Write a Comparison and Contrast Essay

Write your own comparison and contrast essay on one of the following topics or on a topic of your own choice. Use the Comparison and Contrast charts in “Organization in Comparison and Contrast” to help you with basic organization, and follow the Writing Guide: Comparison and Contrast checklist as you write and revise.

COLLEGE
  • Two professors
  • College and high school
WORK
  • Two jobs you have had
  • Two companies you have worked for
EVERYDAY LIFE
  • Two places you have lived
  • Good customer service and bad customer service

WRITING GUIDE: COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

STEPS IN COMPARISON AND CONTRAST HOW TO DO THE STEPS
Focus.
  • Think about what you want to compare and contrast and your purpose for writing.
Explore your topic. See Chapter 2.
  • Make a side-by-side list of possible parallel points of comparison or contrast between your subjects.
Write a thesis statement. image See Chapter 3.
  • Include your subjects and some indication of whether you will be comparing or contrasting them.
Support your thesis. See Chapter 3.
  • Choose the points of comparison or contrast that your readers will understand and that will serve your purpose.
Write a draft. See Chapter 4.
  • Decide whether to use point-by-point or whole-to-whole organization and how to arrange your main points (by time, space, or importance).
  • Write topic sentences for your support paragraphs.
Revise your draft. See Chapter 4.
  • Reread to add any examples that will help your readers understand.
  • Add transitions.
  • Improve your introduction, thesis, and conclusion.
Edit your revised draft. See Chapters 16 through 18.
  • Correct errors in grammar, spelling, word use, and punctuation.
Evaluate your writing.
  • Does it have the Four Basics of Good Comparison and Contrast (see “Understand What Comparison and Contrast Are”)?
  • Is this the best I can do?