compare and contrast essay examples reddit

This organization deals with all of the points about Topic A, then all of the points of Topic B. X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source Remember, you can change your organization later if you decide it isn’t working. Which one you choose depends on what works best for your ideas. There are several ways to organize a compare-and-contrast essay. Don’t get so locked into having “three main points” that you forget to fully explore your topic.ĭecide on a structure. However, you should be aware that especially in college, teachers and professors tend to want students to break out of this limited mode. If your teacher recommends this form, go for it.

In middle school and high school, the standard format for essays is often the “5-paragraph form,” with an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Example: 'While both The Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird explore the themes of loss of innocence and the deep bond between siblings, To Kill a Mockingbird is more concerned with racism while The Catcher in the Rye focuses on the prejudices of class.'

Show readers how two subjects are similar and different.

Example: 'New York City and San Francisco are both great cities for young professionals, but they differ in terms of their job opportunities, social environment, and living conditions.'

Help readers make a meaningful comparison between two subjects.

Example: 'Cats are better pets than dogs because they require less maintenance, are more independent, and are more adaptable.'

Show readers why one subject is more desirable than the other.

There are many directions a compare-and-contrast thesis can take, but it should always make an argument that explains why it’s useful to put these two subjects together in the first place. Major points of difference are also good to note.ĭevelop your thesis. Once you’ve done that, start looking through the list for traits that both subjects share.

You can also just draw out a list of all of the qualities or characteristics of each subject.

In the outer edges of the circle, you write what is different in the overlapping middle area, you write what’s similar. This set of overlapping circles can help you visualize where your subjects are similar and where they differ. A “Venn diagram” can often be helpful when brainstorming.This will help you see which points are the major ones you want to focus on, and can help guide you when you formulate your thesis. Take a little time to brainstorm about how your chosen subjects are similar and different. You probably won’t be able to jump straight from deciding on your topic to having a thesis, and that’s okay.

If you say “The Hunger Games and Battle Royale are both similar and different,” and your friend asked you “So what?” what would your answer be? In other words, why bother putting these two things together?īrainstorm your topic. It can be helpful to consider the “So what?” question when deciding whether your subjects have meaningful comparisons and contrasts to be made.For example, ask yourself: What can we learn by thinking about “The Hunger Games” and “Battle Royale” together that we would miss out on if we thought about them separately?.“Meaningful” comparisons and contrasts do more than simply point out that “Topic A and Topic B are both similar and different.” A good compare and contrast essay will help your readers understand why it’s useful or interesting to put these two subjects together. Make sure that your subjects can be discussed in a meaningful way.

Compare and contrast essay examples reddit