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What is a Comparative Essay?

Paraphrasing the thesis statement, the author's opinion, scope of conclusion, how to write a conclusion for a compare & contrast essay.

A well-written essay should have at least ​ three main components: an introduction, a body and a conclusion. ​ While the introduction introduces the topic and draws the reader in, the body of the essay should consist of several paragraphs supporting the essay's main argument or hypothesis. A strong conclusion will satisfactorily draw an essay's argument to a close. ​ For a comparative essay, ​ the conclusion should successfully paraphrase the main points in the essay and offer a closing thought or opinion.

​ A compare and contrast essay, also known as a comparison essay, talks about how two ideas or objects differ and how they are similar. ​ Some essays may only talk about similarities, while others may only talk about differences. This focus depends on the ​ ​ length and scope ​ ​of the essay.

An example of a topic for a compare and contrast essay is a comparison between life in a city and life in the country. The conclusion to this essay will include ​ at least two important components: the paraphrased thesis and the author's opinion. ​

The thesis statement is usually included in the introduction to the essay, and it ​ provides the reader with a clear understanding of the essay's topic and scope. ​ The first or second sentence of the conclusion should be ​ a restatement, or paraphrase, ​ of the thesis statement.

​ Example: ​

If the thesis statement is, "Many people prefer to live in a city because of access to better health care and a wider variety of cultural and athletic events," the paraphrased thesis statement could be, "In conclusion, many people find city life preferable because of closer proximity to more cutting-edge healthcare systems and because of more choices of extra-curricular activities."

While the body of the essay should generally include objective information, the conclusion should include ​ one or two sentences articulating the author's opinion. ​ This stance should not be conveyed using an "I" statement, which is usually not recommended in formal writing.

A sentence relating to the thesis statement comparing life in the city versus life in the country could be, "For these reasons mentioned above and others, life in the city is more advisable for individuals for whom a better quality of life is non-negotiable."

​ The conclusion should not include more than a re-stated thesis statement and the author's short opinion. ​ This section of the essay is not a place in which ​ new information or information unrelated to the topic ​ is introduced. All information should be contained within the introduction and the body of the essay, and the conclusion's scope should be limited to ​ what has already been mentioned ​ in the essay. Oftentimes, the conclusion will end with the author's opinion.

Megan Ritchie has been a writer for more than 10 years, and has been published in a number of journals and newspapers, including "The Daily Targum" (Rutgers University's daily newspaper) and "The Philadelphia Inquirer." She has a Master's degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

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• Comparing and contrasting in an essay | Tips & examples

Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay | Tips & Examples

Published on August 6, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

Comparing and contrasting is an important skill in academic writing . It involves taking two or more subjects and analyzing the differences and similarities between them.

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Table of contents

When should i compare and contrast, making effective comparisons, comparing and contrasting as a brainstorming tool, structuring your comparisons, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about comparing and contrasting.

Many assignments will invite you to make comparisons quite explicitly, as in these prompts.

• Compare the treatment of the theme of beauty in the poetry of William Wordsworth and John Keats.
• Compare and contrast in-class and distance learning. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?

Some other prompts may not directly ask you to compare and contrast, but present you with a topic where comparing and contrasting could be a good approach.

One way to approach this essay might be to contrast the situation before the Great Depression with the situation during it, to highlight how large a difference it made.

Comparing and contrasting is also used in all kinds of academic contexts where it’s not explicitly prompted. For example, a literature review involves comparing and contrasting different studies on your topic, and an argumentative essay may involve weighing up the pros and cons of different arguments.

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As the name suggests, comparing and contrasting is about identifying both similarities and differences. You might focus on contrasting quite different subjects or comparing subjects with a lot in common—but there must be some grounds for comparison in the first place.

For example, you might contrast French society before and after the French Revolution; you’d likely find many differences, but there would be a valid basis for comparison. However, if you contrasted pre-revolutionary France with Han-dynasty China, your reader might wonder why you chose to compare these two societies.

This is why it’s important to clarify the point of your comparisons by writing a focused thesis statement . Every element of an essay should serve your central argument in some way. Consider what you’re trying to accomplish with any comparisons you make, and be sure to make this clear to the reader.

Comparing and contrasting can be a useful tool to help organize your thoughts before you begin writing any type of academic text. You might use it to compare different theories and approaches you’ve encountered in your preliminary research, for example.

Let’s say your research involves the competing psychological approaches of behaviorism and cognitive psychology. You might make a table to summarize the key differences between them.

Or say you’re writing about the major global conflicts of the twentieth century. You might visualize the key similarities and differences in a Venn diagram.

These visualizations wouldn’t make it into your actual writing, so they don’t have to be very formal in terms of phrasing or presentation. The point of comparing and contrasting at this stage is to help you organize and shape your ideas to aid you in structuring your arguments.

When comparing and contrasting in an essay, there are two main ways to structure your comparisons: the alternating method and the block method.

The alternating method

In the alternating method, you structure your text according to what aspect you’re comparing. You cover both your subjects side by side in terms of a specific point of comparison. Your text is structured like this:

Mouse over the example paragraph below to see how this approach works.

One challenge teachers face is identifying and assisting students who are struggling without disrupting the rest of the class. In a traditional classroom environment, the teacher can easily identify when a student is struggling based on their demeanor in class or simply by regularly checking on students during exercises. They can then offer assistance quietly during the exercise or discuss it further after class. Meanwhile, in a Zoom-based class, the lack of physical presence makes it more difficult to pay attention to individual students’ responses and notice frustrations, and there is less flexibility to speak with students privately to offer assistance. In this case, therefore, the traditional classroom environment holds the advantage, although it appears likely that aiding students in a virtual classroom environment will become easier as the technology, and teachers’ familiarity with it, improves.

The block method

In the block method, you cover each of the overall subjects you’re comparing in a block. You say everything you have to say about your first subject, then discuss your second subject, making comparisons and contrasts back to the things you’ve already said about the first. Your text is structured like this:

• Point of comparison A
• Point of comparison B

The most commonly cited advantage of distance learning is the flexibility and accessibility it offers. Rather than being required to travel to a specific location every week (and to live near enough to feasibly do so), students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows not only for a wider geographical spread of students but for the possibility of studying while travelling. However, distance learning presents its own accessibility challenges; not all students have a stable internet connection and a computer or other device with which to participate in online classes, and less technologically literate students and teachers may struggle with the technical aspects of class participation. Furthermore, discomfort and distractions can hinder an individual student’s ability to engage with the class from home, creating divergent learning experiences for different students. Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

Note that these two methods can be combined; these two example paragraphs could both be part of the same essay, but it’s wise to use an essay outline to plan out which approach you’re taking in each paragraph.

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Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

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How to Write a Conclusion for a Compare & Contrast Essay

Nadia archuleta, 26 sep 2017.

Comparisons come naturally in life: We often evaluate items for value and choose a winner. The traditional compare-and-contrast essay asks students to put this evaluation into words. The final paragraph holds a strong position in the essay. The reader encounters it last and so remembers its the place to reinforce the main thrust of analysis essay. The conclusion of a compare-and-contrast essay encourages the reader to agree with the writer's points.

Explore this article

• The Assignment
• Thesis Statement

1 The Assignment

Compare-and-contrast essays encourage students to make connections between ideas and, therefore, gain an understanding of their relationship with each other. When teachers assign these essays, the wording includes the obvious: compare, contrast, differences, similarities. Sometimes the assignment is more oblique; you'll know the essay is a comparison because you are being asked to consider two things. For example, if an assignment asks you to reflect on how a theme is treated in two texts, this is a compare-and-contrast assignment. If the prompt specifies "compare," you compare similarities; if the prompt specifies "contrast," you consider differences.

2 Structure

The structure of a conclusion paragraph mirrors the introduction, which takes readers from broad to narrow. The conclusion should take the focus from the narrowness of the thesis statement to the broader implications of the main idea. For a compare-and-contrast essay, the conclusion starts with the thesis statement and includes a brief summary of the comparison. A strong conclusion paragraph leaves the readers with final thoughts: an image, a quote or even a rhetorical question. The goal is to leave a lasting impression with the readers.

3 Thesis Statement

The thesis statement in a compare-and-contrast essay makes a specific claim, preferably including some analysis related to the two ideas. For example, if comparing theme in two pieces of literature, you would include some evaluation in the thesis statement: "By indulging in hyperbole, the poem treats the theme of love less believably than the short story." In the conclusion, the thesis statement gets reformulated: "The short story more accurately develops the theme of love than the poem." You can use synonyms or change the order of clauses and wording of a thesis statement in the conclusion.

Essays call for an academic style. However, well-crafted writing stands out. A strong ending paragraph can include figures of speech such as simile or metaphor. Figurative language makes for effective final thoughts. The conclusion also needs to give a feeling of completeness, that the topic is thoroughly explored. Word choice that displays confidence engenders a feeling of trust in the reader. A well-written essay is also concise, and this shows in the conclusion. Conciseness comes from finding the appropriate word rather than using modifiers. If appropriate, you can also inject humor. The conclusion paragraph ties up loose ends and leaves the reader thinking, hopefully, in alignment with your points.

• 1 University of Northern Carolina at Chapel Hill: Comparing and Contrasting
• 2 Purdue Online Writing Lab: Parts of the Essay, Outlining
• 3 Purdue Online Writing Lab: Conclusions
• 4 University of Washington Writing Center: Compare/Contrast Papers
• 5 Capital Community College Foundation: Concluding Paragraphs

About the Author

Nadia Archuleta has a B.A. in English writing. She spent five years working abroad and has traveled extensively. She has worked as an English as a Foreign/Second Language teacher for 12 years.

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Comparing and Contrasting: A Guide to Improve Your Essays

By Walter Akolo

Essays that require you to compare and contrast two or more subjects, ideas, places, or items are common.

They call for you to highlight the key similarities (compare) and differences (contrast) between them.

This guide contains all the information you need to become better at writing comparing and contrasting essays.

This includes: how to structure your essay, how to decide on the content, and some examples of essay questions.

Let’s dive in.

What Is Comparing and Contrasting?

Is compare and contrast the same as similarities and differences, what is the purpose of comparing and contrasting, can you compare and contrast any two items, how do you compare and contrast in writing, what are some comparing and contrasting techniques, how do you compare and contrast in college level writing, the four essentials of compare and contrast essays, what can you learn from a compare and contrast essay.

At their most basic, both comparing and contrasting base their evaluation on two or more subjects that share a connection.

The subjects could have similar characteristics, features, or foundations.

But while a comparison discusses the similarities of the two subjects, e.g. a banana and a watermelon are both fruit, contrasting highlights how the subjects or items differ from each other, e.g. a watermelon is around 10 times larger than a banana.

Any question that you are asked in education will have a variety of interesting comparisons and deductions that you can make.

Compare is the same as similarities.

Contrast is the same as differences.

This is because comparing identifies the likeness between two subjects, items, or categories, while contrasting recognizes disparities between them.

When you compare things, you represent them regarding their similarity, but when you contrast things, you define them in reference to their differences.

As a result, if you are asked to discuss the similarities and differences between two subjects, you can take an identical approach to if you are writing a compare and contrast essay.

In writing, the purpose of comparing and contrasting is to highlight subtle but important differences or similarities that might not be immediately obvious.

By illustrating the differences between elements in a similar category, you help heighten readers’ understanding of the subject or topic of discussion.

For instance, you might choose to compare and contrast red wine and white wine by pointing out the subtle differences. One of these differences is that red wine is best served at room temperature while white is best served chilled.

Also, comparing and contrasting helps to make abstract ideas more definite and minimizes the confusion that might exist between two related concepts.

Can Comparing and Contrasting Be Useful Outside of Academia?

Comparing enables you to see the pros and cons, allowing you to have a better understanding of the things under discussion. In an essay, this helps you demonstrate that you understand the nuances of your topic enough to draw meaningful conclusions from them.

Let's use a real-word example to see the benefits. Imagine you're contrasting two dresses you could buy. You might think:

• Dress A is purple, my favorite color, but it has a difficult zip and is practically impossible to match a jacket to.
• Dress B is more expensive but I already have a suitable pair of shoes and jacket and it is easier to move in.

You're linking the qualities of each dress to the context of the decision you're making. This is the same for your essay. Your comparison and contrast points will be in relation to the question you need to answer.

Comparing and contrasting is only a useful technique when applied to two related concepts.

To effectively compare two or more things, they must feature characteristics similar enough to warrant comparison.

In addition to this they must also feature a similarity that generates an interesting discussion. But what do I mean by “interesting” here?

Let’s look at two concepts, the Magna Carta and my third grade poetry competition entry.

They are both text, written on paper by a person so they fulfil the first requirement, they have a similarity. But this comparison clearly would not fulfil the second requirement, you would not be able to draw any interesting conclusions.

However, if we compare the Magna Carta to the Bill of Rights, you would be able to come to some very interesting conclusions concerning the history of world politics.

To write a good compare and contrast essay, it’s best to pick two or more topics that share a meaningful connection .

The aim of the essay would be to show the subtle differences or unforeseen similarities.

By highlighting the distinctions between elements in a similar category you can increase your readers’ understanding.

Alternatively, you could choose to focus on a comparison between two subjects that initially appear unrelated.

The more dissimilar they seem, the more interesting the comparison essay will turn out.

For instance, you could compare and contrast professional rugby players with marathon runners.

Can You Compare and Contrast in an Essay That Does Not Specifically Require It?

As a writer, you can employ comparing and contrasting techniques in your writing, particularly when looking for ideas you can later apply in your argument.

You can do this even when the comparison or contrast is not a requirement for the topic or argument you are presenting. Doing so could enable you to build your evaluation and develop a stronger argument.

Note that the similarities and differences you come up with might not even show up in the final draft.

While the use of compare and contrast can be neutral, you can also use it to highlight one option under discussion. When used this way, you can influence the perceived advantages of your preferred option.

As a writing style, comparing and contrasting can encompass an entire essay. However, it could also appear in some select paragraphs within the essay, where making some comparisons serves to better illustrate a point.

What Should You Do First?

Before you compare two things, always start by deciding on the reason for your comparison, then outline the criteria you will use to compare them.

Words and phrases commonly used for comparison include:

In writing, these words and phrases are called transitions . They help readers to understand or make the connection between sentences, paragraphs, and ideas.

Without transition words writing can feel clumsy and disjointed making it difficult to read. ProWritingAid’s transition report highlights all of a documents transitions and suggests that 25% of any sentences in a piece include a transition.

Sign up for a free ProWritingAid account to use the Transitions Report.

So, how do you form all of this into a coherent essay? It's a good idea to plan first, then decide what your paragraph layout will look like.

Venn diagrams are useful tool to start generating ideas. The, for your essay, you need to choose between going idea by idea and going point by point.

Using a Venn Diagram

A Venn diagram helps you to clearly see the similarities and differences between multiple objects, things, or subjects.

The writing tool comprises two, or more, simple, overlapping circles in which you list down the things that are alike (within the overlapping area) and those that differ (outside the overlapping area).

It’s great for brainstorming ideas and for creating your essay’s outline. You could even use it in an exam setting because it is quick and simple.

Going Subject by Subject

Going subject by subject is a structural choice for your essay.

Start by saying all you have to say on the first subject, then proceed to do the same about the second subject.

Depending on the length of your essay, you can fit the points about each subject into one paragraph or have several sections per each subject, ending with a conclusion.

This method is best for short essays on simple topics. Most university-level essays will go point by point instead.

