Understanding and Using Comparison Structures

1. Understanding and Using Comparison Structures Comparison is one of the oldest and most commonly used methods of discovery and development. 1

2. An understanding of the rhetorical strategies of comparison will help students with common assignments such as Comparison Strategies Research papers Regular essays Debates and oral arguments Essay tests 2

3. Discovery and Development with Comparison Essay questions, for example, often call for the use of comparison. The following question was given during a in-class final exam (time limit: 45 minutes) “Compare Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles as expressions of religious experience” 3

4. What does the Question Ask? • To compare two subjects in a detailed manner. • To make some claim about what each means with respect to the other. Romanesque Gothic “…as expressions of religious experience.” 4

5. A plan for two subjects and their detailed points Subject A Subject B 1st point (detail) 2nd point (detail) 3rd point (detail) (more if needed) 1st point (detail) 2nd point (detail) 3rd point (detail) (more if needed) 5

6. Subject A (Romanesque) • Called “Romanesque) (Roman like) because it is based on the Roman arch 6

7. Point 1: the round arch • A Romanesque cathedral begins with the round Roman arch. 7

8. Point 1: the round arch • The round arch produces a “barrel vault” The effect when walking down the “nave” is a feeling of walking downa tunnel. 8

9. Point 1: the round arch The nave (main interiorroom) of St. Sernin: Rounded arch Barrel Vault 9

10. Point 2: Walls and Columns To support the heavy arch, walls must be thick, and columns must be heavy and closely spaced A cross-section diagram of Durham Cathedral 10

11. Point 2: Walls and Columns To support the heavy arch, walls must be thick, and columns must be heavy and closely spaced 11

12. Point 3:Windows Strong walls require that few windows be used, leaving the interior relatively dark. 12

13. Point 3:Windows Strong walls require that few windows be used, leaving the interior relatively dark. 13

14. The first subject--summation Romanesque Subject B 1st point (round arches) 2nd point (thick walls and columns, closely spaced) 3rd point (few windows, very dark) 1st point (detail) 2nd point (detail) 3rd point (detail) (more if needed) Overall experience: dark, mysterious, closed-in, perhapsa bit frightening. 14

15. Subject B (Gothic) The Gothic Cathedral is based on the pointed Gothic arch. 15

16. Point 1: the Gothic arch The nave of Amiens 16

17. Point 1: the Gothic arch The pointed arch does not produce barrel vaulting but ribbed and groin vaulting. Notice the effect is like a branching tree. 17

18. Point 2: walls and columns The Gothic arch reaches greater heights with thinner columns, more widely spaced. 18

19. Point 2: walls and columnsSomething New In an effort to reach even greater heights with thinner walls and columns, builders developed the “flying buttress.” 19

20. Point 2: walls and columnsSomething New Sometimes the buttressing is quite elaborate 20

21. Point 2: walls and columnsflying buttresses Buttresses at Notre Dame, Paris 21

22. Point 3: Windows Thinner walls and columns allow more windows--with lots of colorful stained glass 22

23. Point 3: Windows Thinner walls and columns allow more windows--withlots of colorful stained glass 23

24. The effect is a much brighter, more colorful, open space Point 3: Windows 24

25. Point 3: Windows The interior of St. Chapelle 25

26. The second subject--summation Romanesque Gothic Overall experience: bright, color-ful, open, perhapscheerful, even joyful. 1st point (round arches, barrel vaulting) 2nd point (thick walls and columns, closely spaced) 3rd point (few windows, very dark) 1st point (pointed arches, ribbed vaulting) 2nd point (thin walls and columns, widely spaced) 3rd point (many windows, bright, colorful) Overall experience: dark, mysterious, closed-in, perhapsa bit frightening. 26

27. Answering the Question Question: “Compare Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles as expressions of religious experience” Claim: Although both both Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles express something about the Christian religious experience, they present that experience in very different ways: the Romanesque being dark, mysterious, and perhaps even frightening, but the Gothic being brighter, more open, more colorful, and perhaps cheerful or even joyful. 27

