Comparison and/or Contrast Thought and Essay Writing

Practice

Let’s practice:

First, pick two likely subjects and fill in the shared points:

Subject A:

Shared Points

Subject B:

Next, decide if each point is a similarity or a difference. Note which one it is in the shaded blanks to the left.

Now, create the following outlines with the information in your chart:

A Blank Contrast Paper Outline:

Subject A: ______________________ Subject B: _____________________

Narrow to two differences:

The two differences you want to present: ____________ (Difference #1) and ____________ (Difference #2)

Ø Thesis Sentence pattern: Subject A and Subject B differ in Point of Difference #1 and Point of Difference #2.

Next, create your thesis sentence:

____________ (Subject A) and ___________ (Subject B) differ in ___________ (Point Of Difference #1) and ___________ (Point of Difference #2).

([ Note: Paragraph #1 will be your introduction ending with your thesis sentence.)

Finally, fill in the following outline for the Point-by-Point or Alternating Option

Paragraph #2: ______________ (Subject A) ----___ ____ _____ (Difference #1)

Paragraph #3: ______________ (Subject B) ----___ _ ________ (Difference #1)

Paragraph #4: ______________ (Subject A) ----___ _ ________ ( Difference #2)

Paragraph #5: ______________ (Subject B) ----______ _ _____ (Difference #2)

Paragraph—Conclusion

OR fill in the following outline for the Subject or Block Option

Paragraph #2: ______________ (Subject A) ----___ ____ _____ (Difference #1)

Paragraph #3: ______________ (Subject A) ----___ _ ________ ( Difference #2)

Paragraph #4: ______________ (Subject B) ----___ _ ________ (Difference #1)

Paragraph #5: ______________ (Subject B) ----______ _ _____ (Difference #2)

Paragraph—Conclusion

JYou are now ready to write your rough draft.

A Blank Comparison Paper Outline:

Subject A: ______________________ Subject B: _____________________

Narrow to three similarities:

The three similarities you want to present:

Similarity #1_______________, Similarity #1_______________, Similarity #3_______________

Ø Thesis Sentence pattern: Subject A and Subject B are similar in Point Of Similarity #1, Point Of Similarity #2, and Point Of Similarity #3.

Next, create your thesis sentence:

__________ (Subject A) and __________ (Subject B) are similar in __________ (Similarity #1), __________ (Similarity #2), and __________ (Similarity #3).

Finally, fill in the following outline:

Paragraph #1 will be your introduction ending with your thesis sentence.

Paragraph #2: ______________ (Subjects A and B) —______________ (Similarity #1)

Paragraph #3: ______________ (Subjects A and B) —______________ (Similarity #2)

Paragraph #4: ______________ (Subjects A and B) —______________ (Similarity #3)

Paragraph—Conclusion

JYou are now ready to write your rough draft.

A Blank Comparison-Contrast Paper Outline: (Begin with the similarities unless you have a good reason not to.)

Subject A: ______________________ Subject B: _____________________

Narrow to one or two differences and one or two similarities

Pick two similarities—____________ and ____________

and one difference—____________

Ø Thesis Sentence pattern: Subject A and Subject B are similar in Point of Similarity #1 and Point of Similarity #2, but differ in and Point of Difference #1.

Ø Filled in thesis sentence: __________(Subject A) and __________ (Subject B) are similar in __________ (Similarity #1) and __________ (Similarity #2), but differ in __________ (Difference #1).

Paragraph #1 will be your introduction ending with your thesis sentence.

Paragraph #2: ______________(Subjects A and B) —______________ (Similarity #1)

Paragraph #3: ______________(Subjects A and B) —______________ (Similarity #2)

Paragraph #4: ______________ (Subject A—Difference #1)

Paragraph #5: ______________ (Subject B—Difference #1)

Paragraph—Conclusion

JYou are now ready to write your rough draft.

_ Back to Comparison-Contrast Advice