What is compare and contrast Essay?

A compare and contrast essay is one of the many types of essays that brings out the similarities and differences between multiple topics or subjects and helps the reader get all their knowledge. This style is beneficial for demonstrating what separates and joins related things or concepts, especially if these subjects are frequently confused or unfairly grouped. Although compare and contrast essays share several similarities with other types of essays, they also have numerous distinctions, which is the crux of comparison and contrast. Readers can understand the themes and subjects covered in the essay with the aid of parallels and distinctions. This blog will teach you how to create compare and contrast essays using some important tips, examples, and strategies.

Compare-And-Contrast Essay Purpose:

If you write an article about the benefits of renewable resources but end up going into great detail about fossil fuels, your readers could find it difficult to understand why renewable resources are preferable. This is the circumstance in which an essay of this kind can be helpful. Highlight the ways that two related topics differ and are similar to enhance your explanation. This approach is effective when explaining difficult-to-understand subjects. Essays that compare and contrast concentrate on several subjects rather than just one, setting them apart from argumentative or persuasive essays. They may, however, fall short in comparison to the more elaborate single-individual theme essay. These essays demonstrate your command of both disciplines and are typical college assignments.

How Do I Write This Type Of Essay?

It can be beneficial to determine two key elements when composing a compare and contrast essay: your thesis's topic and your writing's organization.

Thesis

First, choose the multiple subjects on which you will write this type of essay. This could be tricky, particularly if you have to select yourself. To help you, here are some compare-and-contrast essay examples:

There are several opposing options for different categories, such as fossil fuels and renewable resources, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and associated works of art or cultural movements, such as the Mona Lisa and The Girl with a Pearl Earring, as well as older and modern music. Some persons are comparable, connected, or affiliated with one another, such as Dorothea Lange and Diane Arbus, and various periods, such as London in the 1600s and London today, as well as the LGBTQIA+ community before and after Stonewall. There are two distinct but linked places: the Roman Empire and the Greek Empire. Furthermore, competing theories or beliefs, such as loop quantum gravity, string theory, evolution, and creationism, are widespread.

If you have finalized your subjects, the next step is to generate ideas. To begin with, it is beneficial to create a list of all the similarities and differences between your subjects. This list will help you establish connections and decide on the structure of your compare-and-contrast essay.

If you find yourself struggling, try using a Venn diagram. This is a visual tool that can assist you in understanding the shared and exclusive characteristics of your subjects.

Once you have created your lists, you can then determine the thesis. To do this, ask yourself a few questions: What is the purpose of your compare-and-contrast essay? What message do you want to convey to your reader? Do you want to highlight the influence of Dorothea Lange's work on Diane Arbus or showcase how these artists are different from each other?

Organization

To write a compare and contrast essay, it is advised to follow a recommended essay structure. While the detailed guide can provide more information, the essay should be divided into three main sections, which are the beginning, middle, and end.

Introduction: The introduction section is where you should explain the purpose of your essay, which can be achieved by presenting your thesis statement.
Body: This section should be one or two paragraphs long, and it should mention all subjects to be compared and contrasted.
Conclusion: The essay conclusion should follow the standard rules and best practices, summarise your points, and wrap up your essay.

The body section is considered the largest section of the essay, and it is where you should list the similarities and differences between your subjects. This is where most writers can get stuck, as it can be challenging to decide whether to write about both subjects at the same time or switch back and forth. We will discuss this in more detail below.

Compare And Contrast Essay Structure Ways

Knowing when to discuss each subject is the most challenging aspect of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay.

Essentially, there are three options available to you:

Block Method: Use the block method (subject by subject), where you discuss one subject in full.
Alternating Method: Using the alternating method (point by point), where you discuss one subject's viewpoint regarding a certain aspect followed by another subject's viewpoint, then move on to a new aspect;
Similarities and Differences: Simply discuss the similarities and differences, where you talk about all the similarities and then all the differences, or vice versa (differences first and then similarities).

Regardless of which option you choose, it is essential to pay close attention to topic sentences. In compare-and-contrast essays, paragraphs can become intricate, so it is critical to have a good topic or introduction sentence for each paragraph to ensure a clear flow of ideas.

