Compare/ Contrast Essay

What is it? A comparison or contrast essay is an essay where you either compare (similarities) or contrast (differences). We use comparison and contrast thinking when deciding which university to attend, which car to buy or whether to drive a car or take a bus.

Block Arrangement This is one way to write a compare/ contrast essay. For example, if you wanted to show the differences between vacationing in the mountains or the beach in the block format, you would write one paragraph about the mountains and then the next paragraph would be about the beach. If you mention a particular point in the mountains paragraph, you must mention the same point in the beach paragraph, and in the same order!

Block Example I.Introduction: you state that your purpose is to discuss the differences between vacationing in the mountains or at the beach. I.Mountain I.Climate II.Types of Activities III.Location II.Beach I.Climate II.Types of Activities III.Location III.Conclusion: Summarize what you have wrote.

Point by Point The other way to organize the material is to discuss a particular point about vacationing in the mountains and then immediately discuss the same point about vacationing at the beach.

Point by Point Example I.Introduction: Where you state the purpose is to discuss the differences between vacationing in the mountains or at the beach. II.First difference between mountains and beaches is climate. I.Mountains II.Beach III.Second difference between mountains and beaches are types of activities I.Mountains II.Beach IV.Third difference between mountains and beaches is the location. I.Mountains II.Beach V.Conclusion: Summary of points.