Going Point by Point

Going point by point, or alternating, is the opposite essay structure from going subject by subject. This is ideal when you want to do more direct comparing and contrasting. It entails discussing one comparison point at a time. It allows you to use a paragraph to talk about how a certain comparing/contrasting point relates to the subjects or items you are discussing.

Alternatively, if you have lots of details about the subject, you might decide to use a paragraph for each point.

An academic compare and contrast essay looks at two or more subjects, ideas, people, or objects, compares their likeness, and contrasts their differences.

It’s an informative essay that provides insights on what is similar and different between the two items.

Depending on the essay’s instructions, you can focus solely on comparing or contrasting, or a combination of the two.

Examples of College Level Compare and Contrast Essay Questions

Here are eleven examples of compare and contrast essay questions that you might encounter at university:

• Archaeology: Compare and contrast the skulls of homo habilis, homo erectus, and homo sapiens.
• Art: Compare and contrast the working styles of any two Neoclassic artists.
• Astrophysics: Compare and contrast the chemical composition of Venus and Neptune.
• Biology: Compare and contrast the theories of Lamarck and Darwin.
• Business: Compare and contrast 2 or more business models within the agricultural industry.
• Creative writing: Compare and contrast free indirect discourse with epistolary styles.
• English Literature: Compare and contrast William Wordsworth with Robert Browning.
• Geography: Compare and contrast the benefit of solar panels with the benefit of wind turbines.
• History: Compare and contrast WWI to WWII with specific reference to the causes and outcomes.
• Medicine: Compare and contrast England’s health service with America’s health service.
• Psychology: Compare and contrast the behaviorist theory with the psychodynamic theory.

So, the key takeaways to keep in mind are:

Have a basis for comparison. The two things need to have enough in common to justify a discussion about their similarities and disparities.

Don’t go back and forth when using the block method. The best way to write your essay is to begin with a paragraph discussing all the facets of the first topic. Then, move on to another paragraph and talk through all the aspects of the second subject.

You can use both alternating and blocking techniques. Combining the two approaches is also an option. You can apply the alternating method in some paragraphs, then switch and use the block method. This method will help you offer a much deeper analysis of the subjects.

Have a reason for comparing the two things. Only select the points of comparison that resonate with your purpose.

Comparing and contrasting are essential analytical skills in academic writing. When your professor issues you with such an essay, their primary goal is to teach you how to:

• Engage in critical thinking
• See and make connections between words or ideas
• Move beyond mere descriptions or summaries to developing interesting analysis
• Get a deeper understanding of the subjects or items under comparison, their key features, and their interrelationships with each other.

Ultimately, your essay should enlighten readers by providing useful information.

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Walter Akolo

Walter Akolo is a freelance writer, internet marketer, trainer, and blogger for hire. He loves helping businesses increase their reach and conversion through excellent and engaging content. He has gotten millions of pageviews on his blog, FreelancerKenya, where he mentors writers. Check out his website walterakolo.com.

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Writing a Paper: Comparing & Contrasting

A compare and contrast paper discusses the similarities and differences between two or more topics. The paper should contain an introduction with a thesis statement, a body where the comparisons and contrasts are discussed, and a conclusion.

Address Both Similarities and Differences

Because this is a compare and contrast paper, both the similarities and differences should be discussed. This will require analysis on your part, as some topics will appear to be quite similar, and you will have to work to find the differing elements.

Make Sure You Have a Clear Thesis Statement

Just like any other essay, a compare and contrast essay needs a thesis statement. The thesis statement should not only tell your reader what you will do, but it should also address the purpose and importance of comparing and contrasting the material.

Use Clear Transitions

Transitions are important in compare and contrast essays, where you will be moving frequently between different topics or perspectives.

• Examples of transitions and phrases for comparisons: as well, similar to, consistent with, likewise, too
• Examples of transitions and phrases for contrasts: on the other hand, however, although, differs, conversely, rather than.

For more information, check out our transitions page.

Structure Your Paper

Consider how you will present the information. You could present all of the similarities first and then present all of the differences. Or you could go point by point and show the similarity and difference of one point, then the similarity and difference for another point, and so on.

Include Analysis

It is tempting to just provide summary for this type of paper, but analysis will show the importance of the comparisons and contrasts. For instance, if you are comparing two articles on the topic of the nursing shortage, help us understand what this will achieve. Did you find consensus between the articles that will support a certain action step for people in the field? Did you find discrepancies between the two that point to the need for further investigation?

Make Analogous Comparisons

When drawing comparisons or making contrasts, be sure you are dealing with similar aspects of each item. To use an old cliché, are you comparing apples to apples?

• Example of poor comparisons: Kubista studied the effects of a later start time on high school students, but Cook used a mixed methods approach. (This example does not compare similar items. It is not a clear contrast because the sentence does not discuss the same element of the articles. It is like comparing apples to oranges.)
• Example of analogous comparisons: Cook used a mixed methods approach, whereas Kubista used only quantitative methods. (Here, methods are clearly being compared, allowing the reader to understand the distinction.

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How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

• 5-minute read
• 9th March 2021

In a compare and contrast essay , you look at the similarities and differences between two subjects. How do you write one, though? Key steps include:

• Pick two things to compare based on the assignment you were given.
• Brainstorm the similarities and differences between your chosen subjects.
• Choose a structure for your essay and plan how you will write it.
• Write up your comparison and use evidence to support your argument.
• Revise and proofread your essay to make sure it is perfect.

For more advice on each stage, check out our guide below.

1. Pick Two Subjects to Compare and Contrast

A compare and contrast assignment will ask you, unsurprisingly, to compare and contrast two things. In some cases, the assignment question will make this clear. For instance, if the assignment says “Compare how Mozart and Beethoven use melody,” you will have a very clear sense of what to write about!

Other times, you will have a choice of what to compare. In this case, you will want to pick two things that are similar enough to make a useful comparison.

For example, comparing Mozart and Beethoven makes sense because both are classical composers. This means there will be lots of points of comparison between them. But comparing Mozart to a Ferrari SF90 Stradale would just be confusing: one is a renowned composer and musician, the other is a high-end sports car, so they have very little in common that we could usefully compare.

At the same time, the things you pick should be different enough that you can find points of contrast. Were you asked to compare the calorific content of two types of fast food, for example, it might not make sense to compare hamburgers and cheeseburgers as they are too similar. But you could compare hamburgers and pizzas since both are forms of fast food but they differ in other respects.

As such, if you need to pick the subjects of your essay, read your assignment question carefully and try to find two things that will produce a helpful comparison.

2. Brainstorm Their Similarities and Differences

The next step is to brainstorm similarities and differences between your chosen subjects. You can do this as a simple list, but you could also use a Venn diagram .

This is a set of overlapping circles, each of which represents one subject. You can then add characteristics to each circle, with anything your subjects have in common going in the overlapping bit in the middle.

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Once you’ve listed characteristics, you’ll need to pick out the similarities and differences relevant to your essay. If you were assigned a question, use this to guide your choices. Otherwise, look for features that seem surprising or interesting and plan your essay around these. The key is to pick points of comparison that help us to understand each thing better, or where the similarities and differences show us something that we might not have expected or noticed otherwise.

3. Choose a Structure for Your Essay

As with any essay, you will want to start with a short introduction where you introduce your topic and what you will argue. Beyond this, most compare and contrast essays are structured in one of two ways. Decide which approach to take before you write your essay outline :

• Divide by subject – Cover each subject in turn, looking at the key features you’ve identified in the previous step. You can then include a final section where you highlight what comparing the subjects tell us.
• Divide by individual points – Break your essay down into a series of sections. Each section will then focus on one of the key features you’ve identified, explaining the similarities and differences between your chosen subjects.

For instance, if you were comparing two novels, you could write about each novel in turn and then compare them at the end. Alternatively, you could structure your essay so that each section covers an individual idea (e.g., one on structure, one on characters, one on language), looking at how each book uses these things.

In either case, you will want to end on a conclusion where you summarize what the comparison has shown us about the two subjects.

4. Use Supporting Evidence for Your Argument

It is important that you also back up your statements with supporting evidence. In some cases, this will simply involve pointing to the features of each subject that you’re discussing (e.g., citing specific parts of the novels you’re comparing).

However, you can also do extra research to back up your arguments. Were you comparing two countries’ economic performance, for example, you could use statistics from other studies or reports to show the similarities and differences.

5. Proofread Your Compare and Contrast Essay

Once you have a first draft of your compare and contrast essay, take a break. If you have time, leave it overnight. The aim is to come back to it with fresh eyes and reread it, looking for any areas you could improve. After this, you can redraft your essay to make sure your argument is clear, concise, and convincing.

It is also a good idea to have your essay proofread before submitting it. This will ensure your work is error free and help you get the marks you deserve.

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How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Jun 7, 2021 • 3 min read

Compare and contrast essays examine topics from multiple viewpoints. This kind of essay, often assigned in middle school and high school, teaches students about the analytical writing process and prepares them for more advanced forms of academic writing. Compare and contrast essays are relatively easy to write if you follow a simple step-by-step approach.

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Interesting Compare and Contrast Essay Topics & Ideas

Compare And Contrast Essay Examples & Samples

Learn How to Create a Compare and Contrast Essay Outline - With Examples & Tips

Are you writing a compare and contrast essay and feeling totally lost? Yeah, it happens to the best of us. Picking the right stuff to compare and figuring out how to put it all together – can be a real headache.

That's where we come in! In this guide, we'll show you, step by step, how to write striking compare and contrast essays. 

We'll help you pick topics, organize your thoughts, and make your essays shine. With our tips and examples, you'll be well prepared. 

So, let’s get started!

• 1. What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay?
• 2. How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay?
• 3. How to Structure a Compare-and-Contrast Essay?
• 4. Compare and Contrast Essay Examples
• 5. Compare and Contrast Words
• 6. Good Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
• 7. Tips for Writing a Good Compare and Contrast Essay

What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay?

A compare and contrast essay is a form of academic writing where you examine the similarities and differences between two or more subjects, objects, ideas, or concepts. 

This type of essay requires critical thinking to analyze and synthesize information and goes beyond simple description.

The aim is to point out the interesting details, similarities, and differences that come to light when you compare these subjects directly.

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay?

Writing a compare and contrast essay is about uncovering similarities and differences between two subjects. 

Let's break it down into straightforward steps:

Step 1 - Use a Venn Diagram for Brainstorming

To start, use a Venn diagram, two circles overlapping on a page. In one circle, jot down the things that your two subjects have in common. 

In the other circle, note down the aspects that make them different to clarify what the essay will compare. This visual tool acts like a roadmap, guiding you toward the key points you'll explore in your essay. 

Here’s a practice table comparing and contrasting dogs:

Step 2 - Craft a Clear Thesis

Your thesis statement is your essay's compass. It should be concise, clearly outlining what you'll compare and contrast. 

For instance , if writing an essay comparing pets , say you'll explore their care, behavior, and suitability.

A typical compare and contrast essay thesis statement follows this structure:

Step 3 - Create an Outline

An essay outline , like a blueprint, keeps your essay organized. Plan an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. 

Start by planning out the structure of your essay, typically consisting of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each body paragraph should focus on one main point of comparison.

Here’s a sample compare and contrast template:

Check out this guide and get in-depth knowledge on creating the perfect compare and contrast essay outline !

Step 4 - Write an Introduction

Start with a captivating opening, like a fact or a question. Briefly introduce both subjects and provide some background information on them. 

Finally, end with your thesis statement, which is the heart of your essay. It tells your reader what you'll be comparing and contrasting along with clarifying the purpose of your essay.

Here’s an example of how to start a compare and contrast essay 

Step 5 - Tackle the First Body Paragraph

In the body paragraphs, each addresses a single point of comparison. Begin with a clear topic sentence, e.g., "Both books feature complex characters." Support it with evidence or examples. 

Step 6 - Repeat for Subsequent Paragraphs

Continue this pattern for other body paragraphs, each exploring different aspects of your subjects. For instance, design, features, and price in smartphone comparisons.

Step 7 - Craft a Reflective Conclusion

Summarize key points from your body paragraphs. Restate your thesis differently. Conclude with a thought-provoking idea or a call to action, leaving readers with something to ponder.

Here’s an example of how to end a compare and contrast essay:

Step 8 - Proofread for Clarity

Before sharing your essay, proofread it carefully. Make sure you’ve used correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. 

Ensuring logical flow by reading aloud can help detect awkward sentences. 

How to Structure a Compare-and-Contrast Essay?

When it comes to structuring, you can choose from these compare and contrast formats:

Block Method (Subject by Subject)

In this method, you delve deeply into one subject before transitioning to the next. It's like thoroughly exploring one side before moving to the other.

Example: Comparing Cats and Dogs

• Introduction - introduces both subjects.
• Body Paragraph 1 - delves into cats' characteristics.
• Body Paragraph 2 - explores dogs' characteristics.
• Conclusion - summarizes key points.

Alternating Method (Point by Point)

Here, you explore one aspect of each subject in sequence. It's like comparing specific points between the subjects.

Example: Comparing City Living and Country Living

• Introduction - introduces both living environments.
• Body Paragraphs - alternate discussing lifestyle, environment, and social interactions.
• Conclusion - summarizes comparisons.

- Similarities and Differences

With this method, you either discuss all the similarities or all the differences first and then cover the other aspects.

Example: Comparing Online Learning and Traditional Classroom Learning

• Introduction - introduces both learning methods.
• Body Paragraph 1 - covers similarities.
• Body Paragraph 2 - addresses differences.
• Conclusion - sums up the comparisons and offers insights.

Each method has its merits, so choose the one that suits your purpose and subjects best. Maintain clarity and coherence throughout your essay for effective communication.

Compare and Contrast Essay Examples

This type of essay can cover a wide range of topics, from literature and history to science and culture.

Now, let's explore some concrete examples that showcase how this essay format can be applied to various subjects and disciplines.

Compare And Contrast Essay Examples Pdf

Compare And Contrast Essay Sample

Compare And Contrast Essay On Summer And Winter

Free Compare And Contrast Essay Examples

Compare And Contrast Essay On City And Village Life

Compare And Contrast Essay On Pet And Wild Animals

Compare And Contrast Essay On Books And Mobile Phones

Need more examples? Have a look at our compare and contrast essay examples on different themes and grades!

Compare and Contrast Words

When comparing and contrasting, using appropriate transitional words is crucial to convey similarities, differences, and connections effectively. These words and phrases help to structure your writing and create a smooth flow of ideas. 

Here’s a list of these terms:

Compare Words

• In the same way
• Analogous to
• Correspondingly

Contrast Words

• On the contrary
• Nevertheless
• On the other hand

Good Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Choosing the right topic for your comparison essay is crucial because it sets the stage for your entire essay. A good topic should be interesting, relevant, and allow for meaningful comparisons. 

Here are some good compare and contrast essay ideas:

• Online Learning vs. Traditional Classroom Learning
• The Influence of Nature vs. Nurture on Human Development
• City Life vs. Rural Life: Contrasting Lifestyles
• Two Iconic Superheroes: Batman vs. Superman
• Democracy vs. Autocracy: Contrasting Forms of Government
• The Impact of Social Media vs. Traditional Media
• Two Prominent World Religions: Christianity vs. Islam
• The Roaring Twenties vs. the Swinging Sixties: Contrasting Decades
• Vegetarianism vs. Veganism: Dietary Choices and Ethical Considerations
• The Effects of Exercise vs. Diet on Health and Fitness

Can’t pick a topic? Check out our extensive list of compare and contrast essay topics to find more unique and interesting topics!

