Learning Objectives
- Determine the purpose and structure of comparison and contrast in writing.
- Explain organizational methods used when comparing and contrasting.
- Understand how to write a compare-and-contrast essay.
The Purpose of Comparison and Contrast in Writing
Comparison in writing discusses elements that are similar, while contrast in writing discusses elements that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay, then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.
The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities. For example, if you wanted to focus on contrasting two subjects you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to compare and contrast two types of oranges or two types of apples to highlight subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny Smiths are tart and acidic. Drawing distinctions between elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of that category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.
Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a comparison essay, you likely would not choose two apples or two oranges because they share so many of the same properties already. Rather, you might try to compare how apples and oranges are quite similar. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.
Writing at Work
Comparing and contrasting is also an evaluative tool. In order to make accurate evaluations about a given topic, you must first know the critical points of similarity and difference. Comparing and contrasting is a primary tool for many workplace assessments. You have likely compared and contrasted yourself to other colleagues. Employee advancements, pay raises, hiring, and firing are typically conducted using comparison and contrast. Comparison and contrast could be used to evaluate companies, departments, or individuals.
Pre-Writing Example – Finding Your Topic
Prewrite to discover a topic choice that you’re interested in. Once you choose a topic, prewrite to discover all the possible criteria you could use for your topic. For example:
- iPhone vs. Android
- McDonald’s vs. Taco Bell
- Tulsa vs. Dallas
- High school vs. College
- Car vs. Van
Pre-Writing Example – Finding your Criteria
Topic chosen = iPhone vs. Android
Possible criteria…
- Battery life
- Cost
- Durability
- Features
- Compatibility
- Lifespan of device
- Appearance
- Storage space
- Camera
- Security Features
- Tracking Features
- Parental controls
- etc…
Remember: Intentionally Choose your Audience and Purpose
Now that you have some ideas to work with, you need to consider who your audience is and why are you writing to them. For example, college students and parents may choose a phone based on completely different criteria.
If we’re considering college students:
- Cost
- Storage
- Durability
- Lifespan
- Battery life
These are probably the top 5 criteria for most college students. I’ll use different examples and ideas under each of these criteria depending on if I’m going to inform or persuade.
The Structure of a Comparison and Contrast Essay
The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both and the reason for doing so. The thesis could lean more toward comparing, contrasting, or both. Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide useful knowledge to the reader.
The thesis has three parts: topic, purpose, and focus.
Here are ours from our example above:
- Topic = iPhone vs. Android
- Focus = inform, compare and contrast (for this essay you may choose to compare, contrast, or both)
- Purpose = to help college students make a wise choice
Thesis statement: When choosing which cell phone to purchase, there are several criteria one needs to consider.
(Note you do not need to use italics, bold, or underline. These are only to help you identify the different parts in this example.)
Here the thesis sets up the two subjects to be compared and contrasted (organic versus conventional vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.
You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two ways:
- According to the subjects themselves, discussing one then the other
- According to individual points, discussing each subject in relation to each point
See Figure 10.1 “Comparison and Contrast Diagram”, which diagrams the ways to organize an organic versus conventional vegetables thesis.
Figure 10.1 Comparison and Contrast Diagram
The organizational structure you choose depends on the nature of the topic, your purpose, and your audience.
Given that compare-and-contrast essays analyze the relationship between two subjects, it is helpful to have some phrases on hand that will cue the reader to such an analysis. See Table 10.3 “Phrases of Comparison and Contrast” for examples.
Table 10.3 Phrases of Comparison and Contrast
| Comparison | Contrast |
|---|---|
| one similarity | one difference |
| another similarity | another difference |
| both | conversely |
| like | in contrast |
| likewise | unlike |
| similarly | while |
| in a similar fashion | whereas |
Possible Outline
You also need to think about, whether are you going to organize your essay as most-to-least important or least-to-most. It all depends on your focus and who your audience is. Below, I’m choosing most-to-least, so if my readers start scanning they’ve at least read the most important point.
Here our thesis focuses on why, so we’ll use point-by-point:
Introduction:
- Hook
- Background information
- Thesis: When choosing which cell phone to purchase, there are several criteria one needs to consider.
Criteria 1: Cost
- iPhone: Very expensive $800-$1000
- Android: More reasonable $300-$950
Criteria 2: Lifespan
- iPhone: Apple is known to purposefully bug phones a couple of generations old
- Android: No bugging. Can last a very long time. Student evidence 7 years
Criteria 3: Durability
- iPhone: Like a newborn without a case. Great with a heavy duty case
- Android: No case needed for decent protection
Criteria 4: Storage
- iPhone: up to 256gb
- Android: up to 128 but has external storage options
Criteria 5: Battery Life
- iPhone: all day depending on app use
- Android: all day depending on app use
Conclusion:
- Summarize ideas
- Do more: Why ideas are important? (Call to action, Point to the future, State why it matters,….)
Now that we have our outline, writing the essay is as easy as filling in the blanks. Just make sure that no matter which organization you choose for your topic, you keep one criterion per paragraph and focus on only that criterion. Also, if you choose the point-by-point organization, like the example above, notice that the subjects (iPhone and Android) follow the same order in every paragraph throughout the paper.
Writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay
First choose whether you want to compare seemingly disparate subjects, contrast seemingly similar subjects, or compare and contrast subjects. Once you have decided on a topic, introduce it with an engaging opening paragraph. Your thesis should come at the end of the introduction, and it should establish the subjects you will compare, contrast, or both as well as state what can be learned from doing so.
The body of the essay can be organized in one of two ways: by subject or by individual points. The organizing strategy that you choose will depend on, as always, your audience and your purpose. You may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other. Make sure to use comparison and contrast phrases to cue the reader to the ways in which you are analyzing the relationship between the subjects.
After you finish analyzing the subjects, write a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the essay and reinforces your thesis. See Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” to read a sample compare-and-contrast essay.
Writing at Work
Many business presentations are conducted using comparison and contrast. The organizing strategies—by subject or individual points—could also be used for organizing a presentation. Keep this in mind as a way of organizing your content the next time you or a colleague have to present something at work.
Key Takeaways
- A compare-and-contrast essay analyzes two subjects by either comparing them, contrasting them, or both.
- The purpose of writing a comparison or contrast essay is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities between two subjects.
- The thesis should clearly state the subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both, and it should state what is to be learned from doing so.
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There are two main organizing strategies for compare-and-contrast essays.
- Organize by the subjects themselves, one then the other.
- Organize by individual points, in which you discuss each subject in relation to each point.
- Use phrases of comparison or phrases of contrast to signal to readers how exactly the two subjects are being analyzed.
