COMPARE CONTRAST ESSAY

Compare contrast
 What does it mean to…..

Compare = similarities

Contrast = differences
What kinds of things do we compare and contrast in our daily lives?
What kinds of things do we
Things we compare compare
and contrast in our daily lives?
Clothing
Restaurants Literature

Height

Drinks Music
 Why do we compare things?
• To make a decision about a product
• To persuade the audience one thing is better
than the other
• To analyze things
• To argue a point
 Compare contrast spoons

What features can we use to

compare and contrast the wooden
spoon and the spaghetti spoon?
Features:

Weight Function/Use
Material Shape
 Venn Diagram
Wooden Spoon Spaghetti Spoon

• wood • metal &

plastic
• shallow scoop
• used in • deep scoop
• light cooking
• a little heavy
• scoop sauce • scoop spaghetti

Features: material, shape, weight, use

 Two
Ways to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

1. Block Method

2. Point –by- Point Method

Block I.Method
Introduction

II. First item

A. First point about this item
B. Second point about this item
C. Third point about this item

III. Second item

A. First point about this item
B. Second point about this item
C. Third point about this item

IV. Conclusion
Point- By - Point Method
Point by Point
I. Introduction

II. First point

A. Explanation of how this point relates to the first item
B. Explanation of how this point relates to the second item

III. Second point

A. Explanation of how this point relates to the first item
B. Explanation of how this point relates to the second item

IV. Third point

A. Explanation of how this point relates to the first item
B. Explanation of how this point relates to the second item

V. Conclusion
 The key to a successful compare/contrast
essay: THESIS
The thesis statement should state why the
comparison is worthy of discussion.

The thesis statement SHOULD NOT just say: item

A and item B have many similarities. The
audience says, “SO WHAT.”
 THESIS STATEMENT
The thesis statement should state which item is
better or why the item is more important.

Give your paper a purpose with the thesis

statement.