COMPARISONCONTRAST DEFINITION ESSAY WHAT IS IT Comparison and

COMPARISON/CONTRAST & DEFINITION ESSAY

WHAT IS IT? Comparison and contrast are methods of organizing and developing ideas by pointing out similarities and differences between subjects A definition essay allows you to define an abstract idea in your own words and to provide insight on what this word or idea means to you.

COMPARISON ESSAY Identifies similarities – even between subjects that seem different § Good and Evil

CONTRAST ESSAY Identifies differences – even between subjects that seem alike Passion and compassion Can also be used to discuss pros and cons of one subject like splitting Senior English into Expository Writing and British Literature

TWO ORGANIZATION METHODS Point by point Subject by subject You should decide what format is best for your reader to understand your topic.

POINT BY POINT Thesis statement: Although serenity and peace are similar terms, a person who experiences serenity may not necessarily experience peace. Point 1: Define Point 2: Situation/Examples Serenity Peace

SUBJECT BY SUBJECT Thesis statement: Although serenity and peace are similar terms, a person who experiences serenity may not necessarily experience peace. Serenity Peace Define Examples

DEFINING AN ABSTRACT IDEA 1) Know what term is being defined, and explain it clearly to the reader. Dictionary definitions will only sound pedantic and uninteresting. Define the term in your own words, and adding a bit of a personal touch is always welcome to the reader. 2) Present understandable information. Hazy and uneven details and abstract ramblings will not make the essay readable or comprehensible. 3) Add personality to your essay. Put in anecdotes, personal bits of information (not necessarily the skeletons in your closet) and other memorabilia. If you enjoy writing the essay, the reader will certainly enjoy reading it.

There are different ways that you can go about defining a term. DO NOT use definitions from a dictionary or the internet. You may use those sources for ideas but use your own words to contruct your own definition.

ANALYSIS The subject may be separated into different parts and those parts could be described separately. For example, if the topic is love then the many types of love could be explained individually. The writer may start with platonic love, then romantic love, unrequited love, and first love.

COMPARISON By comparing the subject to something else, it might make it more lucid to the reader. If the topic is Communism, then comparing it to capitalism or socialism, may make the concept of communism much clearer.

DETAILS Provide physical and internal attributes, conceptual background and traditional thoughts of the subject is another way of making it more apparent to the reader. (ex: Love can sometimes cause a person to feel extreme pain when the person they love gets hurt. From this love, sadness can be felt causing a lot of tears and a loss of appetite. )

NEGATION Sometimes pointing out what the subject IS NOT, may make what it is clearer to the reader. (Ex: Depression is not necessarily selfpity. )

ORIGIN & CAUSES Discussing the background of a topic may also help. If you are writing about “fire” such as, then theorizing on how fire may have been discovered will add interest to your essay.

RESULTS, EFFECTS, & CAUSES Topics such as “Racism” or “Poverty” cannot be truly discussed without describing the effects that they render on the human psyche. Similarly topics such as “Pollution” and “Global warming” lack poignancy if the results and causes are not mentioned.

Definition essays are the perfect opportunity to let your wit and imagination run wild. Remember to make your essay amusing, poignant, personal and thus memorable to the reader.

REMEMBER… Comparison identifies SIMILARITIES Contrast identifies DIFFERENCES

THESIS STATEMENT Gives a focus Avoid general (and obvious) statements There are many similarities and differences between love and hate. Love and lust might be similar, but they have one major difference. TOO GENERIC AND VAGUE There is NO focus

BETTER THESIS… While love and lust could be linked to each other, love is a deep emotion while lust is more of a physical desire. Easy way to focus: What is the purpose of the essay? What do you hope the audience gets out of it?

ACTIVITY 1 Compare a diamond ring and a cubic zirconia ring. Remember…comparison does what? ? ? Step 1: List ……… information Step 2: Develop main idea in sentence Step 3: Write paragraph

ACTIVITY 2 Contrast the type of music your parents like to the type of music you like Remember…contrast does what? ? ? Step 1: List ……… information Step 2: Develop main idea in sentence Step 3: Write paragraph

ACTIVITY 3 I need 2 volunteers Compare them (be nice!) Main idea verbally Contrast Main them (be nice) idea verbally