ComparisonContrast Essays ComparisonContrast Essays Compare and contrast two

Comparison/Contrast Essays

Comparison/Contrast Essays • Compare and contrast two or more parallel items (in the same genre/category). • Which ones are parallel topics? – A. – B. – C. – D. Apples and oranges Indian music and Chinese dance Science and biology Teachers and engineers • Discuss similarities and differences.

Block organization • Similarities 1&2 b/w teachers and engineers • Teachers – A. Salary – B. Job security • Engineers – A. Salary – B. Job security

Block organization • Similarities can be written in the body paragraph, the introduction or the conclusion.

Block organization • Better suited for a shorter essay or in-class essay.

Point-by-point organization • Similarity 1 between teachers and engineers – Need college education • Similarity 2 – Work mostly inside • Difference 1 between teachers and engineers – Salary: teachers < engineers • Difference 2 – Job security: teachers > engineers

Point-by-point organization • More appropriate for a longer (5+ paragraphs) essay. • Contrast differences more sharply.

Tips • Decide on the organization style before writing. • Stick with the style of the choice. Do not change the organization in the middle of the essay.

Practice • Compare and contrast between eating fast foods and home-cooked meals. • Make an outline for block organization. • Make an outline for point-by-point organization.

Block organization Fast food It’s prepared fast. It ‘s usually cheaper. Everybody can enjoy a meal w/t preparing or cleaning up. It tends to contain high sodium, sugar and/or oil. Home-cooked meal (HCM) It takes longer to prepare. It tends to cost more to buy all the ingredients. Someone must prepare a meal and clean up. The amount of sodium, sugar and oil can be controlled. Similaritiy bw both Both types of meals can be enjoyed by people who sit around the table.

Point-by-point organization Cost Fast food tends to be more inexpensive than a home-cooked meal. Time to prepare and clean up Fast food is prepared by a store employee while someone has to prepare and clean up a meal cooked at home. Nutritional value Fast food generally has higher contents of salt, sugar and grease than a home-cooked meal. Food preparers can control the quality and quantity of the ingredients and seasonings while the consumers of fast food have no control over them.