ComparisonandContrastEssays

Comparisonandcontrastaretwoeverydaythoughtprocesses.Whenwecomparetwothings,we
showhowtheyaresimilar;whenwecontrasttwothings,weshowhowtheyaredifferent.We
mightcompareorcontrasttwobrandnameproducts(forexample,NikeversusAdidasrunning
shoes),twotelevisionshows,twoinstructors,twojobs,twofriends,ortwocoursesofactionwe
couldtakeinagivensituation.Thepurposeofcomparingandcontrastingistounderstandeach
ofthetwothingsmoreclearlyand,attimes,tomakejudgmentsaboutthem.

Therearetwocommonmethods,orformats,ofdevelopmentinacomparisonorcontrastpaper.
Oneformatpresentsthedetailsonesideatatime.Theotherpresentsthedetailspointbypoint.

TwoParagraphstoConsider

Readthesesampleparagraphsofcomparisonorcontrastandthenanswerthequestionsthat
follow.

TwoViewsonToys

Childrenandadultshaveverydifferentpreferences.First,thereisthematteroftaste.Adults
pridethemselvesontaste,whilechildrenignorethematteroftasteinfavorofthingsthatarefun.
Adults,especiallygrandparents,pickouttastefultoysthatgounused,whilechildrenlovethe
cheapplaythingsadvertisedontelevision.Second,ofcourse,thereisthematterofmoney.The
newgamesonthemarkettodayareacaseinpoint.Haveyouevertriedtolureachildawayfrom
someexpensivegameinordertogethimorhertoplaywithanoldfashionedgameortoy?
Finally,thereisadifferencebetweenanadult'sandachild'sideaofwhatiseducational.Adults,
filledwithmemoriesoftheirownchildhood,tendtobefondofthewrittenword.Today's
children,ontheotherhand,concentrateonanythingelectronic.Thesethingsmeanmuchmoreto
themthantoadults.Nextholidayseason,examinethetoysthatadultschooseforchildren.Then
lookatthetoysthechildrenprefer.Youwillseethedifference.

MikeandHelen

MikeandHelen,amarriedcoupleweknow,lookverymuchalike.Theyarebothshort,dark
haired,andslightlypudgy.Likehiswife,Mikehasagoodsenseofhumor.BothMikeandHelen
canbecharmingwhentheywanttobe,andtheyseemtohandlesmallcrisesinacalm,coolway.
Aproblemsuchasanoverflowingwasher,astalledcar,orasickchildisnotacauseforpanic;
theyseemtotakesucheventsinstride.IncontrasttoHelen,though,Miketendstobe
disorganized.Heislateforappointmentsandunabletokeepimportantdocumentsbankrecords,
receipts,andinsurancepaperswherehecanfindthem.AlsounlikeHelen,Miketendstoholda
grudge.Heisslowtoforgetacruelremark,acarelessjoke,oranunfriendlyslight.Another
differencebetweenthesetwoishowtheyliketospendtheirfreetime;whileMikeenjoys
swimming,camping,andfishing,Helenpreferstostayinsideandreadorplaychess.
1.
Gobackandreadeachparagraphaloud.Underlinethetopicsentence.Thenfindspecific
examplesandtransitionsbeforeansweringthequestions.

AboutUnity

1.Whichparagraphlacksatopicsentence?

2.Whichparagraphhasatopicsentencethatistoobroad?

AboutSupport

3.Whichparagraphcontainsalmostnospecificdetails?

4.Whichparagraphprovidesmorecompletesupport?

AboutCoherence

5.Whatmethodofdevelopment(onesideatatimeorpointbypoint)isusedin"Mikeand
Helen"?

6.Whatmethodofdevelopmentisusedin"TwoViewsinToys"?

