Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay
1. Essay Type
- Comparison essay highlights similarities, or both similarities and differences.
- Contrast essay focuses only on differences.
2. Purpose of Comparison/Contrast
- Clarify, offer new insights, or sharpen focus on the subjects.
3. Thesis Statement
- Present subjects and indicate if they will be compared, contrasted, or both.
4. Organizational Structures
- Block method (subject by subject), Point by point, Comparisons followed by contrasts.
5. Topic Sentences
- Use detailed topic sentences to highlight the relationship between subjects.
6. Transition Words
- Use connectors for comparison (e.g., similarly, likewise) and contrast (e.g., however, on the other hand).