Tips for Writing a Good Compare and Contrast Essay

Writing a successful compare and contrast essay doesn't have to be daunting. Here are some practical tips to help you along the way:

• Be specific about what aspects or elements of the subjects you will compare and contrast. This helps maintain focus.
• When presenting similarities and differences, use parallel structure in your sentences to keep the essay organized and readable.
• Ensure that your comparisons are balanced . Don't spend too much time on one subject or aspect at the expense of the other.
• Use transitional words and phrases like "similarly," "in contrast," "on the other hand," to guide readers through your comparisons.
• Go beyond surface-level comparisons . Analyze the significance of the similarities and differences you present. Why are they important?
• Support your points with specific examples, quotes, or evidence . This adds depth to your analysis.
• Make sure your thesis statement is concise and clearly states the main points of comparison or contrast.
• In your conclusion, offer insights or reflections on what the comparisons and contrasts reveal about the subjects or the broader topic.
• Have someone review your essay to ensure that your comparisons are clear and make sense to a reader unfamiliar with the topic.

In closing, with the steps, examples, and valuable tips provided, you're well-prepared to craft an outstanding compare and contrast essay. 

However, if you ever find yourself facing writer's block or tight deadlines, our custom essay service stands ready to assist you. 

Our experienced writers have helped countless students like you achieve top-notch quality in their essays. 

So, why hesitate? Buy compare and contrast essay now to ensure your academic success.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i compare and contrast in an essay.

Comparing and contrasting in an essay involves selecting two subjects, identifying their similarities and differences, and organizing your discussion around key points. Use either the point-by-point method (alternating between subjects in each paragraph) or the block method (discussing each subject separately in its own blocks). Support your comparisons with specific examples and aim for a balanced analysis.

What is the structure of a compare and contrast essay?

A compare and contrast essay typically starts with an introduction containing a clear thesis statement that highlights the subjects and their comparison aspects. The main body presents comparisons and contrasts in organized paragraphs using evidence and examples. Choose between the point-by-point method for alternating discussions or the block method for separate discussions of each subject. Conclude by summarizing key points and reinforcing the significance of the comparison.

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How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay?

09 November, 2020

17 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

You have been assigned a compare and contrast essay but what is it and where do you even begin? The purpose of this type of essay is to focus on two or more topics examining them for subtle differences and unexpected similarities. These topics can be closely related, say a zebra and a horse, or they can be vastly different, like a pizza and salad. The focus of a compare and contrast essay is to bring to light something unknown, show whether one is superior to another, argue a point with supported facts, or clear up a misunderstanding.  

WWI and WWII. London and Paris. “Gone with the Wind” and “The Thorn Birds.” What do these things have in common? Or how do they differ?

This is a compare and contrast essay in a nutshell. Its main focus is on spotting the similarities or differences in terms of this or that object, phenomenon, or event. But there’s more to it. So, let’s look into all the details more profoundly.

What is a compare and contrast essay?

A compare and contrast essay is a piece of academic writing focused on finding similarities or differences between several objects.

“Well,” you might think, “it’s the easiest paper ever. Why even bother looking for samples and examples?” Is that what you’re thinking? Then we’ve got a surprise for you.

Even though it all seems pretty self-explanatory, a compare and contrast essay can be a real challenge to compose. Especially if you don’t know all the pitfalls to pay attention to.

Evidently, you can always choose to seek the assistance of a good essay writing service like HandMadeWriting. With us, you don’t have to spend long nights working on a piece like this. However, we guarantee that we’ll cover all the bases in this guide and you’ll be able to craft a decent compare and contrast essay in the end.

Of course, the essence of this type of writing lies in finding common or different characteristics of two objects, places, events, or people. However, the piece can look differently depending on the approach a student considers to use when working on it.

While still on the subject, let’s look into different approaches to writing a compare and contrast essay.

How to write a Compare and contrast essay outline

An outline will serve as a roadmap for your project. It will be the lighthouse you will keep your eyes on amidst all the arguments and ideas you want to mention in a piece.

Related Post: How to Write an Argumentative essay

Besides, it will help you keep your thoughts organized and well-structured. So, what should an outline for this type of essay look like?

Compare and Contrast essay outline example

Now use this scheme and adjust it to your own essay. Remember that an outline is only a blueprint: no need to go into numerous details at each section. Simply mention what you will talk about in each section and mark what sources you will use to back up your ideas.

Related Posts: Essay Outline | Research Paper Outline

Once you crafted an outline, you’re all set to start your essay.

The structure of a compare and contrast essay

There are three approaches to writing this type of essay:

• Point by point method

Venn diagram

Block structure.

Point-by-point method

This method focuses on comparing or contrasting various points of the same object. This being said, we find it essential to add that you can only choose two objects which you can really compare.

Thus, it is a great idea to compare two books of the same genre, but it makes no sense to compare a basketball and a soccer team: they’re completely different.

To demonstrate what this method is about, let’s try to compare public and private education in the USA. We will focus on three main aspects: the cost of such education, quality of education (based on the results and achievements of graduates), and the workload.

The author should mention these aspects in the introduction saying that he will compare or contrast two different options of obtaining a degree based on these points.

Next, come the main body paragraphs. Each of them is dedicated to only one point.

Topic: Public and private education comparison

Introduction.

Main body paragraphs #1:   The cost of education

• Higher at privately help institutions (e.g. provide a range of tuition fees across one specialization)
• Lower (yet not completely free) at public educational establishments (e.g. offer a list of things an average student pays for at a public institution)

Main body paragraph #2:   Quality of the education

• Typically higher at private institutions (e.g. smaller classes, a more dedicated teacher-student approach, access to necessary materials, etc.)
• Typically lower with exceptions (e.g. offer examples of statistical data which proves that public education can be just as effective)

Main body paragraph #3:   The workload

• Heavier at private colleges where tutors get more one-on-one time with each student. As a result, students have less time for extracurricular activities.
• Might be lighter than at a private institution.

Conclusion.

This is what a point-by-point approach looks like. Now, let’s check out the other two.

Venn diagram is “a diagram that shows all possible logical relations between a finite collection of different sets.” It is an excellent tool to visualize the content and brainstorm ideas.

Specifically, if you ever decide to use this tool for one of the compare and contrast essay topics, here is what it would look like:

Firstly, simply draw two or more circles (depending on the number of objects you’re comparing). Secondly, write down things they have in common inside the intersection of these circles leaving the differences on the outside.

Let’s see how students can use this approach to crafting a compare and contrast essay outline.

Topic: Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy

Main body paragraph #1: They were both presidents.

• Lincoln was the 16th, while Kennedy – the 35th.
• Lincoln served for five years, and Kennedy for three years.

Paragraph #2: They were both assassinated on Friday (share the story and background of each of these cases).

• Kennedy was killed on the 23rd of November, 1963, by Lee Harvey Oswald.
• Lincoln was shot dead on April 15th, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth.

Paragraph #3: They were commemorated by being posted on the US money.

• Tell about Kennedy’s half-dollar.
• A five-dollar bill with Abraham Lincoln.

Paragraph #4: Differences.

• Kennedy was a Democrat, while Lincoln was a Republican.
• Lincoln fought in the Civil War and signed the Emancipation Proclamation, while Kennedy focused on civil rights, foreign policies, and a space mission.

Finally, let’s see what a block structure approach will look like in practice.

This approach allows the students to compare different objects based on a particular writing pattern. A benefit of using this method lies in the structure and the level of organization of your piece.

Firstly, the author takes the first object and describes it in the first paragraph. Then, he proceeds to describe the second object in the second paragraph. Throughout the process, features or qualities are looked into step by step.

Let’s see what it would look like on the example.

Topic: Cats and dogs: Who makes a better pet?

An introduction.

Paragraph #1: Cats

• Don’t need their master to walk with them.
• Take care of their own hygiene.
• Require minimum training.

Paragraph #2: Dogs

• Need regular walks with their masters to exercise.
• Can’t wash themselves.
• Need the training to maintain proper behavior.

These are the three main methods used to craft a compare and contrast essay. Just choose the one that you feel most comfortable using and move on to the actual writing part.

Alternatively, you can look for help from a professional custom writing service like  HandMade Writing . It’s your chance to shave hours off your week and end up having an A+ in no time!

How to write a compare and contrast essay

Knowing all the approaches is one thing. Nevertheless, there is much more you need to know about this type of writing if you want to succeed.

As a rule, a compare and contrast essay writing is based on an in-depth analysis of two or more objects and practical findings of them (don’t confuse it with a reflective essay which allows you to focus on your own reflections rather than solid facts). That is why every student must start with finding proper credible sources and reading them carefully. As you read, don’t forget to take notes: your goal is to find whether similarities between the objects outweigh the differences or vice versa. But, of course, this is only true if you were given a choice to either contrast or compare the notions.

Next, take your time to craft a decent outline. Yes, you heard it right: you need it way before you dive into the first draft creation. Wondering how to write an outline? Here are several useful tips.

How to start a compare and contrast essay

The first thing a reader should see in your essay is an attention grabber. What can serve as one?

• A quote by a famous person.
• A literary quote.
• An anecdote.
• An interesting definition.
• A little-known fact.
• An open-end question.
• A beautifully painted scene.

These are the basic ideas on how to make your audience sit up and listen from the very first moment. Later on, develop this hook into a thesis statement.

Related post: H ow to write an Essay introduction?  | Essay format guide 

Thesis statement

Usually, thesis statement presents your argument to the readers. It invites the audience to dispute your position and encourages a discussion around the topic of your choice.

The Writing Center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill states that  a thesis statement “tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. It’s also a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.”

The secret of  a good thesis statement is in its length. It shouldn’t be longer than one sentence. Here is a good example:

“If it weren’t for Abraham Lincoln’s wisdom, excellent diplomatic skills, and patriotism, he could have been the last President of the existing and prospering United States of America.”

How to organize the main body paragraphs

We’ve already mentioned briefly what the main body paragraph should really look like. Now, let’s take a step forward and look into each nuance in more detail.

• An argument. The first sentence of every paragraph of your comparative essay should present the argument that supports the thesis statement. Keep it short and up to the point. And only use the arguments you can actually back up with sufficient evidence.
• Evidence. Next, provide at least one (but better two or three) pieces of evidence that support your argument. We encourage college students to use only credible sources at this point. Eventually, this will add credibility to your writing and definitely get you a better grade.
• A conclusion. Finally, summarize the argument and the evidence for it in one sentence. Keep it short and to the point, but don’t underestimate the importance of this part of your paragraph. Obviously, it’s often the only part your audience will remember from the whole piece.

Generally, college students get to choose how many main body paragraphs they want to have in their piece. Besides, the word count plays an important role here: you can’t have six main body paragraphs if you only have 500 words. For the most part, there won’t be enough space for all the essential parts of the paragraph. And you’ll end up crafting an incomprehensive and poorly-structured essay. We’re begging you to be wise not to lose good grades to not thought-through writing process.

In addition, if you aren’t a college student yet, but are going to enter a college or university soon, don’t forget to check out our complete guide to writing a scholarship essay . It’s your chance to stretch a buck by getting the financial help from college!

How to end a compare and contrast essay

Finally, get ready to compose a top-notch closure for the piece. Even though it comes last in your essay, it must be nothing short of perfect.

Studies show that conclusions are your last chance to impress a reader. Overall, the structure of this last section is quite standard.

• Restate that thesis statement to remind your audience of what your whole article centered around.
• Go over the pieces of evidence you used along the way.
• Finish with an open question, a call-to-action, or a challenge for the audience.

See? It’s not as difficult as you might have thought it will be. Still, you have to take your time to polish it and make it count.

Compare&Contrast essay example

Good compare and contrast essay topics.

Well, now that you know everything you need about the process of writing such papers, it seems like you’re simply destined to grab readers’ attention and keep them interested from the start.

And though we would really want to tell you it is really so, it won’t necessarily be true.

Likewise, there is one more secret you can’t miss: a good essay requires an engaging topic.

Certainly, we know that finding excellent good topics sentence might be difficult. Thus, we’ve gathered a short list of thing we think you might find exciting to write about.

However, you can find 127 great compare and contrast essay topics in our recent guide. They’re all unique and interesting. So, don’t hesitate to take a look and pick something to write about.

• Greek vs. Roman mythology: Differences and similarities.
• Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: Compare the techniques, history, and professionalism of the players in these two football clubs.
• Veganism vs. Vegetarianism: Differences in the dieting styles.
• American English vs. British English.
• Public vs. private education: The good, the bad, and the ugly.
• Being a freelancer vs. being self-employed.
• Christianity in Europe vs. Christianity in Asia in the 21st century.
• Traditional vs. Unconventional cancer treatments around the globe.
• Breastfeeding vs. infant formula: Which is a better choice both for the mother and the baby?
• Car-sharing vs. Hitchhiking: Which would you choose to travel the world?

Related post: Top argumentative essay topics

Transition words

Transition words are your key to the smooth reading experience. Here are two lists of transition words students should use when crafting this type of paper.

Transitions in a comparison essay:

• In the same way
• By the same token
• Coupled with
• In addition
• Identically
• Correspondingly
• Together with
• Comparatively

Contrast transitions:

• Nonetheless
• In contrast
• Notwithstanding
• On the contrary
• On the other hand
• At the same time

We tried to cover all the information a student might need when working on a compare and contrast essay. Use this guide step by step for the best results. Don’t fall victim to the idea that you need no assistance in composing this type of academic writing. Of course, it might be tricky. So, it’s in your best interest to use professional assistance.

Problems with writing Your Compare and Contrast Essay? Try our Essay Writer Service!

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How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

Last Updated: May 12, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Megan Morgan, PhD . Megan Morgan is a Graduate Program Academic Advisor in the School of Public & International Affairs at the University of Georgia. She earned her PhD in English from the University of Georgia in 2015. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 29 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 3,105,937 times.

The purpose of a compare and contrast essay is to analyze the differences and/or the similarities of two distinct subjects. A good compare/contrast essay doesn’t only point out how the subjects are similar or different (or even both!). It uses those points to make a meaningful argument about the subjects. While it can be a little intimidating to approach this type of essay at first, with a little work and practice, you can write a great compare-and-contrast essay!

Formulating Your Argument

• You could pick two subjects that are in the same “category” but have differences that are significant in some way. For example, you could choose “homemade pizza vs. frozen grocery store pizza.”
• You could pick two subjects that don’t appear to have anything in common but that have a surprising similarity. For example, you could choose to compare bats and whales. (One is tiny and flies, and the other is huge and swims, but they both use sonar to hunt.)
• You could pick two subjects that might appear to be the same but are actually different. For example, you could choose "The Hunger Games movie vs. the book."

• For example, ask yourself: What can we learn by thinking about “The Hunger Games” and “Battle Royale” together that we would miss out on if we thought about them separately?
• It can be helpful to consider the “So what?” question when deciding whether your subjects have meaningful comparisons and contrasts to be made. If you say “The Hunger Games and Battle Royale are both similar and different,” and your friend asked you “So what?” what would your answer be? In other words, why bother putting these two things together?

• A “Venn diagram” can often be helpful when brainstorming. This set of overlapping circles can help you visualize where your subjects are similar and where they differ. In the outer edges of the circle, you write what is different; in the overlapping middle area, you write what’s similar. [2] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
• You can also just draw out a list of all of the qualities or characteristics of each subject. Once you’ve done that, start looking through the list for traits that both subjects share. Major points of difference are also good to note.

