Comparative Essays
Comparative Essays. Bell Work . Do you have experience writing comparative essays? If so, what have you found to be the most challenging? Confusing? What process (steps) did you follow when writing a comparative essay? H ow do you feel about writing essays?. Comparative Analysis.
Comparative Essays
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Bell Work Do you have experience writing comparative essays? If so, what have you found to be the most challenging? Confusing? What process (steps) did you follow when writing a comparative essay? How do you feel about writing essays?
Comparative Analysis • Throughout your academic career, you'll be asked to write papers in which you compare and contrast two things: two texts, two theories, two historical figures, two scientific processes, and so on
Topics • 1. Examine how man’s sinful nature is depicted in both texts. • 2. Examine Shakespeare and Golding’s use of light and dark imagery. • 3. Examine the use of Biblical allusions and imagery. • 4. Examine how the corrupting power of ambition affects characters.
Where do you Start? • Faced with a daunting list of seemingly unrelated similarities and differences, you may feel confused about how to construct a paper • The thesis of such a paper is usually an assertion that A and B are very similar yet not so similar after all. • To write a good compare-and-contrast paper, you must take the similarities and differences you've observed and make them cohere into a meaningful argument
Brainstorming • Do not beginwritinguntilyouhavecompletedthis step! • The more effortyouputinto brainstorming, theeasieritis to writeyouressay! • Venn Diagram, ConceptMap/Web, List, etc.
Writing a Thesis Statement • The thesis statement in an essay of literary analysis functions as follows: • It narrows your topic to a central idea—all topic sentences and body paragraphs will develop and support this idea • It asserts something specific and significant about the topic, conveying your expert opinion • It may preview how your ideas will be arranged within your essay • It is logical, precise, and reasonable
Writing a Thesis Statement • The thesis statement is located at the end of the introductory paragraph in a typical literary analysis essay • The thesis is a “roadmap” for the ideas presented in the essay; it informs the reader what will be analyzed in the essay and in what order • The thesis statement presents ideas in logical, clear, and specific language; it avoids vague or abstract language, poor diction, and slang.