Comparison Writing

Intro/Topic Sentence  Compelling  Reveal what you are comparing and that you will be showing the similarities.  This can be more than one sentence, and often is.

Ideas  Show a first impression of both things.  Highlight one of your similarities to draw people in…without naming what the two things are. Example…cold, alone, blinded by the world around you. You might think you’re suffering from a blizzard…and you might be, but you might also be enduring communism.

More ideas  Show why they are both important/beautiful/dreadful…whatever your main point will be.  Paint a picture of both objects as quite different…then explain that they are quite different.  Make a comparison—relate to your audience.

The next step  Use the ideas from your list to support your topic sentence. (Primary support)  Use description, examples, comparisons to add detail to the ideas from your list.

The final step  Show me what you think a good conclusion looks like.

Transitions  Link your primary support to your thesis.  Show HOW the ideas connect to each other.  (See list of types of transitions).

Conclusions  Your final impression.

The Purpose:  It’s your chance to have the last word on the subject.  It’s your chance to make a good final impression and to end on a positive note.  It allows you to summarize your thoughts, demonstrate the importance of your ideas, and propel your reader to a new view of the subject.  Your conclusion should make your reader feel glad they read your paper, giving them something to take away from it or appreciate your topic in a personally relevant way.

The Formula: 1. Briefly summarize what has been proven about your topic without saying “I have proven” or “So now you know” etc. 1. Can use categories—Ex. “It is clear that communism and snow often achieve similar results, whether they be good or bad.” 2. Show the “so what”—why is this important, interesting, significant? 3. Restate your thesis (the comparison.)

Strategies: The “So What” Conclude an essay with one or more of the following:  Draw back on the theme from your introduction and make the reader feel like he/she has come full circle  Include a brief summary of the paper's main points.  Ask a provocative question.  Use a quotation.  Evoke a vivid image.  Call for some sort of action.  End with a warning.  Universalize (compare to other situations).  Suggest results or consequences.

Example:  Imagine holding a snow globe, a seemingly beautiful toy. You relax after you flip your wrist and become mesmerized by the soft flakes slowly fluttering down, breaking into graceful and spontaneous twirls as they descend. However, what if you were on the other side of this scenario? It’s beautiful at first, until you reach out to touch a snowflake and your arm is jarred by the feeling of cold glass. Panicking, you throw yourself against an invisible barrier, as your exposed face is stung with the cold bite of the whirling debris. You look up and see the giant hand, and a smiling face, and you realize you truly have no control. Whether trapped in a snowstorm, or under the invisible barrier of communism, you find yourself trapped, and in an unbearable situation.