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Comparison and ContrastWriting

Steven Federle

Solano College

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What is comparison and contrast?

Comparison shows how two or morethings are similar

Contrast shows how two or morethings are different

In most writing situations, the tworelated processes are used together

An analogy explains one thing bycomparing it to a second, morefamiliar, thing.

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Establishing a basis for comparison

The two things to be compared musthave enough in common to justify thecomparison.

In making comparisons, you shouldmove beyond the obvious (i.e.,people and bees)

When two things are very similar, it isthe contrasts that may be worthwriting about.

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Searching points for discussion

Determine youremphasis onsimilarities, differences,

or both. Determine the major

focus of your paper.

Make sure you treat the

same or similarelements for eachsubject you will discuss:

Novel A Novel B

Majorcharacters

Majorcharacters

Minorcharacters

Minorcharacters

themes themes

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Do not discussentirely differentelements for each

subject.

Novel A Novel B

MajorCharacters

Plot

MinorCharacters

Author’sLife

Themes symbolism

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Formulating a Thesis Statement

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

Also indicate whether you will focus onsimilarities or differences, or balance thetwo.

 “Although Melville’s Moby-Dick  andLondon’s The Sea Wolf  are both about thesea, the minor characters, majorcharacters, and themes of Moby-Dickestablish its greater complexity.”  

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Structuring a Comparison andContrast Essay

Subject by Subject

Write a separate essay 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, usuallyorder of importance.

Good for short, uncomplicated papers.

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Point by Point Comparison

Good for longer, more complex papers

Make a point about one subject, and thenfollow 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 sentencestructure as you move from point to point.

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Using Transitions

See list on page 43.

See transitions especially useful forcomparison and contrasts on page

369. Longer essays may have transitional

paragraphs that connect one part of

the essay to another.REVISING:

See checklist on page 369

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Student Example: Comparison and Con trast Essay

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 Auguste Rodin, The

Kiss (Sculpture)Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture)

What significant characteristics do thesetwo sculptures share? Do they share

enough characteristics to establish a

basis for comparison? Explain.

WRITING EXERCISE: LOVE!

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 Auguste Rodin, The

Kiss (Sculpture)

Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture)

In your journal, create a venn diagram to list

the similarities and differences of these two

works of art.

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 Auguste Rodin, The

Kiss (Sculpture)

Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture)

What general statement could you make about these twosculptures? Do the points you listed on your venn diagram

provide enough support for this general statement?

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 Auguste Rodin, The

Kiss (Sculpture)

Robert Indiana, LOVE (Sculpture)

Write a short comparison-contrast essay in your journal onthe following:

How does each sculpture convey the idea of love? Which

one do you believe conveys this idea more effectively?

Why?

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Grammar: parallelism

Parallelism is the use of matchingnouns, verbs, phrases, or clauses toexpress the same or similar ideas.

 “It was the best of times; it was theworst of times.” Charles Dickens, Taleof Two Cities. 

Click here to visit Purdue Universitywebsite on parallelism.