This document discusses comparison and contrast essays. It notes that comparison essays emphasize similarities while contrast essays emphasize differences. When choosing topics, they should have something in common and be developed using the same basis for comparison. The essay can be organized with a block or point-by-point format. Appropriate transitions should be used to link ideas for comparison such as "like" or "also" and for contrast such as "however" or "but".

1. Comparison and Contrast
 Comparison
 Emphasizes similarities
 Contrast
 Emphasizes differences

2. Traits of Comparison-Contrast
Topics
 The topics should have something in common
 Australia and U.S. are both countries
 The topics should be developed using the same
basis of comparison
 Geography, Population, Government, etc.
 Organize subject-by-subject (Block) format or
point-by-point (Alternating) format
 Link ideas using appropriate transitions

3. Organizing Using “Block” aka
Subject-by-Subject Format
 Australia
 Geography
 Population
 Government
 U.S.
 Geography
 Population
 Government

4. Organizing Using “Alternating”
aka Point-by-Point Format
 Geography
 Australia
 U.S.
 Population
 Australia
 U.S.
 Government
 Australia
 U.S.

5. Link Ideas Using Appropriate
Transitions
Comparison:
 Is similar to
 Both
 Also
 Too
 As well
 Like
Contrast
 On the other
hand
 However
 But
 Although
 Unlike
 While

6. Link Ideas Using Appropriate
Transitions
Comparison:
 Is similar to
 Both
 Also
 Too
 As well
 Like
Contrast
 On the other
hand
 However
 But
 Although
 Unlike
 While