aksine, nevertheless : yine de.

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• Writing Tips

Tips for Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay

• 5-minute read
• 19th August 2022

Compare and contrast essays are a specific form of academic essay with unique requirements, so if you’re a student , it’s important that you to know how to write one. Luckily, we’ve pieced together this guide to help you plan, structure, and put together your essay, complete with tips for comparing and contrasting.

Let’s begin.

1. What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay?

As you may have guessed, when writing a compare and contrast essay, you’ll need to do two things:

• Compare the similarities between two or more given subjects.
• Contrast their differences.

Compare and contrast essays are a common essay style because they allow your teacher or lecturer to assess your understanding of two theories, research methods, literary techniques, or other subjects. These subjects are usually related and may sometimes be confused with one another or are in conflict with each other.

By comparing and contrasting the subjects, you can also improve your analysis skills .

Some examples of compare and contrast essay titles include:

Compare and contrast a Shakespearean sonnet with a Petrarchan sonnet. What are the similarities and differences between anabolic and catabolic reactions? How were Nehru’s political beliefs similar to Gandhi’s? How did they differ?

2. Planning a Compare and Contrast Essay

As with any essay, before you begin writing, you should have a plan . In this case, you’ll first need to identify the similarities and differences between your subjects.

You can do this by writing out a list of all the qualities each subject possesses. Then, you can pick out any similar qualities that show up in both lists, and any qualities that are unique to just one of them. If you’re a visual learner, you might want to draw this as a Venn diagram .

Once you have all the similarities and differences prepared, consider which of them will be the most useful to include in your essay. Ask yourself:

• How much can you write about each point?
• What will your conclusion be, and which points support it?
• How will each point fit into your essay’s structure?

To answer that last question, let’s take a look at some ways to structure your essay.

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3. Structuring a Compare and Contrast Essay

Now that you’ve got a plan for your essay, it’s time to organize it. There are three main structures you can follow when writing a compare and contrast essay: 

• The block structure: All of the information about one subject (e.g., Shakespearean sonnets) is presented in the first few paragraphs, followed by the subject it’s being compared and contrasted with (e.g., Petrarchan sonnets).
• The alternating structure: One similarity or difference between both subjects (e.g., rhyme scheme) is explored in one paragraph, followed by a paragraph on another similarity or difference (e.g., use of imagery), and so on.
• The similarities and differences structure: All the similarities between both subjects are presented, followed by the differences.

There are benefits to each of these structures. The block structure, for example, can be easier to write, while the alternating structure presents each similarity and difference clearly, and the similarities and differences structure focuses on those points rather than the subjects themselves. 

So, when deciding which structure to use, consider what would work best for your essay. If you intend to cover each subject in detail, for example, you might want to choose the block structure. 

On the other hand, if you want to emphasize the connections between each subject, the alternating structure might be best. 

Finally, if you want to conclude that the subjects are either overwhelmingly similar or different to each other, the similarities and differences structure may work in your favor.

Whichever structure you follow, though, you’ll need to include a strong introduction and conclusion.

Your introduction should:

• Establish the subjects you will be comparing and contrasting.
• Provide some background about their connection (e.g., “Shakespearean and Petrarchan sonnets are poetic forms common in the 14th to 19th centuries”).
• Explain what you aim to achieve with your essay.

Meanwhile, your conclusion should:

• Summarize the main similarities and differences you have identified.
• Make a point regarding the relationship between your subjects.

4. Things to Remember

Here are some important tips to keep in mind when writing your compare and contrast essay:

• Ensure you are comparing or contrasting the same criteria between each subject. For example, it wouldn’t make sense to compare the line length of a Shakespearean sonnet with the rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet, as these are two separate categories.
• Always address both subjects of your essay in any introductions, conclusions, and topic sentences.
• Use comparison words and phrases such as “similarly,” “like,” and “in the same way” when comparing subjects.
• Use contrast words and phrases such as “in contrast,” “however,” and “whereas” when contrasting subjects.
• As with any essay, make sure to back up any arguments you make with evidence and credible sources .

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Once you’ve written your compare and contrast essay, don’t forget to have it proofread. Our dedicated essay editing team is available 24/7 to help polish your paper. Try us out with a free proofreading and editing sample .

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Comparing and Contrasting

What this handout is about.

This handout will help you first to determine whether a particular assignment is asking for comparison/contrast and then to generate a list of similarities and differences, decide which similarities and differences to focus on, and organize your paper so that it will be clear and effective. It will also explain how you can (and why you should) develop a thesis that goes beyond “Thing A and Thing B are similar in many ways but different in others.”

Introduction

In your career as a student, you’ll encounter many different kinds of writing assignments, each with its own requirements. One of the most common is the comparison/contrast essay, in which you focus on the ways in which certain things or ideas—usually two of them—are similar to (this is the comparison) and/or different from (this is the contrast) one another. By assigning such essays, your instructors are encouraging you to make connections between texts or ideas, engage in critical thinking, and go beyond mere description or summary to generate interesting analysis: when you reflect on similarities and differences, you gain a deeper understanding of the items you are comparing, their relationship to each other, and what is most important about them.

Recognizing comparison/contrast in assignments

Some assignments use words—like compare, contrast, similarities, and differences—that make it easy for you to see that they are asking you to compare and/or contrast. Here are a few hypothetical examples:

• Compare and contrast Frye’s and Bartky’s accounts of oppression.
• Compare WWI to WWII, identifying similarities in the causes, development, and outcomes of the wars.
• Contrast Wordsworth and Coleridge; what are the major differences in their poetry?

Notice that some topics ask only for comparison, others only for contrast, and others for both.

But it’s not always so easy to tell whether an assignment is asking you to include comparison/contrast. And in some cases, comparison/contrast is only part of the essay—you begin by comparing and/or contrasting two or more things and then use what you’ve learned to construct an argument or evaluation. Consider these examples, noticing the language that is used to ask for the comparison/contrast and whether the comparison/contrast is only one part of a larger assignment:

• Choose a particular idea or theme, such as romantic love, death, or nature, and consider how it is treated in two Romantic poems.
• How do the different authors we have studied so far define and describe oppression?
• Compare Frye’s and Bartky’s accounts of oppression. What does each imply about women’s collusion in their own oppression? Which is more accurate?
• In the texts we’ve studied, soldiers who served in different wars offer differing accounts of their experiences and feelings both during and after the fighting. What commonalities are there in these accounts? What factors do you think are responsible for their differences?

You may want to check out our handout on understanding assignments for additional tips.

Using comparison/contrast for all kinds of writing projects

Sometimes you may want to use comparison/contrast techniques in your own pre-writing work to get ideas that you can later use for an argument, even if comparison/contrast isn’t an official requirement for the paper you’re writing. For example, if you wanted to argue that Frye’s account of oppression is better than both de Beauvoir’s and Bartky’s, comparing and contrasting the main arguments of those three authors might help you construct your evaluation—even though the topic may not have asked for comparison/contrast and the lists of similarities and differences you generate may not appear anywhere in the final draft of your paper.

