1. Compare/Contrast Essay Main Objectives: –Discuss the ways that 2 topics are similar. (compare them) –Discuss the ways that two topics are different. (contrast them) –Identify your preference between options. –Support your point of view using comparisons and contrasts.

2. Recognizing Prompts for Compare/Contrast Essays: May include the words compare and contrast; Words like advantages and disadvantages; preference(s); Comparative and superlative adjectives, e.g. better, less, more, etc. –Examples: Would you prefer to work for a higher salary and spend less time with family, or earn less money and spend more time with family? Compare and contrast the benefits of learning from school versus learning from experience. Which do you think is better? Some people prefer to live in a large city, while other people prefer small towns. Explain your own preference by describing the advantages and disadvantages of each. Both fiction and non-fiction are important forms of literature. Which do you prefer to read and Why?

3. Step 1: Brainstorming Use the same brainstorming techniques: –Listing Clustering »Freewriting In addition, set up a “comparison chart” and list the features of both of the items in the prompt, and the similarities and differences between them. Be sure to cover all the points the prompt requires you to discuss.

4. Sample Comparison Chart Item 1Item 2 Similarities Point A Point B Point C Differences Point D Point E Point F

5. Write your Thesis Statement If prompt requires you to choose your preference, you should express that choice in your ThSt. –Sample prompt: Compare the advantages and disadvantages of using a car for transportation versus using a bicycle. Which do you think is better? Why? –Sample ThSt: In many cases, the bicycle offers a healthy, low-cost and environmentally-friendly alternative to the car.

6. Writing your Thesis Statement However, if the prompt simply asks you to compare and contrast two things without stating a preference, your ThSt will simply be a map that shows three areas of differences. Sample prompt: Compare and contrast the business culture of your own country with that of another country. Sample ThSt.: Even social actions that might at first seem simple, such as greeting a new person, attending a meeting, or socializing after work can be very different.

7. Writing the Thesis Statement Either way, the ThSt must be clear statement of your point of view. The ThSt should include or be followed by a Map of your essay.

8. Step 2: Outlining There are two patterns of organizations that can be used to write a compare/contrast essay: –Block Format: each of the two items being compared/contrasted gets its own half of the essay. –Point-by-point format: each point of comparison gets its own paragraph of the essay.

9. Two Formats for Compare/Contrast Essays: Block Format: Paragraph 1: Apples a. Color b. Flavor c. Varieties Paragraph 2: Oranges a. Color b. Flavor c. Varieties Point-by-Point Format Paragraph 1: Color of Apples and oranges Paragraph 2: Flavor of apples and oranges Paragraph 3: Varieties of apples and oranges

10. Block Format Outline I.Introduction II.Topic 1: Apples A. Point 1: Color B. Point 2: Flavor C. Point 3: Varieties III.Topic 2: Oranges A. Point 1: Color B. Point 2: Flavor C. Point 3: Varieties IV.Conclusion

11. Point-by-Point Format Outline I.Introduction II.Point 1: Color A. Topic 1: Apples B. Topic 2: Oranges III.Point 2: Flavor A. Topic 1: Apples B. Topic 2: Oranges IV.Point 3: Varieties A. Topic 1: Apples B. Topic 2: Oranges V.Conclusion