compare and contrast example essay college

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.
To write a compare/contrast essay, you’ll need to make NEW connections and/or express NEW differences between two things.  The key word here is NEW! Choose 2 things that could go in the same category, but are also quite different. Good choices might be: Basketball & Football (both sports) Horses & Cats (both animals, but different in many ways) Writing & Singing (both art forms, but different in many ways) Gather your ideas by writing down characteristics of each thing.  Note the differences and similarities between them. Ask yourself these important questions before you begin writing your draft: Does my instructor want me to compare AND contrast, or am I only being asked to do one of those things? Some instructors prefer that you only write about the differences between two things, while others want you to focus on explaining the similarities as well.  Either way, you'll need to make sure that your thesis statement reflects your instructor's expectations. For example, if I wanted to write about Social Networking sites, I'd need to write different thesis statements depending on my compare/contrast assignment.   Sample thesis statement for contrast paper:  In terms of social networking sites, Facebook focuses on presenting your daily life to others, whereas MySpace allows you to focus more on demonstrating your personal style. Sample thesis statement for compare/contrast paper:  While both Facebook and MySpace allow you to meet other users who have similar interests, only MySpace allows you to demonstrate your personal style.        Are these 2 things similar and/or different, in at least one meaningful way? If you want to write a successful compare/contrast essay, you'll need to avoid writing about really obvious differences and similarities.  For example: We all know that horses are larger than cats. We also know that basketball teams contain less players than.
What is a comparison essay? A comparison essay (or a Compare and Contrast essay) is a commonly used type of writing assignment in various classes of high school and college, from art to science. In a comparison essay you,the student, should critically analyze any two subjects, finding and pointing out their similarities and/or dissimilarities. Depending on your assignment, such essays can be comparative only (looking only at similarities), contrasting only (pointing out the differences) or both comparative and contrasting.Choosing a topic for comparison essay In order to write a good essay, first of all you need to have a good topic for it, i.e. a topic that lets you easily demonstrate your writing skills and finally get a high grade without thinking too much. What does it means specifically regarding the comparison and contrast essay? Very simple: the subjects must be easy comparable, so you don’t need to think too hard to point out their similarities and / or differences. For example: A big college campus and a small college campus World War I and World War II Two perspectives on the same place: morning and night William Shakespeare with William Wordsworth Windows vs. Linux Using the following links, you can find a lot of good comparison topics for your essay: 100 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics 50 Compare and Contrast Topics List of Compare and Contrast Essay Topics Finding and Using the Right Compare and Contrast Essay Topics and Ideas Comparison essay structure Considering the right structure for your essay is one of the key points of success. Sticking to a recommended essay structure is the only way to properly outline and write it, paragraph by paragraph from the introduction to conclusion, without mistakes. There are two recommended patterns for a comparison essay: point-by-point (or alternating ) pattern and subject-by-subject (or block ) pattern.
Note: The following essays were not edited by EssayEdge Editors. They appear as they were initially reviewed by admissions officers. SAMPLE ESSAY: Columbia, Athlete and Musician (sailing and bass guitar) Write a chapter from your autobiography. Chapter 34: One Memorable Sailing Practice The sun's glare off the water forces my watery eyes to close even more. Spray leaps over the bow and blocks my vision as it slams into me like hundreds of little pebbles. The salt water has irritated my eyes enough already, but I am only beginning my practice for today. The Buzzards Bay Regatta is only three days away, and I must get comfortable with the boat. Skimming over the waves on a screaming plane, the boat senses every movement. The boat is like a leaf being blown across a pond. With only the rear end of the hull in the water, I am half flying and concentrate on positioning my weight aft for the most speed. I shuffle my butt half a foot aft and the boat rounds up towards the wind, but I fight the motion off with the helm and regain my original course. With one hand on the tiller and the other holding the mainsheet, I see that my hands are in the same position when I play my bass guitar. Comparisons between the two mesh together in my mind as I realize the similarities between bass guitar and sailing. I recall the practicing involved in bass and see how sailing requires the same diligence. My thoughts no longer focus on fine tuning my sailing, but they vividly connect bass guitar playing and sailing. I probe to find out what the essences of sailing and music are. While on the water in a sailboat, I accept the elements as they present themselves to me. Given certain wind and wave conditions, I manipulate the sailboat to attain the best harmony between by boat and its immediate environment. I imagine the sailboat is an extension of my body and plunge, accelerate, and rock with.
TIP SheetWRITING A COMPARE/CONTRAST PAPER A compare and contrast essay examines two or more topics (objects, people, or ideas, for example), comparing their similarities and contrasting their differences. You may choose to focus exclusively on comparing, exclusively on contrasting, or on both-or your instructor may direct you to do one or both. First, pick useable subjects and list their characteristics. In fact, their individual characteristics determine whether the subjects are useable. After that, choose a parallel pattern of organization and effective transitions to set your paper above the merely average. 1. Picking a subjectFocus on things that can obviously be compared or contrasted. For instance, if you are examining an idea (political or philosophical) examine the opposite of that idea. Or, if you are examining a person, like a president, pick another president for comparison or contrast. Don't try to compare a president and a cab driver, or existentialism and a legislative bill on car tax refunds. 2. Listing characteristicsDivide a piece of paper into two sides. One side is for the first subject, the other for the second subject. Then, begin to list the similarities and differences that immediately come to mind. Concentrate on characteristics that either are shared or are opposing between the two subjects. Alternately, you may construct a Venn diagram of intersecting circles, listing the subjects' differences to either side and their similarities where the circles intersect. Keep in mind that for a balanced paper, you want to make point-by-point, parallel comparisons (or contrasts). Similarities between my math and English instructors:Both are welcoming and available to students.Both are organized and keep a neat office.Both are knowledgeable and professional. Differences between my math and English instructorsMath teacher listens to classic rock.        .