A Guide on how to write a compare and contrast essay

Compare and contrast essays require a student to study two or multiple subjects and provide an analysis similarities and differences between them. Lecturers assign this task to college and university learners to develop their reasoning, analytical, and comparative skills. Students usually find a compare and contrast essay challenging as it requires you to analyze two or more subjects, unlike other essays that involve examining, educating, or persuading a reader to agree to a particular argument. In this article, we will equip you with the relevant steps on how to write a compare-and-contrast essay. Additionally, we aim to boost your confidence to approach compare and contrast paper assignments.

What is the definition of compare and contrast essay?

As the name suggests, this kind of essay involves the study and evaluation of the differences and similarities between two ideas or subjects. Mostly, these ideas are from the same category or are usually confused with each other.

 

The outline of a Compare and contrast essay

An outline is a significant part of essay writing. It serves as a guide and also ensures you do not omit any segment in your essay. A compare and contrast essay outline comprises of an introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion which are discussed below in detail;

Introduction

The introduction serves to introduce your topic. It creates the first impression on your readers, and more importantly, carries the thesis statement. Your introduction should have the following elements;

• Hook: This is an introductory sentence that aims to captivate the attention of your reader.
• Overview of the topic: Provide general details on the topic.
• Concepts or subjects of contrast: introduce the ideas or areas that you will be comparing and contrasting in your essay.
• Thesis statement: a thesis statement states your key idea or your position.

Body paragraphs

Your body paragraph should have 2 to 3 paragraphs. Each paragraph should discuss either a similarity or a difference. Here are the essentials that every paragraph should have;

• It should start with a topic sentence.
• Present evidence or data collected during your research to back up your argument.
• Employ transition phrases to connect your paragraphs.

Conclusion

The conclusion is a summary of everything you wrote in your introduction and body sections. Here are insights on what to include in your conclusion:

• Restate your thesis.
• Give a summary of your main points as stated in the body paragraphs.
• Provide a brief final analysis of your evaluation.
• Give the significance of your analysis: your comparison and contrast points.

For more insights on how to write a powerful conclusion, check out our experts’ comprehensive guide on the best conclusion starters in our blog section.

 

Structure of a compare and contrast essay

A compare and contrast essay structure can take two layouts which include;

Point-by-point method: this approach discusses the similarities and differences of the two subjects simultaneously. For each point (a difference or a similarity) you highlight on one subject you have to list one for the other subject as well.

Block method: in this approach, the first segment presents the research information and characteristics on the first subject or concept, and then the second block presents the second subject information and characteristics.

Below are the structures of the two approaches with examples;

Point by point method Introduction ·         Provide an overview of the topic. ·         Introduce your subjects of comparison. ·         State your thesis. Consider this thesis: Both working from the office and working from home can both yield good results, but it all depends on the ability to focus, the working environment, quality of work and flexibility. Body 1st paragraph: Working environment ·         Topic sentence: Offices provide a better working environment compared to home ·         Subject 1: Working from the office o   Point/argument:  Organizations provide employees with a conducive working environment. o   Point/argument: Employees are able to focus and communicate better in an office environment. ·         Subject 2: Working from home o   Point/argument: It’s easier to get distracted by other activities while working from home. o   Point/argument: If boundaries are not put in place workers can be distracted by relatives who are not working. 2nd paragraph: Quality of work ·         Topic sentence: Teamwork and availability of resources at the office can enhance the quality of work. ·         Subject 1: working from the office o   Point/argument: employees can work together on a project to present better results. o   Point/argument: Offices can provide resources, thus enabling employees to work efficiently e.g. technology and unlimited internet. Subject 2: Working from home o   Point/argument: Working from home can be challenging without resources available. o   Point/argument: Not having support or other employees around can result to poor work quality and isolation. 3rd paragraph: Flexibility ·         Topic sentence: Working from home provides more flexibility. ·         Subject 1: working from the office o   Point/argument: Fixed working hours at the office can lead to mental fatigue which can affect employees’ productivity. o   Point/argument: Inflexible schedules can result to employees having anxieties. ·         Subject 2: Working from home o   Point/argument: Employees can establish a better work-life balance while still managing to fulfill work commitments. o   Point/argument: more flexibility for employees working from home has shown grate motivation and engagement.   Conclusion Wrap up what you wrote in your essay.

