2. Contents
Introduction to Comparison Essay
Comparing and Contrasting
Graphic Organizers
– Basic Block Style
– Block Comparison Style
– Point-by-Point Comparison Style
Connectors and Transitions
3. Introduction to Comparison Essay
A comparison essay is one of the most
common forms of essay writing. In good
comparison essay, the writers usually discusses
two subjects, and these two subjects can be
anything- people, objects, places, or idea.
Even though this kind of writing is commonly
called “comparison”, writer can focus on only
comparison (similarities), only
contrast(differences), or comparison-contrast
(writing about both similarities and differences).
4. Comparing and Contrasting
Comparing and contrasting are very common
in academic writing.
The purpose of comparison is to show how
people, place, thing, or idea are similar.
The purpose of contrast is to show how
people, place, thing, or idea are different.
5. Organization of a Comparison Essay
Writers organize a comparison essay in
three major ways. There are called:
Basic block
Block comparison
Point-by-point comparison
6. Basic Block Style
The first style first introduces the similarities
between two objects and then the
differences, or vice versa.
7. Introductory paragraph
Thesis statement
Body paragraph 1
Similarities between A and B
Body paragraph 2
Differences between A and B
Concluding paragraph
Basic block style look like this:
8. Block Comparison Style
The second style also has two body paragraph.
However, this style describes one item only in
the first body paragraph and describes a
second item in the second body paragraph.
The second body paragraph show how the
second item compare with the first one by
using the same categories of comparison.
9. Introductory paragraph
Thesis statement
Body paragraph 1
Point about A
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Body paragraph 2
Point about B in comparison to A
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Concluding paragraph
Block comparison style look like this:
10. Point-by-point Comparison Style
The third style is a comparison-and-contrast
essay. This style has several body paragraph,
and there are as many body paragraphs as
there are points of comparison.
11. Introductory paragraph
Thesis statement
Body paragraph 1
Point 1: A and B
Body paragraph 2
Point 2: A and B
Concluding paragraph
Point-by-point comparison style look like this:
Body paragraph 3
Point 3: A and B
11
12. Connectors and Transitions
These are the lists of common comparing and
contrasting structures for connector and transitions.
Comparing (within a sentences)
o Compare to + noun
o The same + noun + as
o As + adj./adv. + as
o Like + noun
o Not only……but also……
o Both …….and…….
o Also
o S + v, and S + V
o S + V, and S + V, too
13. 13
Comparing (Between sentences)
o In addition, S + V
o Similarly, S + V
o Likewise, S + V
Contrasting (within a sentences)
Although / Even though / though + S + V, S + V
Unlike + noun
Whereas / while + S + V, S + V
S + V, but S + V
14. 14
Contrasting (between sentences)
Conversely, S + V
However, S + V
On one hand, S + V
On the other hand, S + V
In contrast, S + V
Nevertheless, S + V
15. Model Essay1 Outline
Title: The Getty and the Met
I. Introductory Paragraph
Thesis statement: While these……their similarities.
II. Body Paragraph 1 (similarities)
Popularity
Used as movie location
III. Body Paragraph 2 ( differences)
Architecture
Location
Relationship to the art they display
IV. Concluding Paragraph
16. 16
Model Essay 2 Outline
Title: A Tale of Two Towns
I. Introductory Paragraph
Thesis statement: Although the people in these two
town, Kristiansand and Arendal, think that they have
nothing in common, in my opinion , they have far more
similarities than differences.
II. Body Paragraph 1 : location of the two towns
III. Body Paragraph 2 : size of the two towns
IV. Body Paragraph 3 : their natural beauty
V. Body Paragraph 4 : business in the two town
VI. Body Paragraph 5 : the people in the two town
VII. Concluding Paragraph
17. 17
Model Essay3 Outline
Title: East Side Story
I. Introductory Paragraph
Thesis statement: Not surprisingly, life is a lot easier on
the west side of town than it is on the east side of
town.
II. Body Paragraph 1 : on the west side of the
town
Park and open space
Security
The noise
III. Body Paragraph 2 : on the east side of the
town
Park and open space
Security
The noise
IV. Concluding Paragraph
(in comparison to the west
side of town)