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Down and Dirty Tips: Compare or Contrast Essay

Step 1: Choose Two Items for Discussion

 

Step 1: Choose two items for discussion

Comparison Essay - Compare means to show similarities.

Choose two seemingly different items and show how they are similar.

Examples:

  • Coffee and roller coasters
  • My husband and my cat
  • Bicycle and surfboard

 

Contrast Essay - Contrast means to show differences.

Choose two seemingly similar items and show how they are different.

Examples:

  • Ford F150 and Dodge Ram trucks
  • Popeye’s and KFC
  • Twilight book and Twilight Movie

Step 2: Brainstorm for Three Main Points

Step 2: Brainstorm for Three Main Points

Comparison Essay - Write down as many ideas as you can about how the two items are similar. Then, pick out the three best ideas to show the three main ways the two items are similar.

 

Contrast Essay - Write down as many ideas as you can about how the two items are different. Then, pick out the three best ideas to show the three main ways the two items are different.

Step 3: Draft Thesis Statement

Step 3: Draft Thesis Statement

Comparison Essay - Draft a thesis statement that mentions the two items being compared and the three main ways they are similar. For now just get something on paper; you can improve the statement later.

In a pinch, you can use this thesis statement template: Although item X and item Y seem different, they are actually similar in their 1, 2, and 3.

 

Contrast Essay - Draft a thesis statement that mentions the two items being contrasted and the three main ways they are different. For now just get something on paper; you can improve the statement later.

In a pinch, you can use this thesis statement template:  Although item X and item Y seem similar, they are actually different in their 1, 2, and 3.