What is comparison? What is contrast? To compare means to point out similarities and to contrast means to point our differences. When you compare or contrast, you need to come to some conclusion. It’s not enough to say “These two things are similar” or “They are different.” Your reader will be asking “So what? What’s your point?”
Hints for writing a compare/contrast essay:
1. Limit your topic. When you write a comparison or contrast essay, you might think that the easiest topics to write about are the ones with many similarities or differences. However, if you make your topic too large, you will not be able to cover it.
2. Avoid the obvious topic. Some people think it is easier to write about two items if the similarities or differences between them are obvious, with an obvious topic, you will have nothing new to say
3. Make your point in the thesis statement. Indicate whether the essay is about similarities or differences.
4. Do not announce in your thesis statement.
5. Make sure the thesis statement has a focus. It should indicate similarities or differences; it should focus on the specific kind of comparison or contrast you will make.
6. In the thesis, cover both subjects to be compared or contrasted.
a. Example: The beach at Santa Lucia was dirty and crowded, but the beach at Fisher Bay was clean and private.
Organization:
1. Subject by subject: In the subject by subject pattern you support and explain your thesis by first writing all your details on one subject and then writing all your details on the other subject. If you choose subject by subject pattern, be sure to discuss the points of your second subject in the same order as you did for the first subject. For example, if your first subject is an amusement park and you cover 1. The price of admission, 2. The long lines and 3. The quality of the rides, when you discuss the second subject, make sure you cover the main points in the same order as the