• For example, if you are comparing and contrasting cats and dogs, you might notice that both are common household pets, fairly easy to adopt, and don’t usually have many special care needs. These are points of comparison (ways they are similar).
• You might also note that cats are usually more independent than dogs, that dogs may not provoke allergies as much as cats do, and that cats don’t get as big as many dogs do. These are points of contrast (ways they are different).
• These points of contrast can often be good places to start thinking about your thesis, or argument. Do these differences make one animal a superior type of pet? Or a better pet choice for a specific living situation (e.g., an apartment, a farm, etc.)?

• Show readers why one subject is more desirable than the other. Example: "Cats are better pets than dogs because they require less maintenance, are more independent, and are more adaptable."
• Help readers make a meaningful comparison between two subjects. Example: "New York City and San Francisco are both great cities for young professionals, but they differ in terms of their job opportunities, social environment, and living conditions."
• Show readers how two subjects are similar and different. Example: "While both The Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird explore the themes of loss of innocence and the deep bond between siblings, To Kill a Mockingbird is more concerned with racism while The Catcher in the Rye focuses on the prejudices of class."
• In middle school and high school, the standard format for essays is often the “5-paragraph form,” with an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. If your teacher recommends this form, go for it. However, you should be aware that especially in college, teachers and professors tend to want students to break out of this limited mode. Don’t get so locked into having “three main points” that you forget to fully explore your topic.

Organizing Your Essay

• Subject by subject. This organization deals with all of the points about Topic A, then all of the points of Topic B. For example, you could discuss all your points about frozen pizza (in as many paragraphs as necessary), then all your points about homemade pizza. The strength of this form is that you don’t jump back and forth as much between topics, which can help your essay read more smoothly. It can also be helpful if you are using one subject as a “lens” through which to examine the other. The major disadvantage is that the comparisons and contrasts don’t really become evident until much further into the essay, and it can end up reading like a list of “points” rather than a cohesive essay. [4] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
• Point by point. This type of organization switches back and forth between points. For example, you could first discuss the prices of frozen pizza vs. homemade pizza, then the quality of ingredients, then the convenience factor. The advantage of this form is that it’s very clear what you’re comparing and contrasting. The disadvantage is that you do switch back and forth between topics, so you need to make sure that you use transitions and signposts to lead your reader through your argument.
• Compare then contrast. This organization presents all the comparisons first, then all the contrasts. It’s a pretty common way of organizing an essay, and it can be helpful if you really want to emphasize how your subjects are different. Putting the contrasts last places the emphasis on them. However, it can be more difficult for your readers to immediately see why these two subjects are being contrasted if all the similarities are first.

• Introduction. This paragraph comes first and presents the basic information about the subjects to be compared and contrasted. It should present your thesis and the direction of your essay (i.e., what you will discuss and why your readers should care).
• Body Paragraphs. These are the meat of your essay, where you provide the details and evidence that support your claims. Each different section or body paragraph should tackle a different division of proof. It should provide and analyze evidence in order to connect those proofs to your thesis and support your thesis. Many middle-school and high-school essays may only require three body paragraphs, but use as many as is necessary to fully convey your argument.
• Acknowledgement of Competitive Arguments/Concession. This paragraph acknowledges that other counter-arguments exist, but discusses how those arguments are flawed or do not apply.
• Conclusion. This paragraph summarizes the evidence presented. It will restate the thesis, but usually in a way that offers more information or sophistication than the introduction could. Remember: your audience now has all the information you gave them about why your argument is solid. They don’t need you to just reword your original thesis. Take it to the next level!

• Introduction: state your intent to discuss the differences between camping in the woods or on the beach.
• Body Paragraph 1 (Woods): Climate/Weather
• Body Paragraph 2 (Woods): Types of Activities and Facilities
• Body Paragraph 3 (Beach): Climate/Weather
• Body Paragraph 4 (Beach): Types of Activities and Facilities

• Introduction

• Body Paragraph 1: Similarity between woods and beaches (both are places with a wide variety of things to do)
• Body Paragraph 2: First difference between woods and beaches (they have different climates)
• Body Paragraph 3: Second difference between woods and beaches (there are more easily accessible woods than beaches in most parts of the country)
• Body Paragraph 4: Emphasis on the superiority of the woods to the beach

• Topic sentence: This sentence introduces the main idea and subject of the paragraph. It can also provide a transition from the ideas in the previous paragraph.
• Body: These sentences provide concrete evidence that support the topic sentence and main idea.
• Conclusion: this sentence wraps up the ideas in the paragraph. It may also provide a link to the next paragraph’s ideas.

Putting It All Together

• If you are having trouble finding evidence to support your argument, go back to your original texts and try the brainstorming process again. It could be that your argument is evolving past where it started, which is good! You just need to go back and look for further evidence.

• For example, in a body paragraph about the quality of ingredients in frozen vs. homemade pizza, you could close with an assertion like this: “Because you actively control the quality of the ingredients in pizza you make at home, it can be healthier for you than frozen pizza. It can also let you express your imagination. Pineapple and peanut butter pizza? Go for it! Pickles and parmesan? Do it! Using your own ingredients lets you have fun with your food.” This type of comment helps your reader understand why the ability to choose your own ingredients makes homemade pizza better.

• Reading your essay aloud can also help you find problem spots. Often, when you’re writing you get so used to what you meant to say that you don’t read what you actually said.

• Avoid bias. Don't use overly negative or defamatory language to show why a subject is unfavorable; use solid evidence to prove your points instead.
• Avoid first-person pronouns unless told otherwise. In some cases, your teacher may encourage you to use “I” and “you” in your essay. However, if the assignment or your teacher doesn’t mention it, stick with third-person instead, like “one may see” or “people may enjoy.” This is common practice for formal academic essays.
• Proofread! Spelling and punctuation errors happen to everyone, but not catching them can make you seem lazy. Go over your essay carefully, and ask a friend to help if you’re not confident in your own proofreading skills.

Sample Body Paragraphs

• "When one is deciding whether to go to the beach or the woods, the type of activities that each location offers are an important point to consider. At the beach, one can enjoy the water by swimming, surfing, or even building a sandcastle with a moat that will fill with water. When one is in the woods, one may be able to go fishing or swimming in a nearby lake, or one may not be near water at all. At the beach, one can keep one's kids entertained by burying them in sand or kicking around a soccer ball; if one is in the woods, one can entertain one's kids by showing them different plans or animals. Both the beach and the woods offer a variety of activities for adults and kids alike."

• "The beach has a wonderful climate, many activities, and great facilities for any visitor's everyday use. If a person goes to the beach during the right day or time of year, he or she can enjoy warm, yet refreshing water, a cool breeze, and a relatively hot climate. At the beach, one can go swimming, sunbathe, or build sandcastles. There are also great facilities at the beach, such as a changing room, umbrellas, and conveniently-located restaurants and changing facilities. The climate, activities, and facilities are important points to consider when deciding between the beach and the woods."

Sample Essay Outline

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About This Article

To write a compare and contrast essay, try organizing your essay so you're comparing and contrasting one aspect of your subjects in each paragraph. Or, if you don't want to jump back and forth between subjects, structure your essay so the first half is about one subject and the second half is about the other. You could also write your essay so the first few paragraphs introduce all of the comparisons and the last few paragraphs introduce all of the contrasts, which can help emphasize your subjects' differences and similarities. To learn how to choose subjects to compare and come up with a thesis statement, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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A compare and contrast essay, as the name suggests, is used to analyze the similarities and differences between two or more congruent topics. Contrary to popular belief, a compare and contrast essay doesn’t simply list out the similarities and distinctions between two subjects. Rather, it analyzes these similarities or distinctions and explains their significance. 

Do you have difficulty writing a compare and contrast essay? In this article, we will walk you through the basics of this essay and how to write it. To give you a gist of how these essays are written, we will also provide plenty of compare and contrast essay formats and examples. 

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Let’s start with the basics: What is a compare and contrast essay?

What is a compare and contrast essay?

A compare and contrast essay is a type of essay in which the similarities and differences between two or more corresponding subjects are highlighted and analyzed. The main goal of this essay is to come up with an original argument based on the breakdown of two or more topics.

1. Comparing two subjects that can be better analyzed as a pair.

A compare and contrast essay can be used to highlight the similarities or differences between two subjects that cannot be explained on their own. For instance, comparing the marketing strategies of two competing fast-food chains can uncover similarities in their advertising techniques and consumer appeal. In this way, a compare and contrast essay can help you analyze two subjects that cannot be explained on their own.

2. Highlighting differences between two seemingly identical subjects.

You can use this essay to highlight the distinction between two subjects that are often confused. For instance, poisonous and venomous are two terms often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings and implications. Your compare and contrast essay could highlight the differences between these two kinds of organisms. 

3. Highlighting similarities between two seemingly unrelated subjects.

You can also use the compare and contrast essay to point out similarities between seemingly dissimilar subjects. For instance, the 1970s and the 2020s are separated by several decades and have distinct characteristics. However, both these eras have been marked by significant sociopolitical activism. 

To guide you further, we’ve included additional topics for compare and contrast essays.

Compare and contrast essay topics

While choosing an essay topic, it is important enough to pick topics that are comparable yet not too similar. The goal is to find dissimilarities to analyze the assets and drawbacks of each subject. However, the subjects should still be analogous enough to be compared. 

To better understand this let’s take a look at a few good compare and contrast essay topics:

• Traditional education vs. online education
• Ancient Greek vs. Roman civilization
• Examining the similarities between the American and French Revolution
• Eastern philosophies vs. Western philosophies 
• Capitalism vs. socialism
• Examining the differences between Romanticism and Realism in Literature
• Traditional medicine vs. alternative medicine
• Comprehensive analysis of dystopian societies in George Orwell’s “1984” and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.”
• Examining the similarities and differences between classical and operant conditioning.
• Psychiatry vs. Psychology

Now that we’ve got the gist of standard compare and contrast essay topics, let’s move on to the tricky part of actually writing compare and contrast essays.

How to write a compare and contrast essay

Before you begin writing your compare and contrast essay, it is important to make sure that you are using the same metrics to compare both your subjects. For instance, you cannot make a comparison by stating that an apple is red or green while a papaya produces a large number of seeds!

You must use identical metrics for comparison. For instance:

• An apple is red or green in color while a papaya is yellow or orange.
• The apple is a winter fruit, whereas the papaya grows in a tropical climate.
• Both apples and papayas are seed-bearing fruits.

Let’s take a look at writing a comparative essay in a bit more detail:

1. Establish similarities and differences between the two subjects

If you’re still debating how to start a compare and contrast essay, you can follow this simple step. You can create two or more columns for your subjects and note down their major characteristics. You can then compare their characteristics and note down any similarities or differences. 

Here’s an example:

Now that we’ve listed the characteristics of each bird, let’s note down the similarities and differences between the two:

• Both sparrows and hummingbirds feed on nectar.
• The sparrow is much larger in size as compared to the hummingbird. The average sparrow measures 15–18cm. whereas the average hummingbird only measures 7–13cm.
• The sparrows are much more adaptable and can be found in grasslands, woodlands as well as urban areas. However, the hummingbird is confined to the Americas, generally residing in subtropical regions. 

If you are more of a visual learner, you can also make use of a Venn diagram. You can simply draw two circles with an overlapping portion. Note down the characteristics unique to each subject in the portion that does not overlap, and note down the similarities in the overlapping portion. Here’s an example:

2. Create a meaningful argument and thesis statement

A thesis statement explains the reason why two subjects need to be compared. It establishes the significance of their comparison. Although developing a meaningful thesis statement can be tricky, you can figure it out by asking yourself “So what?”.

For instance, if you’re comparing the lifestyle of the royal families in the Eastern and Western civilizations, you must have a reason to choose those particular subjects. One reason could be to study the impact of these civilizations on modern-day society. Here’s an example thesis statement based on this premise: 

The contrasting lifestyles of royal families in Eastern and Western civilizations, rooted in cultural traditions and historical developments, have shaped their roles as figureheads and influencers, impacting modern-day society through ceremonial symbolism, media presence, cultural preservation, and fashion trends.

3. Create an essay outline

If you’re still contemplating how to start a compare and contrast essay, you can create a flow for all your ideas with the help of an essay structure. This structure or outline divides your essay into three basic sections:

• Introduction
• Body paragraphs

Most school and college essays consist of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, this is not a hard and fast rule. You can certainly extend the number of body paragraphs of your essay depending on the topic and complexity of your essay. However, the number of paragraphs in the introduction and conclusion remains the same.

An essay introduction consists of an opening line, relevant background information, and the thesis statement. The body paragraphs are arranged according to different topic sentences. Relevant explanations, facts, and statistics are provided to substantiate the claims made in these topic sentences. The conclusion, like the introduction, also consists of three facets. It includes an updated version of your thesis statement, a summary of the main points of your essay, and a conclusion.

The outline for your compare and contrast essay serves as a base you can build upon. You can use it as a guide while writing your essay. We will take a closer look at compare and contrast essay outlines in the next section of the article. 

4. Begin writing your first draft

After constructing a well-structured outline, you can start building your essay with the help of the key points that you’ve jotted down. The comparisons that you’ve noted down earlier can provide the talking points in your essay. Each paragraph consists of three main aspects:

• Topic sentence : The aspect paragraph revolves around
• Explanation : For compare and contrast essays this may include the characteristics of both your subjects and how they relate to each other
• Transition statement : A connecting link to the subject of the next topic sentence

Since you’ve already created a rough outline, your job becomes much easier. You can elaborate on the main talking points of your essay by data collated from various reputed sources. This can include facts, statistics, experiments/studies conducted, or even expert opinions. To make your argument stronger, you can also include tables, figures, or diagrams. 

Here’s an example of how you can build on your basic outline:

Topic sentence : A comparison of the Aztecs and Mayans reveals distinct differences in their social structures shedding light on the unique characteristics of these two Mesoamerican civilizations.

Explanation: The Aztecs and Mayans, two prominent Mesoamerican civilizations, displayed striking disparities in their social structures, religious beliefs, and artistic expressions. The Aztecs established a centralized empire with a powerful government headed by an emperor, wielding supreme authority. This hierarchical society comprised nobles, commoners, and slaves, offering limited social mobility. In contrast, the Mayans organized themselves into independent city-states, each with its own ruler and governing system. Their social structure encompassed rulers, nobles, priests, merchants, farmers, and artisans, allowing for some degree of social mobility.

Translation statement: Along with the social structure, the Mayans and Aztecs also had very different everyday routines.

5. Revise and edit

After completing the first draft of your essay, take a break for a day or two before getting back to it. This not only helps you look at your work from an objective point of view but also makes room for new ideas. 

In case you notice an abundance of errors while revising your essay, don’t fret, it’s a part of the process. You may need two or three revisions, but make sure to tweak and revise your essay until it is up to the mark. If required, you can also get help from friends, seniors, or even family members.

Once you’re satisfied with the structure and content of your essay, you can start with the editing process. The editing process involves everything from making major structural adjustments for the sake of clarity to correcting mechanical and typesetting errors for the sake of readability.

If the deadline is drawing closer and there’s not enough time, you can also consider working with an essay editing service . These services help you avoid the convoluted and time-consuming process of editing your essay.

