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How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

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Compare-and-contrast essays are common assignments in college or university. As the name suggests, a compare-and-contrast essay juxtaposes two or more subjects. It shows what divides and unites similar ideas or items. This essay format is especially useful for subjects that are regularly mistaken or muddled together.

While argumentative or persuasive essays focus on a singular theme, compare-and-contrast essays can deal with multiple themes. By exploring the similarities and differences of the subjects within different themes, the writer aims to help the reader better understand both. Here is a guide by essay writer Canada on how to write a good compare-and-contrast essay.

Examples of Compare-and-Contrast Topics

For some assignments, your tutor or professor will provide you with two pre-determined subjects to write about. For others, you may have to choose the subjects to work with on your own. When choosing a topic, be sure to find two thoughts or things that are somewhat related to each other and relevant to your field of study.

One option is to evaluate how society viewed certain issues at two different points in time. For instance, you can compare and contrast attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in the 1980s and now. Another option is to choose two opposing subjects that belong to the same category. For example, you can compare cats and dogs as family pets.

Compare-and-contrast essays can be used to clarify two subjects that are commonly confused with each other. So, you can choose subjects that are often thought of as similar such as communism and socialism or colonialism and imperialism. You can also choose more accessible topics by comparing closely-related art or music like blues and country.

Exploring the Subjects

Before you start drafting your essay, you need to figure out the similarities and differences between the two subjects and the points to discuss.

You can do this by making a comparison list on a sheet of paper or a digital spreadsheet. Separate the page into two columns and place one subject as the header on each side. List all the traits of your first subject under its header, then list the corresponding traits of your second subject on the other side of the divider. If one subject has a trait that the other does not, leave the opposite field blank. Select the most important or interesting points to cover in your essay.

On occasion, you may have to compare and contrast more than two subjects. In these cases, it can be helpful to use a Venn diagram to see where your subject traits overlap. Some traits may be shared by all subjects while others only between two. As you write down your points, make sure that you have performed adequate research and have ample evidence to support your claims. This way, you will have a quality essay based on facts instead of opinions.

Basic Essay Structure

Like most other essays, a compare-and-contrast essay should follow the standard format of introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction is where you put forward your thesis statement and tell the reader what you will discuss in your essay. The conclusion is where you summarize your points and add a final compelling closing statement.

Compare-and-Contrast Methods

The body is the largest section and it will be where you do most of your writing work. When formulating the body of your essay, be sure to maintain an intuitive flow of information. Because compare-and-contrast essays can get confusing, it is critical to have a topic sentence at the start of each paragraph. This ensures that the idea of the paragraph is clear.

Below are three popular methods to present your information in the body of a compare-and-contrast essay. Depending on your subject, one method may work better than the others.

A. The Alternating Method

The alternating method uses points of comparison as the main paragraph topics. In each paragraph, you compare the subjects based on how they fare concerning these comparison points. This method is useful for showing the relationship between two subjects.

For instance:

Color: Apples, Oranges
Nutrition: Apples, Oranges
Price: Apples, Oranges

B. The Block Method

In the block method, you discuss each of the subjects as a complete block. You say everything you can on your first subject before moving on to the second. As you write about your second subject, you may make comparisons with your first subject.

For instance:

Apples: Color, Nutrition, Price
Oranges: Color, Nutrition, Price

C. The Similarities and Differences Method

The similarities and differences method prioritizes how two subjects are connected. You start by writing about the similarities between two subjects and then move on to the differences. This can also be done in the opposite direction. This method works well for subjects that are often conflated as it helps the reader to draw a line where the similarities end.

For instance:

Apples and oranges are both nutritious
Apples and oranges are both affordable
Apples are red but oranges are orange

Conclusion

Compare-and-contrast essays are great conversation starters. There is no right or wrong party in such an essay and you do not have to convert the reader to any point of view. All you need to do is to present clear facts and reliable evidence to help your reader understand your subjects better. If you need additional assistance with your compare-and-contrast essay, consider contacting a professional essay writer.

