Compare and contrast essay is quite a popular type of essays in the US curriculum. As the name suggests, this essay requires you to compare and contrast any number of ideas such as people, theories, books, etc. You can organize a compare and contrast essay in two ways- Point by Point method and Block method. Before checking out how to write a compare and contrast essay, let’s understand what this essay means.
A compare and contrast essay highlights the differences and similarities between the two ideas. You get to talk about the ways in which the ideas are similar when you compare. However, you describe their respective differences when you contrast them. The main purposes of writing a compare and contrast essay are:
Encourages you to connect two or more ideas
Engages you in critical thinking
Helps you go beyond summaries or descriptions so that you can generate interesting analysis
All in all, this essay lets you understand what’s most important about both the ideas. Now that you know what it means, let’s check out the tips for writing a compare and contrast essay.
‘How to begin a compare and contrast essay?’- This has been a popular query on Google among students. The following steps will help you start and complete the essay successfully.
You must choose topics from the same category to write a proper compare and contrast essay. Let’s say you choose the category ‘animals.’ So, you need to compare and contrast only animals such as dogs and snakes.
A compare and contrast essay is not about taking a stand on one perspective. It is about gaining a deeper understanding of both ideas. So, you need to evaluate both the ideas equally in this essay through their differences and similarities.
Different universities may have different structures. However, this is the basic compare and contrast essay template you can follow if you aren’t aware of your university guidelines.
Introduction - This is the opening paragraph of your essay.
Write a general statement about your topic.
State the title, author and general ideas of what you are comparing & contrasting.
Thesis statement - This highlights the main purpose of your essay.
Restate the topic and make your claims
State the specific similarities and differences
Write it in one or two sentences at the end of the introduction.
Body paragraphs- This section analyses and evaluates the similarities and differences between your ideas.
Topic sentence- Introduces the first similarity or difference
Examples- Shows the similarity or differences in real-world
Explanation- Makes the comparison clear
Concluding statement- Restates the ideas you have discussed
Topic sentence- Introduces the second similarity or difference
Examples- Shows the similarity or differences in real-world
Concluding statement- Restates the ideas you have discussed
Restate the thesis statement, but in your new words.
Write down your final thoughts.
Connect to broader concepts relevant to both the ideas discussed in your paper.
The compare and contrast essay structure may vary depending on how you choose to organize the details in your essay. There are two ways to do that. Let's find out.
Each of the following methods consists of individual advantages and disadvantages. Pick the one that suits your purpose of writing the essay the best.
Block Method - Addresses each subject or idea in separate paragraphs.
First and second body paragraphs
Third and fourth body paragraphs
Example
Topic: Video rentals vs. Theatres
The point to be discussed - Saving money
You can save a lot of money if you rent a video to watch at home. Video rentals cost approximately $3.99. Everybody can enjoy the movie at the same price right in the comfort of your homes. With video rentals, you needn’t have to worry about buying expensive snacks if you don't want to. You can make something at home and enjoy it.
A single ticket at the movie theatre, on the contrary, costs around $5.00. You may have to pay for each ticket, including the children at the theatre. You can make something at home and enjoy it. But, you may have to buy something expensive to eat at the theatre since outside food is not allowed in such fancy places.
Point by Point Method - Examines one aspect of one subject and the same aspect of the other subject in the same paragraph.
First body paragraph
Second body paragraph
Example:
Topic: Video rentals vs. Theatres
You can save money by renting a video to watch at home. Video rentals cost approximately $3.99. A single ticket at the movie theatre, on the contrary, costs around $5.00. Everybody can enjoy the movie at the same price right in the comfort of your homes. However, you may have to pay for each ticket, including the children at the theatre. With video rentals, you needn't have to worry about buying expensive snacks if you don't want to. You can make something at home and enjoy it. But, you may have to buy something expensive to eat at the theatre since outside food is not allowed in such fancy places.
For both the methods, you can increase the number of paragraphs according to the number of similarities and differences you have for each idea. Also, create a rough outline for compare and contrast essay first. This will help you complete the task hassle-free.
Wrapping Up,
The online samples of compare and contrast essays can help you understand the guidelines better. Pick a suitable method to organize the essay and start writing. You can also check out the various comparison and contrast essay examples before writing your paper. Do not hesitate to consult with your professors whenever you get stuck while working on the essay. Good Luck.
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