WritingaComparisonorContrastParagraph

Writeacomparisonorcontrastparagraphononeofthefollowingtopics:

TwoholidaysTwoinstructors

TwocharactersinthesamemovieorTVshowTwohomes

TwochildrenTwocars

TwoneighborhoodsTwocartoonstrips

TwokindsofeatersTwodrivers

TwocoworkersTwojobs

Twomembersofateam(ortwoteams)Twosingersorgroups

TwopetsTwofriends
TwopartiesTwocrises

TwobossesorsupervisorsTwomagazines2.
PREWRITING

a.Chooseyourtopic,thetwosubjectsyouwillwriteabout.

b.Decidewhetheryourparagraphwillcomparethetwosubjects(discusstheirsimilarities),
contrastthem(discusstheirdifferences),ordoboth.Ifyouchoosetowriteaboutdifferences,
youmightwriteabouthowamusicalgroupyouenjoydiffersfromamusicalgroupyoudislike.
Youmightdiscussimportantdifferencesbetweentwoemployersyouhavehadorbetweentwo
neighborhoodsyou'velivedin.Youmightcontrastajobyou'vehadinacarfactorywithajob
you'vehadasareceptionist.

c.Writeadirecttopicsentenceforyourparagraph.Here'sanexample:
"Myjobinacarpartsfactorywasverydifferentfrommyjobasareceptionist."

d.Comeupwithatleastthreestrongpointstosupportyourtopicsentence.

Ifyouarecontrastingtwojobs,forexample,yourpointsmightbethat"theydifferedgreatly(1)
intheirphysicalsetting,(2)intheskillstheyrequired,and(3)inthepeopletheybroughtyou
intocontactwith.

e.Useyourtopicsentenceandsupportingpointstocreateascratchoutlineforyourparagraph.
Fortheparagraphaboutjobs,theoutlinewouldlooklikethis:

Topicsentence:Myjobinacarpartsfactorywasverydifferentfrommyjobasareceptionist.

1.Thejobsdifferedinphysicalsetting.

2.Thejobsdifferedintheskillstheyrequired.

3.Thejobsdifferedinthepeopletheybroughtmeintocontactwith.

f.Undereachofyoursupportingpoints,jotdownasmanydetailsasoccurtoyou.Don'tworry
yetaboutwhetherthedetailsallfitperfectlyorwhetheryouwillbeabletousethemall.Your
goalistogenerateawealthofmaterialtodrawon.Anexample:

Topicsentence:Myjobinacarpartsfactorywasverydifferentfrommyjobasareceptionist.

1.Thejobsdifferedinphysicalsetting.
Factoryloudanddirty
Officecleanandquiet
Factoryfullofmachines,hunksofmetal,tools
Officefullofdesks,files,computers
Factorysmelledofmotoroil
Officesmelledofnewcarpet
Windowsinfactorytoohighandgrimytolookoutof
Officehadcleanwindowsontostreet3.

2.Thejobsdifferedintheskillsandbehaviortheyrequired.
Factoryrequiredphysicalstrength
Officerequiredmentalactivity
Didn'tneedtobepoliteinfactory
Hadtobepoliteinoffice
Didn'tneedtothinkmuchforselfinfactory
Constantlyhadtomakedecisionsinoffice

3.Thejobsdifferedinthepeopletheybroughtmeintocontactwith.
Infactory,workedwithsamecreweveryday
Inoffice,sawconstantstreamofnewcustomers
Mostcoworkersinfactoryhadhighschooleducationorless
Manycoworkersandclientsinofficewelleducated
Coworkersinfactoryspokevarietyoflanguages
RarelyheardanythingbutEnglishinoffice

g.Decidewhichformatyouwillusetodevelopyourparagraph:onesideatatimeorpointby
point.Eitherisacceptable;itisuptoyoutodecidewhichyouprefer.Theimportantthingisto
beconsistent:whicheverformatyouchoose,besuretouseitthroughouttheentireparagraph.

h.Writethefirstdraftofyourparagraph.

REVISING:TheFourBases

ChecklistforComparisonandContrast

Putyourcompositionawayforadayorso.Youwillreturntoitwithafreshperspectiveanda
betterabilitytocritiquewhatyouhavewritten.Rereadyourparagraphwiththesequestionsin
mindtomakesureyouhavecoveredthefourbasesofeffectivewriting:

AboutUnity

DoesmytopicsentencemakeitclearwhattwothingsIamcomparingorcontrasting?

