Compare - Contrast Essay

When you decide which restaurant to eat at, what candidate to vote for, which job to apply for, or what academic area to major in, you are comparing and contrasting. At work, when supervisors decide to promote employees or to purchase new equipment, they make comparisons. In college courses you will frequently be asked to compare (to look for similarities) or to contrast (to look for differences), whether you are comparing characters in short stories, economic policies of American presidents, styles of business management, or political theories.

When writing comparing and contrasting, follow these guidelines:

1. Compare two subjects that have some similarities. We've all heard the saying "Don't compare apples with oranges," meaning you can't fairly compare two things that are in different categories. There must be some basis for comparison. Therefore, you might compare television advertising to radio advertising, but you usually would not compare television advertising to radio talk shows. However, in some cases, you may see some basis for comparison that isn't obvious. For example, you may want to compare eggs and evergreen trees- two objects which might seem to have nothing in common; however, you can establish a basis for comparison by explaining that they're both symbols of Christian holidays.

2. Establish a clear purpose that fits the readers and the context. Be sure your readers understand your reason for discussing the tow topics. Your purpose might be to record data on the behavior of two or three groups taking part in a psychology study, to inform the readers about a new management strategy by comparing it to the old strategy, or to persuade readers that one candidate is a stronger supporter of environmental protection than another. To keep your comparison interesting, make sure it informs the readers about an interesting or valuable topic. For example, comparing high school to college to inform readers that they are different types of educational institutions would be boring because readers already know they are different. On the other hand, explaining some of the differences to high-school seniors so that they can adjust more easily to college could be a useful comparison. You can also write an effective paper by choosing two subjects frequently though to be quite different and demonstrating how they are actually much more alike than people might think.

3. Use specific wording in your thesis. A vague thesis, such as "There are many similarities and differences between Korean and Japanese food," leaves readers confused and bored. They won't know what your purpose is or how it relates to them. A more specific thesis, such as "Korean and Japanese cuisine reflects the two nations' shared history which was marked by useful exchanges and intense conflicts," gives readers a better idea of why you are writing the comparison (to show how the two nations' food reflects their shared history) and some clues as to what points will be discussed (exchanges and conflicts). Crafting a specific thesis is difficult because it requires many decision about audience, purpose, and content, so you may find your thesis evolving as you go through the pre-writing and drafting stages of your writing. However, the time and attention you spend on constructing a strong thesis will result in a comparison/contrast that is more interesting and easier to write.

4. Choose points to compare and contrast. The process of choosing points of comparison begins as you settle on your topic. The two subjects you compare and your purpose naturally lead to some points of comparison. For example, if you are writing about your grandmother's memories of cooking and eating and comparing them to your own, you immediately know you will talk about food - what kind, how much, how it was prepared, etc. However, other less obvious points may arise as you brainstorm: What were children's roles in food preparation, where did families get their food, how was food preserved? The points you choose should reflect the purpose of the comparison and the overall purpose of the paper.

5. Organize your information. When you compare and contrast, you can organize your information in one of three basic patterns: 1) point by point, 2) similarities and differences, or 3) one subject at a time.

6. Use transitions. Even if your paper is well organized, readers can become confused. State clearly which subject you are discussing. Show comparison by using terms such as "also," "similarly," and "in the same way," and show contrasts by using terms like "on the other hand," "however," and "although."