In a comparison and contrast paper, you will compare likenesses between two topics, or you will contrast differences. Depending on your topic, you may want to only compare likenesses or only contrast differences. Therefore, with some topics, you can also compare and contrast the points you discuss.
Methods of Development for Writing Comparison and Contrast Paper
There are two main methods, or formats, you can use to present a comparison and contrast paper:
- One-side-at-a-time
- Point-by-point
One Side at a Time: to start with,you will first present all the characteristics (or points) of one topic in one “block” of information, and then you will present all the characteristics/points of the second topic in one other block of information. The information can be presented in one paragraph, or it can be presented in different paragraphs.
Point by Point: you will take each point separately and discuss that point for each of your topics. Therefore, you will discuss Point 1 for each topic; then you will discuss Point 2 for each topic, then Point 3 for each topic.
One Side at a Time
One Side at a Time: read the “supporting” body paragraph below.
Thesis statement: Eating dinner at the Chalet is more difficult than going to McDonald’s.
Supporting paragraph:
For one thing, going to the Chalet is more difficult than going to McDonald’s. The Chalet has a jacket-and-tie rule, which means I have to dig out a sport coat and tie from the back of my closet, make sure they’re semi-clean, and try to steam out the wrinkles somehow. The Chalet also requires reservations. Since it is downtown, I have to leave an hour early to give myself time to find a parking space within six blocks of the restaurant. The Chalet cancels reservations if a party is more than ten minutes late. Going to McDonald’s, on the other hand, is much easier. I can feel comfortable wearing my jeans or warm-up suit. There is no need to do any advance planning. I can leave my house whenever I’m ready and pull into a door-side parking space within fifteen minutes.
One Side at a Time outline:
Thesis: Going to the Chalet is more difficult than going to McDonald’s.
Chalet
- Dress code
- Advance reservations
- Leave an hour early
- Find a parking space
McDonald’s
- Casual dress
- No reservations
- Leave only fifteen minutes ahead of time
- Plenty of free parking
Point by Point
Point by Point: read the “supporting” body paragraph below.
Thesis Statement: Studying is something I do differently in college than in high school.
Supporting paragraph:
Ordinary studying during the term is another area where I’ve made changes to my study habits. In high school, I let reading assignments wait. I told myself that I’d have no trouble catching up on two hundred pages during a fifteen-minute ride to school. College courses have taught me to keep pace with the work. Otherwise, I feel as though I’m sinking into a quicksand of unknown information. When I finally read the high school assignment, my eyes would run over the words, but my brain would be planning on how to get to the mall on Saturday night. Now, I use several techniques that force me to really concentrate on my reading and studying.
One Side at a Time
One Side at a Time outline:
Thesis: Studying is something I do differently in college than in high school.
Keeping up with reading assignments
- high school
- college
Concentrating on reading
- high school
- college
When you begin a comparison or contrast paper, you should decide right away whether you are going to use one-side-at-a-time format or the point-by-point format. Therefore, an OUTLINE is an essential step in helping you decide which format will be best for your topic.
Generally, you must also consider that you will need to make transitions between your topics, using the Transition/Signal Words discussed for “change-of-direction” and “continuation words.”
Assignment
READ comparison and contrast paper assignment Texts
LIST the various methods to solve the global hunger problem each text discusses
DECIDE how you will proceed:
- Compare
- Contrast
- Compare & Contrast
Method:
- One side at a time
- Point by point
Part Two
- Please respond to the following prompt with a compare and contrast
- The essay should have an introduction, two body paragraphs, and conclusion.
- Properly cite the sources with in-text citations, and create a Reference Page.
Overall, the articles discuss different ways to solve the global hunger problem. Select methods to fight hunger from the articles and describe the similarities and/or differences between them in a comparison and contrast paper manner.
Example Transitions: Comparison and Contrast Essay
Thesis Statement or in the Introduction
- Introduce both authors
- Cite both authors with dates (APA)
- Verb (used for both authors)
Example: In their articles, both Smith (2018) and Wesson (1998) discuss various issues regarding world paintball.
Body Paragraph Transitions
Main: Smith (2014) begins by exploring the issues regarding injuries. Smith first argues the first major issue is sanitation.
Inside body area: Smith then discusses various methods of fixing the problem, such as goat herding, menu planning, and hair transplants.
Remember: Give examples or explanations within the transition areas for each or most of your topics…to build your paragraph.
Main transition to the second topic: Wesson (1998) suggests that technology may be the solution to the problems of paintballing. Wesson first suggests that mobile devices may save the planet from over-paintballing in cities.
Inside topic area: Wesson continues by explaining various methods of fixing the problems of paintballing, such as ant farming, which he states can feed the poor countries of the world, and he argues that 55% of all paintballers eat ants.
Source: AEssay Team (based on customers’ requests)
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