Compare / Contrast essay

Notes from your thesis & sample essays

Notes from your thesis

Make sure the thesis is specific.◦ Meh: “Macbeth can be compared to Hilter”◦ Meh: “Macbeth and the Joker are similar”◦ Meh: “While they may look different, Macbeth and Hitler are

very similar”◦ Meh: Macbeth can be compared and contrasted to the Joker.” ◦ Better: “Both Mabeth and Napoleon Bonaparte resemble tragic

heros who made similar decisions in their lives; however, Napolen’s end was more tragic because he had good intentions while Macbeth’s were evil”

◦ Better: “Although their treatments after death were different, Macbeht and Michael Jackson are similar because of their early fame and how they were both misunderstood as their fame increased”

Notes from your thesis

Don’t compare traits:◦“both intellegent”◦“both good looking”

Think about what drives the characters and keep a focus◦“Macbeth is driven by his own lust for power

while the Joker is driven by redemption for ills against his family.”

Notes from your thesis

Not gonna lie, Hitler is toughFinally, remember a lot of information will

show up elsewhere in your intro◦“Macbeth, the title character from

Shakespeare’s Macbeth”

Sample student essay

Underline the thesisWhat does this student do well in the first

two paragraphs?What can this student revise in the first

two paragraphs? I’ve given you another sample to peruse

at your leisure.

Sample essay“The Ugly Truth About Beauty”

In your journal, answer “Pre-Reading Journal Entry” on page 277

Read togetherAnswer:

◦Questions for Close Reading #1◦Questions about the Writer’s Craft #s 1 & 2

On your brainstorm sheet

Look over your previous essay. What is at least one goal you have for this

essay?