compare or constrast essays

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.
Exercise: In this video, we will discuss the structure and organization of a.
LEO: Literacy Education OnlineComparison/Contrast Essays When you compare things, you show their similarities; when you contrast things, you show their differences. We can really understand only those things that are familiar to us or similar to things we already understand, so comparing and contrasting the unfamiliar with the familiar is one of the most important techniques for writing. You can, and probably do, use comparison and contrast to describe things, to define things, to analyze things, to make an argument -- to do, in fact, almost any kind of writing. When they are comparing and contrasting, for example, two ideas, like corsets and footbinding, most writers structure their essays one of four ways. First compare, then contrast (or vice versa). Writers using a comparison/contrast structure might begin by discussing the ways in which corsets are similar to footbinding, then they move to a description of the ways in which the two ideas are different. This method is probably the one used most commonly.   I. introduction  II. Corsets and footbinding are similar. III. Corsets and footbinding are different. IV. conclusion A quick outline comparing and then contrasting corsets and footbinding shows one way that such a paper might be structured. This structure focuses on the comparison and contrast instead of on the two ideas (e.g., corsetry and footbinding) being compared and contrasted. Clearly, the sequence is important. If you begin with the comparison, then the contrast will get emphasis - the logical movement is from thinking about similarities to thinking about differences. If you begin by contrasting the ideas (and then move toward a comparison), the similarities get emphasis. First do one idea, then do the other. Writers might compare and contrast ideas by treating one idea thoroughly before taking up the second one. This method is probably the one most.
Compare and contrast essays are the other big essay types in academic writing. These essays will follow a specific question and are fairly easy to complete. There are several ways to write this type of essay. The most important thing to remember is structure. Many wonderful essays fall victim to the woes of bad structure, making any ingenuity to fall by the wayside. Go over the rules on how to write a general essay, and then structure your compare/contrast essay in one of the following two formats: Introduction Your introduction — like the five-paragraph-essay, should open generally (with a quotation, anecdote, generalization), and lead into the thesis statement. Topic 1 This next portion of your essay (which may consist of one paragraph or several) should cover only the first topic of the comparison and contrast. Compare/Contrast essays take two topics and illustrate how they are similar and dissimilar. Do not mention topic 2 in this first portion. Topic 2 This next portion of your essay (which may also consist of one or more paragraphs) should cover the second of the two topics. Do not discuss Topic 1 in this section. Since you have already gone into great detail about it, you may allude to Topic 1 briefly; however, do not analyze Topic 1 in this section. This portion of the paper is to discuss Topic 2 in great detail. Topics 1 and 2 Together Now that you have analyzed both Topic 1 and Topic 2 independently, now it is time to analyze them together. This section may also be one or several paragraphs. Conclusion The conclusion — like the introduction — should be a generalization of the thesis. This paragraph should express your certainty and absolute knowledge on the subject matter. You should reaffirm your thesis (essentially restate it in new words) and show how you've proven it. Introduction Your introduction — like the five-paragraph-essay, should open generally.