Doallsentencesintheparagraphstayontopic?
AboutSupport

HaveIcomparedorcontrastedthesubjectsinatleastthreeimportantways?

HaveIprovidedspecificdetailsthateffectivelybackupmysupportingpoints?

4.
AboutCoherence

IfIhavechosenthepointbypointformat,haveIconsistentlydiscussedapointaboutone
subject,thenimmediatelydiscussedthesamepointabouttheothersubjectbeforemovingonto
thenextpoint?

IfIhavechosentheonesideatatimeformat,haveIdiscussedeverypointaboutoneofmy
subjects,thendiscussedthesamepointsinthesameorderaboutthesecondsubjects?

HaveIusedappropriatetransitions,suchasfirst,inaddition,also,andanotherway,tohelp
readersfollowmytrainofthought?

AboutSentenceSkills

HaveIcarefullyproofreadmyparagraph,usingtheguidelinesontheinsidebackcoverofthe
book,andcorrectedallsentenceskillsmistakes,includingspelling?

Continuerevisingyourworkuntilyoucanansweryestoallthesequestions.

TwoCommonMethodsofDevelopingaComparisonorContrastParagraph

1.Practicewiththetwostrategiesofdevelopment.
Readthetwoparagraphsthatfollowandtrytoexplainthedifferenceinthetwomethodsof
development.

MySeniorProm

MyseniorpromwasnothinglikewhatIexpectedittobe.Fromthestartofmysenioryear,Ihad
picturedputtingonasleeksilveryslipdressthatmyauntwouldmakeandthatwouldcost$300
inanystore.Nooneelsewouldhaveagownasattractiveasmine.1imaginedmyboyfriend
comingtothedoorwithalovelydeepredcorsage,andIpicturedmyselfhappilyinhalingits
perfumealleveninglong.Isawussettingofffortheeveninginhisbrother'sBMWconvertible.
Wewouldmakeaflourishaswesweptinandoutofaseriesofpartiesbeforetheprom.Our
eveningwouldbecappedbyadeliciousshrimpdinneratthepromandbydancingclosetogether
intotheearlymorninghours.'ThepromwasheldonMay15,2005,atthePonyClubonBlack
HorsePike.However,becauseofsicknessinherfamily,myaunthadnotimetofinishmygown
andIhadtobuyanuglypinkoneoffthediscountrackatthelastminute.Mycorsageofred
roseslookedterribleonmypinkgown,andIdonotrememberitshavinganyscent.My
boyfriend'sbrotherwasoutoftown,andIsteppedoutsideandsawthestrippeddownChevythat
heusedattheracesonweekends.WewenttoonepartywhereIatesomethingthatupsetmy
stomach.Afterwearrivedattheprom,Ididnothavemuchmoretoeatthanarollandsome
celerysticks.Worstofall,weleftearlywithoutdancingbecausemyboyfriendandIhadhada
fightseveraldaysbefore,andatthetimewedidnotreallywanttobewitheachother.

