A Guide to Compare/Contrast Essays

COM 170Roxanne Grandis

What is a compare/contrast essay?

In this class you will write a compare/contrast essay. A compare/contrast essay does two things.• It compares two things or ideas.• It shows how those two things or ideas are

different or similar to one another.

How to approach a compare/contrast essay?

There are two major ways to approach a compare/contrast essay.

1.Choose two things that seem similar, but show how they are different.2. Choose two things that seem different, but show how they are actually similar.

ExamplesHere are a few examples of thesis statements for compare/contrast essays.

Notice that I have used three-part thesis statements.

This will make it easier to create an outline and write your essay because it will allow you to write an introduction, a conclusion and at least three paragraphs in the body of your essay.

Star Trek and Star Wars

Star Trek and Star Wars are both science fiction dramas that take place in outer space, but Star Trek is more utopian, has a greater emphasis on personal relationships and explores ethical dilemmas in a way that Star Wars does not.

Similarities DifferencesScience fiction Star Trek utopian/Star Wars

negative/violentOuter space Star Trek focuses on personal

relationships/Star Wars more on action

Dramas Star Trek focuses on ethical dilemmas/Star Wars more on action

New York and San Francisco

• New York City and San Francisco are both large cities, but New York has more diversity, is easier to walk around and has more entertainment options than San Francisco.

Similarities DifferencesBoth large cities NYC more diverse

NYC easier to walk-less hills

NYC more entertainment

Flying and Taking the Train

Flying and taking the train are both options for relatively short distances of travel, but the train is less stressful, more comfortable and usually cheaper than flying.

Similarities DifferencesMethods of transportation Flying is stressful

Train is more comfortable

Train often cheaper for short distances

Taking Care of a Child vs. an Elderly Person

Taking care of a child and taking care of an elderly person may seem different, but both require patience, physical strength and often dealing with a lack of sleep.

Similarities DifferencesBoth require patience Age difference

Both require physical strength

Both can cause lack of sleep

Marriage and Friendship

Marriage and friendship may not seem like they have that much in common, but both require trust, good communication and the ability to compromise.

Similarities DifferencesBoth require trust Different kind of relationships

Both require good communication

Both need the ability to compromise

Organizing Your Essay

You can organize a compare/contrast essay in two ways. These are by subject or by point.

Point by Point Outline ExampleWhen you write an outline for your paper, a point by point outline might look like this:

I. Introduction: Thesis: Marriage and friendship may not seem like they have that much in common, but both require trust, good communication and the ability to compromise.

II. BodyA. Marriage and friendship both require trust.

1. Example 1: Marriages and friendships can both end when people lie to each other.2. Example 2: Friends and spouses both depend on each other to support them.

B. Marriage and friendship both require good communication.1. Example 1: Friendships and marriages often fail when people don’t tell each other

how they feel.2. Example 2: Sharing experiences is an important part of both kinds of relationships.

C. Marriage and friendship both require the ability to compromise.1. Example 1: Friends and spouses both have to give in sometimes to make the other

person happy.2. Example 2: If friends and spouses don’t sometimes compromise, the other person

can feel used or hurt.III. Conclusion

Subject Outline ExampleWhen you write an outline for your paper, a subject outline might look like this:

I. Introduction: Thesis: Marriage and friendship may not seem like they have that much in common, but both require trust, good communication and the ability to compromise.

II. BodyA. Marriage

1. Requires trustA. Marriages can end when people lie to each other.B. Spouses depend on each other for support.

2. Requires good communicationA. Marriages often fail when people don’t communicate.B. Sharing experiences is an important part of marriage.

3. Requires the ability to compromiseA. Spouses sometimes have to give in to make the other person happy.B. If a spouse doesn’t compromise, the other person can feel used or hurt.

B. Friendship1. Requires trust

A. Friendships can end when people lie to each other.B. Friends depend on each other for support.

2. Requires good communicationA. Friendships often fail when people don’t communicate.B. Sharing experiences is an important part of friendship.

3. Requires the ability to compromiseA. Friends sometimes have to give in to make the other person happy.B. If a friend doesn’t compromise, the other person can feel used or hurt.

III. Conclusion

Compare/Contrast Thesis Model

When you are thinking of topics for your compare and contrast essay, try to use this model: A and B are similar because of __________, but they are surprisingly different because of ___________, ____________ and _______________. Or… A and B are different because of _______________, but they are surprisingly similar because of ______________, _______________, and ______________.

Remember!

Try to write about something that you know a lot about and that does not require much additional research.

You will need to back up your opinions with examples!