 

Block Method

Introduction

• Give an introduction of the topic.
• Introduce your subjects.
• Provide a thesis statement.

Consider this thesis: Both working from the office and working from home can both yield good results, but it all depends on the ability to focus, the working environment, quality of work and flexibility.

Body paragraph 1:

Topic sentence: …

Feature 1: Working environment

Subject 1: Point/argument 1

Point/argument 2

Feature 2: Quality of work

Subject 1: Point/argument 1

Point/argument 2

Feature 3: Flexibility

Subject 1: Point/argument 1

Point/argument 2

Body paragraph 2:

Topic sentence: …

Feature 1: Working environment

Subject 2: Point/argument 1

Point/argument 2

Feature 2: Quality of work

Subject 2: Point/argument 1

Point/argument 2

Feature 3: Flexibility

Subject 2: Point/argument 1

Point/argument 2

Body paragraph 3

Evaluate your comparisons and their significance.

Conclusion

Provide a summary of your essay.

 

Simplified steps on how to write a compare and contrast essay

1. Choose a topic: pick a topic that creates a platform for comparison of two subjects with distinct features and similarities. Also, ensure you select a topic that is within your interests.
2. Research the similarities and differences: conduct an analysis of your subjects and analyse the similarities and differences they have. You can use a comparison table or a Venn diagram to lay out your ideas.
3. Write the introduction: Ensure your introduction grasps the attention of the reader. Provide information on your subjects of comparison and finally provide a clear and concise thesis statement.
4. Develop your body paragraphs: Ensure each paragraph begins with a topic sentence that carries the main point.
5. Provide a strong conclusion: Finalize your essay by providing a powerful conclusion. Restate your thesis, provide a summary of your main points, and then proceed to briefly state the significance of your comparison. You can also provide suggestions for further research.
6. Edit and proofread your essay: Read through your work and correct any grammatical, punctuation, or spelling errors that you may come across. You can request your peer to give you a review of the essay, this helps identify anything you may have missed.

Do you still feel overwhelmed with your compare and contrast essay assignment? Engage us today for an original essay made to your specifications. you can also read How To Write An Academic Essay.

 

Example of a Compare and Contrast Essay Introduction and Body Paragraphs

Title: Comparing News Articles Based On Application of Journalistic Practices

(In this introduction for a compare and contrast essay, the writer introduces the topic, and sets a background for the discussion by providing a thesis statement. See our guide on how to write a thesis statement for further guidance.)

1. Introduction

The media plays a fundamental role in informing the public about events and issues that affect their wellbeing. The information disseminated from the media shapes public opinion and enables citizens to meaningfully participate in political, social and economic processes (Hanitzsch and Vos, 2018). For the media to effectively play this role, it must be guided by certain professional and ethical principles such as objectivity and authenticity. However, the media’s ability to uphold these principles depends on the contextual dynamics of each country concerning political and legislative controls. This essay discusses the extent to which the media embraces journalistic principles in different countries. The discussion is based on five news articles obtained from five different media; BBC (2024) (UK), CBS News (2023) (US), China Daily (2024) (China), Times of Israel (2022) (Israel), and the Russia Times (2024) (Russia). Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the US issued sanctions against Russia to punish president Putin for causing unnecessary aggression against Ukraine (Times of Israel, 2022). Some of the sanctions involved blocking technology exports to Russia to hamper military operations. This essay examines the five articles and identifies similarities and differences in content. The essay begins with a comparison of the articles from the UK, the US and Israel followed by the articles from China and Russia. Each comparison includes analysis of practices within journalism and outside of it that account for the differences and similarities in reporting.

