Comparison/Contrast

Paper

Karen S. Wright

Making comparisons examines two or more items:

•Items alike

•Items different

•Or items that are both

Some Issues are Trivial

Whether to order. . .

hot, juicy pizza

or

a sub sandwich

Should I buy a. . .

Ford

or

Chevy?

Comparison Also Discusses Unfamiliar Things

A sportswriter might compare:

The English sport of rugby

American football

A history teacher might compare:

France’s court system

United States court system

Comparisons Influence Important Decisions

What will be your major?

chemistryengineering

law medicine

Comparisons Must Share Common Ground

Two golfers:

Driving ability

Putting ability

Sand play

Preferred clubs

Organizing a ComparisonThere are two basic patterns to

organize a comparison/contrast paper:

Block Pattern

Alternating Pattern

Block OrganizationIn the block style of organization, each subject is discussed one at a time and there are at least two paragraphs.

Each section needs to be short.

Readers can only remember short pieces of information.

Block Style

For an essay that compares and contrasts writing in college and writing at work:

Subject A: Writing in College

Point 1: Audience Instructor

Point 2: Purpose To fulfill an assignment.

Point 3: Outcomes: Feedback, evaluation,

grade

Block Organization

Subject B: Writing at Work

Point 1: Audience:

Boss or customer

Point 2: Purpose :

To convey information

Point 3: Outcomes:

Follow-up action

Point-By Point Organization

Point 1: Audience

College: Instructor

Work: Boss

Point 2: Purpose

College: To fulfill an

assignment

Work: To convey information

Point 3: Outcomes

College: Feedback, grade

Work: Follow-up action

Vocabulary of Comparing/Contrasting

Although on the contrary

both on the other hand

however similarly

in contrast though

like where (whereas)

while

Can be as simple as comparing a

to a

Puppy

Kitten

COMPARING

CONTRASTINGDifferent Kinds of Cows

Most important: be organized and it will. . .

put a smile on your face.