Comparison and Contrast Essay

Comparison and Contrast Essay

Explain the similarities and the differences between two items.

e.g.a) Compare the education system in the Malaysia

and England.

b) Compare and contrast distance learning with traditional classroom instruction.

Organisation of Comparison and Contrast Essay. The key to writing a successful comparison

and contrast essay is to organise it carefully. There are two types of organisation

1. Point-by-point organisation

2. Block organisation

Point-by-Point Organisation

If you want to compare two jobs.

- make a list of factors that important

(e.g. salary, benefits, opportunities for advancement, etc.)

Point of Comparison

Job X Job Y Similar or Different?

Salary (frequency of

raise)

$25/hour $24/hour

annual evaluation

different

Benefits

(vacation

health insurance

pension plan)

good good same

Advancement

opportunities

not good good different

Workplace

atmosphere

friendly competitive different

Commuting

distance

27minutes 29minutes same

1.Introduction Thesis statement: One way to decide between two jobs

offers is to compare them on important points

2.Body- Salary

- Benefits

- Opportunities for advancement

- Workplace atmosphere

- Commuting distance

3.Conclusion

Block Organisation

Arrange all the similarities together in a block and the differences together in a block.

Discuss either similarities first or the differences first.

Insert transition sentence or paragraph between two blocks.

1. Introduction Thesis statement: One way to decide between two jobs

offers is to compare them on important points

2. Body A. Similarities

- benefits- commute distance

B. Differences- salary- opportunities for advancement

` - workplace atmosphere

3. Conclusion

Comparison and Contrast Signal Words

The second key to writing successful comparison/contrast essays is the appropriate use of comparison and contrast signal words.

Comparison Signal Words

a) Transition Words and Phrases

- similarly, likewise, also and too

b) Subordinators - as, just asc) Coordinators - and, both…and, not only…but also,

neither…nord) Others - like ( + noun ), just like ( + noun ), similar

to ( + noun ), (be) like, (be) similar (to), (be) the same as, (be) the same, (be) alike, (be) similar , to compare (to/with).

Contrast Signal Words

Fall into two main groups according to their meaning.

a) The first group show a relationship that is called concession.

b) The words in the second group show an opposition relationship.

Contrast Signal Words : Concession (Unexpected Result)

a) Transition Words and Phrases - however, nevertheless, nonetheless, stillb) Subordinators - although, even though, thoughc) Coordinators - but, sayd) Others - despite ( + noun ), in spite of ( + noun )

Contrast Signal Words : Direct Opposition

a) Transition Words and Phrases - however, in contrast, in (by) comparison, on the

other hand, on the contraryb) Subordinators - while, whereasc) Coordinators - butd) Others - differ ( from ), compared ( to/with ), (be) different

( from ), (be) dissimilar to , (be) unlike