Darlene A. Stotler

Here are some tips to assist you in beginning your Compare/Contrast Essay:

Draft a Thesis
Choose items in the same category
Introduce your subjects and your reason for comparing theme
Include the limits of your discussion
Organize your essay
Balance the treatment of your subjects

Here are some sample patterns of a Compare & Contrast Essay:

Point by Point
MPG  , car A
MPG,   car B

Horsepower, car A
Horsepower, car B

Handling, car A
Handling, car B

Equipment, car A
Equipment, car B

Subject by Subject
MPG, car A
Horsepower, car A
Handling, car A
Equipment, car A

MPG, car B
Horsepower, car B
Handling, car B
Equipment, car B

Also, Troyka also addresses Compare/Contrast

Look in Troyka page 63
And~for further help with formulating a thesis statement go to pages 17~19

Comparison

1. Playing a sport/working for a company
2. Buffet/undergarduate course offerings
3. Similarities between fruits/vegetables/fashion
4. Lessons learned in childhood/adult experiences
5. Similarities between Jr. High and High School
6. Similarities between two different forms of government
7. Similarities between two different religions
8. An analogy between something technical (for example a computer) and something simple ( a table).
9. An analogy between how a machine works and how the body or mind works
10. Past success or failure and future success or failure

Contrast

1. Pro-life/pro-choice
2. Meat eaater/vegan
3. Science or engineering major/humanities major
4. Early riser/late sleeper
5. Texting/talking on the phone
6. Street smarts/school smarts
7. Emailing/letter writing
8. High school sports/college sports/professional sports
9. Men/women
10. Two diet plans
11. Neat freaks/slobs

In-class Essay for English 110~
Step One:  Read the following quotes by George Orwell:
"The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history."

"But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought."

Step Two:  
Choose one of the above quotes to address in your essay.
Step Three:  
First answer and label part A  
Part A:  
In your own words, summarize the main point of ONE of the above quotes.  Remember, no opinions in a summary!  This Part A is going to be paragraph one of your essay.
Step Four:
Next answer and label Part B
Part B:    
Take a position for or against the author's main point.  Develop a coherent, clearly reasoned essay defending your position about this quote.  This part B is going to be the next few paragraphs of your essay.  Your thesis will be included in Part B and don't forget to highlight in yellow your thesis statement.  After your thesis statement, support your thesis statement with SPECIFIC RENNS that will bolster your thesis.