Compare and contrast essay outline

Although the introduction and conclusion paragraphs of a compare and contrast essay format remain the same, there are three main methods by which body paragraphs can be arranged. They are:

• Block method: Discussing one subject in its entirety before moving on to the other
• Alternating method: Discussing the stance of both the subjects on one metric, before moving on to the other.
• Similarities and differences: Discussing all the similarities between the two subjects before moving on to the differences.

Depending on the purpose and topic of your essay, you can make use of any of the three formats. Let’s take a closer look at the outlines of each of these compare and contrast essay formats:

Block outline

In the block outline, the analysis of the characteristics of one subject is completed before moving on to the next. Although this method discusses a subject in its entirety and creates a flow, it’s often difficult to draw parallels between the two subjects. 

Let’s understand this outline with the help of an example. The following comparative essay block outline example analyzes the positive effects of the color green and the drawbacks of the color red on the human mind.

The Impact of Colors on Your State of Mind

I. Introduction

A. Engaging opening statement about the impact of colors on human perception

B. The significance of colors and their effects on emotions

C. Main argument stating that green is more soothing to the eye than red and should be implemented more often

A. Discussion of Green

1. Characteristics of green and its association with nature and tranquility

2. Examples, statistics, or research findings that demonstrate the soothing effects of green on the human eye

3. Positive impact of green on mental well-being and stress reduction

B. Discussion of Red

1. Characteristics of red and its association with intensity and stimulation

2. Examples, statistics, or research findings that show the potentially overwhelming or agitating effects of red on the human eye

3. Negative impact of red on mental state and a potential increase in stress levels as a result

C. Comparison of Green and Red

1. Visual contrast between the calming effect of green and the stimulating effect of red

2. Emotional responses elicited by green and red, that emphasize the soothing nature of green and the potentially disruptive nature of red

3. Surveys or studies that indicate a higher preference for green in various settings

III. Conclusion

A. Updated main argument: Green is more soothing to the eye than red and should be implemented more often

B. Summary of the key points from the body paragraphs: The benefits of green and the drawbacks of red

C. Using green in various environments, such as interior design, healthcare facilities, and urban planning, to promote a soothing visual experience for individuals

D. Impactful ending sentence: The importance of color choices for a harmonious environment

Alternating outline

If you want to establish a stronger connection between your different points of comparison, consider using the alternating outline. In this type of outline, the comparison between subjects is much more blatant as both of the subjects are evaluated against a particular metric. However, the alternating outline can result in two disjointed sections. 

Each body paragraph consists of a single metric against which both subjects are measured. Let’s better understand the alternating essay outline with the help of the same example: 

A. Captivating hook about the influence of colors on human perception

B. Overview of the significance of colors and their impact on emotions

C. Thesis statement stating that green is more soothing to the eye than red and should be implemented more often

II. Body Paragraph 1: Comparison of Green and Red

A. Visual Characteristics

1. Green: Associated with nature, calmness, and tranquility

2. Red: Associated with intensity, excitement, and stimulation

B. Emotional Impact

1. Green: Elicits feelings of relaxation, harmony, and rejuvenation

2. Red: Evokes emotions like passion, energy, and even agitation or stress

C. Effects on Eye Fatigue

1. Green: More restful for the eyes due to its position in the color spectrum

2. Red: Prolonged exposure to red can strain the eyes and potentially lead to eye fatigue

III.  Body Paragraph 2: Benefits of Implementing Green

A. Psychological Well-being

1. Green: Promotes a sense of calmness, reduces stress, and improves overall mental well-being

2. Red: Excessive exposure to red can potentially increase stress levels and negatively impact psychological health

B. Environmental Impact

1. Green: Incorporating green elements in urban environments, interior design, and healthcare facilities can create a soothing atmosphere

2. Red: Potential disruptive effects of excessive red usage in certain settings and its contrasting impact on visual comfort

IV. Conclusion

A. Updated thesis statement: Green is more soothing to the eye than red and should be implemented more often

B. Summary of key points in body paragraphs:  Difference between green and red, emphasizing the soothing qualities of green and the potential drawbacks of red

C. Implementation of green in various contexts, and its positive impact on well-being and creating visually comfortable environments

D. Impactful concluding statement: The significance of color choices and their influence on our daily lives

Similarities and differences outline

If you want the focus to be on the comparison between the two topics, it is a good idea to implement the similarities and differences outline. This format bears a resemblance to the alternating outline. 

However, the metrics of comparison are the similarities and differences between the two subjects, as opposed to certain characteristics. A single paragraph lists all the similarities between the two topics, followed by a paragraph that lists all the distinctions. 

Here’s an example outline for a compare and contrast essay using the similarities and differences method: 

A. Intriguing statement about the impact of colors on visual perception

B. Brief overview of the significance of colors and their effects on emotions

II. Body Paragraph 1: Similarities between Green and Red

1. Green: Visual characteristics of green, such as its association with nature and tranquility

2. Red: Visual characteristics of red, such as its association with intensity and stimulation

1. Green: Both green and red can evoke emotional responses, such as calmness or excitement, albeit to different degrees

2. Red: Both green and red can elicit emotions, but red tends to evoke more intense and stimulating feelings

III. Body Paragraph 2: Differences between Green and Red

A. Soothing Qualities

1. Green: Green is inherently soothing to the eye due to its position in the color spectrum and its association with nature

2. Red: Red, on the other hand, can be visually intense and potentially overwhelming, making it less soothing

B. Psychological Effects

1. Green: Green promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and enhances mental well-being

2. Red: Prolonged exposure to red can potentially increase stress levels and negatively impact psychological health

C. Eye Fatigue

1. Green: Green is considered more restful for the eyes, as it requires less eye strain and can reduce eye fatigue

2. Red: Excessive exposure to red can strain the eyes and potentially lead to eye fatigue

IV. Body Paragraph 3: Benefits of Implementing Green

A. Environmental Impact

1. Incorporating green elements in various environments, such as interior design, urban planning, and healthcare facilities, can create a soothing atmosphere

2. Potential positive effects on mental well-being and overall quality of life

V. Conclusion

B. Summary of key points in body paragraphs: Similarities and differences between green and red, that emphasize the soothing qualities of green and the potential drawbacks of red

C. Need for the implementation of green in different settings, and its positive impact on visual comfort and well-being

D. Thought-provoking statement: Significance of color choices and their influence on our daily lives

Now that we’ve understood the three basic outlines for compare and contrast essays let’s take a look at compare and contrast essay examples for these three formats. 

Compare and contrast essay examples

There are three main formats that you can use to write a compare and contrast essay. You can select one of these formats depending on what you’d like to convey to the reader. We will provide example essays for all three formats and pick a topic best suited for each essay format. 

Let’s take a look:

Block method essay example

The following compare and contrast essay example is based on the comparative analysis of two of Edgar Allan Poe’s greatest works. 

A Comparative Analysis of The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart

Edgar Allan Poe, a master of Gothic literature, created two captivating and chilling tales, The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart . While both stories delve into the realms of madness, guilt, and obsession, they differ in their narrative structures, character portrayals, and themes. Take a closer look at and uncover the unique elements that make these literary masterpieces enduring classics in the world of dark fiction.

The Raven is a narrative poem composed of eighteen stanzas, employing a rhyming scheme of ABCBBB. It follows a straightforward linear progression, recounting the narrator’s interaction with the mysterious raven, which repeatedly utters the word “nevermore.” The narrator is a grieving man consumed by sorrow and melancholy, haunted by the loss of his beloved Lenore. The raven assumes a symbolic role, representing an otherworldly and ominous presence that fuels the narrator’s descent into madness. The poem primarily explores themes of grief, loss, and the inability to escape from painful memories, while also delving into the supernatural, the macabre, and the fragility of the human mind when faced with the unknown.

On the other hand, The Tell-Tale Heart is a short story narrated in the first person by an unnamed protagonist who is determined to prove their sanity. The story follows a non-linear structure, with the narrator recounting the events leading up to and after the murder of the old man with a “vulture eye.” The protagonist is an unnamed and unreliable narrator whose intense obsession with the old man’s eye leads to murder. The old man, with his “vulture eye,” becomes a symbol of the narrator’s guilt and paranoia, fueling the story’s suspense. The Tell-Tale Heart explores themes of guilt, paranoia, and the dark recesses of the human mind. It delves into the thin line between sanity and insanity, highlighting the overwhelming power of a guilty conscience.

The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart , both masterpieces by Edgar Allan Poe, showcase his profound understanding of the human psyche. While The Raven takes the form of a narrative poem and focuses on grief, loss, and the supernatural, The Tell-Tale Heart is a short story with an unreliable narrator, delving into guilt, paranoia, and the blurred boundaries of sanity. Despite their structural and thematic differences, both works captivate readers with their exploration of the darkest aspects of the human soul. Through their masterful storytelling, Poe leaves an indelible mark on literature, inviting readers to confront their own fears and delve into the depths of the human psyche.

Alternating method essay example

The following compare and contrast essay example highlights the stark contrast between life during the 1800s and the present day. 

Contrasting Life During the 1800s and Life Today

Society during the 1800s and present-day society are characterized by stark differences in technological advancements, societal norms, and overall quality of life. There have been significant developments areas of communication, transportation, healthcare, and social dynamics between the two eras. By examining the contrasting aspects of life during the 1800s and present-day life, we can gain a deeper insight into how society has evolved.

In the 1800s people relied primarily on written letters, which often took weeks or even months to reach their destination. The introduction of the telegraph provided a faster means of long-distance communication but remained limited in accessibility. Today, communication is instant and global, thanks to the widespread use of smartphones, social media platforms, and the internet. People can connect through video calls, messaging apps, and social networking sites, bridging distances and facilitating real-time conversations.

People in the 1800s primarily relied on horse-drawn carriages, ships, and railways as modes of transportation. Long-distance travel was slow and arduous, often taking weeks or even months to complete, while local transportation was limited to walking or horseback riding. In contrast, modern transportation is characterized by the advent of automobiles, airplanes, and high-speed trains. These advancements enable swift and efficient travel across the globe. Air travel has become commonplace, allowing people to reach distant locations in a matter of hours, while cars provide individual mobility and flexibility.

Healthcare in the 1800s was marked by rudimentary medical knowledge and practices. There was often a lack of scientific understanding and proper sanitation measures, resulting in limited and ineffective medical treatments. This led to high mortality rates for common illnesses and diseases. In recent times, advances in medical science, technology, and research have revolutionized healthcare. Cutting-edge treatments, vaccines, and surgical procedures have significantly increased life expectancy and improved overall well-being.

The 1800s were characterized by strict social hierarchies, class divisions, and limited opportunities for social mobility. Gender roles were rigidly defined, with limited rights and opportunities for women. However, contemporary society has made significant strides toward equality and inclusivity. Movements advocating for gender, racial, and LGBTQ+ rights have pushed for social progress. Social mobility and opportunities for personal and professional growth have expanded, promoting a more diverse and inclusive society.

In conclusion, life during the 1800s and life today differ significantly in terms of communication, transportation, healthcare, and social dynamics. Technological advancements, scientific progress, and societal changes have transformed the way we live and interact with the world. While the 1800s were marked by limitations and hardships, the modern era offers unprecedented convenience, connectivity, and opportunities for personal growth. By examining these contrasting aspects, we gain a deeper appreciation for the advancements that have shaped our lives today and a better understanding of the progress humanity has made over time.

Similarities and differences method essay example

The following example of a compare and contrast essay studies the similarities and differences between amphibians and reptiles.

Exploring the Fascinating Worlds of Amphibians and Reptiles 

Amphibians and reptiles are two distinct groups of animals that belong to the larger classification of vertebrates. While they share some similarities, they also exhibit significant differences in their physical characteristics, life cycles, habitats, and reproductive strategies. Let’s take a closer look at both these species by highlighting their unique features and adaptations to their respective environments.

Although different species, amphibians, and reptiles share several similarities. Both groups are cold-blooded, or ectothermic, which means their body temperatures are regulated by the environment. This characteristic influences their behavior and activity levels, as they rely on external heat sources to warm their bodies. Both species also lay eggs for reproduction. The eggs of both groups are covered by protective membranes, which provide a suitable environment for development outside the parent’s body. Additionally, amphibians and reptiles have a similar general body plan, characterized by a backbone, four limbs (or remnants of limbs), and a well-developed skull.

Despite these similarities, there are notable differences between the two species. Amphibians have a dual life cycle, which involves an aquatic larval stage and a terrestrial adult stage. They typically lay their eggs in water and undergo metamorphosis from aquatic larvae, into terrestrial adults with lungs. A frog is one classic example of an amphibian. In contrast, reptiles have a direct life cycle, with offspring hatching from eggs that are laid on land. They bypass the aquatic larval stage and are born as miniature versions of the adults, equipped for a terrestrial existence. Alligators and crocodiles are the most commonly known reptiles.

Another significant difference lies in their respective habitats. Amphibians are often associated with moist environments, such as swamps, rivers, and ponds, as they require 

water for breeding and maintaining skin moisture. They are highly adapted to live in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Reptiles, on the other hand, have evolved to inhabit a wider range of environments. They can be found in various habitats, including deserts, forests, grasslands, and even oceans. Reptiles have developed strategies to conserve water, such as the ability to excrete uric acid instead of urea, allowing them to thrive in arid conditions.

Physiologically, amphibians and reptiles differ in their skin structure and respiration. Amphibians have moist and permeable skin that serves multiple functions, including gas exchange and water absorption. This unique characteristic allows them to respire through their skin, particularly during their larval stage. In contrast, reptiles have dry and scaly skin that acts as a protective barrier against water loss. They rely on lungs for respiration and have more efficient respiratory systems compared to amphibians.

In conclusion, while amphibians and reptiles share some similarities, such as being ectothermic and laying eggs, they have distinct differences in their life cycles, habitats, and physiological characteristics. Amphibians undergo metamorphosis and have a dual life cycle, adapting to both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Reptiles, on the other hand, have a direct life cycle and are adapted to a wide range of habitats. Understanding these similarities and differences helps us appreciate the diverse adaptations that have allowed these fascinating creatures to thrive in different ecosystems across the world.

We hope that these examples of compare and contrast essays guide you in acing your essay assignment! As editing and proofreading experts, we realize the importance of submitting error-free essays. 

To help you minimize errors, we have created detailed resources about several important aspects of essay writing. Go through the following resources to enhance your essay-writing skills! 

• Guide to Essay Editing: Methods, Tips, & Examples
• How to Format a College Essay: Format Template & Tips

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Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

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Before you begin to draft a compare and contrast essay, you should brainstorm by creating a Venn diagram or a chart to list the ​pros and cons of each subject you are comparing to another.

The first paragraph of your compare and contrast essay should contain references to both sides of your comparison. This paragraph should end with a thesis sentence that sums up your overall purpose or results, like this:

While city life brings many social opportunities, country life can provide the best of both worlds.

Comparison essays can be constructed in two ways. You can focus on one side of your comparison at a time, describing the pros and cons of one topic first and then moving on to the next topic, like the example here:

• Cities have lots of great restaurants.
• City life offers culturally diverse populations.
• Cities contain theaters, sporting events, and other activities.
• Country life brings fresh produce within easy reach.
• Country life is quiet living with the opportunity to travel into cities for cultural exposure.
• Entertainment opportunities exist in the country, as well.
• Summary paragraph

You could instead alternate your focus, covering one after the other in a back-and-forth pattern.

