WRITING THE COMPARE/CONTRAST ESSAY ENG 093 QVCC - Fall 2008

Compare/Contrast Designed to show relationship between two objects Focuses on how the objects are the same and different Results in a meaningful analysis of what these differences and similarities are mean

Designed to show relationship between two objects

Focuses on how the objects are the same and different

Results in a meaningful analysis of what these differences and similarities are mean

Planning Phase Apples Apples are red Apples are fruit Apples grow on trees Apples are harvested in the fall Oranges Oranges are orange Oranges are fruit Oranges grow on trees Oranges are harvested in the summer Note the similarities and differences by looking at both objects side by side

Apples

Apples are red

Apples are fruit

Apples grow on trees

Apples are harvested in the fall

Oranges

Oranges are orange

Oranges are fruit

Oranges grow on trees

Oranges are harvested in the summer

Style 1 Introduction Outline all details of topic 1 Outline all details of topic 2 Analyze topics 1 and 2 together Conclusion

Introduction

Outline all details of topic 1

Outline all details of topic 2

Analyze topics 1 and 2 together

Conclusion

Style 1 - Example Introduction What is an orange What color is an orange When do you harvest oranges Where do oranges grow What is an apple What color is an apple When do you harvest apples Where do apples grow Apples and oranges differ in color and their harvest dates Apples and oranges are similar because they are both fruit and both grown on trees Conclusion

Introduction

What is an orange

What color is an orange

When do you harvest oranges

Where do oranges grow

What is an apple

What color is an apple

When do you harvest apples

Where do apples grow

Apples and oranges differ in color and their harvest dates

Apples and oranges are similar because they are both fruit and both grown on trees

Conclusion

Style 2 Introduction First issue – discuss topics 1 and 2 Second issue – discuss topics 1 and 2 Third Issue – discuss topics 1 and 2 Conclusion

Introduction

First issue – discuss topics 1 and 2

Second issue – discuss topics 1 and 2

Third Issue – discuss topics 1 and 2

Conclusion

Style 2 - Example Introduction Fruit or vegetables Apples are fruits Oranges are fruits Color Apples are red Oranges are orange Growth Apples grow on trees Oranges grow on trees Harvest times Apples are harvested in the fall Oranges are harvested in the summer Conclusion

Introduction

Fruit or vegetables

Apples are fruits

Oranges are fruits

Color

Apples are red

Oranges are orange

Growth

Apples grow on trees

Oranges grow on trees

Harvest times

Apples are harvested in the fall

Oranges are harvested in the summer

Conclusion

What NOT to do No bias Compare and contrast only asks you to point out similarities and differences Imbalance Make sure to address both objects equally Simply list Although you do not have to form an opinion or choose a side, you do need to make the relationship between the two objects clear. Do not just list their differences – say why this is significant.

No bias

Compare and contrast only asks you to point out similarities and differences

Imbalance

Make sure to address both objects equally

Simply list

Although you do not have to form an opinion or choose a side, you do need to make the relationship between the two objects clear. Do not just list their differences – say why this is significant.