5.
DayversusEveningStudents

Asaparttimecollegestudentwhohastakenbothdayandeveningcourses,Ihaveobserved
notabledifferencesbetweendayandeveningstudents.Firstofall,dayandeveningstudents
differgreatlyinage,styles,andinterests.Thestudentsinmydaytimeclassesareallaboutthe
sameage,withsimilarclothingstylesandsimilarinterests.Mostareintheirlateteenstoearly
twenties,andwhethermaleorfemale,theyprettymuchdressalike.Theiruniformconsistsof
jeans,aTshirt,runningshoes,abaseballcap,andmaybeagoldearringortwo.Theyusethe
samepopularslang,talkaboutthesamemoviesandTVshows,andknowthesamemusicartists.
Butstudentsinmyeveningcoursesaremuchmorediverse.Someareintheirlateteens,butmost
rangefromyoungmarriedpeopleintheirtwentiesandthirtiestopeoplemygrandparents'age.
Generally,theirclothingismoreformalthanthedaystudents'.Theyaredressedforthe
workplace,notforatypicalcollegeclassroom.Manyofthewomenwearskirtsordresses;the
menoftenweardressshirtsorsweaters.Andtheyaremorecomfortabletalkingaboutmortgages
orworkschedulesorchildcarethanaboutwhatwasonTVlastnight.Dayandeveningstudents
alsohaveverydifferentresponsibilities.Fordaystudents,collegeandaparttimejobare
generallytheonlymajorresponsibilities.Theyhaveplentyoftimetostudyandgetassignments
done.However,eveningstudentsleadmuchmorecomplicatedlivesthanmostdaystudents.
Theymaycometocampusafterputtinginaninetofivedayatwork.Mosthavechildrentoraise
orgrandchildrentobabysitfor.Whentheymissaclassorhandinanassignmentlate,it's
usuallybecauseofarealproblem,suchasasickchildoranimportantdeadlineatwork.Finally,
dayandeveningstudentsdefinitelyhavedifferentattitudestowardschool.Daystudentsoften
seemmoreinterestedintheviewoutthewindoworthecuteclassmateinthenextrowthanin
whattheinstructorissaying.Theydoze,drawcartoons,whisper,andwritenotesinsteadof
payingattention.Incontrast,eveningstudentssitupstraight,listenhard,andasktheinstructor
lotsofquestions.Theyobviouslyaretheretolearn,andtheydon'twanttheirtimewasted.In
short,daystudentsandnightstudentsareasdifferentas...dayandnight.

Completethiscomment:Thedifferenceinthemethodsofcontrastinthetwoparagraphsisthat

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Compareyouranswerwiththefollowingexplanationofthetwomethodsofdevelopmentusedin
comparisonorcontrastparagraphs.

Therearetwocommonmethods,orformats,ofdevelopmentinacomparisonorcontrastpaper.
Oneformatpresentsthedetailsonesideatatime,alsocalledwholebywhole.Theother
presentsthedetailspointbypoint,alsoknownaspartbypart.Eachformatisexplainedbelow.

6.
OneSideataTime(Wholebywhole)

Lookattheoutlineof"MySeniorProm":

Topicsentence:MyseniorpromwasnothinglikewhatIhadexpectedittobe.

A.Expectations(firsthalfofparagraph)
1.Dress(expensive,silver)
2.Corsage(deepred,fragrant)
3.Car(BMWconvertible)
4.Parties(many)
5.Dinner(shrimp)
6.Dancing(allnight)

B.Reality(secondhalfofparagraph)
1.Dress(cheap,pink)
2.Corsage(wrongcolor,noscent)
3.Car(strippeddownChevy)
4.Parties(onlyone)
5.Dinner(rollandcelery)
6.Dancing(nonebecauseofquarrel)

Whenyouusetheonesideatatimemethod,followthesameorderofpointsofcontrastor
comparisonforeachside,asintheoutlineabove.Forexample,boththefirsthalfofthe
paragraphandthesecondhalfbeginwiththesameidea:whatdresswouldbeworn.Thenboth
sidesgoontothecorsage,thecar,andsoon.

PointbyPoint(Partbypart)

Nowlookattheoutlineof"DayversusEveningStudents":
Topicsentence:Therearenotabledifferencesbetweendayandnightstudents.

A.Ageandrelatedinterestsandtastesinclothing
1.Youthfulnatureofdaystudents
2.Oldernatureofeveningstudents

B.Amountofresponsibilities
1.Lighterresponsibilitiesofdaystudents
2.Heavierresponsibilitiesofeveningstudents

C.Attitudetowardschool
1.Casualattitudeofdaystudents
2.Seriousattitudeofeveningstudents

7.
Theoutlineshowshowthetwokindsofstudentsarecontrastedpointbypoint.First,thewriter
contraststheages,clothingstyles,andinterestsoftheyoungdaytimestudentsandtheolder
eveningstudents.Next,thewritercontraststhelimitedresponsibilitiesofthedaytimestudents
withtheheavierresponsibilitiesoftheeveningstudents.Finally,thewritercontraststhecasual
attitudetowardschoolofthedaytimestudentsandtheseriousattitudeoftheeveningstudents.

