The Comparative Essay

1. The Comparative Essay

2. The Persuasive Essay Convince MeWhile it is like an expository essay in its presentation of facts, the goal of the persuasive essay is to convince the reader to accept the writer’s point of view. The writer must build a case using facts and logic, as well as examples, expert opinion, and sound reasoning. The writer should present all sides of the argument, but must be able to communicate clearly and without equivocation why a certain position is correct.

3. Argue your thesis by comparing (similarities) and contrasting (differences) 2+ items The Comparative Essay To persuade. • By items, I mean… • Ideas • Settings • Characters • Texts, in general

4. Choose a side, and take a stance. Are the items similar OR different? But avoid BIAS: Choose a side, but consider BOTH the similarities AND differences within your essay. But keep the FOCUS on your stanceEG. if you think the 2 items are similar, spend most of the essay discussing similarities

5. Ok, good. So how do I ORGANIZE the danged thing?! • Like any type of essay, you must include: • Introduction • Body of evidence • Conclusion Unlike any type of essay, each of these components Is going to be specific to comparative essay form.

6. The Introduction. • You must include a “fetching first line” to intrigue your reader. • Eg. Why, despite a lack of noble, benevolent, and even likable characteristics, has the antihero become such a prominent figure in both modern television and literature? • You must include a 2-Part thesis, which contains: • Whether the 2 items you are discussing are ultimately similar or different • BUT also make reference to the opposite POV protagonists • A roadmap of each piece of evidence that supports this *Note: In your intro, you must also mention the texts, author, and characters you will be discussing • You must include some “in-between” to explain the background & context of the essay. • Eg. While contextual differences may exist between these complicated crusaders, perhaps the answer to this question lies in their common goal to better the societies they live in. This is seen in a variety of texts, including James McTeigue’sV for Vendetta and David Fincher’s Fight Club.

7. More on the ThesisTo develop your thesis, answer the following questions. • Similar or different? • Tyler and V share some differences, but are ultimately similar • What is the significance? While antiheroes choose different targets throughout history, their goal is the same: to rebel against oppression and seek freedom from the dominant society. • Note: The answer to this question may not appear directly within your thesis statement (depending on length) but should guide your essay, and appear in the conclusion. • How will I prove this? • Differences: Targets of rebellion • Similarities: (3 is the magic #) • Goals (to seek freedom from society) • Root of Enslavement (fear) • Method of Conquering Fear (“rebirth”)

8. An Example Thesis Thesis: Though V and Tyler Durden rebel against different targets, they share the same goal, which is to seek freedom from the dominant society. Both characters seek this freedom through recognizing fear as the root of their enslavement, conquering their fear through a form of rebirth, then actively acting upon their goal by means of anarchy. Significance: (may be found in intro & definitely found in conclusion) The actions and interests of V and Tyler Durden demonstrate that while antiheroes choose different specific targets throughout history, their goal is the same: to rebel against oppression and seek freedom from the dominant society. K, but what’s it look like when you put it all together?

9. BLOCK (A-A-B-B) • P1: All points about Item A • P2: All points about Item B • ALTERNATING (A-B-A-B-A-B) • P1: First point about Item A,B • P2: Second point about Item A,B • P3: Third point about Item A, B The Body of EvidenceHow to whip your body into shape. You have 2 options for paragraph organization: BLOCKorALTERNATING

10. Examples • SIDEBAR: Remember how I said we need to discuss the opposing view so as to avoid bias? • In addition to the paragraphs discussing similarities OR differences, include 1 (or 2) discussing the opposite. BLOCK (A-A-B-B) – 2or 6 paragraphs P1: V (root of enslavement, rebirth, anarchy) P2: Tyler (root of enslavement, rebirth, anarchy) ALTERNATING (A-B-A-B-A-B) – 3 or 6 paragraphs P1: Root of enslavement (V, Tyler) P2: Rebirth (V, Tyler) P3: Anarchy (V, Tyler)

11. SO your essay will either have… • BLOCK Organization • 5 paragraphs, total • Intro = 1 paragraph • Body = 3 paragraphs (Eg. 1 difference, 2 similarity) • Conclusion =1 paragraph • 1 + 3 + 1 = 5  • ALTERNATING Organization • 6 paragraphs, total • Intro = 1 paragraph • Body = 4 paragraphs (Eg. 1 difference, 3 similarity) • Conclusion = 1 paragraph • 1 + 4 + 1 = 6 

12. The Conclusion. There are 3 things you must include: • Reinstatement of thesis (using different phrasing than in intro) • Summary of evidence presented (your arguments for each individual paragraph) • Explanation of essay’s significance (overarching statement of the antihero)

13. Citations Because this is an IN-CLASS essay… Specific citations must be found and recorded ahead of time (min. 6) (You need to include page #s or film times) A variety of direct quotations (min. 3) and paraphrases should be used (These must also be properly, and seamlessly integrated) A bibliography is not necessary

14. The Author & The Paraphrase According to MozzartGoudacheez, “cheese is one of the world’s most common foods” (21). McTeigue portrays V as a violent vigilante, but this violence is not without purpose. When V slays Sutler and Creedy near the end of the film (02:12:36), his actions are certainly ferocious and inhumane, however, they are a necessary part of his plan to destroy parliament, and overthrow the government.

15. The Lead-In Though a select few people find cheese to be appalling “cheese is one of the world’s most common foods” (Goudacheez 21). When describing Norsefire, V maintains that “people shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people” (McTeigue 00:32:21).

16. The Lead-In & Colon When exploring the resiliency of cheese, Brie LeFromage describes Bleu Cheese, in particular: “It is simply never goes bad! I mean, it is blue from the mold already!” (Goudacheez 21) When describing his plan to free society from oppression, V explains the true nature of anarchy: “Anarchy means without leaders, not without order (McTeigue 01:03:56).

17. Anarchy means "without leaders", not "without order".

18. Citations When describing Norsefire, V maintains that “people should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people” (McTeigue 00:32:21). This statement exemplifies V’s political view, providing insight into the reason behind V’s rebellion against the political system in favor of a society run by the people, rather than a single, oppressive government. V’s intelligence is seen many times throughout V for Vendetta, especially in the idealistic, yet purposeful rationale behind his ultimate goal to destroy parliament: ”A building is a symbol, as is the act of destroying it. Symbols are given power by people. Alone, a symbol is meaningless, but with enough people, blowing up a building can change the world” (Moore 28).