ACADEMIC WRITING IClass 13

April 16, 2013

Source: blog.acorn-is.com Source: valentemike.blogspot.com 

Source: www.lonelyplanet.com Source: www.lib.utexas.edu

Today

Source: anvilcloud.blogspot.com

Today• Introduction to compare/contrast writing

Compare/Contrast Writing

In comparison/contrast writing, we explain the differences and/or similarities between two subjects.

(That is part of it, anyway)

- The ‘subjects’ can be most anything. (transportation systems, governments, kinds of ice cream).

Compare/Contrast Writing

This is a very common type of essay in many fields.

Examples:

Compare the forms of government of Canada and the U.S.

Compare the characters of Winston and O’Brien in George Orwell’s “1984.”

Compare and contrast methods for marketing a new product.

Political Science

Literature

Business

Organization

A key feature of comparison/contrast essays is organization.

- Careful organization is necessary for an effective essay of this kind.

- You don’t want to confuse the reader(s).

- There are several ways to organize a comparison/contrast essay.

We will examine two of them.

Organization

Look at these two examples:

- How does each organize its information?

Organization – Example 1

Subjects: beaches & mountains

Points of comparison/contrast: climate, activities, locations

Body 1: Mountains

Body 2: Beaches

Organization – Example 2

Subjects: fresh foods & canned foods

Points of comparison/contrast: flavors, benefits, cost

Body 1: flavor

Body 2: health benefits

Body 3: cost

Organization

Example 1: Block organization

Example 2: Point-by-point organization

- Neither holds advantage over the other.

- Which you use depends on your preference (and to a degree), the goal of your writing.

Block Organization

Contents organized into “blocks”

Discuss all of topic A, then all of topic B.

Block Organization• Basic outline:

• I. Introduction (opening, purpose of the essay, thesis statement).

• II. Body A. Topic A features

- Feature 1- Feature 2

• B. Topic B features- Feature 1- Feature 2

• III. Conclusion

NOTE: Make sure you discuss the same features for each topic!

Point-by-Point Organization

Each point of comparison (“feature”) becomes the topic of a paragraph.

Within each paragraph, the two topics are compared or contrasted on that feature.

Point-by-Point Organization• Basic outline: (Two topics, A & B)

• I. Introduction (opening, purpose of the essay, thesis statement).

• II. Body A. Difference/similarity 1 - Flavor

- Topic 1 - Fresh- Topic 2 - Canned

• B. Difference/similarity 2 – Health Benefits

- Topic 1- Topic 2

• C. Difference/similarity 3 - Cost

- Topic 1 - canned- Topic 2

• III. ConclusionNOTE: Always discuss the topics in the same order!

Which do you prefer?

OR

Source: billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com Source: www.thehindu.com

Which do you prefer?

OR

Source: euyeomuyeo.tumblr.com Source: s276.photobucket.com

- These both have similarities and differences, BUT

Which would you recommend to a foreign tourist?

Source: www.lonelyplanet.com Source: www.lib.utexas.edu

Compare/Contrast Writing - Analysis

- It is not enough to simply say:

“This is how A & B are different; this is how they are similar.”

- The above is just regurgitating information.

- At the university level, some form of analysis is needed in comparison/contrast writing.

Go beyond “here is some information…the end ”

Compare/Contrast Writing - Analysis- Your analysis should begin by considering the information you have collected.

- Ask yourself: “Along what factors are these two topics reasonably comparable?”

Compare/Contrast Writing - Analysis- Ask yourself: “Along what factors are these two topics reasonably comparable?”

If you use information like:

Korea is a peninsula. Japan is an archipelago.Korea has a president as head of state. Japan has a constitutional monarchy.

Korea is mono-cultural. Japan is mono-cultural.

Korea has a large economy. Japan has a large economy.

What kind of argument can you make from this? - Which country is better? Which is more fun? Which has the superior culture?

Compare/Contrast Writing - Analysis- Ask yourself: “Along what factors are these two topics

reasonably comparable?”

- Research factors that will allow for a logical analysis to be made.

Start researching one of the following:

The education systems of two different countries

The business strategies of two companies (in the same field)

Online education and traditional education

Attending a large college and attending a small college

Two leaders from history

NOTE: All topics must be INTERNATIONAL (not Korean)