WRITING 2

UNIT 5: COMPARISON-CONTRAST ESSAYS


COMPARISON-CONTRAST ESSAYS: Purpose

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To discuss similarities and differences between two subjects/ideas


COMPARISON-CONTRAST ESSAYS: Format

1 paragraph

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Introduction

2 paragraphs

•

Body

1 paragraph

•

Conclusion

INTRODUCTION: Structure

Introduction

introduces two subjects to be compared or contrasted

ends with a thesis statement focusing similarities/ differences
between two subjects


INTRODUCTION: Example (Savage & Mayer, 2006)
I enjoy spending my Sunday afternoons outside the house. I cannot have the same experience in the United
States that I had in Mexico when I was a child, but I have found a place that is similar to my home. Willowbrook
Mall in Houston, Texas, is my favorite place in the U.S. to take a walk because it reminds me of Moreda Street in
Morelia, Mexico (two subjects introduced: Willowbrook Mall and Moreda Street) . They are very different but also similar in some
ways, especially on a Sunday afternoon (thesis statement: focusing on both similarities and differences).


BODY: Structure
Point-by-point

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Paragraph 1: 1 topic sentence = 1 point of comparison
2 - 3 examples

–


Similarities & Differences

Paragraph 2: 1 topic sentence = 1 point of comparison
2 - 3 examples

–
–

Paragraph 1: 1 topic sentence = similarities/differences
Paragraph 2: 1 topic sentence = differences/similarities


BODY: Structure
Point-by-point

–

Paragraph 1: 1 topic sentence = 1 point of comparison
2 - 3 examples

–

Similarities & Differences

Paragraph 2: 1 topic sentence = 1 point of comparison
2 - 3 examples

–
–


Paragraph 1: 1 topic sentence = similarities/differences
Paragraph 2: 1 topic sentence = differences/similarities


BODY: Point-by-point model
Body paragraph 1 – Point 1
First of all, women are indecisive while shopping but men are not (topic sentence: point of difference 1 – indecisiveness/decisiveness
while shopping). A woman can go into a store with every intention of getting one item. But she sees all the cute things lying around
the store saying “Buy me.” For that reason, she feels compelled to buy other items within the store. That is why a woman can be
very indecisive. Unlike women, men know what they want and pick only that item up. When a man says that he is going to get one
thing from the store it is a guarantee that he will come home with that one item because things do not scream out at him, “Buy
me.” (example)


BODY: Point-by-point example (Savage & Mayer, 2006)
Body paragraph 2 – Point 2
Secondly, a female can take a lot longer time to shop than a male does (topic sentence: point of difference 2 - time). Ladies can
take hours getting one item, while men can get five items in 20 minutes or less (example 1). Besides, for some reason a lady has to
look at everything she finds appealing to the eye. Last weekend my eldest sister went shopping for a pair of jeans but she spent
two hours looking at shoes, shirts, swimsuits, jewelry although her too tight budget did not allow her to have them. Differently, a
man just does not seem to notice things as a woman does. Or maybe it is because a man just doesn’t care. In any case, when a
male says he will be back in twenty minutes from shopping, he will be back in twenty minutes or less. My father and all my three
elder brothers are typical examples (example 2).


BODY: Structure
Point-by-point

–


Paragraph 1: 1 topic sentence = 1 point of comparison
2 - 3 examples

–

Similarities & Differences

Paragraph 2: 1 topic sentence = 1 point of comparison
2 - 3 examples

–
–

Paragraph 1: 1 topic sentence = similarities/differences
Paragraph 2: 1 topic sentence = differences/similarities


BODY: Similarities-and-differences example (Savage & Mayer, 2006)
Body paragraph 1 – Similarities
For me, Willowbrook Mall has an atmosphere that is like Moreda Street’s (topic sentence). In both places, people stroll and
gather (reason/explanation). In Morelia, families leave church and go for a walk along Moreda Street on Sunday afternoon. Often
people stop at an outdoor café and have an ice cream or coffee and watch people walk by (example 1). Now that I live in Houston,
Willowbrook Mall is the place where I go to see people on Sundays for their afternoon walk. I sit in a food court where I can drink
a coffee with my friend, as I watch teenagers and families walking through the mall (example 2). When I see them, I remember
how life was when I was a child (reason/explanation).


