Compare and Contrast Essay

1. Compare and Contrast Essay

2. Over All Composition I. Thesis II. Evidentiary paragraph 1 – sims and diffsIII. Evidentiary paragraph 2 – sims and diffsIV. Evidentiary paragraph 3 – sims and diffs

3. Evidentiary Paragraph Composition I. Topic sentence arguing sims versus diffs for the aspect you are comparing in the paragraphII. Evidence 1III. Evidence 2IV. Evidence 3V. Causation commentary

4. Format for Comparative Essays Thesis. Your thesis should clearly identify similarities versus differences, preferably in two separate sentences or two separate clauses within a sentence divided by a clear “however” or “but”, etc. You should try for three similarities and three differences, preferably related. The differences ideally qualify the similarities.

5. Format for Comparative Essays Evidentiary paragraphs. Each evidentiary paragraph should start by arguing a similarity qualified by a difference. Follow with evidence. End each evidentiary paragraph with CAUSATION COMMENTARY, where you explain what led to either a similarity or a difference argued in your topic sentence.

7. Words to Use Compare • Similarly • likewise • in like fashion • in like manner • analogous to • equally Contrast • On the contrary • contrarily • notwithstanding • but • however • nevertheless • in spite of • in contrast • yet • on one hand • on the other hand • at the same time • instead

8. Periodization • Discuss what they want discussed not what you want to discuss. • If they ask about the Roman Empire don’t write about the Roman Republic.

9. Thesis • You need to be specific. • Bad Example: • Cheese pizza is similar to peperoni pizza but it is also different. • Good Example: • Cheese pizza is similar to peperoni pizza, both are made with cheese, tomato sauce and bread; while they are both different because peperoni pizza also includes thin slices of peperoni while cheese pizza’s don’t.

10. Three Categories in Topic Sentence • You must be explicit about what you plan on talking about in the evidence paragraph. • You need to tell me the topics in the topic sentence not the evidence for the topic.

11. Evidence • Your evidence should be directly linked to the similarity or difference. • Be as specific as possible.

12. Direct Comparison • Make direct comparisons to the categories and your thesis. • Be specific about he information.

13. Causation Analysis • Show how things are related. • Explain how an event or thing leads to another event happening. • “Thus we see”

14. Comparative Essay -- Core Points

15. Comparative Essay – Extended Core