The document provides guidance on writing a comparison and contrast essay. It discusses the purpose of comparing and contrasting subjects and how to prepare by brainstorming similarities and differences and establishing a dominant idea. It also covers writing an effective thesis statement, organizing the essay using alternating or point-by-point structures, and using transitional phrases to smoothly discuss each subject. The document emphasizes equally analyzing both subjects and discussing the same elements for each to provide a clear, well-structured comparison and contrast.

1. Writing the Comparison and
Contrast Essay

2. What is the purpose of
comparison and contrast?
Contrasts draw out differences between two
subjects.
Comparisons outline both similarities and
differences between two subjects.
Demonstrates how one subject is superior in
some way to the other.
Demonstrates how two subjects, which appear
dissimilar, are actually similar.
Instead of judgmental, may be informational.

3. How do I prepare to write a comparison
and contrast essay?
Brainstorm everything about two subjects.
Identify points that are relevant to both subjects.
Establish a dominant idea after examining points
of similarity and difference. This is the basis of
the comparison/contrast.
Select those traits to focus upon based upon the
dominant idea.
Be sure these traits are subject to the purpose —
desired accomplishment.

4. Writing the Thesis Statement

5. How do I write a thesis statement for a
comparison and contrast essay?
Decide to what extent the similarities
between subjects will be stressed, and to
what extent their differences will be
stressed.
Create a thesis statement that reflects
that decision.
Your opinion about the two topics
becomes your thesis statement.

6. Examples: Weak Thesis Statements
Hitler and Stalin are somewhat alike and
somewhat different.
I can see some similarities and some
differences too between Hitler and Stalin.
Stalin and Hitler are both influential
leaders.

7. Examples: Better Thesis Statements
Hitler and Stalin were powerful and
strategic leader who greatly influenced
World War II.
Although Hitler and Stalin were both
powerful and strategic leaders, Hitler had a
greater impact on World War II.

8. Organizing a Comparison and
Contrast Essay

9. Outline -- Alternating
I. Introduction
a) Hook
b) Thesis
c) Supporting Statements
II. Background
a) Hitler
b) Stalin
III. Leadership Style
a) Hitler
b) Stalin
IV. Impact on WW II
a) Hitler
b) Stalin
IV. Conclusion
a) Emphasize Major Ties
b) So What? Evaluate
c) Clincher

10. Point by Point Comparison
Good for longer, more complex papers
Make a point about one subject, and then follow it
with a comparable point about the other subject.
Alternating pattern
Be careful not to fall into a monotonous, back and
forth movement between points. To avoid this
problem, vary sentence structure as you move from
point to point.

11. Paragraph Organization
--Alternating--
Background Leadership
Strategies
Impact on
WW II
Hitler ↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
Stalin ↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
2nd Paragraph 3rd Paragraph 4th Paragraph

12. Paragraph Organization
--Alternating--
Background
Leadership
Strategies
Impact on
WW II
Hitler Pt. 1 born
Pt. 2 parents
pt. 3 parent
rel.
↓
↓
↓
↓
Stalin Pt. 1 born
Pt. 2 parents
pt. 3 parent
rel.
↓
↓
↓
↓
2nd Paragraph 3rd Paragraph 4th Paragraph

13. Topic Sentence: The childhoods of Adolf Hitler and
Josef Stalin greatly impacted the men they grew up to be.
Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 in Braunau am Inn, a
town in Austria-Hungary, close to the border with the
German Empire (Adolf Hitler”). Josef Stalin was born
on December 18, 1878 in the small town of Gori, Georgia,
then part of the Russian empire (“Stalin”). Both
Hitler's parents came from poor peasant families. Stalin was
born the son of Besarion Jughashvili, a cobbler, and Ketevan
Geladze, a washerwoman (Smith 2). Hitler loved his mother
very much, but he had a very difficult relationship with his
father (Jones 3). Like Hitler, Stalin was fond of his mother
and had a tumultuous relationship with his father, an
alcoholic who savagely beat him (Smith 5).

14. What are the rules of thumb with
comparison and contrast essays?
Be sure to discuss both subjects equally in
terms of coverage.
Be sure to discuss the same elements for each
subject; do not discuss one element for one
subject and not do so for the other!
Have a clear purpose to achieve in the
comparison/contrast.

15. Using Indicators/Transitions

16. Why do I need to use
indicators/Transitions?
Good comparison or contrast essays feature the
use of indicator words to convey to the reader
at any given moment whether a comparison or
contrast is being made and the nature of it.

17. Avoid Choppy Essays
• You must use transitional phrases to ensure a
smooth transition from one point to another and
from one subject to another.
• Without transitions, your argument will be
difficult to follow and seem to jump back and
forth without a clear point.
• See compare/contrast transitions on the next
slide.

18. Example Indicators/Transitions
To Compare
– also
– as
– in the same way
– like
– likewise
– similarly
– comparable
– equally
– in addition
-- both
-- too
To Contrast
-although
-but
-even though
-however
-on the other hand
-otherwise
-yet
-still
-conversely
-as opposed to
-different from
-whereas
- while
- nevertheless
- in contrast