• On the other hand, country life brings fresh produce within easy reach.
• But entertainment opportunities exist in the country, as well.
• However, country life is quiet living with the opportunity to travel into cities for cultural exposure.

Make sure that each paragraph contains a smooth transition statement , and end your essay with a sound conclusion.

Country Life or City Life?

Some ideas for your compare and contrast essay might make your work easier. Think about the following topics and see if one feels right for you.

• middle school and high school experience
• pizza and spaghetti
• doing household chores or doing homework
• private school and public school
• attending big university and attending small college
• comparing two games
• comparing two types of phones
• laptops to tablets
• comparing two teaching styles
• comparing English to Spanish
• owning a dog and owning a cat
• travel abroad and domestic travel
• growing up rich and growing up poor
• talking to dad and talking to mom
• having a sister and having a brother

If the list above doesn't appeal to you, it may spark an original idea that fits your situation. This type of essay can be a lot of fun!

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Compare And Contrast Essay

Compare and Contrast Essay - An Ultimate Guide

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Published on: Feb 18, 2020

Last updated on: Jul 23, 2024

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Are you a student facing the challenge of writing a compare and contrast essay? 

This type of essay can be challenging, as it requires them to evaluate, analyze, and differentiate between various subjects. However, don't let this task intimidate you! 

In this blog, we will provide you with a step-by-step process for writing a compare and contrast essay. Our expert advice and practical tips will help you gain the confidence and skills needed to craft a compelling and well-organized essay.

So, let's get started!

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What is Compare and Contrast Essay?

According to the compare and contrast essay definition it is written to observe and evaluate the similarities and differences between two objects or subjects.

We compare things in our daily life to make choices. Hypothetically, if a person has a limited budget and goes shopping, he would compare things and make choices that will best suit him. 

To write a compare and contrast essay, you can combine two things, compare them, and form a claim.

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Purpose of a Compare and Contrast Essay

The purpose of the compare and contrast essay is:

• To analyze similarities and differences between two or more subjects
• To showcase your ability to critically examine and evaluate different aspects of the subjects
• To enhance your analytical and critical thinking skills
• To demonstrate your understanding of the subjects and their characteristics
• To provide insights and draw meaningful conclusions from the comparisons
• To engage readers by presenting thought-provoking comparisons and contrasts
• To fulfill academic requirements and demonstrate your knowledge on the given topic.

A successful comparison paper will provide facts about both the subjects that the essay is about.

Want to learn more about this type of essay? Check out this informative video!

Types of Compare and Contrast Essay

When it comes to writing a compare and contrast essay, there are several types you can choose from. Each type has its unique approach and structure that will help you present your ideas effectively. 

Here are the most common types of compare and contrast essays.

Point-by-Point Comparison

The point-by-point comparison, also known as the alternating method, is where you compare and contrast the two subjects point by point. This method is effective when the subjects being compared have several similarities and differences. 

With this method, you can easily show how the two subjects are similar or different on a specific aspect. For instance, if you were comparing two cities, you can compare their climate, transportation, and lifestyle using this method.

Example:   Here's an example using this structure:

Block Comparison

The block comparison, also known as the subject-by-subject method, is where you present all the information about one subject and then move to the next subject. This method is effective when the subjects being compared have several significant differences. 

This method is often used for longer essays, and it can help you present your ideas in a clear and organized manner.

Example:  Here's an example using this block comparison:

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

The outline shapes and provides meaning to the entire essay. It keeps the writer focused and on the right track throughout the writing process.

Here is the traditional compare and contrast essay outline:

Check out this link if you need in depth compare and contrast essay outline ? 

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay?

Here are the steps to write a compare and contrast essay;

• Picasso and Goya
• Vegans and meat lovers
• Extroverts and introverts
• Catholicism and Protestantism
• Generation X and Generation Y
• Brainstorming - Brainstorm the similarities and differences between the chosen topics. Use a Venn diagram for your ease. It has overlapping circles that include the differences and similarities between both subjects.
• Choosing the Structure -  Decide which structure will you use to present your ideas; alternating, blocking, or similarities and differences.
• Create the Outline -  Before beginning with the writing process, create the outline for your essay.

The introduction is the first thing that a reader reads. The introduction informs the readers of what is discussed in the essay. The introductory paragraphs have three elements:

• A hook -  is a statement used to grab the reader's attention. It can be a sentence or two, which will be strictly related to the topic and kind of essay.
• The major similarity or difference -  This is added to help the readers understand what is discussed in the essay. But everything is presented briefly.

Thesis statements can be difficult to write. It is important to have an understanding of a  thesis statement  and how to write it easily.

The main body of an essay is the section where all the gathered information is presented in a structured way. The body paragraphs are written to prove the thesis statement and the stance that a writer made about the topic.

Usually, this section has three paragraphs. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence that will work as a preview of what is going to be discussed in that particular paragraph.

In a compare and contrast essay, body paragraphs are connected by transition words. Words such as "similarly, in contrast to, however, both," etc., are frequently used to combine the entire content, giving a logical flow to it.

The conclusion of a compare and contrast essay is the summed up final verdict of the writer. The major points are summarized in the concluding paragraph of an essay, and the thesis statement is restated. Make sure that you stick to the discussed ideas and do not add any new information here.

The last part of the writing process of an essay is its proofreading and revision. In this step, you go through your essay one more time to see if there are any mistakes and errors.

Make sure the vocabulary, grammar, spellings, citation, facts, syntax, format are accurate and appropriate. Also, check if the objects are carefully compared, contrasted, and written.

If you come across some errors, correct them before submitting the essay to your instructor.

Compare and Contrast Structure Words

Here are some examples of compare and contrast words:

Compare and Contrast Essay Example

To give you a better understanding of compare and contrast essay concepts, we have gathered some useful examples.

Compare and Contrast Essay Template

Compare And Contrast Essay On City And Village Life

Compare And Contrast Essay On Cricket And Football

Compare And Contrast Essay On Summer And Winter

Compare And Contrast Essay About Traditional And Online Education

Thesis Statement For Compare And Contrast Essay

Learning through examples is a sure short way of learning effectively and in less time. Good  compare and contrast essay examples  will help you understand everything more quickly.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Here are some compare and contrast essay topics:

• Online learning vs. traditional classroom learning: Which is more effective?
• Vegetarianism vs. meat-eating: Which is better for your health?
• High school vs. college: How are they different and similar?
• Living in the city vs. living in the countryside: Which is better for your lifestyle?
• Democracy vs. dictatorship: Which form of government is better for the people?
• Public schools vs. private schools: Which offers a better education?
• Traditional book reading vs. e-book reading: Which is more enjoyable and effective?
• Online shopping vs. in-store shopping: Which is more convenient and cost-effective?
• Dogs vs. cats: Which make better pets?
• Working from home vs. working in an office: Which is more productive and efficient?

These are some good compare and contrast essay topics that will help you draft an amazing essay. 

 Visit this link if you need more amazing compare and contrast essay topics !

Tips to Write a Good Compare and Contrast Essay

When writing a compare and contrast essay, it's important to keep some tips in mind to ensure that your essay is effective and engaging. Here are some tips to help you:

• Avoid generalizations: While it can be tempting to make sweeping generalizations about the subjects you're comparing, it's important to provide specific examples and evidence to support your claims.
• Keep the focus on the subjects being compared: Your essay should be focused on the two (or more) subjects you are comparing and contrasting. Avoid going off on tangents or discussing unrelated topics.
• Provide evidence to support your claims: Whether you are arguing that one subject is better than the other, it's important to use evidence to back up your claims. This could include examples, statistics, quotes, or other types of evidence.
• Use transitional phrases: When moving from one subject to the other, use transitional phrases to make the connections clear. Examples of transitional phrases include "on the other hand," "in contrast," and "similarly."
• Organize your essay effectively: Depending on the type of compare and contrast essay you're writing, you may need to use a point-by-point or block structure. Be sure to choose a structure that works for your topic, and use clear headings and subheadings to help organize your essay.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your essay is well-written and effective in communicating your ideas to your reader.

Mistakes to Avoid While Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay

Let's take a look at some potential pitfalls to avoid while writing your essay:

• Not clearly identifying the basis for comparison - Without a clear basis for comparison, the essay may lack coherence and direction.
• Not providing enough details - These essays require a level of detail that is sufficient to illustrate similarities and differences between the subjects being compared.
• Choosing subjects that are too different - It can be challenging to compare and contrast subjects that are too dissimilar, leading to a weak essay.
• Focusing only on differences - While it is important to highlight differences between the subjects, ignoring similarities can lead to an imbalanced essay.
• Failing to use transitions - Without transitional phrases, the essay may seem disjointed and difficult to follow.
• Not using a consistent structure - Compare and contrast essays require a consistent structure, such as point-by-point or block method, to maintain clarity and organization.
• Being too subjective - While it is important to express your opinion, be sure to present objective evidence to support your claims.
• Ignoring formatting and citation guidelines - Failure to adhere to formatting and citation guidelines can result in plagiarism or lower grades.
• Not proofreading carefully - Typos, grammar errors, and spelling mistakes can detract from the overall quality of the essay.

Here's a compare and contrast essay checklist:

The Bottom Line!

We hope that this guide has provided you with valuable insights and techniques for writing a successful compare and contrast essay. With the right approach, this type of essay can be an exciting opportunity to explore similarities and differences between two subjects.

If you need further assistance or want to ensure that your essay meets the highest standards, don't hesitate to reach out to us at CollegeEssay.org . 

Our compare and contrast essay writing service makes academic life easier for students by providing the best essays written by skilled professionals. 

We offer the best professional essay writing service to students and provide them with expert guidance to help them achieve academic success. 

Contact our essay writing service today and let our college essay writer help you take the first step towards acing your compare and contrast essay! However, if you are on a budget and don't have time to hire a writer, we have just the solution for that. Use our AI essay writer to get plagiarism-free content within a few minutes. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good example of compare and contrast.

A good example of a compare and contrast essay is to compare and contrast two different types of pets, such as dogs and cats. Both pets are popular but have distinct differences in behavior, care, and interaction with their owners.

How do you start a compare and contrast essay example?

To start a compare and contrast essay, begin by choosing two subjects to compare and contrast. Then, brainstorm similarities and differences between the two subjects and create a thesis statement that outlines the main points of comparison and contrast.

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How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

Published September 27, 2020. Updated May 4, 2022.

Compare and Contrast Essay Definition

A compare and contrast essay discusses similarities and differences between two subjects. The discussion shows the writer’s deep understanding of both subjects.

Overview of a Compare and Contrast Essay

• Choose what two subjects to compare and contrast.
• Brainstorm similarities and differences between the two subjects.
• Develop a thesis statement and write an introduction.
• Write an analysis, using the block method or the point-by-point method.
• Write a conclusion.

This page will cover the following points:

Key Takeaways

What is a compare and contrast essay, step 1: choose what to compare and contrast, step 2: brainstorm similarities and differences, step 3: write an introduction and a thesis, step 4: use block method or point-to-point, step 5: write a conclusion.

• Why Do Teachers Assign Compare and Contrast Essays?
• A compare and contrast essay discusses the similarities and differences between two subjects to show a deep understanding of both.
• Pick subjects and points that are relevant to your class .
• Use your essay’s thesis statement to show the reader why the similarities and differences are important.
• Choose whether you’d like to focus on one subject at a time ( block method ) or move back and forth between subjects ( point-to-point method ).
• A  compare and contrast essay outline includes a full thesis statement and uses appropriate structure ( block method or point-to-point ).
• A  thesis statement is the foundation of an essay, listing your paper’s main comparisons and explaining why they’re important.
• With  block structure , you dedicate each body paragraph to one of your two subjects.
• With  point-to-point , you dedicate each body paragraph to one of your main points about both subjects.

A compare and contrast essay discusses the similarities and differences between two subjects. This shows a deep understanding of both subjects.

Sometimes, instructors ask students to weigh the positives and negatives of both subjects, choose which subject is better, and defend their position. Read the essay prompt carefully!

Worried about your writing? Submit your paper for a Chegg Writing essay check , or for an Expert Check proofreading . Both can help you find and fix potential writing issues.

In some classes, your instructor will tell you which two subjects to focus on. They’ll usually pick topics discussed in lectures.

For example, in an American literature course, your instructor may ask you to compare and contrast two writers like Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. Both were part of the same literary movement (the Beat Generation) but still had unique styles and priorities.

Your instructor may let you choose your subjects. Pick two people, things, or ideas discussed in class with clear differences but something in common, too.

Let’s say, for example, your class is talking about pizza (what a great class, right?). You’ll want to choose two subjects in that category that are comparable, such as New York-style pizza and Chicago deep-dish pizza. Both are types of pizza, and they both mean a lot to certain American cities.

You can also find ways to contrast these two pizzas. They both have a distinct shape and are eaten differently (try eating deep-dish pizza with your hands!).

Although your class probably isn’t talking about pizza, the point here is to pick two subjects that:

• Your instructor or textbook discussed.
• You feel confident about and which have several important similarities and differences.

But how will you know if any given similarity or difference is important ? In the next section, you’ll brainstorm your essay’s main points and pick the ones that are most appropriate for your class.

By now, you’ve chosen (or were told) your two subjects. Next, it’s time to think about what differences and similarities your paper should focus on.

Since this brainstorming session is just for you, feel free to use whichever method you prefer. Some people like to use Venn diagrams to organize their thoughts. Others prefer a T-chart or just jotting ideas down.

Not all compare and contrast points are made equal. Think about what your instructor has talked about in class so far. Then, decide which points would sound the most appropriate for your course.

This is also a good time to revisit the prompt. Your instructor may have already hinted at what they’d like you to discuss in the instructions.

Here’s an example of a brainstorming session about New York- and Chicago-style pizza. Let’s figure out which of these compare and contrast points would be best for the paper:

After brainstorming, you have four very different points for your pizza paper. Each could be helpful, depending on the class.

If the class is about local history, then the last point, “many restaurants nearby make it,” will be useful. If not, then that point is likely the least relevant.

Meanwhile, a class about United States history will care deeply about how these different foods helped shape the identity of Chicago and New York City, respectively (point #3).

Points #1 and #2 talk about the size and shape of the pizza. These would be great choices for a home economics class, where the preparation and presentation of the dish are important.

Whichever points you choose for your compare and contrast essay, make sure they make sense and seem relevant to your class. Never throw in an extra point just to reach the word count for the paper. Your instructor will be able to tell!

Once you have three or four relevant points for your compare and contrast essay, it’s time to write the thesis statement. This will tell your instructor why these similarities and differences are important and worth talking about in an essay.

The introduction is where you’ll tell your audience what your two subjects are. You’ll also discuss the main ways you plan to compare and contrast them.

One of the most important parts of your introduction (and the whole paper) is your thesis statement. The thesis is the main argument of your essay.

Why should someone care about the similarities and differences between these two subjects? That’s the question your thesis statement should answer.

Let’s think, for example, about the New York- and Chicago-style pizza essay. Why should your instructor care about comparing and contrasting these two pizza types?

Here’s an example thesis statement for that paper:

Both New York-style and Chicago deep-dish pizza are important to the identities of their respective cities. However, the fast, portable nature of by-the-slice New York-style pizza makes it easier for the average New Yorker to eat frequently than does the deep-dish pizza for Chicago residents.

This thesis statement not only points out differences and similarities between the pizzas but also begins to say why those differences matter. Remember that the rest of your paper should support the points made in your thesis statement and address important questions.