Discovering similarities and differences

Making a Venn diagram or a chart can help you quickly and efficiently compare and contrast two or more things or ideas. To make a Venn diagram, simply draw some overlapping circles, one circle for each item you’re considering. In the central area where they overlap, list the traits the two items have in common. Assign each one of the areas that doesn’t overlap; in those areas, you can list the traits that make the things different. Here’s a very simple example, using two pizza places:

To make a chart, figure out what criteria you want to focus on in comparing the items. Along the left side of the page, list each of the criteria. Across the top, list the names of the items. You should then have a box per item for each criterion; you can fill the boxes in and then survey what you’ve discovered.

Here’s an example, this time using three pizza places:

As you generate points of comparison, consider the purpose and content of the assignment and the focus of the class. What do you think the professor wants you to learn by doing this comparison/contrast? How does it fit with what you have been studying so far and with the other assignments in the course? Are there any clues about what to focus on in the assignment itself?

Here are some general questions about different types of things you might have to compare. These are by no means complete or definitive lists; they’re just here to give you some ideas—you can generate your own questions for these and other types of comparison. You may want to begin by using the questions reporters traditionally ask: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? If you’re talking about objects, you might also consider general properties like size, shape, color, sound, weight, taste, texture, smell, number, duration, and location.

Two historical periods or events

• When did they occur—do you know the date(s) and duration? What happened or changed during each? Why are they significant?
• What kinds of work did people do? What kinds of relationships did they have? What did they value?
• What kinds of governments were there? Who were important people involved?
• What caused events in these periods, and what consequences did they have later on?

Two ideas or theories

• What are they about?
• Did they originate at some particular time?
• Who created them? Who uses or defends them?
• What is the central focus, claim, or goal of each? What conclusions do they offer?
• How are they applied to situations/people/things/etc.?
• Which seems more plausible to you, and why? How broad is their scope?
• What kind of evidence is usually offered for them?

Two pieces of writing or art

• What are their titles? What do they describe or depict?
• What is their tone or mood? What is their form?
• Who created them? When were they created? Why do you think they were created as they were? What themes do they address?
• Do you think one is of higher quality or greater merit than the other(s)—and if so, why?
• For writing: what plot, characterization, setting, theme, tone, and type of narration are used?
• Where are they from? How old are they? What is the gender, race, class, etc. of each?
• What, if anything, are they known for? Do they have any relationship to each other?
• What are they like? What did/do they do? What do they believe? Why are they interesting?
• What stands out most about each of them?

Deciding what to focus on

By now you have probably generated a huge list of similarities and differences—congratulations! Next you must decide which of them are interesting, important, and relevant enough to be included in your paper. Ask yourself these questions:

• What’s relevant to the assignment?
• What’s relevant to the course?
• What’s interesting and informative?
• What matters to the argument you are going to make?
• What’s basic or central (and needs to be mentioned even if obvious)?
• Overall, what’s more important—the similarities or the differences?

Suppose that you are writing a paper comparing two novels. For most literature classes, the fact that they both use Caslon type (a kind of typeface, like the fonts you may use in your writing) is not going to be relevant, nor is the fact that one of them has a few illustrations and the other has none; literature classes are more likely to focus on subjects like characterization, plot, setting, the writer’s style and intentions, language, central themes, and so forth. However, if you were writing a paper for a class on typesetting or on how illustrations are used to enhance novels, the typeface and presence or absence of illustrations might be absolutely critical to include in your final paper.

Sometimes a particular point of comparison or contrast might be relevant but not terribly revealing or interesting. For example, if you are writing a paper about Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” and Coleridge’s “Frost at Midnight,” pointing out that they both have nature as a central theme is relevant (comparisons of poetry often talk about themes) but not terribly interesting; your class has probably already had many discussions about the Romantic poets’ fondness for nature. Talking about the different ways nature is depicted or the different aspects of nature that are emphasized might be more interesting and show a more sophisticated understanding of the poems.

Your thesis

The thesis of your comparison/contrast paper is very important: it can help you create a focused argument and give your reader a road map so they don’t get lost in the sea of points you are about to make. As in any paper, you will want to replace vague reports of your general topic (for example, “This paper will compare and contrast two pizza places,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in some ways and different in others,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in many ways, but they have one major difference”) with something more detailed and specific. For example, you might say, “Pepper’s and Amante have similar prices and ingredients, but their atmospheres and willingness to deliver set them apart.”

Be careful, though—although this thesis is fairly specific and does propose a simple argument (that atmosphere and delivery make the two pizza places different), your instructor will often be looking for a bit more analysis. In this case, the obvious question is “So what? Why should anyone care that Pepper’s and Amante are different in this way?” One might also wonder why the writer chose those two particular pizza places to compare—why not Papa John’s, Dominos, or Pizza Hut? Again, thinking about the context the class provides may help you answer such questions and make a stronger argument. Here’s a revision of the thesis mentioned earlier:

Pepper’s and Amante both offer a greater variety of ingredients than other Chapel Hill/Carrboro pizza places (and than any of the national chains), but the funky, lively atmosphere at Pepper’s makes it a better place to give visiting friends and family a taste of local culture.

You may find our handout on constructing thesis statements useful at this stage.

Organizing your paper

There are many different ways to organize a comparison/contrast essay. Here are two:

Subject-by-subject

Begin by saying everything you have to say about the first subject you are discussing, then move on and make all the points you want to make about the second subject (and after that, the third, and so on, if you’re comparing/contrasting more than two things). If the paper is short, you might be able to fit all of your points about each item into a single paragraph, but it’s more likely that you’d have several paragraphs per item. Using our pizza place comparison/contrast as an example, after the introduction, you might have a paragraph about the ingredients available at Pepper’s, a paragraph about its location, and a paragraph about its ambience. Then you’d have three similar paragraphs about Amante, followed by your conclusion.

The danger of this subject-by-subject organization is that your paper will simply be a list of points: a certain number of points (in my example, three) about one subject, then a certain number of points about another. This is usually not what college instructors are looking for in a paper—generally they want you to compare or contrast two or more things very directly, rather than just listing the traits the things have and leaving it up to the reader to reflect on how those traits are similar or different and why those similarities or differences matter. Thus, if you use the subject-by-subject form, you will probably want to have a very strong, analytical thesis and at least one body paragraph that ties all of your different points together.

A subject-by-subject structure can be a logical choice if you are writing what is sometimes called a “lens” comparison, in which you use one subject or item (which isn’t really your main topic) to better understand another item (which is). For example, you might be asked to compare a poem you’ve already covered thoroughly in class with one you are reading on your own. It might make sense to give a brief summary of your main ideas about the first poem (this would be your first subject, the “lens”), and then spend most of your paper discussing how those points are similar to or different from your ideas about the second.

Point-by-point

Rather than addressing things one subject at a time, you may wish to talk about one point of comparison at a time. There are two main ways this might play out, depending on how much you have to say about each of the things you are comparing. If you have just a little, you might, in a single paragraph, discuss how a certain point of comparison/contrast relates to all the items you are discussing. For example, I might describe, in one paragraph, what the prices are like at both Pepper’s and Amante; in the next paragraph, I might compare the ingredients available; in a third, I might contrast the atmospheres of the two restaurants.

