Comparison and Contrast Writing

What is comparison and contrast?

Comparison shows how two or more things are similar.

Contrast shows how two or more things are different.

Establishing a basis for comparison

The two things to be compared must have enough in common to justify the comparison.

In making comparisons, you should move beyond the obvious.

When two things are very similar, it is the contrasts that may be worth writing about.

A purpose of comparison contrast writing

Comparing one piece of literature to another is often the quickest way to understand the essence of a piece of literature.

For example, by comparing Stephen Crane’s “War Is Kind” to Richard Eberhart’s “The Fury of Aeiral Bombardment,” the reader may understand that although the writers’ methods of description differ, their themes are ultimately the same: the irrationality of war.

Determining purpose/points for your comparison Make a Venn Diagram or use some other

method to consider the similarities and differences in the two works.

What points of similarity can you find? What differences? Do any of these seem important?

Think about the common ground between the two works. How might this common ground be important (beyond the obvious)?

Is their a lot of common ground, yet a significant difference? What might this difference suggest?

Determining purpose/points for your comparison

Think about the purpose of your comparison: Do you want to illuminate what Emerson’s transcendental philosophy was all about by comparing it to a more accessible, modern example? Or do you wish to demonstrate the basic principles of civil disobedience by comparing the works of Thoreau and MLK, Jr.?

You do not need to show that one work is superior to the other. The simple process of comparing and contrasting the two works is helping the reader (and the writer) to understand the works more fully and deeply.

Searching points for discussion Determine your

emphasis on similarities, differences, or both.

Determine the major focus of your paper.

Make sure you treat the same or similar elements for each subject you will discuss:

Novel A Novel B

Major characters

Major characters

Minor characters

Minor characters

themes themes

Do not discuss entirely different elements for each subject.

Novel A Novel B

Major Characters

Plot

Minor Characters

Author’s Life

Themes symbolism

Formulating a Thesis Statement

Identify not only the subjects to be compared and contrasted in your essay, but also the point you will make about them.

Also indicate whether you will focus on similarities or differences, or balance the two.

“Although Melville’s Moby-Dick and London’s The Sea Wolf are both about the sea, the minor characters, major characters, and themes of Moby-Dick establish its greater complexity.”

Structuring a Comparison and Contrast Essay

Subject by Subject Write a separate section about each subject,

but you discuss the same points for both subjects.

Use basis for comparison to guide your selection of points.

Arrange points in logical order, usually order of importance.

Good for short, uncomplicated papers.

Point by Point Comparison Good for longer, more complex papers Make a point about one subject, and then

follow it with a comparable point about the other subject.

Alternating pattern Be careful not to fall into a monotonous, back

and forth movement between points. To avoid this problem, vary sentence structure as you move from point to point.

Student Example: Comparison and Contrast Essay

Auguste Rodin, The Kiss (Sculpture)

Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture)

WRITING EXERCISE: LOVE!

Create a Venn diagram for these two sculptures.

What general statement could you make about these two sculptures? Do the points you listed on your Venn diagram provide enough support for this general statement?

Auguste Rodin, The Kiss

Robert Indiana, LOVE