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[{:section_type=>"rich_text", :content=>"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/h1N81RFA6MYXFRPkP9e56IRH06JJxYO4YJ_2P61rt6jqqgLwpt6HLkDnKE_Zeej-yEwDT5dK2JlUs5NUdIMIpgOt2W1AcBPmdhiB0rlHiwmNPibL7RB7KV5I_k0h9WR7ys96zzLAF5yeKpfPclaqU1Qix38dtouO7nLaRri5V6-SFMgvYcB6-XqjlA\" alt=\"\"></figure>\n \nSource: https://unsplash.com/photos/neUbjUnjXNk\n \nCompare-and-contrast essays are common assignments in college or university. As the name suggests, a compare-and-contrast essay juxtaposes two or more subjects. It shows what divides and unites similar ideas or items. This essay format is especially useful for subjects that are regularly mistaken or muddled together.\n \nWhile argumentative or persuasive essays focus on a singular theme, compare-and-contrast essays can deal with multiple themes. By exploring the similarities and differences of the subjects within different themes, the writer aims to help the reader better understand both. Here is a guide by <a href=\"https://essaywriters.ca/\">essay writer Canada</a> on how to write a good compare-and-contrast essay.\n \n<h2>Examples of Compare-and-Contrast Topics</h2>\n \nFor some assignments, your tutor or professor will provide you with two pre-determined subjects to write about. For others, you may have to choose the subjects to work with on your own. When choosing a topic, be sure to find two thoughts or things that are somewhat related to each other and relevant to your field of study.\n \nOne option is to evaluate how society viewed certain issues at two different points in time. For instance, you can compare and contrast attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in the 1980s and now. Another option is to choose two opposing subjects that belong to the same category. For example, you can compare <a href=\"https://www.hillspet.com/pet-care/resources/differences-between-cats-and-dogs\">cats and dogs</a> as family pets.\n \nCompare-and-contrast essays can be used to clarify two subjects that are commonly confused with each other. So, you can choose subjects that are often thought of as similar such as communism and socialism or colonialism and imperialism. You can also choose more accessible topics by comparing closely-related art or music like blues and country.\n \n<h2>Exploring the Subjects</h2>\n \nBefore you start drafting your essay, you need to figure out the similarities and differences between the two subjects and the points to discuss.\n \nYou can do this by making a comparison list on a sheet of paper or a digital spreadsheet. Separate the page into two columns and place one subject as the header on each side. List all the traits of your first subject under its header, then list the corresponding traits of your second subject on the other side of the divider. If one subject has a trait that the other does not, leave the opposite field blank. Select the most important or interesting points to cover in your essay.\n \nOn occasion, you may have to compare and contrast more than two subjects. In these cases, it can be helpful to use a <a href=\"https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-venn-diagram-d746a2ce-ed61-47a7-93fe-7c101940839d\">Venn diagram</a> to see where your subject traits overlap. Some traits may be shared by all subjects while others only between two. As you write down your points, make sure that you have performed adequate research and have ample evidence to support your claims. This way, you will have a quality essay based on facts instead of opinions.\n \n<h2>Basic Essay Structure</h2>\n \nLike most other essays, a compare-and-contrast essay should follow the standard format of introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction is where you put forward your <a href=\"https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/\">thesis statement</a> and tell the reader what you will discuss in your essay. The conclusion is where you summarize your points and add a final compelling closing statement.\n \n<h2>Compare-and-Contrast Methods</h2>\n \nThe body is the largest section and it will be where you do most of your writing work. When formulating the body of your essay, be sure to maintain an intuitive flow of information. Because compare-and-contrast essays can get confusing, it is critical to have a topic sentence at the start of each paragraph. This ensures that the idea of the paragraph is clear.\n \nBelow are three popular methods to present your information in the body of a compare-and-contrast essay. Depending on your subject, one method may work better than the others.\n \nA. The Alternating Method\n \nThe alternating method uses points of comparison as the main paragraph topics. In each paragraph, you compare the subjects based on how they fare concerning these comparison points. This method is useful for showing the relationship between two subjects.\n \nFor instance:\n \n<ul>\n<li>Color: Apples, Oranges</li>\n<li>Nutrition: Apples, Oranges</li>\n<li>Price: Apples, Oranges</li>\n</ul>\n \nB. The Block Method\n \nIn the block method, you discuss each of the subjects as a complete block. You say everything you can on your first subject before moving on to the second. As you write about your second subject, you may make comparisons with your first subject.\n \nFor instance:\n \n<ul>\n<li>Apples: Color, Nutrition, Price</li>\n<li>Oranges: Color, Nutrition, Price</li>\n</ul>\n \nC. The Similarities and Differences Method\n \nThe similarities and differences method prioritizes how two subjects are connected. You start by writing about the similarities between two subjects and then move on to the differences. This can also be done in the opposite direction. This method works well for subjects that are often conflated as it helps the reader to draw a line where the similarities end.\n \nFor instance:\n \n<ul>\n<li>Apples and oranges are both nutritious</li>\n<li>Apples and oranges are both affordable</li>\n<li>Apples are red but oranges are orange</li>\n</ul>\n \n<h2>Conclusion</h2>\n \nCompare-and-contrast essays are great conversation starters. There is no right or wrong party in such an essay and you do not have to convert the reader to any point of view. All you need to do is to present clear facts and reliable evidence to help your reader understand your subjects better. If you need additional assistance with your compare-and-contrast essay, consider contacting a professional essay writer.\n"}]

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