If I had a bit more to say about the items I was comparing/contrasting, I might devote a whole paragraph to how each point relates to each item. For example, I might have a whole paragraph about the clientele at Pepper’s, followed by a whole paragraph about the clientele at Amante; then I would move on and do two more paragraphs discussing my next point of comparison/contrast—like the ingredients available at each restaurant.

There are no hard and fast rules about organizing a comparison/contrast paper, of course. Just be sure that your reader can easily tell what’s going on! Be aware, too, of the placement of your different points. If you are writing a comparison/contrast in service of an argument, keep in mind that the last point you make is the one you are leaving your reader with. For example, if I am trying to argue that Amante is better than Pepper’s, I should end with a contrast that leaves Amante sounding good, rather than with a point of comparison that I have to admit makes Pepper’s look better. If you’ve decided that the differences between the items you’re comparing/contrasting are most important, you’ll want to end with the differences—and vice versa, if the similarities seem most important to you.

Our handout on organization can help you write good topic sentences and transitions and make sure that you have a good overall structure in place for your paper.

Cue words and other tips

To help your reader keep track of where you are in the comparison/contrast, you’ll want to be sure that your transitions and topic sentences are especially strong. Your thesis should already have given the reader an idea of the points you’ll be making and the organization you’ll be using, but you can help them out with some extra cues. The following words may be helpful to you in signaling your intentions:

• like, similar to, also, unlike, similarly, in the same way, likewise, again, compared to, in contrast, in like manner, contrasted with, on the contrary, however, although, yet, even though, still, but, nevertheless, conversely, at the same time, regardless, despite, while, on the one hand … on the other hand.

For example, you might have a topic sentence like one of these:

• Compared to Pepper’s, Amante is quiet.
• Like Amante, Pepper’s offers fresh garlic as a topping.
• Despite their different locations (downtown Chapel Hill and downtown Carrboro), Pepper’s and Amante are both fairly easy to get to.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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10.7 Comparison and Contrast

Learning objectives.

• Determine the purpose and structure of comparison and contrast in writing.
• Explain organizational methods used when comparing and contrasting.
• Understand how to write a compare-and-contrast essay.

The Purpose of Comparison and Contrast in Writing

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.

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. 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. Drawing distinctions between elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of that category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.

Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a comparison 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. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.

Writing at Work

Comparing and contrasting is also an evaluative tool. In order to make accurate evaluations about a given topic, you must first know the critical points of similarity and difference. Comparing and contrasting is a primary tool for many workplace assessments. You have likely compared and contrasted yourself to other colleagues. Employee advancements, pay raises, hiring, and firing are typically conducted using comparison and contrast. Comparison and contrast could be used to evaluate companies, departments, or individuals.

Brainstorm an essay that leans toward contrast. Choose one of the following three categories. Pick two examples from each. Then come up with one similarity and three differences between the examples.

• Romantic comedies
• Internet search engines
• Cell phones

Brainstorm an essay that leans toward comparison. Choose one of the following three items. Then come up with one difference and three similarities.

• Department stores and discount retail stores
• Fast food chains and fine dining restaurants
• Dogs and cats

The Structure of a Comparison and Contrast Essay

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. 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 vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.

You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two ways:

• According to the subjects themselves, discussing one then the other
• According to individual points, discussing each subject in relation to each point

See Figure 10.1 “Comparison and Contrast Diagram” , which diagrams the ways to organize our organic versus conventional vegetables thesis.

Figure 10.1 Comparison and Contrast Diagram

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 reader to such analysis. See Table 10.3 “Phrases of Comparison and Contrast” for examples.

Table 10.3 Phrases of Comparison and Contrast

Create an outline for each of the items you chose in Note 10.72 “Exercise 1” and Note 10.73 “Exercise 2” . Use the point-by-point organizing strategy for one of them, and use the subject organizing strategy for the other.

Writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay

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, introduce 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 state 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. See Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” to read a sample compare-and-contrast essay.

Many business presentations are conducted using comparison and contrast. The organizing strategies—by subject or individual points—could also be used for organizing a presentation. Keep this in mind as a way of organizing your content the next time you or a colleague have to present something at work.

Choose one of the outlines you created in Note 10.75 “Exercise 3” , and write a full compare-and-contrast essay. Be sure to include an engaging introduction, a clear thesis, well-defined and detailed paragraphs, and a fitting conclusion that ties everything together.

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 for compare-and-contrast essays.

• Organize by the subjects themselves, one then 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.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Writing a Paper: Comparing & Contrasting

A compare and contrast paper discusses the similarities and differences between two or more topics. The paper should contain an introduction with a thesis statement, a body where the comparisons and contrasts are discussed, and a conclusion.

Address Both Similarities and Differences

Because this is a compare and contrast paper, both the similarities and differences should be discussed. This will require analysis on your part, as some topics will appear to be quite similar, and you will have to work to find the differing elements.

Make Sure You Have a Clear Thesis Statement

Just like any other essay, a compare and contrast essay needs a thesis statement. The thesis statement should not only tell your reader what you will do, but it should also address the purpose and importance of comparing and contrasting the material.

Use Clear Transitions

Transitions are important in compare and contrast essays, where you will be moving frequently between different topics or perspectives.

• Examples of transitions and phrases for comparisons: as well, similar to, consistent with, likewise, too
• Examples of transitions and phrases for contrasts: on the other hand, however, although, differs, conversely, rather than.

For more information, check out our transitions page.

Structure Your Paper

Consider how you will present the information. You could present all of the similarities first and then present all of the differences. Or you could go point by point and show the similarity and difference of one point, then the similarity and difference for another point, and so on.

Include Analysis

It is tempting to just provide summary for this type of paper, but analysis will show the importance of the comparisons and contrasts. For instance, if you are comparing two articles on the topic of the nursing shortage, help us understand what this will achieve. Did you find consensus between the articles that will support a certain action step for people in the field? Did you find discrepancies between the two that point to the need for further investigation?

Make Analogous Comparisons

When drawing comparisons or making contrasts, be sure you are dealing with similar aspects of each item. To use an old cliché, are you comparing apples to apples?

• Example of poor comparisons: Kubista studied the effects of a later start time on high school students, but Cook used a mixed methods approach. (This example does not compare similar items. It is not a clear contrast because the sentence does not discuss the same element of the articles. It is like comparing apples to oranges.)
• Example of analogous comparisons: Cook used a mixed methods approach, whereas Kubista used only quantitative methods. (Here, methods are clearly being compared, allowing the reader to understand the distinction.

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• Writing for Success: Compare/Contrast

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This section will help you determine the purpose and structure of comparison/contrast in writing.

The Purpose of Compare/Contrast in Writing

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.

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. 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. Drawing distinctions between elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of that category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.

Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a comparison 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. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.