28. Making a decision: Now we must decide in what order the material should be presented to the reader: Subject-by-subject or Point-by-point Romanesque Gothic Overall experience: bright, color-ful, open, perhapscheerful, even joyful. 1st point (round arches, barrel vaulting) 2nd point (thick walls and columns, closely spaced) 3rd point (few windows, very dark) 1st point (pointed arches, ribbed vaulting) 2nd point (thin walls and columns, widely spaced) 3rd point (many windows, bright, colorful) Overall experience: dark, mysterious, closed-in, perhapsa bit frightening. 28

29. Subject-by-subject order Present all of subject A, then all of Subject B This is the order that has been used in this presentation. Gothic Romanesque Overall experience: bright, color-ful, open, perhapscheerful, even joyful. 1st point (round arches, barrel vaulting) 2nd point (thick walls and columns, closely spaced) 3rd point (few windows, very dark) 1st point (pointed arches, ribbed vaulting) 2nd point (thin walls and columns, widely spaced) 3rd point (many windows, bright, colorful) Overall experience: dark, mysterious, closed-in, perhapsa bit frightening. 29

30. A subject-by-subject outline • Introduction and Claim: Although both both Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles express something . . . . even joyful. • Romanesque: a dark, mysterious experience • Round arches, barrel vaulting • Thick walls and thick, closely spaced • Few windows • Gothic: a bright, open and joyful experience • Pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, with higher ceilings • Thinner, more widely spaced columns, supported with flying buttresses • Lots of windows, with stained glass • Conclusion--summarize the main points and reaffirm the claim Subject A Subject B 30

31. Point-by-point order Present each point under each subject in order Gothic Romanesque Overall experience: bright, color-ful, open, perhapscheerful, even joyful. 1st point (round arches, barrel vaulting) 2nd point (thick walls and columns, closely spaced) 3rd point (few windows, very dark) 1st point (pointed arches, ribbed vaulting) 2nd point (thin walls and columns, widely spaced) 3rd point (many windows, bright, colorful) Overall experience: dark, mysterious, closed-in, perhapsa bit frightening. 31

32. A point-by-point outline • Introduction and Claim: Although both both Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles express something . . . . even joyful. • Point 1: arches and vaulting Round arches, barrel vaulting • Subject A--Romanesque: Round arches, barrel vaulting • Subject B--Gothic: pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, with higher ceilings • Point 2: Walls and columns • Subject A-- Romanesque: Thick walls and thick, closely spaced columns • Subject B--Gothic: Thinner, more widely spaced columns, supported with flying buttresses • Point 3: Windows • Subject A--Romanesque: few window, fairly dark • Subject B--Gothic: Lots of colorful windows • Conclusion--summarize the main points and reaffirm the claim 32

33. The two structures • Introduction and Claim:. • Point 1: arches and vaulting • Subject A--Romanesque: • Subject B--Gothic: • Point 2: Walls and columns • Subject A-- Romanesque: • Subject B--Gothic • Windows • Subject A--Romanesque:Subject B--Gothic: • Conclusion--summarize the main points and reaffirm the claim • Introduction and Claim: • Subject A--Romanesque: • Point 1 arches • Point 2 walls and columns • Point 3 windows • Subject B--Gothic: • Point 1 arches • Point 2 walls, columns, buttresses • Point 3 windows • Conclusion--summarize the main points and reaffirm the claim 33

34. Choose a structure: • Introduction and Claim:. • Point 1: arches and vaulting • Subject A--Romanesque: • Subject B--Gothic: • Point 2: Walls and columns • Subject A-- Romanesque: • Subject B--Gothic • Point 3: Windows • Subject A--Romanesque: • Subject B--Gothic: • Conclusion--summarize the main points and reaffirm the claim The point-by-point structure works well when you desire to make a sharp contrast on individual points, such as comparing numbers in measurements, pointing out subtle distinctions, or exaggerating things for a comical effect. 34

35. Choose a structure: The subject-by-subject structure works well when you do not want to break up the individual details, such when you are giving vivid descriptions to create a mood or relating a sequence of related events. Use when you want the reader to think of the subjects as whole things. • Introduction and Claim: • Subject A--Romanesque: • Point 1: arches • Point 2: walls and columns • Point 3: windows • Subject B--Gothic: • Point 1: arches • Point 2: walls, columns, buttresses • Point 3: windows • Conclusion--summarize the main points and reaffirm the claim 35