Whenyoubeginacomparisonorcontrastpaper,youshoulddeciderightawaywhichformat
youaregoingtouse:onesideatatimeorpointbypoint.Anoutlineisanessentialstepin
helpingyoudecidewhichformatwillbemoreworkableforyourtopic.Keepinmind,however,
thatanoutlineisjustaguide,notapermanentcommitment.Ifyoulaterfeelthatyou'vechosen
thewrongformat,youcanreshapeyouroutlinetotheotherformat.

2.DevelopingaComparisonorContrastParagraph

DevelopmentthroughPrewriting

Gayle,theauthorof"MySeniorProm,"hadlittletroublethinkingofatopicforhercomparison
orcontrastparagraph."Myinstructorsaid,'Youmightcompareorcontrasttwoindividuals,jobs
you'vehad,orplacesyou'velived:"Gaylesaid."Thenheadded,'oryoumightcompareor
contrastyourexpectationsofasituationwiththereality.'1immediatelythoughtofmyprom
boy,weremyexpectationsdifferentfromthereality!1hadthoughtitwouldbethehighpointof
mysenioryear,butinsteaditwasatotaldisaster."

Becausesheisapersonwholikestothinkvisually,Gaylestartedherpreparationsforher
paragraphbyclustering.Shefoundthisahelpfulwayto"see"therelationshipsbetweenthe
pointsshewasdeveloping.Herdiagramisshownhere:

ExpectationsofmypromRealityofmyprom
GreatdinnerHardlyanydinner

Gorgeous,originaldressUglysaledress

LotsofdancingDidn'tdance

ArriveincoolcarEmbarrassingcar

GlamorouspreprompartiesOneboringparty

RomantictimewithMarkMarkandIfighting

Takingadetailfirstfromthe"Expectations"partofthediagram,thenonefromthe"Reality"
portion,thenanotherfrom"Expectations:'andsoon,Gaylebegantowriteherparagraphusinga
pointbypointformat.
8.
However,Gaylestoppedbecauseshewasn'tsatisfiedwiththewaytheparagraphwas
developing."IwantedthereadertopicturethewayIhadimaginedmyprom,andIdidn'tlike
interruptingthatpicturewiththerealityoftheevening.So1decidedtotrytheonesideatatime
approachinstead."

DevelopmentthroughRevising

Gayle'sinstructorreviewedherfirstdraft.Herearehiscomments:

1.Allthisisverypromising,butsomeofyourdetailsareoutoforder.Forexample,youmention
thepreprompartiesafterthedanceitself.Besuretofollowtheevening'ssequenceofevents.

2.Moredescriptivedetailsareneeded.Forinstance,whatwasyour"beautiful"dresssupposedto
looklike,andwhatdidthe"ugly"oneyouendedupwithlooklike?

3.Youincludesomeunnecessaryinformation:forexample,thedetailsofyouruncle'sillness.
Everythinginyourparagraphshouldsupportyourtopicsentence.

Followingherinstructor'ssuggestions(andrememberingafewmoredetailsshewantedto
include),Gaylewrotethefinalversionofherparagraphthatyoureadabove.

WritingaComparisonorContrastParagraph

WritingAssignment1

Writeaparagraphinwhichyoucompareorcontrastyourlifeintherealworldwithyourlifein
animagined"perfectworld."Yourparagraphmaybehumorousorserious.
Prewriting

a.Asyour"reallife"and"ideallife"aretoobroadforaparagraph,choosethreespecificareasto
focuson.Youmightselectanyoftheareasbelow,orthinkofaspecificareayourself.