The Structure of a Compare/Contrast Essay

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. 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 vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.

You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two ways:

• According to the subjects themselves, discussing one then the other
• According to individual points, discussing each subject in relation to each point

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 reader to such analysis.

Phrases of Comparison and Contrast

Writing an Compare/Contrast Essay

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, introduce 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 state 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.

Compare/Contrast Essay Example

Comparing and Contrasting London and Washington, DC

By Scott McLean in Writing for Success

Both Washington, 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, 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 the 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 1790s. 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.

Both Washington, DC, and London offer a wide array of museums that harbor many of the world’s most prized treasures. While Washington, DC, has the National Gallery of Art and several other Smithsonian galleries, London’s art scene and galleries have a definite edge in this category. From the Tate Modern to the British National Gallery, London’s art ranks among the world’s best. This difference and advantage has much to do with London and Britain’s historical depth compared to that of the United States. 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. 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 clubs and pubs that 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. Both cities share a very expensive cost of living—both in terms of housing and shopping. A downtown one-bedroom apartment in DC can easily cost $1,800 per month, and a similar “flat” in London may double that amount. These high costs create socioeconomic disparity among the residents. Although both cities’ residents are predominantly wealthy, both have a significantly large population of poor and homeless. Perhaps the most significant difference between the resident demographics is the racial makeup. Washington, DC, is a “minority majority” city, which means the majority of its citizens are races other than white. In 2009, according to the US Census, 55 percent of DC residents were classified as “Black or African American” and 35 percent of its residents were classified as “white.” London, by contrast, has very few minorities—in 2006, 70 percent of its population was “white,” while only 10 percent was “black.” The racial demographic differences between the cities is drastic.

Even though Washington, DC, and London are major capital cities of English-speaking countries 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.

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 for compare-and-contrast essays.
• Organize by the subjects themselves, one then 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.
• Provided by : Lumen Learning. Located at : http://lumenlearning.com/ . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
• Successful Writing. Provided by : Anonymous. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/successful-writing/s14-07-comparison-and-contrast.html . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
• Comparing and Contrasting London and Washington, DC. Authored by : Scott McLean. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/successful-writing/s14-07-comparison-and-contrast.html . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
• Table of Contents

Instructor Resources (Access Requires Login)

• Overview of Instructor Resources

An Overview of the Writing Process

• Introduction to the Writing Process
• Introduction to Writing
• Your Role as a Learner
• What is an Essay?
• Reading to Write
• Defining the Writing Process
• Videos: Prewriting Techniques
• Thesis Statements
• Organizing an Essay
• Creating Paragraphs
• Conclusions
• Editing and Proofreading
• Matters of Grammar, Mechanics, and Style
• Peer Review Checklist
• Comparative Chart of Writing Strategies

Using Sources

• Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Avoiding Plagiarism
• Formatting the Works Cited Page (MLA)
• Citing Paraphrases and Summaries (APA)
• APA Citation Style, 6th edition: General Style Guidelines

Definition Essay

• Definitional Argument Essay
• How to Write a Definition Essay
• Critical Thinking
• Video: Thesis Explained
• Effective Thesis Statements
• Student Sample: Definition Essay

Narrative Essay

• Introduction to Narrative Essay
• Student Sample: Narrative Essay
• "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell
• "Sixty-nine Cents" by Gary Shteyngart
• Video: The Danger of a Single Story
• How to Write an Annotation
• How to Write a Summary
• Writing for Success: Narration

Illustration/Example Essay

• Introduction to Illustration/Example Essay
• "She's Your Basic L.O.L. in N.A.D" by Perri Klass
• "April & Paris" by David Sedaris
• Writing for Success: Illustration/Example
• Student Sample: Illustration/Example Essay

Compare/Contrast Essay

• Introduction to Compare/Contrast Essay
• "Disability" by Nancy Mairs
• "Friending, Ancient or Otherwise" by Alex Wright
• "A South African Storm" by Allison Howard
• Student Sample: Compare/Contrast Essay

Cause-and-Effect Essay

• Introduction to Cause-and-Effect Essay
• "Cultural Baggage" by Barbara Ehrenreich
• "Women in Science" by K.C. Cole
• Writing for Success: Cause and Effect
• Student Sample: Cause-and-Effect Essay

Argument Essay

• Introduction to Argument Essay
• Rogerian Argument
• "The Case Against Torture," by Alisa Soloman
• "The Case for Torture" by Michael Levin
• How to Write a Summary by Paraphrasing Source Material
• Writing for Success: Argument
• Student Sample: Argument Essay
• Grammar/Mechanics Mini-lessons
• Mini-lesson: Subjects and Verbs, Irregular Verbs, Subject Verb Agreement
• Mini-lesson: Sentence Types
• Mini-lesson: Fragments I
• Mini-lesson: Run-ons and Comma Splices I
• Mini-lesson: Comma Usage
• Mini-lesson: Parallelism
• Mini-lesson: The Apostrophe
• Mini-lesson: Capital Letters
• Grammar Practice - Interactive Quizzes
• De Copia - Demonstration of the Variety of Language
• Style Exercise: Voice

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Comparing and Contrasting: A Guide to Improve Your Essays

Walter Akolo

Essays that require you to compare and contrast two or more subjects, ideas, places, or items are common.

They call for you to highlight the key similarities (compare) and differences (contrast) between them.

This guide contains all the information you need to become better at writing comparing and contrasting essays.

This includes: how to structure your essay, how to decide on the content, and some examples of essay questions.

Let’s dive in.

What Is Comparing and Contrasting?

Is compare and contrast the same as similarities and differences, what is the purpose of comparing and contrasting, can you compare and contrast any two items, how do you compare and contrast in writing, what are some comparing and contrasting techniques, how do you compare and contrast in college level writing, the four essentials of compare and contrast essays, what can you learn from a compare and contrast essay.

At their most basic, both comparing and contrasting base their evaluation on two or more subjects that share a connection.

The subjects could have similar characteristics, features, or foundations.

But while a comparison discusses the similarities of the two subjects, e.g. a banana and a watermelon are both fruit, contrasting highlights how the subjects or items differ from each other, e.g. a watermelon is around 10 times larger than a banana.

Any question that you are asked in education will have a variety of interesting comparisons and deductions that you can make.

Compare is the same as similarities.

Contrast is the same as differences.

This is because comparing identifies the likeness between two subjects, items, or categories, while contrasting recognizes disparities between them.

When you compare things, you represent them regarding their similarity, but when you contrast things, you define them in reference to their differences.

As a result, if you are asked to discuss the similarities and differences between two subjects, you can take an identical approach to if you are writing a compare and contrast essay.

In writing, the purpose of comparing and contrasting is to highlight subtle but important differences or similarities that might not be immediately obvious.

By illustrating the differences between elements in a similar category, you help heighten readers’ understanding of the subject or topic of discussion.

For instance, you might choose to compare and contrast red wine and white wine by pointing out the subtle differences. One of these differences is that red wine is best served at room temperature while white is best served chilled.

