Admin Published On Mar 23, 2020 | Updated on Aug 10, 2023 Essay

How To Write A Compare And Contrast Essay

Drawing up comparisons is a common activity that most of us indulged in or have been subjected to. You may have been compared to an overachiever cousin in your family, or you may have drawn comparisons between your favourite sportspersons at some point. Writing a compare and contrast essay follows the same basic principle.

But strangely, for many of you, preparing a compare and contrast essay is still quite confusing. So, if you’ve been wondering how to eliminate this confusion, then we have this detailed guide on compare and contrast essay that will definitely be helpful. Let’s gather some insights.

An Overview Of How To Write A Compare And Contrast Essay

While some essay may ask you to make simple comparisons, others may ask you to begin with that same essay format and then also present an evaluation or argument depending on your comparisons. In case you’re assigned with the latter, simply indicating that things are similar or different won’t be enough.

For instance, if you’re assigned with a topic “pick a particular theme and consider how two different Romantic era poets approach this theme in their poems.” The topic requires you to make comparisons between two poets, but it also asks how the poets approach the point of comparison. Simply put, you will have to present an analytical argument about the approaches of the poets.

Research The Subjects Of Comparison Thoroughly

It’s imperative for you to develop a complete understanding of both the subjects being compared. However, it’s vital not to offer more details than it’s necessary. Compare several aspects of each subject rather than trying to cover both topics comprehensively.

A compare and contrast essay about social issues, historical events, science-related topics, and even a comparison between two works of literature are more likely to require extensive research.

Come Up With A Coherent Thesis Statement

A clear, concise thesis statement should be the basis of every essay. Even if your basis for comparison was given to you, you need to explain in a single sentence, the reason you're comparing the two subjects. The comparison should highlight something about the nature of the subjects or their relationship to each other, and your thesis statement should focus on that argument.

Your thesis needs to make a solid claim about your subjects that you will then defend in your essay. It's good if this claim is open for interpretation, as that will allow you to present a brilliant argument.

Compare and contrast essay outline or structure

Outlining your essay will allow you to maintain clarity in the organisational structure of your essay. It will provide you with a template to follow as you develop your ideas. Regardless of how you planned to organise your essay, you will still need to include the basic structure. The basic outline includes these aspects.

Introduction: This part elaborates on the background details of the subjects you’ll be comparing in the essay. This section also consists of the thesis statement and describes the details you’ll be incorporating in the rest of your essay.

Main body paragraphs: This part will highlight the supporting ideas associated with the thesis statement. Each paragraph will focus on one idea. The main paragraph is further divided into three parts- topic sentence, supporting arguments, and evidence.

Conclusion: This part carefully sums up the evidence presented in your essay. However, you don't have to rehash your thesis statement in this section, but rather reflect on the scope of your research in the future.

How To Write A Brilliant Compare And Contrast Essay Introduction

The introductory section of your compare and contrast essay should be able to hold the reader's attention immediately. If you've already written the main paragraphs of your essay, you can create a hook that reflects what you will discuss in the essay, whether it's a quote, fact, statistic, rhetorical question, or anecdote. Then, write a few sentences about your topic, and then narrow down to your thesis statement, which rounds up your introduction.

Also, there’s no need to announce your intentions of writing the essay. So, you can skip statements like, “The objective of this essay is to...” Instead, let your reader perceive the objective of your essay through the first two sentences in your introduction.

Here’s an example of how to present the introduction of a compare and contrast essay on a topic that requires a comparison between elementary school and middle school.

For any student, the transition between elementary to middle school is the most memorable time. Typically, both these academic levels come with their different sets of similarities and differences. Even the rules remain the same. But there are also some changes that each of these levels bring in.

How To Write A Compare And Contrast Essay Conclusion

When the readers go through the essay paper, they should feel like they’ve learned something. The conclusion should be written by offering a brief, general summary of the aspects you’ve covered in the body paragraphs, then draw a broader conclusion about your two subjects.

Make sure to base your conclusion on data and not your personal preferences, specifically if your essay prompt instructs you to maintain a neutral tone. The last sentence of the essay should leave the reader feeling that the different threads of the essay have been tied together in a cohesive manner.

The following is an example of the conclusion on the same topic-

While both the elementary and middle school levels are similar and different in their own little ways, but what also has to be considered is that both these levels are correlated with one another. Elementary school provides students with the knowledge and experiences that takes them ahead to the middle schools. Hence, despite their differences, both these levels are significant on their own.

Several Intriguing Compare And Contrast Essay Topics

If you’re confused about finding the right topic for your compare and contrast essay, here’s a list of topics for you to consider.

Present a comparison between capitalism and socialism
Provide a clear comparison of the two most prominent female characters of Shakespearean comedy
Discuss the differences or similarities between verbal and non-verbal communication
Present a detailed comparison of two seasons in your country
Draw up a comparison between the Lord Byron and John Keats based on one of their famous poems
Present a comparison between two prominent indoor sports
Explain the differences or similarities between two literary fiction written by Oscar Wilde
Form a comparison between communism and liberalism
Russian revolution or French revolution – which historical event was more impactful?
Develop a comparison between prose and poetry with valid arguments

Wrapping it up,

Now that you’ve gone through all the steps of presenting a flawless compare and contrast essay, you won’t have doubts or confusion if you work on such essays in future. You will only need to remember these steps, and you'll be able to put together a well-crafted paper.

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