For example, in the pizza-paper thesis, common questions might include:

What makes New York-style pizza more portable? In what ways are these pizzas important to each city’s identity?

Now, you have a compelling thesis statement for your paper ready to go. Next, you’ll spend some time thinking about how you want to present the similarities and differences between your two subjects.

Would you like to talk about one subject at a time? Or would you prefer to switch between the two to better highlight their differences?

In the next section, you’ll learn the pros and cons of both of these styles. Then, you’ll decide which one is right for your paper.

Here’s what a well-outlined introduction looks like:

– Begin with a lighthearted discussion about the centuries-long debate over cats and dogs.

– Thesis statement: Cats and dogs have varying activity levels, maintenance needs, and ways of showing affection, which potential owners should keep in mind before deciding between the two.

There are many ways to format your compare and contrast paper. But to keep things simple, let’s focus on the two most popular strategies.

With the block method , you make all your points about subject #1 before switching to subject #2. You may dedicate one or even two full paragraphs to the first subject before comparing it with the second one.

Here’s an example outline for a block method essay:

Paragraph 1: Introduction

P2: Subject #1

P3: Subject #1 (continued)

P4: Subject #2

P5: Subject #2 (continued)

P6: Conclusion

There are pros and cons to each method. The main benefit of the block method is that it is easy to keep your paper organized. Because you’re only discussing one subject at a time, your instructor can easily tell what you’re talking about.

There are still cons to this structure, though. For example, it will be harder for your audience to remember the points you made about subject #1 when you finally get to subject #2.

If you want to more closely compare and contrast your two subjects, you’ll want to use the point-to-point approach.

With point-to-point, you’ll dedicate each of your body paragraphs to a similarity or difference between the two subjects. You’ll compare and contrast both subjects in each body paragraph.

Let’s take a look at an outline organized for the point-to-point method:

P2: Similarity #1

P3: Similarity #2

P4: Difference #1

P5: Difference #2

The main benefit of point-to-point is that the similarities and differences between your two subjects will be more clear. After all, you’re going back and forth between the two at all times.

Because you are switching so often, though, you’ll want to write very clearly. Be sure to use plenty of transition words, which you’ll learn more about in the next section. Otherwise, your instructor may lose track of what you’re discussing.

Both of these methods will work with most compare and contrast essays. You’ll have to decide for yourself if you feel your subjects would be better discussed one at a time (block method) or back and forth (point-to-point).

Template on block structure and point-to-point examples

Transition words for a compare and contrast essay.

In a compare and contrast essay, you’ll be discussing at least two different subjects throughout the paper. That’s why it’s helpful to use transition words. These words will let your audience know when you’re moving on to a new topic or directly contrasting two ideas.

Here are some useful transition words for compare and contrast essays:

• in contrast

As you can guess, some of these words (ex: “similarly” and “likewise”) help you compare your two subjects. Here’s an example:

Pizza-by-the-slice places are an iconic image of New York City. Similarly , visitors to Chicago make it a point to find a deep-dish pizza restaurant.

Other transition words (ex: “in contrast” and “unlike”) point to an important difference. Let’s try one out:

Unlike New York-style pizza, which can be enjoyed on the go, Chicago deep-dish pizza is suited better for a traditional, sit-down restaurant.

Use these and other transition words to make your points more clear. Try using different transition words throughout your paper, such as using “similarly” once and then “likewise” the next time. That way, you can avoid monotonous sentences.

By the time you reach the conclusion of a compare and contrast paper, you’ve already done a lot of planning and writing. It’s completely understandable if you feel a bit burned out.

Like many other papers, you’ll want to use the conclusion of your compare and contrast essay to remind your instructor of your main points. But it’s also important not to copy and paste your introduction into the conclusion.

Try to find a new, eye-catching way to transition back into your main points and restate your thesis. Here’s an example for the New York- and Chicago-style pizzas:

In the season 2 episode of The Office (US), “Valentine’s Day,” Michael Scott visits downtown New York City and immediately runs into a Sbarro’s restaurant for a “New York slice.” The scene is a joke about Michael’s naïveté. But it also points to how second nature New York-style pizza is for experiencing the area. Both New York-style and Chicago deep-dish pizza hold a special place in their city’s identities…

As always, make sure whatever you write is appropriate for your class. With a topic as light-hearted as pizza, a quick The Office reference fits right in. But in other essays, a pop culture reference would be distracting.

Here’s an example of an outline for a conclusion:

– Talk about famous cats and dogs in pop culture and their personalities, like Chloe and Max from The Secret Life of Pets .

–  Restate thesis: From the palaces of Ancient Egypt to the condos of modern-day New York City, both cats and dogs have long been revered for their companionship. Potential owners should consider cats and dogs’ varying activity levels, grooming needs, and ways of showing affection before deciding which pet is right for them.

Use your conclusion to reinforce the points made throughout the paper. Adding anecdotes like the one above can make your paper stand out and keep the attention of your instructor. It’s also a way to let them know that you took the assignment seriously from the beginning to the very end.

Example Compare and Contrast Essay on J azz vs. Rock

Before you turn in that paper, don’t forget to cite your sources in APA format , MLA format , or a style of your choice.

Why Do Teachers assign Compare and Contrast Essays?

In many cases, your instructor assigns compare and contrast papers to test your comprehension of two subjects, as well as to see how well you understand authors, historical periods, or other concepts discussed in class.

Planning and writing these essays can be intimidating at first. In this guide, though, you’ll find helpful tips, from the first brainstorming session all the way to wrapping up the conclusion.

Published August 19, 2020.

By James Ardis. James is a writer who earned his MFA in Poetry from the University of Mississippi. He’s also taught English as a Second Language in South Korea, Thailand, and to refugees living in America.

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5 Compare and Contrast Essay Examples (Full Text)

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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A compare and contrast essay selects two or more items that are critically analyzed to demonstrate their differences and similarities. Here is a template for you that provides the general structure:

A range of example essays is presented below.

Compare and Contrast Essay Examples

#1 jean piaget vs lev vygotsky essay.

1480 Words | 5 Pages | 10 References

(Level: University Undergraduate)

Thesis Statement: “This essay will critically examine and compare the developmental theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, focusing on their differing views on cognitive development in children and their influence on educational psychology, through an exploration of key concepts such as the role of culture and environment, scaffolding, equilibration, and their overall implications for educational practices..”

#2 Democracy vs Authoritarianism Essay

Thesis Statement: “The thesis of this analysis is that, despite the efficiency and control offered by authoritarian regimes, democratic systems, with their emphasis on individual freedoms, participatory governance, and social welfare, present a more balanced and ethically sound approach to governance, better aligned with the ideals of a just and progressive society.”

#3 Apples vs Oranges Essay

1190 Words | 5 Pages | 0 References

(Level: 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade)

Thesis Statement: “While apples and oranges are both popular and nutritious fruits, they differ significantly in their taste profiles, nutritional benefits, cultural symbolism, and culinary applications.”

#4 Nature vs Nurture Essay

1525 Words | 5 Pages | 11 References

(Level: High School and College)

Thesis Statement: “The purpose of this essay is to examine and elucidate the complex and interconnected roles of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental influences (nurture) in shaping human development across various domains such as physical traits, personality, behavior, intelligence, and abilities.”

#5 Dogs vs Cats Essay

1095 Words | 5 Pages | 7 Bibliographic Sources

(Level: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade)

Thesis Statement: “This essay explores the distinctive characteristics, emotional connections, and lifestyle considerations associated with owning dogs and cats, aiming to illuminate the unique joys and benefits each pet brings to their human companions.”

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

I’ve recorded a full video for you on how to write a compare and contrast essay:

Get the Compare and Contrast Templates with AI Prompts Here

In the video, I outline the steps to writing your essay. Here they are explained below:

1. Essay Planning

First, I recommend using my compare and contrast worksheet, which acts like a Venn Diagram, walking you through the steps of comparing the similarities and differences of the concepts or items you’re comparing.

I recommend selecting 3-5 features that can be compared, as shown in the worksheet:

Grab the Worksheet as Part of the Compare and Contrast Essay Writing Pack

2. Writing the Essay

Once you’ve completed the worksheet, you’re ready to start writing. Go systematically through each feature you are comparing and discuss the similarities and differences, then make an evaluative statement after showing your depth of knowledge:

Get the Rest of the Premium Compare and Contrast Essay Writing Pack (With AI Prompts) Here

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement

Compare and contrast thesis statements can either:

• Remain neutral in an expository tone.
• Prosecute an argument about which of the items you’re comparing is overall best.

To write an argumentative thesis statement for a compare and contrast essay, try this AI Prompts:

💡 AI Prompt to Generate Ideas I am writing a compare and contrast essay that compares [Concept 1] and [Concept2]. Give me 5 potential single-sentence thesis statements that pass a reasonable judgement.

Ready to Write your Essay?

Take action! Choose one of the following options to start writing your compare and contrast essay now:

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Tips for crafting effective compare and contrast essays.

Comparing and contrasting is a common method used in academic writing to analyze the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. Whether you are a student working on an assignment or a professional writing a research paper, mastering the art of compare and contrast essays can greatly enhance your writing skills.

In this article, we will explore useful tips and provide examples to help you create compelling and well-structured compare and contrast essays. From understanding the purpose of the essay to organizing your thoughts and arguments effectively, we’ll cover key strategies to ensure your essay is clear, concise, and engaging.

Guide to Writing Successful Compare and Contrast Essays

Compare and contrast essays can be a challenging but rewarding type of academic writing. By comparing and contrasting two or more subjects, you can deepen your understanding of complex topics and improve your critical thinking skills. To help you write effective compare and contrast essays, follow these tips:

1. Choose an appropriate topic: Select two or more subjects that have some similarities and differences. This will make it easier to compare and contrast them effectively.

2. Develop a clear thesis statement: Your thesis statement should clearly state the purpose of your essay and the main points you will be comparing and contrasting.

3. Create a structure: Organize your essay in a way that makes it easy for the reader to follow. You can use a point-by-point or block structure, depending on your preference.

4. Provide evidence: Support your comparisons with evidence from the subjects you are analyzing. This could include quotes, statistics, or examples.

5. Use transitions: Transition words and phrases help to guide the reader through your essay and make it easier to follow your arguments.

6. Revise and edit: After you have written your essay, be sure to revise and edit it carefully. Check for grammar and spelling errors, as well as clarity and coherence.

By following these tips, you can write successful compare and contrast essays that impress your readers and demonstrate your understanding of the subjects you are analyzing.

Understanding the Essay Structure

When writing a compare and contrast essay, it is crucial to follow a clear structure to ensure that your arguments are presented effectively. The basic structure of this type of essay typically includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Introduction: This section provides an overview of the topics being compared and contrasted. It should also include a thesis statement that highlights the main point of the essay.

Body Paragraphs: The body of the essay is where you provide detailed comparisons and contrasts between the two subjects. Each paragraph should focus on a specific point of comparison and include evidence to support your arguments.

Conclusion: In the conclusion, you should summarize the main points of the essay and restate the thesis. This section should also provide a final thought or insight to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

By following this structure, you can ensure that your compare and contrast essay is well-organized and easy for readers to follow.

Choosing the Right Topics

When it comes to writing a compare and contrast essay, choosing the right topics is crucial. The topics you select will determine the focus of your essay and set the tone for the rest of your writing. Here are some tips for choosing the right topics:

• Choose topics that have a clear connection: Make sure the topics you choose have some similarities and differences that you can explore in your essay. This will help you create a meaningful comparison.
• Opt for topics that interest you: Select topics that you find engaging and meaningful. This will make the writing process more enjoyable and will help you stay motivated throughout.
• Consider your audience: Think about who will be reading your essay and choose topics that will resonate with them. Consider their interests and preferences when selecting your topics.
• Avoid overly broad topics: Make sure the topics you choose are specific enough to allow for a focused comparison. Overly broad topics can lead to a lack of depth in your analysis.
• Look for unique angles: Try to find topics that offer a fresh perspective or unique angle for comparison. This will make your essay more interesting and engaging to your readers.

Gathering and Organizing Information

Before you start writing a compare and contrast essay, it is essential to gather and organize all the necessary information. Begin by selecting the subjects you want to compare and contrast. Make sure they have enough similarities and differences to make your essay informative and engaging.

Once you have chosen your topics, gather relevant information from credible sources. This can include books, academic journals, articles, and reputable websites. Take detailed notes and highlight key points that you can use in your essay. Organize your information in a systematic way to make it easier to reference and use while writing.

Consider creating a T-chart or Venn diagram to visually map out the similarities and differences between your subjects. This can help you see the relationships between the two topics more clearly and guide your essay structure.

By effectively gathering and organizing information, you will set a strong foundation for your compare and contrast essay and ensure that your arguments are well-supported and coherent.

Developing a Strong Thesis Statement

One of the key elements of a successful compare and contrast essay is a strong thesis statement. Your thesis statement should clearly outline the main points you will compare and contrast in your essay. It should also convey your overall argument and the significance of the comparison. Here are some tips for developing a strong thesis statement:

By following these tips, you can develop a strong thesis statement that sets the foundation for a well-organized and effective compare and contrast essay.

Writing the Essay: Tips and Tricks

When writing a compare and contrast essay, it’s important to keep in mind a few tips and tricks to make your essay effective and engaging. Here are some strategies to help you craft a compelling piece:

1. Begin with a Strong Thesis Statement:

Start your essay with a clear and concise thesis statement that highlights the main points of comparison and contrast. This will help guide your reader through the rest of the essay and provide a roadmap for your argument.

2. Organize Your Essay Carefully:

Structure your essay in a logical and coherent manner. You can choose to arrange your points by subject or point-by-point, but make sure your essay flows smoothly from one section to the next.

3. Use Transition Words:

Transition words and phrases like “similarly,” “in contrast,” and “however” can help signal the relationship between different ideas and improve the overall coherence of your essay.

4. Provide Concrete Examples:

To illustrate your points effectively, include specific examples and evidence to support your comparisons. This will add depth and credibility to your argument.

5. Revise and Edit:

Finally, don’t forget to revise and edit your essay before submitting it. Check for spelling and grammar errors, ensure your ideas are clear and well-supported, and make any necessary adjustments to improve the overall quality of your writing.

By following these tips and tricks, you can write an effective compare and contrast essay that engages your reader and effectively communicates your ideas.

Examples of Compare and Contrast Essays

1. Online Learning vs. Traditional Classroom Learning

This essay compares and contrasts the benefits and drawbacks of online learning and traditional classroom learning. It discusses factors such as convenience, interaction with instructors, and learning outcomes.

2. iOS vs. Android: A Comparison of Smartphone Operating Systems

This essay delves into the differences between iOS and Android operating systems, comparing their user interface, app availability, customization options, and overall performance. It aims to help readers make informed decisions when choosing a smartphone.

3. Vegetarianism vs. Veganism: Contrasting Plant-Based Diets

This essay explores the distinctions between vegetarianism and veganism, focusing on their dietary restrictions, ethical considerations, environmental impact, and health benefits. It aims to assist individuals in understanding the differences and choosing the diet that aligns with their values and goals.

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Comparison Contrast Essay

Comparison contrast essay generator.

The art of essay writing is a skill that is not only essential for students but also for professionals. It is a tool that helps in expressing thoughts, ideas, and arguments in a structured and coherent manner. Among the various types of essays, the Comparison and Contrast Essay holds a unique place. This article will guide you through 29+ Comparison and Contrast Essay Examples available in Google Docs, Word, PDF, and will also provide a step-by-step guide on how to write one.

