Writing a Comparison or Contrast Essay
To write a comparison or contrast essay
that is easy to follow, first decide what the similarities or
differences are by writing lists on scrap paper. Which are more
significant, the similarities or the differences? Plan to discuss
the less significant first, followed by the more significant.
It is much easier to discuss ONLY the similarities or ONLY the
differences, but you can also do both.
Then for organizing your essay, choose
one of the plans described below, whichever best fits your list.
Finally, and this is important, what main point (thesis) might
you make in the essay about the two people/things being compared?
Do not begin writing until you have a point that the similarities
or differences you want to use help to prove. Your point should
help shape the rest of what you say: For example, if you see that
one of your similarities or differences is unrelated to the point,
throw it out and think of one that is related. Or revise your
point. Be sure this main point is clearly and prominently expressed
somewhere in the essay.
Plan A: Use Plan A if you have many small similarities
and/or differences. After your introduction, say everything you
want to say about the first work or character, and then go on
in the second half of the essay to say everything about the second
work or character, comparing or contrasting each item in the second
with the same item in the first. In this format, all the comparing
or contrasting, except for the statement of your main point, which
you may want to put in the beginning, goes on in the SECOND HALF
of the piece.
Plan B: Use Plan B if you have only a few, larger similarities
or differences. After your introduction, in the next paragraph
discuss one similarity or difference in BOTH works or characters,
and then move on in the next paragraph to the second similarity
or difference in both, then the third, and so forth, until you're
done. If you are doing both similarities and differences, juggle
them on scrap paper so that in each part you put the less important
first ("X and Y are both alike in their social positions
. . ."), followed by the more important ("but X is much
more aware of the dangers of his position than is Y"). In
this format, the comparing or contrasting goes on in EACH of the
middle parts.