There are two main ways to organize a compare and contrast essay: point-by-point or topic. In a point-by-point structure, each point of comparison is discussed about both subjects before moving on to the next point, following an ABAB pattern. In a topic structure, all information about the first subject is discussed together followed by all information about the second subject in an AAAA BBB pattern. The document also provides examples of language structures useful for comparing and contrasting and advises choosing a topic that offers interesting insights rather than obvious comparisons.