Also, comparing and contrasting helps to make abstract ideas more definite and minimizes the confusion that might exist between two related concepts.

Can Comparing and Contrasting Be Useful Outside of Academia?

Comparing enables you to see the pros and cons, allowing you to have a better understanding of the things under discussion. In an essay, this helps you demonstrate that you understand the nuances of your topic enough to draw meaningful conclusions from them.

Let's use a real-word example to see the benefits. Imagine you're contrasting two dresses you could buy. You might think:

• Dress A is purple, my favorite color, but it has a difficult zip and is practically impossible to match a jacket to.
• Dress B is more expensive but I already have a suitable pair of shoes and jacket and it is easier to move in.

You're linking the qualities of each dress to the context of the decision you're making. This is the same for your essay. Your comparison and contrast points will be in relation to the question you need to answer.

Comparing and contrasting is only a useful technique when applied to two related concepts.

To effectively compare two or more things, they must feature characteristics similar enough to warrant comparison.

In addition to this they must also feature a similarity that generates an interesting discussion. But what do I mean by “interesting” here?

Let’s look at two concepts, the Magna Carta and my third grade poetry competition entry.

They are both text, written on paper by a person so they fulfil the first requirement, they have a similarity. But this comparison clearly would not fulfil the second requirement, you would not be able to draw any interesting conclusions.

However, if we compare the Magna Carta to the Bill of Rights, you would be able to come to some very interesting conclusions concerning the history of world politics.

To write a good compare and contrast essay, it’s best to pick two or more topics that share a meaningful connection .

The aim of the essay would be to show the subtle differences or unforeseen similarities.

By highlighting the distinctions between elements in a similar category you can increase your readers’ understanding.

Alternatively, you could choose to focus on a comparison between two subjects that initially appear unrelated.

The more dissimilar they seem, the more interesting the comparison essay will turn out.

For instance, you could compare and contrast professional rugby players with marathon runners.

Can You Compare and Contrast in an Essay That Does Not Specifically Require It?

As a writer, you can employ comparing and contrasting techniques in your writing, particularly when looking for ideas you can later apply in your argument.

You can do this even when the comparison or contrast is not a requirement for the topic or argument you are presenting. Doing so could enable you to build your evaluation and develop a stronger argument.

Note that the similarities and differences you come up with might not even show up in the final draft.

While the use of compare and contrast can be neutral, you can also use it to highlight one option under discussion. When used this way, you can influence the perceived advantages of your preferred option.

As a writing style, comparing and contrasting can encompass an entire essay. However, it could also appear in some select paragraphs within the essay, where making some comparisons serves to better illustrate a point.

What Should You Do First?

Before you compare two things, always start by deciding on the reason for your comparison, then outline the criteria you will use to compare them.

Words and phrases commonly used for comparison include:

In writing, these words and phrases are called transitions . They help readers to understand or make the connection between sentences, paragraphs, and ideas.

Without transition words writing can feel clumsy and disjointed making it difficult to read. ProWritingAid’s transition report highlights all of a documents transitions and suggests that 25% of any sentences in a piece include a transition.

Sign up for a free ProWritingAid account to use the Transitions Report.

So, how do you form all of this into a coherent essay? It's a good idea to plan first, then decide what your paragraph layout will look like.

Venn diagrams are useful tool to start generating ideas. The, for your essay, you need to choose between going idea by idea and going point by point.

Using a Venn Diagram

A Venn diagram helps you to clearly see the similarities and differences between multiple objects, things, or subjects.

The writing tool comprises two, or more, simple, overlapping circles in which you list down the things that are alike (within the overlapping area) and those that differ (outside the overlapping area).

It’s great for brainstorming ideas and for creating your essay’s outline. You could even use it in an exam setting because it is quick and simple.

Going Subject by Subject

Going subject by subject is a structural choice for your essay.

Start by saying all you have to say on the first subject, then proceed to do the same about the second subject.

Depending on the length of your essay, you can fit the points about each subject into one paragraph or have several sections per each subject, ending with a conclusion.

This method is best for short essays on simple topics. Most university-level essays will go point by point instead.

Going Point by Point

Going point by point, or alternating, is the opposite essay structure from going subject by subject. This is ideal when you want to do more direct comparing and contrasting. It entails discussing one comparison point at a time. It allows you to use a paragraph to talk about how a certain comparing/contrasting point relates to the subjects or items you are discussing.

Alternatively, if you have lots of details about the subject, you might decide to use a paragraph for each point.

An academic compare and contrast essay looks at two or more subjects, ideas, people, or objects, compares their likeness, and contrasts their differences.

It’s an informative essay that provides insights on what is similar and different between the two items.

Depending on the essay’s instructions, you can focus solely on comparing or contrasting, or a combination of the two.

Examples of College Level Compare and Contrast Essay Questions

Here are eleven examples of compare and contrast essay questions that you might encounter at university:

• Archaeology: Compare and contrast the skulls of homo habilis, homo erectus, and homo sapiens.
• Art: Compare and contrast the working styles of any two Neoclassic artists.
• Astrophysics: Compare and contrast the chemical composition of Venus and Neptune.
• Biology: Compare and contrast the theories of Lamarck and Darwin.
• Business: Compare and contrast 2 or more business models within the agricultural industry.
• Creative writing: Compare and contrast free indirect discourse with epistolary styles.
• English Literature: Compare and contrast William Wordsworth with Robert Browning.
• Geography: Compare and contrast the benefit of solar panels with the benefit of wind turbines.
• History: Compare and contrast WWI to WWII with specific reference to the causes and outcomes.
• Medicine: Compare and contrast England’s health service with America’s health service.
• Psychology: Compare and contrast the behaviorist theory with the psychodynamic theory.

So, the key takeaways to keep in mind are:

Have a basis for comparison. The two things need to have enough in common to justify a discussion about their similarities and disparities.

Don’t go back and forth when using the block method. The best way to write your essay is to begin with a paragraph discussing all the facets of the first topic. Then, move on to another paragraph and talk through all the aspects of the second subject.

You can use both alternating and blocking techniques. Combining the two approaches is also an option. You can apply the alternating method in some paragraphs, then switch and use the block method. This method will help you offer a much deeper analysis of the subjects.

Have a reason for comparing the two things. Only select the points of comparison that resonate with your purpose.

Comparing and contrasting are essential analytical skills in academic writing. When your professor issues you with such an essay, their primary goal is to teach you how to:

• Engage in critical thinking
• See and make connections between words or ideas
• Move beyond mere descriptions or summaries to developing interesting analysis
• Get a deeper understanding of the subjects or items under comparison, their key features, and their interrelationships with each other.

Ultimately, your essay should enlighten readers by providing useful information.

Want to use ProWritingAid with your classroom? Download this free book now:

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Editing technology like prowritingaid provides immediate, personalized feedback that will help students to better understand grammar and writing techniques., in this guide , we walk you through exactly how to use prowritingaid in your classroom and give you tools and templates for creating a rigorous, effective independent writing practice with your students..