BODY: Similarities-and-differences example (Savage & Mayer, 2006)
Body paragraph 2 – Differences
Despite their similarities, Moreda Street and Willowbrook Mall are very different (topic sentence). Willowbrook Mall is more

modern (reason/explanation). On the one hand, Moreda Street has old colonial buildings and beautiful old trees that shade the
street. It is also quiet. On the other hand, Willowbrook Mall is new and the lights are bright, and loud music plays in the stores
(example 1). The people on Moreda Street also have more traditional ways. Men wear attractive, conservative suits and women
wear light summer dresses. Fathers watch their teenage daughters closely and do not let their daughters hold hands with boys. In
contrast, many teenagers go to Willowbrook Mall without their parents, and boyfriends and girlfriends walk with their arms
around each other (example 2). When I see them, I realize that my daughter will have a different experience growing up in
Houston than I did in Moreda. Then, I worry about her, and I miss Moreda Street, where life is more traditional (writer’s personal
thought).


CONCLUSION: Structure

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Conclusion = points of similarities and differences + final comment


CONCLUSION: Example (Savage & Mayer, 2006)
It is interesting (writer’s comment) to see how people and places from different countries can be similar and
different at the same time. Moreda Street and Willowbrook Mall are very different in appearance and culture
(summary of points of differences), but they are also similar because they are both places where people like to go to relax
on a Sunday afternoon (summary of points of similarities).


COMPARISON-CONTRAST ESSAYS: Writing task

Write a short essay on the following topic:
Compare and contrast life in a big city and life in the countryside.



STEP 1: Brainstorming ideas


STEP 2: Outlining
Introduction

Body (Point-by-point)

Conclusion

Hook:

Body paragraph 1

Summary and comment:

_____________________________________________

Topic sentence with point 1 of comparison:

_____________________________________________

_______

_____________________________________________

_________________________________

Background information:


_______

_____________________________________________

Details:

_______

_____________________________________________

Thesis statement:

_______

_____________________________________________

Body paragraph 2

_______

Topic sentence with point 2 of comparison:
_____________________________________________
_______
Details:
_____________________________________________
_______


STEP 2: Outlining
Introduction


Body (Similarities-and-differences)

Conclusion

Hook:

Body paragraph 1

Summary and comment:

_____________________________________________

Topic sentence about similarities:

_____________________________________________

_______

_____________________________________________

_________________________________

Background information:

_______

_____________________________________________

Details:


_______

_____________________________________________

Thesis statement:

_______

_____________________________________________

Body paragraph 2

_______

Topic sentence about differences:
_____________________________________________
_______
Details:
_____________________________________________
_______


STEP 3: Writing the first draf

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__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
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STEP 4: Editing your writing
Editor’s Checklist
Put a check () in the box as appropriate.
 1. Does your essay have four paragraphs?
 2. Does your introduction include a hook and a thesis statement?
 3. Does your thesis statement present the comparison and/or contrast between the two subjects?
 4. Does each of your body paragraph have a clear topic sentence?
 5. Does each of your body paragraph include details that support the topic sentence?
 6. Did you use connectors that show similarity and/or contrast?
 7. Did you use the correct form of comparatives?
 8. Does your conclusion summarize the points of comparison and/or contrast?


STEP 4: Editing your writing
Peer Editor’s Checklist
Put a check () in the box as appropriate.
 1. Does the essay have four paragraphs?
 2. Does the introduction include a hook and a thesis statement?
 3. Does the thesis statement focus the comparison and/or contrast between the two subjects?
 4. Does each body paragraph have a clear topic sentence?
 5. Does each body paragraph include details that support the topic sentence?
 6. Did the writer use connectors that show similarity and/or contrast?
 7. Did the writer use the correct form of comparatives?
 8. Does the conclusion summarize the points of comparison and/or contrast?



Reference
Savage, A., & Mayer, P. (2006). Effective academic writing 2: The short essay. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

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