B. Murphy Hunt, Northeastern University

1. Comparison/Contrast
Paper Guide
B. Murphy Hunt
Northeastern University

2. A bit about comparison/contrast...
When you compare and contrast, of course, you demonstrate the similarities and
differences between two or more things.
While this type of assignment is something that you have likely done back in high
school and prior, there is significant composition theory behind a more formal
comparison/contrast paper.
Traditionally, there are two ways to complete a successful paper. For the sake of
your assignment this week, the following will be laid out assuming you are only
comparing/contrasting two things. The concepts can best be explained through
examples. For the slides ahead, to make things easy to comprehend, assume we
are talking about chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal cookies.

3. Approach #1: Point-by-point
The point-by-point approach allows you to compare/contrast by the trait or
aspect you are comparing. First, you compare/contrast both subjects by one trait.
Then, you compare/contrast both subjects by the next trait. Repeat as necessary.
So, for paragraph one, your topic might be sweetness. You might say how
chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal cookies are both sweet, but chocolate chip
cookies are sweeter.
For paragraph two, you might choose ingredients. You might say how chocolate
chip cookies and oatmeal cookies have similar ingredients; however, you would
also explain the differences.
In this way, you are comparing and contrasting by point.

4. Outline of what point-by-point looks like:
Introduction → ends on a thesis statement.
Body paragraph 1 (or however many it takes)→ compare and contrast the
sweetness of both types of cookies
Body paragraph 2 (or however many it takes)→ compare and contrast the
ingredients of both types of cookies
Body paragraph 3 (or however many it takes)→ compare and contrast the texture
of both types of cookies
Repeat for more body paragraphs, if necessary.
Conclusion

5. Approach #2: Subject-by-subject
The subject-by-subject approach allows you to compare/contrast by discussing all
information about one subject first. Then, you discuss all information about the
second subject. Finally, you compare and contrast the information presented,
afterward.
So, for paragraph one (you might need more than one), your topic would be
oatmeal cookies. You would discuss all relevant aspects of oatmeal cookies,
taking care to include everything the reader will need to know about them.
For paragraph two (you might need more than two), your topic would be
chocolate chip cookies. You would discuss all relevant aspects of chocolate
chip cookies, taking care to include everything the reader will need to know about
them.

6. Approach #2: Subject-by-subject (continued)
Then, once you’ve presented all information about both types of cookies, you
would take however many paragraphs necessary to point out all of the similarities
and differences between the two.
In this way, you are comparing and contrasting by subject.
*It is important to note that subject-by-subject works best for short papers only.
As you can imagine, if you were to write a ten-page paper and only
compare/contrast at the end, it is likely that the reader would forget exactly what
you said on, say, page 2 for subject 1.
For your assignment this week, you are welcome to choose either format, since
you are only writing approximately two pages.

7. Outline of what this might look like:
Introduction → ends on a thesis statement.
First sequence of body paragraphs→ discuss all relevant information about
oatmeal cookies in detail
Second sequence of body paragraph→ discuss all relevant information about
chocolate chip cookies in detail
Final sequence of body paragraphs→ compare and contrast the information you
just detailed about both subjects
Conclusion