This document provides information and guidance on writing a comparison/contrast essay. It defines what a comparison/contrast essay is and explains that the goal is to point out similarities and differences between two or more topics. The document discusses the two main organizational patterns for these essays - subject by subject, where each topic is discussed separately, and point by point, where each key point is discussed together for all topics. It provides examples of how to outline essays using these structures and suggests transition words that can be used to help compare and contrast topics. Finally, it offers guidance on writing an effective thesis statement that clearly defines what will be compared or contrasted.

1. Writing Comparison/ Contrast
Essay

2. What is a Compare- Contrast Essay?

3. To compare means to point out
similarities.
To contrast means to point out
differences

4.  Comparisons are discussions in which a
student finds similarities between two or
more ideas or things.
 Contrasts are discussions in which a student
indicates differences between two or more
ideas or things.
 Comparison/contrast essays can be very
dull without the use of some imagination.

6. A Comparison/contrast essay
shows how things are alike or
different to help the reader choose
between alternatives.

7.  A comparison and contrast essay examines the similarities
(compares) and differences (contrasts) between two things in
order to make a point.
 In all cases, the similarities and differences lead to a
convincing conclusion. This is an important feature in a
comparison and contrast essay.
 It is not simply a list of similarities and differences; it
establishes an opinion about two items and compares and
contrasts them to support that opinion.
 The purpose of a comparison and contrast essay is to
examine:
a. The similarities (compare) between two things in order to
make a point about them.
b. The differences (contrast) between two things in order to
make a point about them.
c. The similarities (compare) and/or differences (contrast)
between two things in order to make a point.

8. Will I compare or contrast?

9. Mainly contrasting:
If you want to talk about why dogs and cats are
different, comparison probably should be a major
component of the paper; they need not be developed
beyond a paragraph or two.
Mainly comparing:
Suppose the topic is dogs and cats, but the thesis
attempts to discuss why dogs and cats are similar
(because of their status as the most popular
domestic animals, perhaps, or because of the
comfort both can afford to human beings). In a
paper emphasizing comparison, acknowledge the
contrasts, and then spend the majority of the time
discussing the similarities.

10. Whether you decide to write about
similarities or differences, you will
have to decide how to organize your
essay.
You can choose between two
patterns of organization:

12. Subject by Subject: (aka, Block-by-Block):
Say everything (your details) about your
first subject and then you say everything
about your second subject.
The same points should be discussed for
both subjects in the same order.

13. Subject by subject Outline
I -Introduction: lead-in and thesis
II- Body:
Topic sentence
Subject 1
point 1
point 2
point 3
Topic sentence
Subject 2
point 1
point 2
point 3
III. Conclusion

14. Topic Sentence: Fred Flintstone
and Ralph Kramden are remarkably
similar.
I. Fred Flintstone
A. Appearance
B. Personality
C. Friend
D. Activity
E. Job
II. Ralph Kramden
A. Appearance
B. Personality
C. Friend
D. Activity
E. Job
I. Subject A
A. Point #1
B. Point #2
C. Point #3
D. Point #4
E. Point #5
II. Subject B
A. Point #1
B. Point #2
C. Point #3
D. Point #4
E. Point #5

17. Point-by-Point: (aka, Topic-by-Topic):
You support and explain your thesis
statement by discussing each point of
comparison or contrast, switching back
and forth between subjects

18. Point by Point Outline
I- Introduction: Lead-in and Thesis
II- Body:
Topic sentence
point 1
subject 1
subject 2
Topic sentence
point 2
subject 1
subject 2
Topic sentence
point 3
subject 1
subject 2
III - Conclusion

19. Topic Sentence: Fred Flintstone and
Ralph Kramden are remarkably
similar.
I. Appearance
A. Fred
B. Ralph
II. Personality
A. Fred
B. Ralph
III. Friends
A. Fred (Barney Rubble)
B. Ralph (Ed Norton)
IV. Activities
A. Fred
B. Ralph
V. Jobs
A. Fred
B. Ralph
Topic Sentence: Similarities
and/or differences in Subject A
and Subject B.
I. Main point #1
A. Subject A
B. Subject B
II. Main point #2
A. Subject A
B. Subject B
III. Main point #3
A. Subject A
B. Subject B
IV. Main point #4
A. Subject A
B. Subject B
V. Main point #5
A. Subject A
B. Subject B

20. Transitions
 One similarity
 Another similarity
 Similarly
 Like
 Both
 As well as
 Also
 Too
 In addition
 One difference
 Another difference
 In contrast
 Unlike
 Although
 But, yet
 Instead of
 On the other hand
 Whereas

21. Like Unlike However On the
Contrary
On the
other hand
Also But Different
from
Likewise In addition
Similarly In contrast Similar to Besides Nevertheless
In the
same way
Contrasted
with
Despite Still On the one
hand
In like
manner
Compared
to
While Even though Regardless
Again Although Conversely Yet At the same
time

22. Don’t forget comparative of
adjectives and adverbs:
more … than
less … than
as … as
the same …as

23. The thesis statement in the essay
includes the two subjects you are
comparing or contrasting and the
main point you want to make about
them.

24.  The thesis of an essay should name the
subjects (A and B) and announce the focus
on contrast and/or comparison.
 In a blueprinted thesis, the writer spells
out the main points the essay will cover.
 In a general thesis, the writer states a
general opinion but leaves the enumeration
of points to the body of the essay.

25. Despite the two shows’ obvious differences in
form and setting, the main characters of the
shows share a number of similarities. Fred
Flintstone of The Flintstones and Ralph
Kramden of The Honeymooners are similar in
appearance, habits, and occupations.
 The thesis names the subjects of the
comparison, Fred and Ralph, and lists their
similarities.

26. Although ultralight and single-engine planes are
visually similar, they differ in construction, flight
requirements, and cost.
The thesis announces the subjects of the essay,
ultralight and single-engine planes, and spells out
their differences.
Although Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Steve Martin’s
L.A. Story are from different periods and are different
genres, they are similar in plot, theme, and
characterization.
This essay will emphasize similarities.

28. Thank you for your attendance