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Walter Akolo is a freelance writer, internet marketer, trainer, and blogger for hire. He loves helping businesses increase their reach and conversion through excellent and engaging content. He has gotten millions of pageviews on his blog, FreelancerKenya, where he mentors writers. Check out his website walterakolo.com.

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Compare & Contrast Essays How things are similar or different

Compare and contrast is a common form of academic writing, either as an essay type on its own, or as part of a larger essay which includes one or more paragraphs which compare or contrast. This page gives information on what a compare and contrast essay is , how to structure this type of essay, how to use compare and contrast structure words , and how to make sure you use appropriate criteria for comparison/contrast . There is also an example compare and contrast essay on the topic of communication technology, as well as some exercises to help you practice this area.

What are compare & contrast essays?

For another look at the same content, check out YouTube » or Youku » , or this infographic » .

To compare is to examine how things are similar, while to contrast is to see how they differ. A compare and contrast essay therefore looks at the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences. This essay type is common at university, where lecturers frequently test your understanding by asking you to compare and contrast two theories, two methods, two historical periods, two characters in a novel, etc. Sometimes the whole essay will compare and contrast, though sometimes the comparison or contrast may be only part of the essay. It is also possible, especially for short exam essays, that only the similarities or the differences, not both, will be discussed. See the examples below.

• Compare and contrast Newton's ideas of gravity with those proposed by Einstein ['compare and contrast' essay]
• Examine how the economies of Spain and China are similar ['compare' only essay]
• Explain the differences between Achaemenid Empire and Parthian Empire ['contrast' only essay]

There are two main ways to structure a compare and contrast essay, namely using a block or a point-by-point structure. For the block structure, all of the information about one of the objects being compared/contrasted is given first, and all of the information about the other object is listed afterwards. This type of structure is similar to the block structure used for cause and effect and problem-solution essays. For the point-by-point structure, each similarity (or difference) for one object is followed immediately by the similarity (or difference) for the other. Both types of structure have their merits. The former is easier to write, while the latter is generally clearer as it ensures that the similarities/differences are more explicit.

The two types of structure, block and point-by-point , are shown in the diagram below.

Compare and Contrast Structure Words

Compare and contrast structure words are transition signals which show the similarities or differences. Below are some common examples.

• both... and...
• not only... but also...
• neither... nor...
• just like (+ noun)
• similar to (+ noun)
• to be similar (to)
• to be the same as
• to be alike
• to compare (to/with)
• Computers can be used to communicate easily, for example via email. Similarly/Likewise , the mobile phone is a convenient tool for communication.
• Both computers and mobile phones can be used to communicate easily with other people.
• Just like the computer, the mobile phone can be used to communicate easily with other people.
• The computer is similar to the mobile phone in the way it can be used for easy communication.
• In contrast
• In comparison
• By comparison
• On the other hand
• to differ from
• to be different (from)
• to be dissimilar to
• to be unlike
• Computers, although increasingly small, are not always easy to carry from one place to another. However , the mobile phone can be carried with ease.
• Computers are generally not very portable, whereas the mobile phone is.
• Computers differ from mobile phones in their lack of portability.
• Computers are unlike mobile phones in their lack of portability.

Criteria for comparison/contrast

When making comparisons or contrasts, it is important to be clear what criteria you are using. Study the following example, which contrasts two people. Here the criteria are unclear.

• Aaron is tall and strong. In contrast , Bruce is handsome and very intelligent.

Although this sentence has a contrast transition , the criteria for contrasting are not the same. The criteria used for Aaron are height (tall) and strength (strong). We would expect similar criteria to be used for Bruce (maybe he is short and weak), but instead we have new criteria, namely appearance (handsome) and intelligence (intelligent). This is a common mistake for students when writing this type of paragraph or essay. Compare the following, which has much clearer criteria (contrast structure words shown in bold).

• Aaron and Bruce differ in four ways. The first difference is height. Aaron is tall, while Bruce is short. A second difference is strength. Aaron is strong. In contrast , Bruce is weak. A third difference is appearance. Aaron, who is average looking, differs from Bruce, who is handsome. The final difference is intelligence. Aaron is of average intelligence. Bruce, on the other hand , is very intelligent.

Example essay

Below is a compare and contrast essay. This essay uses the point-by-point structure . Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes to the right) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay, i.e. similarities, differences, and structure words. This will highlight not simply the paragraphs, but also the thesis statement and summary , as these repeat the comparisons and contrasts contained in the main body.

Title: There have been many advances in technology over the past fifty years. These have revolutionised the way we communicate with people who are far away. Compare and contrast methods of communication used today with those which were used in the past.

Before the advent of computers and modern technology, people communicating over long distances used traditional means such as letters and the telephone. Nowadays we have a vast array of communication tools which can complete this task, ranging from email to instant messaging and video calls. While the present and previous means of communication are similar in their general form , they differ in regard to their speed and the range of tools available . One similarity between current and previous methods of communication relates to the form of communication. In the past, both written forms such as letters were frequently used, in addition to oral forms such as telephone calls. Similarly , people nowadays use both of these forms. Just as in the past, written forms of communication are prevalent, for example via email and text messaging. In addition, oral forms are still used, including the telephone, mobile phone, and voice messages via instant messaging services. However , there are clearly many differences in the way we communicate over long distances, the most notable of which is speed. This is most evident in relation to written forms of communication. In the past, letters would take days to arrive at their destination. In contrast , an email arrives almost instantaneously and can be read seconds after it was sent. In the past, if it was necessary to send a short message, for example at work, a memo could be passed around the office, which would take some time to circulate. This is different from the current situation, in which a text message can be sent immediately. Another significant difference is the range of communication methods. Fifty years ago, the tools available for communicating over long distances were primarily the telephone and the letter. By comparison , there are a vast array of communication methods available today. These include not only the telephone, letter, email and text messages already mentioned, but also video conferences via software such as Skype or mobile phone apps such as WeChat, and social media such as Facebook and Twitter. In conclusion, methods of communication have greatly advanced over the past fifty years. While there are some similarities, such as the forms of communication , there are significant differences, chiefly in relation to the speed of communication and the range of communication tools available . There is no doubt that technology will continue to progress in future, and the advanced tools which we use today may one day also become outdated.

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Below is a checklist for compare and contrast essays. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.

There is a downloadable graphic organiser for brainstorming ideas for compare and contrast essays in the writing resources section.

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Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .

Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.

Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).

Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.

Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).

Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.

Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.

Module 4: Writing in College

Compare and contrast, learning objectives.

• Describe techniques for writing comparison essays

Compare & Contrast Essay

Figure 1 . Comparing and contrasting means looking for similarities and differences between two things, which you can see nicely in a Venn diagram.

Compare and contrast is a rhetorical style that discusses the similarities and differences of two or more things: ideas, concepts, items, places, etc. This rhetorical style is one that you’ll see often as a complete essay, but you may also use it quite a lot within paragraphs of any kind of essay in which you need to make some kind of comparison to help illustrate a point.

A compare and contrast essay does two things: It discusses the similarities and differences of at least two different things. First, you must find a basis of comparison to be sure that the two things have enough in common.