 

(In the next section, examples of body paragraphs for the compare and contrast essay are underlined. Each paragraph discusses some key similarities and differences between the identified items, and presents evidence collected during research to back up the arguments.)

2. BBC, CBS and Times of Israel (TOI) Articles

Similarities and Differences

The three articles are similar in the way they indicate the sanctions, why and on whom they were imposed. However, the BBC and CBS articles provide a more detailed description of sanctions, including a definition and the raft of sanctions issued, including the individuals targeted and institutions targeted than the TOI article. The articles are therefore informative and provide clarity on the issues being discussed, which is a fundamental principle of reporting (West, 2023). However, the CBS article is more detailed, providing the names of the individuals on whom the sanctions are targeted. The BBC and TOI articles do not provide the names of individuals targeted with the sanctions. As such, the CBS article achieves a certain level of credibility by paying attention to such details. The three articles also follow Novia and Vidya (2023) perspectives on the principles of a good journalistic piece of writing, including brevity and simplicity. The articles are generally written in simple understandable language and short sentences that concisely deliver the intended message. Also, the articles also uphold the journalistic principle of starting with the main message and elaborating it or the inverted pyramid style of delivering the message. For instance, the BBC and CBS articles start with a mention of the sanctions and the reason for them, which as West (2023) explains, helps to capture the attention of the audience and make them want to get more information. The articles go ahead to report on the responses by other countries to the sanctions on Russia to expand the scope of the information disseminated. However, the TOI article does not start with the sanctions, but Israel’s position on Russia’s annexation of former soviet regions and the attempt to annex Ukraine. Nevertheless, the reader gets to know that the article mainly focuses on Israel’s position on matters related to Russia’s expansionist agenda.

In addition, the articles generally acknowledge their sources by citing the individuals who gave directives, opinions or reports on the Russia-Ukraine war. Based on the perspectives of Steensen et al. (2022) sources enhance credibility and trustworthiness of the information disseminated by journalists. The CBS article constantly quotes the messages delivered by different individuals regarding the issuance of sanctions including the US president Biden’s speeches. The article’s message therefore sounds more credible for the audience. The BBC article also quotes the messages of certain individuals and reveals their names as well, enhancing credibility. However, the TOI article does not reveal the identities of sources in some cases, opting not to assign responsibility to a single individual as reflected in phrases such as “the white house revealed”. Although it can be assumed that the president is the source by the virtue of being the head of the white house, failure to acknowledge the individual source makes the article less credible than the other articles.

Furthermore, the BBC article presents numerous facts on the sanctions but shows no attempt to interpret them. Similarly, the CBS and the TOI articles also report on the decisions made by the US and the EU concerning the sanctions on Russia with little attempt to interpret them.  Brüggemann and Engesser (2017) explain that journalists are only objective in their reporting if they present information and leave the audience to interpret it. The three articles can therefore be said to be objective in reporting. However, the BBC article provides a more balanced reporting than the other two articles by focusing on the effects of the sanctions on Russia. The article evaluates the potential impacts of the sanctions on Russia’s economy, indicating that the impacts may be contrary to the intentions of imposers. The CBS and TOI articles do not provide a balanced account of the sanctions but create the impression that the sanctions would have the intended outcomes. Balanced reporting presents all sides of a story instead of slanting the story in a way that enables the audience to conclude the reporter’s subjective view (Schudson, 2001 and Gerken, 2020). Reading the TOI and CBS articles creates the impression that the journalists intend to validate the sanctions and disregard Russia’s position on such sanctions.

The above example on an introduction and body paragraphs of a compare and contrast essay should direct you on how to proceed with your own writing. However, if you still feel overwhelmed, engage us at Skilled Tutorials and we will be glad to be of help with all academic assignment help services you might need even Nursing Homework Help Service.

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