Block Method (subject by subject)

The block method is a technique that involves dividing an essay into multiple paragraphs, each focusing on a single subject before moving on to the next. For example, in the compare and contrast essay "When Nothing Lies Beyond the Mask: Comparing Moby Dick and The Raven," the author dedicates one paragraph to Ahab from Moby Dick and another to the narrator from The Raven. This continues with a separate paragraph for every topic.

Using the block method, you can cover multiple topics and switch back and forth as needed. This approach ensures that each subject receives adequate attention, though it may slightly weaken the connection between the two.

Alternative Method (point by point)

If you prefer, you have the option to divide paragraphs by a specific topic or issue. In each paragraph, you can discuss both or all subjects. For instance, let's consider another example of a compare and contrast essay, The Reality of Science Fiction: Comparing Clarke to Cruise. In this case, the two subjects are discussed in the same paragraph, one after another.

This method is most useful when you want to draw attention to the connection between your subjects or the lack thereof. In the example mentioned above, the author intends to highlight the significant differences between the aliens of Arthur Clarke and those of other authors, especially H.G. Wells. To emphasize the contrast, the essayist places the two points next to each other in the same paragraph.

Similarities and Differences

The third option is quite similar to the alternating approach, with each subject being discussed side by side in the same paragraph. However, the paragraphs aren’t divided by different topics but instead by what the subjects have in common and what they don’t.

If you are interested, you can check out an example of a compare and contrast essay titled Government by the People, for the People has Perished from the Earth, which compares the dystopian societies depicted in George Orwell's 1984 and Yevgeny Zamyatin's “We” novel. In this essay, the first paragraph following the introduction examines the similarities between the two governments, while the subsequent paragraph highlights their differences. This approach is particularly effective when you want to concentrate on a specific likeness or dissimilarity between your subjects or when you want to build up to a strong conclusion or a surprising reveal at the end.

Compare And Contrast Essays Writing Process

In case you're wondering how to write a compare and contrast essay step-by-step, it's actually pretty similar to writing any other kind of essay, with a few tweaks to emphasize comparisons:

Start by coming up with ideas. This approach's initial stage should be to make a list of the similarities and difficulties; creating a Venn diagram can be helpful.
Once you have your list of ideas, decide how to structure your essay in the best way. Common options include block, alternating, and similarities/differences.
The next action is to have your essay written. This could be the most difficult and time-consuming step to finish.
After you've finished your initial draft, you must edit it correctly. Is the framework you've selected operating efficiently? Are there any sections that need to be edited or completely rewritten?

If you're interested in learning more about the essay writing process, we recommend that you read our comprehensive guide. Here are some other ideas to make your essay stand out in the compare and contrast category:

Select Similar Topics.

Selecting topics for compare-and-contrast essays that share comparable characteristics is essential. If not, contrast may take up too much of your writing instead of comparison. The subjects chosen for these essays typically have a close relationship, such as two people working in the same field or two products belonging to the same category.

If you are unable to establish this connection, your reader might begin to question why you are comparing these two products. This could make it more challenging for readers to follow your essay and for you to develop your points of view as you write. It is advisable to choose your subjects wisely right away to avoid these issues.

Writing for Clarity

Compare and contrast essays can be confusing when dealing with multiple subjects. It's important to communicate clearly to your reader which points relate to which subject and what conclusion the entire essay is building toward. However, it can be difficult and distracting to evaluate your work for clarity during a writing session. Fortunately, Grammarly offers suggestions to improve the clarity of your writing by suggesting alternative phrasings that can clear things up. With just one click, your writing gets the professional editor treatment. Give Grammarly a try and see how it can improve your writing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a compare and contrast essay is a valuable tool for highlighting the similarities and differences between two subjects. It helps the reader understand each subject better by utilizing the other subject as a reference point. To write a successful essay, it is important to choose the right subjects, generate ideas, and structure the essay properly. By following the guidelines mentioned in this blog, you can create a compelling compare-and-contrast essay that effectively conveys your message to the reader.

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About Author

Nick Johnson

Nick is a multi-faceted individual with diverse interests. I love teaching young students through coaching or writing who always gathered praise for a sharp calculative mind. I own a positive outlook towards life and also give motivational speeches for young kids and college students.