After that, you identify their differences. You may structure the compare and contrast essay using either the  alternating method  (stating one aspect of one thing and immediately discussing the same aspect of the other item and how they are similar or different) or the  block method  (discussing all of the aspects of one thing and then discussing all of the aspects of another).

Keep the following in mind when you write a comparison and contrast essay.

Basis of Comparison

In order for your essay to be a success, you need to have a basis of comparison about the things that you’re comparing.  Do the things have enough in common for it to make sense to write about them in a compare and contrast essay? For example, it would make sense to compare in-person and online courses because the two have enough in common to justify discussing the similarities and differences of the two types of courses.

Alternating Method

When you use the alternating method, you discuss one aspect of the first item and then immediately discuss the same aspect of the second item. You may discuss the amount of computer time required for an in-person course and an online course. You may state that while you need to work on the computer for both courses, you would need to spend twice as much time on the computer for the online course.

Block Method

When you use the block method, you discuss one subject and then discuss the next subject. Usually, you would write one paragraph discussing all aspects of the first subject and then write a second paragraph discussing all aspects of the second subject and so on.

For example, if you begin with a discussion of the online course, you might discuss the amount of computer time required, the costs, the typical student success rate, and the usual instructional pedagogy. Next, you would turn to your discussion of an in-person course and discuss each of those aspects for the in-person course.

With the block method, you do not go back and forth in your discussion. First, you focus on the first subject (the online course) and then you focus on the second subject (the face-to-face course).

Combination Method

Finally, when you combine the two, you’re writing a compare and contrast essay that follows the combination method. You may spend a couple of body paragraphs using the alternating method and then decide to switch to the block method for a deeper analysis of each of the subjects.

As you can imagine, no one approach always works best, depending on the subjects, which is probably why the combination method evolved. In any case, each of these methods is not meant as a formula; use these approaches to guide you as you master this style of writing.

Example Essay

Click here to see a traditional or typical sample compare and contrast essay from a beginning writing class. In this assignment, the student was asked to write an essay comparing and contrasting two items or concepts and to follow MLA guidelines in the essay.

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23 Compare and Contrast

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.

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. 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. Drawing distinctions between elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of that category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.

Figure 5.7 Apples, Green and Red

Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a comparison 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. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.

Writing at Work

Comparing and contrasting is also an evaluative tool. In order to make accurate evaluations about a given topic, you must first know the critical points of similarity and difference. Comparing and contrasting is a primary tool for many workplace assessments. You have likely compared and contrasted yourself to other colleagues. Employee advancements, pay raises, hiring, and firing are typically conducted using comparison and contrast. Comparison and contrast could be used to evaluate companies, departments, or individuals.

Exercise 13

Brainstorm an essay that leans toward contrast. Choose one of the following three categories. Pick two examples from each. Then come up with one similarity and three differences between the examples.

• Romantic comedies
• Internet search engines
• Cell phones

Exercise 14

Brainstorm an essay that leans toward comparison. Choose one of the following three items. Then come up with one difference and three similarities.

• Department stores and discount retail stores
• Fast food chains and fine dining restaurants
• Dogs and cats

The Structure of a Comparison and Contrast Essay

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. Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide useful knowledge to the reader. Take the following thesis as an example that focuses on contrast.

Thesis statement : Organic vegetables may cost more than those that are conventionally grown, but they are definitely worth every extra penny.

Here the thesis sets up the two subjects to be compared and contrasted (organic versus conventional vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.

You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two ways:

• According to the subjects themselves, discussing one then the other
• According to individual points, discussing each subject in relation to each point

The organizational structure you choose depends on the nature of the topic, your purpose, and your audience.

See the chart below, which diagrams the ways to organize the organic versus conventional vegetables thesis.

Figure 5.8 Organization Diagram

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 reader to such analysis. See the chart below for examples.

Figure 5.9 Phrases of Comparison and Contrast

Exercise 15

Create an outline for each of the items you chose in Exercises 13 and 14. Use the point-by-point organizing strategy for one of them, and use the subject organizing strategy for the other.

Writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay

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, introduce 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 state 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 reinforces your thesis while drawing a conclusion based on what you have presented. This conclusion is the “and so” statement for your essay, giving you the place to offer a judgement based on the examination you have just offered.

Many business presentations are conducted using comparison and contrast. The organizing strategies—by subject or individual points—could also be used for organizing a presentation. Keep this in mind as a way of organizing your content the next time you or a colleague have to present something at work.

Exercise 16

Choose two people who are significant in your life and have a similar relationship with you (two friends, two siblings, etc). Make a list of similarities and differences between these people. Consult your list, then draw a conclusion based on the presence of these similarities and differences. Outline the similarities and differences, then write a statement that offers an overall conclusion.

Assignment 5

Choose one of the outlines you created in Exercise 15 or 16, and write a full compare-and-contrast essay. Be sure to include an engaging introduction, a clear thesis, well-defined and detailed paragraphs, and a fitting conclusion that ties everything together.

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.
• Organize by the subjects themselves, one then 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.

External Links

“ Disability ” (https://tinyurl.com/y99te6e2) by Nancy Mairs: In “Disability,” writer Nancy Mairs discusses the experience of being a disabled person in a world focused on the able-bodied. It seems to be titled “Hers” but it is the correct essay.

“ Friending, Ancient or Otherwise ” (https://tinyurl.com/y85u8ae8) by Alex Wright: In “Friending, Ancient or Otherwise,” writer Alex Wright explores the evolution and purpose of friendship in the age of social media.

“ Sex, Lies and Conversation: Why Is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each Other ? ” (https://tinyurl.com/y95dpehx) by Deborah Tannen. In this essay, Tannen compares and contrasts conversation styles. You can view the essay  here  (https://tinyurl.com/y9vnjqv8) also.

Example Comparison and Contrast Essay

“A South African Storm”

By Allison Howard – Peace Corps Volunteer: South Africa (2003-2005)

It’s a Saturday afternoon in January in South Africa. When I begin the 45–minute walk to the shops for groceries, I can hear thunder cracking in the distance up the mountain in Mageobaskloof. But at 4 p.m. the sky is still light and bright and I am sure—famous last words—I will be fine without an umbrella.

Just the basics: eggs, bread, Diet Coke in a bag slung into the crook of my elbow. Halfway from town, two black South African women—domestic workers in the homes of white Afrikaner families—stop me with wide smiles. They know me; I’m the only white person in town who walks everywhere, as they do. They chatter quickly in northern Sotho: “Missus, you must go fast. Pula e tla na! The rain, it comes!” They like me, and it feels very important to me that they do.“Yebo, yebo, mma,” I say—Yes, it’s true—and I hurry along in flip-flops, quickening my pace, feeling good about our brief but neighborly conversation. These are Venda women.

