Comparison/Contrast Essay

Comparison/Contrast Essay General Zaroff from “The Most Dangerous Game” versus Montresor from “The Cask of Amontillado”

What is a Comparison-Contrast Essay? • Short piece of expository writing that describes the similarities and differences between two or more subjects • Identifies a purpose for comparison and contrast • Identifies similarities and differences between two or more things, people, places, or ideas. • Gives factual details about the subjects being compared • Uses an organizational plan suited to its topic and purpose

Types of Comparison-Contrast Essays • Report about consumer goods (“Which Is Better? Brand A or Brand B?”) • Essay on economic or historical developments (“How Was Japan’s Postwar Economic Development Different From Germany’s?”) • Comparison and contrast of literary works (“A Comparison and Contrast of the Styles of Charlotte and Emily Bronte”)

Narrowing Your Topic • You will be comparing and contrasting the characters of General Zaroff from “The Most Dangerous Game” and Montresor from “The Cask of Amontillado.” However, what you say about the characters is up to you. • Looping to Narrow a Topic • Begin by freewriting about the characters • Review your writing, and circle the idea that you think is most important • Freewrite about your circled idea, review it, and again circle the most important idea • Continue looping until you have sufficiently narrowed your topic

Looping Example Vanessa used looping to narrow the broad topic of ethnic food to one she could use to write a good comparison-contrast essay. Broad topic: The variety of ethnic foods I like a lot of different ethnic foods. There are many different kinds of ethnic restaurants in the United States. It seems like everywhere I go, I see restaurants that serve Chinese, Italian, and Mexican food along with restaurants that serve American food. These ethnic foods are so popular that they are served in fast-food restaurants as well as in more traditional restaurants. Mexican food is my favorite ethnic food. I especially like gorditas and chili with everything, but Mexican restaurants in the United States usually don’t have real chili. Actually, most TexMex food is a lot different from the real Mexican food. Narrowed topic: Authentic Mexican food is different from TexMex food

Considering Your Audience and Purpopse • To best communicate your ideas to your readers, take a moment to identify the people you expect to read your writing. • Focus your purpose – you should have an even more focused purpose in mind – why is this explanation valuable or necessary? • Sample purposes • To advocate one over the other • To reveal connections that might not be obvious • To show what causes similarities or differences

Gathering Details • Identify points of comparison and contrast • Use a chart like the one below to help you gather details about your topic

Organization • Subject-by-Subject Organization • First, discuss all the features of one subject • Then, discuss all the features of the other subject • Be sure to address the same features and devote equal time to each subject • Point-by-Point Organization • Move back and forth between subjects • First develop one point by showing how it applies to both subjects • Then move on to your next point, shifting back and forth between subjects until you have addressed each point of comparison

Organization Methods Subject by Subject Point by Point Introduction Mountain Bikes (Subject #1) Frames (Point #1) Tires (Point #2) Touring Bikes (Subject #2) Frames (Point #1) Tires (Point #2) Conclusion Uses of both bikes Introduction Frames (Point #1) Mountain Bikes (Subject #1) Touring Bikes (Subject #2) Tires (Point #2) Mountain Bikes (Subject #1) Touring Bikes (Subject #2) Conclusion Uses of both bikes

Providing Elaboration • SEE Method • Statement – State the main idea in a topic sentence. • Extension – Extend the idea of the topic statement by restatement. • Elaboration – Provide examples, details, or facts to further prove the point EXAMPLE • Statement: CDs are more visually appealing than audiocassettes. • Extension: While cassettes are stacked in shelves without calling attention to their cover art, CD cases are used to present walls of display. • Elaboration: At just less than 6 square inches, the art on the CD case is visible from a short distance. When customers enter a music store, the faces of popular artists smile out at them from these miniature frames.

MLA Format • Margins = 1 inch all the way around • Entire document double spaced • Ctrl + 2 • Page Layout, Spacing, After = 0 • Times New Roman, 12 pt font • Header = Last Name, page number • Double-click at top of document • Ctrl + R to put it on right side • Type Last Name & space • Go to Page Number, current position, plain number • Double-click under blue line • Type Heading: • Your Name • Teacher’s Name • Class Name • Date: 5 Feb 2014 • Press Enter once • Type Title • Ctrl + Z to center • Do NOT do anything to the title except capitalize it • Press enter once • Ctrl + L • Tab to indent – start typing essay

Comparison/Contrast Essay