Another way of drawing similarities and differences is by making a Venn Diagram. His diagram is the best and easiest way of showing similarities and differences.
If you have already been assigned the objects or subjects to write your essay on then you have no choice but if you have yo come up with the subjects of your choice, make sure you choose things that are interesting and you know people will be interested to know about it.
- A hook - That motivates readers to read the essay and aim to grab their attention.
- Precise information about the topic of your essay. It is an overview of the selected main points. The best way to write an introduction is to state subjects and their issues without giving away the similarities and differences.
- Thesis Statement - write a sentence or two about the main argument and the purpose of your essay.
In other words, all the similarities are given in one paragraph and all the other differences are presented in one paragraph.
2.2 Similarities and Differences
This blog is written to give a thorough idea of what a compare and contrast essay is basically.
If the ending is sudden and abrupt, your readers will be left unsatisfied and confused. This is such a put off for the readers. Writer's findings and results should be explicitly stated so that the meaning and purpose of the essay is served.
In contrast to the block method, an alternating method is a ‘point by point' technique to do your compare and contrast essay. To use this method, state one aspect of one subject and immediately discuss the same aspect of another subject and how are they similar and different from each other.
Now that you know everything there is to know about compare and contrast essays, let’s take a look at some examples to get you started on your paper.
The point-by-point structure lists each similarity and difference simultaneously—making notes of both subjects. For example, you can list a characteristic specific to one subject, followed by its similarity or difference to the other subject.
- Attending a college course vs. distance-based learning.
- Writing a research paper vs. writing a creative writing paper. What are the differences and similarities?
- The differences between a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree.
- The key aspects and differences between the US and UK education systems.
- Completing assignments at the library compared with doing them at home. Which one is the most efficient?
- The similarities and differences of the behaviour between married and unmarried couples.
- The similarities and differences between the EU (European Union) and ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations)?
- The similarities and differences between American and Canadian English.
- Writing an internship report vs. writing a research paper.
- The differences between US colleges and colleges in the EU?
If you are more of a visual learner, creating a Venn diagram might be a good idea. In order to create it, draw two circles that overlap. In the section where it overlaps, note similarities. Differences should be written in the part of circle that does not overlap.
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples
Arguments for any essay, including compare and contrast essays, need to be supported by sufficient evidence. Make good use of your personal experiences, books, scholarly articles, magazine and newspaper articles, movies, or anything that will make your argument sound credible. For example, in your essay, if you were to compare attending college on campus vs. distance-based learning, you could include your personal experiences of being a student, and how often students show up to class on a daily basis. You could also talk about your experience taking online classes, which makes your argument about online classes credible as well.
While using the block structure, all the information is presented for the first subject, and its characteristics and specific details are explained. This concludes one block. The second block takes the same approach as the first for the second subject.
Compare and contrast papers rely heavily on factual analysis. Two outline methods can help you organize your facts: use the block method, or point-by-point method, to write a compare and contrast essay outline.
Good compare and contrast papers focus on a central point, explaining the importance and implications of this analysis. A compare and contrast essay thesis must make a meaningful comparison. Find the central theme of your essay and do some brainstorming for your thesis.
Similarly, to write a compare and contrast essay, a writer puts two things together, compares them, and forms a claim.
- Introduction
- Body Paragraphs
- Conclusion
All of the paragraphs of the body section lead the readers towards a conclusion or a result. The conclusion of a compare and contrast essay is the summed up final verdict of the writer.
The comparison between the two objects is based on facts and logic in compare and contrast essay. A writer states the facts that are visible and tangible and facts that are not obvious and intangible.
Compare and Contrast Essay Format
We compare things in our daily life to make choices. Hypothetically, if a person has a limited budget and goes shopping, he would compare things and make choices that will best suit him.
An alternating method is an approach that uses a point by point description of the subject’s or object’s comparison. In this, a writer presents a certain idea about one object and the same idea about the second object simultaneously.
If you are worried about writing a compare and contrast essay because you don’t have a strong topic, here are some topic examples for you from professionals:
However, there are some big changes that new middle school students should be aware of. In elementary school, students usually stay in the same classroom with one teacher for most of the day. That is not the case in middle school, where students typically have a different teacher for each subject. Students must move to a different classroom for each subject too. Since there is not one classroom in which to store supplies, middle schools often provide students with lockers. For many kids, getting a locker is a welcome rite of passage.”
“What is it like to transition from elementary to middle school? That is a question many kids ask each year. Having experienced both, I can tell you that there are plenty of similarities as well as some very big differences between the two types of schools.”
The body paragraphs of a compare and contrast essay are structured according to two methods:
- Discussing the comparison/ similarities between the two sides/ topics in the first part.
- Discussing the contrast/ differences between the two sides/ topic in the second part.
Subject By Subject
Before submitting your essay, check for mistakes in punctuation, grammar, format, tone, vocabulary, syntax, etc. Make the required editings in this step and submit a well-written assignment.
An engaging introduction helps attract the audience’s attention and motivate them to read the entire essay. A catchy introduction has the following elements:
- Discussing the similarities and differences between one side of the topic.
- Discussing the similarities and differences between the other side of the topic.
- Subject By Subject Method Example (PDF)
- Hook statement - It is an opening sentence written to attract the audience towards your discussion.
- General information about the topic- general information describes the purpose of choosing a topic or subject.
- Thesis statement - A thesis statement or the writer’s main argument is presented at the end of the introductory section.
So, look for credible sources, make notes of whatever information is available and highlight points that are important and are needed to be remembered. Making this draft will provide you with a proper lead in creating a thorough essay.
Important tip: make sure that your transition from one point of a topic to another is smooth and free-flowing. You wouldn't want the reader to get baffled by vague sentencing and improper structuring.
We know that writing an essay isn't a piece of cake and requires proper research, accurate structure and a certain methodology. Here are some important guidelines that will help you craft that perfect 5-paragraph compare and contrast essay.
- Introduction or Thesis Statement
- Topic 1 Analysis
- Transition paragraph
- Topic 2 Analysis
- Conclusion
1. Pick your topic carefully
Once your list has been made, figure out if your topics have more similarities or differences in them, because then a basic outline can be created. If you find that there are more similarities than differences, focus on comparing the two topics, and if there are multiple and more interesting differences, you should choose to contrast the ideas in your essay.
As you have finished brainstorming topic ideas for comparing and contrasting, organize your points according to the subject and highlight important characteristics from both the topics. Look for motives, consider major themes and select points that are central to the identity of both the topics. This will help you in writing a compelling, well-researched essay.
Understand which comparison criteria is the most relevant and which one is not. This will help prioritize your argument. Try to find interesting comparisons or contrasts for your essay rather than dry, boring points. This will make your essay more fascinating to read.