My black South African friends tell me it’s easy to tell a Venda from a Shangaan from a Xhosa from a Pedi. “These ones from Venda , they have wide across the nose and high in the cheekbones,” they say. But I don’t see it; I’m years away from being able to distinguish the nuances of ethnicity. Today, I know these women are Vendas simply because of their clothing: bright stripes of green and yellow and black fabric tied at one shoulder and hanging quite like a sack around their bodies. They’ve already extended a kindness to me by speaking in northern Sotho. It’s not their language but they know I don’t speak a word of Afrikaans (though they don’t understand why; Afrikaans is the language of white people). They know I struggle with Sotho and they’re trying to help me learn. So they speak Sotho to me and they’re delighted and amused by my fumbling responses. And I am, quite simply, delighted by their delight.

The Venda ladies are right: the rain, it comes. Lightly at first, and by habit I begin trotting to hurry my way home. Just a little rain at first and there are plenty of us out in it. I can see others up ahead on the street and others still just leaving the shops to get back before the real rain begins.

The people who are walking along this swath of tar road are black. Black people don’t live in this neighborhood—or in my town at all, for the most part. They work and board here as domestic workers, nannies, gardeners. Their families live in black townships and rural villages—some just outside of my town; others far away, in places like Venda.

Today, we’re walking together in the rain, and I’m quickening my pace because—after all , it’s raining . That’s what you do in the rain. And even though it’s coming down noticeably harder, it’s 80 degrees and I’m not cold, I’m just wet. My hair is stuck to my forehead and my T-shirt is soaked … and I’m the only one running for cover. And I think: So what? It’s just water and in the middle of the January summer, it’s warm, refreshing water. Why run? Why do we run from the rain?

In my life back in the United States, I might run because I was carrying a leather handbag, or because I wore an outfit that shouldn’t get wet. I would run because rain dishevels and messes things up. Mostly though, we run because we just do; it’s a habit. I’ve done it a hundred times: running to my car or the subway station with a newspaper sheltering my head. I have never not quickened my pace in the rain until today.

It took all of my 27 years and a move to Africa , where I don’t have a leather handbag to shelter or a pretty outfit to protect. I’m wearing an old cotton skirt and a T-shirt, and I’m drenched, and I love it. I learn things here in the most ordinary circumstances. And I feel like a smarter, better woman today because I got groceries in the rain.

But on the long walk home, positively soaked and smiling like a fool, I notice a car pulling over and a man yelling in Afrikaans to get in, get in. I look in the direction I’ve come from and several meters behind me is a woman with a baby tied to her back and an elderly man carrying bags, leading a young boy by the hand. On the road ahead, a woman about my age carries a parcel wrapped in plastic, balanced precariously on her head. There are maybe 20 people walking with me in my reverie of rain and they are black. And the man in the car is white and he’s gesturing frantically for me to get in. Why me? Why not the others? Because I’m white and it’s about race. Everything is about race here.

This man in the car is trying to do something kind and neighborly. He wants to help me and his gesture is right, but his instincts are so wrong. How do you resent someone who is, for no benefit of his own, trying to help? But I do. I resent him and I resent the world he lives in that taught him such selective kindness. This whole event unravels in a few seconds’ time. He’s leaned over and opened the car door, urging me in … and I get in. And we speed past my fellow walkers and he drops me at my doorstep before I have time to think of anything besides giving him directions.

It feels like a mistake because I’m ashamed to think what the Venda women would have felt if he’d ignored them and they had watched me climb into that car. In some ways, the whole episode seems absurd. I’m not going to atone for 400 years of South African history by walking with black people in the rain. If I’d refused his ride, he wouldn’t have thought anything besides the fact that I was certifiably crazy. That’s the thing about being here: I’m not going to change anything. But I believe it matters in some infinitesimal way that people like the Venda women, and the dozens of people who may walk alongside me on any given day, know that I’m there. In black South African culture, it is polite to greet every person you pass. That’s what they do, so I do it, too. On the occasional morning, someone might greet me as “sesi,” sister. I have to believe that matters; I know it matters to me.

I was disappointed in myself for getting into the car because I acted according to the same habit that makes us think rain an inconvenience. Just as we run from the rain, I hopped into that car because I’m supposed to. Conventionally, it makes sense. But convention compels us to do so many things that don’t make any sense at all. Convention misinforms our instincts. And in a larger sense, it is convention that propels Afrikaner culture anachronistically into the future. Ten years after the supposed end of apartheid, I’m living in a world of institutionalized racism. Convention becomes institution—and it’s oppressive and it’s unjust. I know that if I’m going to make it here for two more years, I need to walk in the rain. It’s a small, wasted gesture, but it’s an uncorrupted instinct that makes me feel human.

So much about living here feels like that fraction of a second when the Afrikaner man was appealing to my conventional sensibilities and the people on the street were appealing to my human instincts. It may feel unnatural to reject those sensibilities just as, at first, it feels unnatural to walk in the rain. But if I lose a hold on my instincts here, I’ll fail myself and I’ll fail to achieve those tiny things that matter so much. It’s simple and it’s small; and it’s everything. Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Indeed. Let it rain.

Example Comparison and Contrast Essay #2

Comparing and Contrasting London and Washington, DC

Both Washington, 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, 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 the 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 1790s. 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.

Both Washington, DC, and London offer a wide array of museums that harbor many of the world’s most prized treasures. While Washington, DC, has the National Gallery of Art and several other Smithsonian galleries, London’s art scene and galleries have a definite edge in this category. From the Tate Modern to the British National Gallery, London’s art ranks among the world’s best. This difference and advantage has much to do with London and Britain’s historical depth compared to that of the United States. 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. 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 clubs and pubs that 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. Both cities share a very expensive cost of living—both in terms of housing and shopping. A downtown one-bedroom apartment in DC can easily cost $1,800 per month, and a similar “flat” in London may double that amount. These high costs create socioeconomic disparity among the residents. Although both cities’ residents are predominantly wealthy, both have a significantly large population of poor and homeless. Perhaps the most significant difference between the resident demographics is the racial makeup. Washington, DC, is a “minority majority” city, which means the majority of its citizens are races other than white. In 2009, according to the US Census, 55 percent of DC residents were classified as “Black or African American” and 35 percent of its residents were classified as “white.” London, by contrast, has very few minorities—in 2006, 70 percent of its population was “white,” while only 10 percent was “black.” The racial demographic differences between the cities is drastic.

Even though Washington, DC, and London are major capital cities of English-speaking countries 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.

Attributions

Content taken from Chapter 5 – Rhetorical Modes  by Jenifer Kurtz is licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

English 101: Journey Into Open Copyright © 2021 by Christine Jones is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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7: The Compare/Contrast Essay

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• Page ID 87190
• 7.1: The Compare/Contrast Essay – Similarities and Differences Come to Light
• 7.2: Compare/Contrast Essay Freewrite #1
• 7.3: Compare/Contrast Essay Freewrite #2
• 7.4: Other Compare/Contrast Topics
• 7.5: Submit Your Compare/Contrast Essay (1st Draft)
• 7.6: Peer Exchange – Getting Feedback from Others
• Contrast Essay (2nd
• 7.7: Submit Your Compare/Contrast Essay (2nd/Final Draft)