WorkMoneyRomance

FriendsPossessionsPhysicallocation

HousingTalentsPersonalappearance

b.Writethenameofoneofyourthreeareas(forexample,"Work"),acrossthetopofapage.
Dividethepageintotwocolumns.Labelonecolumn"realworld"andtheother"perfectworld."
Under"realworld,"writedownasmanydetailsasyoucanthinkofdescribingyourreallife
worksituation.Under"perfectworld,"writedowndetailsdescribingwhatyourperfectworklife
wouldbelike.Repeattheprocessonseparatepagesforyourothertwomajorareas.
9.
c.Writeatopicsentenceforyourparagraph.Here'sanexample:"Inmyperfectworld,mylife
wouldbequitedifferentintheareasofwork,money,andhousing."

d.Decidewhichapproachyouwilltake:onesideatatimeorpointbypoint.

e.Writeascratchoutlinethatreflectstheformatyouhaveselected.

Theoutlineforapointbypointformatwouldlooklikethis:

Topicsentence:Inmyperfectworld,mylifewouldbequitedifferentintheareasofwork,
money,andhousing.

1.Work
a.Reallifework
b.Perfectworldwork

2.Money
a.Reallifemoney
b.Perfectworldmoney

3.Housing
a.Reallifehousing
b.Perfectworldhousing

Theoutlineforaonesideatatimeformatwouldlooklikethis:

Topicsentence:Inmyperfectworld,mylifewouldbequitedifferentintheareasofwork,
money,andhousing.

1.Reallife
a.Work
b.Money
c.Housing

2.Perfectworld
a.Work
b.Money
c.Housing

f.Drawingfromthedetailsyougenerated,completeyouroutlinebyjottingdownyourstrongest
supportingdetailsforeachpoint.

g.Writethefirstdraftofyourparagraph.

10.
Revising

Rereadyourparagraph,andthenshowittoafriendwhowillgiveyouhonestfeedback.You
shouldbothreviewitwiththesequestionsinmind:

COMPARISONORCONTRASTCHECKLIST:

TheFourBases:

Unity

Doesthetopicsentencemakeitclearwhatthreeareasoflifearebeingcomparedandcontrasted?

Istherestofmyparagraphontargetinsupportofmytopicsentence?

Support

Doestheparagraphprovidespecificdetailsthatdescribeboththe"reallife"situationandthe
"perfectworld"situation?

Coherence

Doestheparagraphfollowaconsistentformat:pointbypointoronesideatatime?
SentenceSkills

HaveIusedaconsistentpointofviewthroughoutmyparagraph?HaveIusedspecificrather
thangeneralwords?

HaveIavoidedwordinessandusedconcisewording?

Aremysentencesvaried?

HaveIcheckedforspellingandothersentenceskills?

Continuerevisingyourworkuntilyouandyourreadercananswer"yes"toallthesequestions.

WritingAssignment2

Writeacontrastparagraphononeofthetopicsbelow:

Neighborhoodstoresversusashoppingmall

Drivingonanexpresswayversusdrivingoncountryroads
11.

PeopleversusUs(oranyothertwopopularmagazines)

Campinginatentversuscampinginarecreationalvehicle

Workingparentsversusstayathomeparents

Ausedcarversusanewone

Recordedmusicversuslivemusic

PGratedmoviesversusRratedmovies

NewsinanewspaperversusnewsontelevisionorontheInternet

Yesterday'stoysversustoday'stoys

Freshfoodversuscannedorfrozenfood

Thelockerroomofawinningteamafteragameversusthelockerroomofalosingteam
Anadontelevisionversusanadforthesameproductinamagazine

Amateursportsteamsversusprofessionalteams

WritingAssignment3

TheNewYorkTimesonlinehasaspeciallearningsectioncalled"OnThisDay,"whichprovides
informationabouteventsthathappenedonthesamedatethroughouthistory.Visitthesiteat:
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/9909070nthisday.html.Then,chooseoneof
thehistoricaleventsdescribedandreadtheaccompanyingarticle(ordoalittleresearch
elsewhereabouttheevent).Writeaparagraphcomparingandcontrastingtheeventsofthatday
withtoday.

Source:ExploringWritingbyJohnLangan,copyright2008,pages175187.

12.