1. Comparison And Contrast Essay Example

• Google Docs

2. Sample Comparison and Contrast Essay Example

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3. Comparison and Contrast Essay Structure Example

4. College Level Comparison and Contrast Essay Example

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5. Comparison and Contrast Essay Technology Example

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6. Comparison and Contrast Essay Body Paragraph Example

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7. Comparison and Contrast Essay Thesis Statement Example

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8. College Comparison and Contrast Essay Example

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9. Comparison and Contrast Essay Rough Draft Example

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10. Comparison and Contrast Essay Similarities Example

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11. Comparison and Contrast Essay Final Draft Example

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12. Comparison and Contrast Essay Topics Example

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13. Comparison and Contrast Essay Writing Example

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14. Comparison and Contrast Essay Guideline Example

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15. Comparison and Contrast Essay Writing Process

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16.  Simple Comparison and Contrast Essay Example

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17. Free Comparison and Contrast Essay Example

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18. Basic Comparison and Contrast Essay Example

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19. Comparison and Contrast Essay Rubic Example

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20. Standard Comparison and Contrast Essay Example

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21. Organization of Comparison and Contrast Essay

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22. Comparison and Contrast Essay Template

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23. Comparison and Contrast Essay Introduction

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24. Comparison and Contrast Essay Paper Example

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25. Literary of Comparison and Contrast Essay

26. General Comparison and Contrast Essay Example

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27. Comparison and Contrast Essay Format

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28. School Comparison and Contrast Essay Example

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29. Formal Comparison and Contrast Essay Example

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30. Comparison and Contrast Essay Outline Example

What is a Compare and Contrast Essay?

A Comparison and Contrast Essay is a type of writing that explores the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. It is a form of academic writing where the writer compares and contrasts two or more things based on specific criteria. This type of essay is common in high school and college coursework, and it can cover any subject matter, from simple topics like comparing apples and oranges to complex issues like comparing different theories of economics.

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

Before we delve into the steps, it’s important to understand that writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay requires critical thinking and a clear understanding of both the subjects being compared.

Step 1: Choose Your Subjects

The first step in writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay is to choose two subjects that have similarities and differences. These could be two characters in a novel, two different novels, two historical periods, or even two scientific theories.

Step 2: Develop a Thesis

The next step is to develop a thesis. A thesis is a statement that expresses the main idea of your essay. It should clearly state what you are comparing and contrasting and why it is important.

Step 3: Organize Your Essay

Organizing your essay is crucial for clarity. There are two ways to structure a Comparison and Contrast Essay: the block method and the point-by-point method. The block method presents all arguments related to your first subject, followed by your second subject. The point-by-point method, on the other hand, alternates arguments about the two items you are comparing and contrasting.

Step 4: Write the Essay

Start with an engaging essay hook to grab your reader’s attention. Then, present your thesis and proceed to write the body of your essay, using metaphors and other literary devices to make your points more compelling. Finally, conclude your essay by summarizing your main points and restating your thesis.

What is the purpose of a Comparison and Contrast Essay?

The purpose of a Comparison and Contrast Essay is to analyze the differences and/or similarities of two distinct subjects. It helps readers understand the subjects better when they are compared to each other.

How is a Comparison and Contrast Essay different from an Argument Essay?

While both types of essays require critical thinking and a clear thesis, an Argument Essay presents an argument and supports it with evidence, while a Comparison and Contrast Essay explores the similarities and differences between two or more subjects.

Can I use a Comparison and Contrast Essay in a Collage Essay?

Yes, you can. A Collage Essay is a creative way to present information, and incorporating a Comparison and Contrast Essay can add depth and complexity to your collage.

Writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay can be a challenging task, but with the right approach and understanding, it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a compelling and insightful essay. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to explore the 29+ Comparison and Contrast Essay Examples in Google Docs, Word, PDF, and other 10+ Comparative Analysis Essay Examples to hone your skills.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Write a comparison contrast essay on living in the city versus the countryside.

Compare and contrast in an essay the differences between summer and winter vacations.

Suddenly Trump Looks Older and More Deranged

Now the Republicans are the ones saddled with a candidate who can’t make a clear argument or finish a sentence.

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Four days after the end of the Republican National Convention, it suddenly looks like a very different event. I watched it intermittently, on television, along with perhaps 25 million other Americans (a relatively small number, though enough to matter). I focused on the highlights, like most viewers did. I read the analysis and thought I understood what had happened. But in the light of President Joe Biden’s brave and unprecedented decision to drop out of the race, my memory of what Donald Trump and his party were doing and saying has permanently shifted. I suspect this will be true for at least some of the other 25 million of us too.

Whatever happens next, the frame has altered. Now it is the Republicans who are saddled with the elderly candidate, the one who can’t make a clear argument or finish a sentence without veering off into anecdote. Now the Democrats are instead proposing something new. Now it is the many pundits who were already bored by the race and ready to wrap it up who look foolish.

Remember, if you still can: The Republican convention was a carefully curated, meticulously planned presentation. As my colleague Tim Alberta has said, the theme was “strength.” Strength was expressed by exaggerated, absurd, comic-book figures: Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock. The latter chanted “Fight, fight!” and “Trump, Trump!” while pumping his fist. Then he sang “American Bad Ass,” an unlistenable work of profound dissonance. Trump himself walked into the convention hall to the strains of James Brown’s famously misogynistic anthem “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”

Read: This is exactly what the Trump team feared

Strength was implied by the equally choreographed demonstrations of debasement. Nikki Haley, who had repeatedly questioned whether Trump is “mentally fit” to be president—and had declared that “the first party to retire its 80-year-old candidate” will win the election—offered her “strong endorsement.” The vice-presidential nominee, J. D. Vance, who had previously compared Trump to Hitler and described him as “ cultural heroin ,” performed a kind of kowtow, appearing at the convention in the form of supplicant, acolyte, prodigal son. Like so many other Republicans, he bowed to the power of Trump, to the vulgarity of Hulk Hogan, to a whole host of things he used to say he didn’t like, and maybe still doesn’t like. He even made a peculiar, strained attempt to link his children and his wife, the daughter of South Asian immigrants, to a cemetery in East Kentucky where he said they will be buried, as if none of this will make sense until all of us are dead.

But then Trump himself appeared, and it was as if the emperor with no clothes had taken the stage. There was nothing strong about an overweight, heavily made up yet nevertheless shiny-faced elderly man who rambled and babbled for an hour and a half, completely undermining the slick image created in the previous four days. He began by sticking to his script, solemnly referencing the failed assassination attempt against him days before. But even when telling that story, he could not master the appropriate tone and almost immediately changed the subject. “And there’s an interesting statistic,” he said: “The ears are the bloodiest part. If something happens with the ears, they bleed more than any other part of the body. For whatever reason, the doctors told me that.”

Eventually, instead of sounding like an “American Bad Ass,” he digressed into pure gibberish . One example:

They’re coming from prisons. They’re coming from jails. They’re coming from mental institutions and insane asylums. I—you know the press is always on because I say this. Has anyone seen The Silence of the Lambs ? The late, great Hannibal Lecter. He’d love to have you for dinner. That’s insane asylums. They’re emptying out their insane asylums. And terrorists at numbers that we’ve never seen before. Bad things are going to happen.

In Venezuela, Caracas, high crime, high crime. Caracas, Venezuela, really a dangerous place. But not anymore, because in Venezuela, crime is down 72 percent. In fact, if they would ever in this election, I hate to even say that, we will have our next Republican convention in Venezuela because it will be safe. Our cities, our cities will be so unsafe, we won’t be able—we will not be able to have it there.

On Thursday evening, this performance seemed deranged, sinister, and frightening. Now, following Biden’s decision to halt his own campaign, it just looks deranged. On the one hand, we have a sitting president who understood his limitations and, in an act of patriotism, selflessness, and party unity, decided to step away from power. On the other hand, we have a former president clinging to power, holding on desperately to the myth of a lost election, evoking the same predictable descriptions of carnage and disaster he served up eight years ago. Today, he is still attacking Biden, who is no longer his opponent.

Read: A searing reminder that Trump is unwell

In retrospect, the Republican Party’s convention looks not just staged but also hollow and false. By contrast, the Democratic Party’s convention will be substantive and maybe even spontaneous. In the hours that have passed since Biden’s announcement, a million different Kamala Harris memes, music mixes, and clips have appeared online, not orchestrated by her campaign or by any campaign, just put together by random people, some of whom like her and some of whom do not. One mash-up of her wackier speeches, her laugh, and a Charli XCX soundtrack had 3.4 million views by this morning. We don’t know yet whether Harris will be the candidate or, if she is, whether she will be a good one, but the energy has already shifted from the men trying to impose their image of their party on the country to online Gen Zers who can flip the script any way they want.

I don’t know what will happen next, and that’s the point. The heavy sense of inevitability that surrounded the RNC has lifted. The cadres of people organized by the Heritage Foundation and a dozen offshoots, all quietly preparing to dismantle the rights of American women, to replace civil servants with loyalists, to take apart pollution controls, and to transfer more money into the hands of Trump-friendly billionaires—they are no longer marching inexorably toward the halls of power. The people who spent a week trying to bend reality to fit their flawed, vengeful candidate became too confident too soon.

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Prompt In two or three paragraphs, compare and contrast the points of view of Wilson, Clemenceau, and Lloyd George at the Paris Peace Conference. What were the most important goals of each leader, and how did they compare to each other? < Read Less BIUS x : 10

Explanation:Comparison in writing discusses elements that are similar, while contrast in writing discusses elements that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay, then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.

The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities. For example, if you wanted to focus on contrasting two subjects you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to compare and contrast two types of oranges or two types of apples to highlight subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny Smiths aretart and acidic. Drawing distinctions between elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of that category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.

Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a comparison essay, you likely would not choose two apples or two oranges because they share so many of the same properties already. Rather, you might try to compare how apples and oranges are quite similar. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.

Related Questions

identify two sources that were used to create this map. What different information do the sources provide about the location and size of Ancient Israel?

This is your correct answer

According to the article, who did the Transcontinental Railroad unite?

where is the article ??????

From east to west of The United States of America.

Explanation:

Nêu nét chung về tình hình của Châu Á

6. Land with different territories under a single rule A. City-state B. Empire. loos C. Civilization D. City

the answer is B empire

The answer is option B or a "empire." A empire is made up of many different territories but all under a single rule or king. A city-state are both one territory although states have similar laws some things are legalized in one state but illegal in others. A civilization means a advanced state of human society which doesn't infer to land but to things like science, and technology during a time period.  Finally, a city is only one piece of a territory within that territory, which means your answer is in fact B.

Hope this helps.

How does the US government influence the market economy? It prevents states from collecting taxes It buys companies in foreign markets It tells companies how much to charge for all goods It provides public goods and services​

It prevents states from collecting taxes

Hope this helps

How did the guillotine bring equality to death

The king was killed in the same way as common criminals. Since all criminals were executed in the same fashion, they were given equal opportunity to ensure that they died what was perceived as a good death.

what is the cartoonists perspective on alcohol consumption?

That it brings the society down and ruins lives of people, causing people to buy alcohol and become broke, keeping them from becoming better in life, and makes people do things they don't mean like commit crimes for example.

Hope this helps!!! If so please give brainliest!!!

what are the two main causes of the Mexico and the United States war

The annexation of the Republic of Texas by the U.S. in 1845 and a dispute over whether Texas ended at the Nueces River.

Describe the role of coffeehouses and salons in spreading knowledge and information during the eighteenth century. How did these places fulfill people's need to meet and share information? How did they influence society and culture?

Answer: Although both salons and coffeehouses had these characteristics, key differences were in place

General characteristics of Immigrants in the 1800-early 1900s

Answer: Often stereotyped and discriminated against, many immigrants suffered verbal and physical abuse because they were "different." While large-scale immigration created many social tensions, it also produced a new vitality in the cities and states in which the immigrants settled.

what is the benefit of an athenian style of democracy

Athenian democracy was that the archon and his eight assistants were elected annually. It was possible to prolong the rule for the next term but in case of any abnormalities a quick change of government took place.

why were the pyramids created?

The pyramids were ordered by the kings of ancient Egyptian society called Pharaohs. ... Most of the pyramids were built as tombs - the final resting places for Egypt's royalty who took all their worldly possessions with them.

What prompted the fads and heroes of the 1920s? SELECT AN ANSWER A. The first world war was over and people wanted to celebrate. B. The previous generation had been so repressed that they wanted their children to enjoy life. C. Economic depression made people search for cheap entertainment. D. Things were changing quickly and these things helped distract people from uncertainty.

D. Things were changing quickly and these things helped distract people from uncertainty.

Thank You Please Mark Brainliest! :)

Plantea una hipótesis de por qué consideras que hubo un vínculo entre paramilitares, algunos políticos y grandes empresarios

Deje de volver a publicar preguntas. Está bloqueando el tráfico para que lleguen preguntas.

PLEASE ANSWER FAST WILL GIVE BRAINLIEST AND 50 POINTS Compare the emergence of advanced civilizations in Meso and South America with the four early river valley civilizations. Farmers in both the Mayan and ancient Egyptian civilizations existed during the same time periods grew the same types of crops made up most of the population did not pay taxes to the government

They both heavily relied on the use of slave labor.

They used slaves to build temples, The Great Pyramids, work on farms. The slaves in a way sadly were like arms and legs they did all the work. While the higher ups (nobles) were the brain ( I'm not saying they were smarter or better then the slaves) because they controlled all the slaves actions.

what would the incas do if they wanted a smaller tribe to join their empire?

why did hitler decide that it was more important to take Ukraine over Moscow?

I WILL MARK BRAINLIST IF CORRECT !1 Sydney currently tends to fly in the tunnel with wind speeds set at 200 kilometers (120 miles) per hour. Sydney began indoor skydiving regularly when she was 8. How do you think the wind tunnel conditions on her first flights differed from the conditions she flies in now? Explain your reasoning.

The conditions differs from each other because she was skydiving at 8 years old so if she grew older she can fly in this condition without any problems.

Sydney currently tends to fly in the tunnel , and she started skydiving when she was 8 years old, so the conditions are different from one another. If she were to get older , she could fly in this condition without any issues .

A tunnel is a corridor that has been carved through the dirt , rock, or other surrounding material. It is enclosed , save for the entrance and exit, which are often located at each end.

Even though some modern tunnels were built using immersed tube construction techniques rather than conventional tunnel boring techniques, a pipeline is not a tunnel .

Therefore, Sydney started skydiving when she was 8 years old, so the circumstances are distinct from one another. Currently, she prefers to fly in the tunnel . She could fly in this state without any problems as she grew older .

Learn more about the tunnel , refer to:

https://brainly.com/question/28324061

Part C Now that you have gathered some points for the discussion, you will construct a thesis statement that a clearly presents your viewpoint on the topic to the other participants in the discussion. Before you begin, read these tips for creating a strong thesis statement C.​

Answer: Art is the best monument for the Black Americans in the Civil War. Art is a form of expressing a feeling, tragedy, story, a person. It's a gift. People can take the time to stop and appreciate the work and meaning of art. Others, you can easily miss the purpose and meaning.

You can easily overlook other monuments that honor the Black Americans of the Civil War. It doesn't grab enough attention. Now with art, you can't miss the purpose of the art.

Artists often pay tribute to war heroes by featuring them in their works. For example, a painter might create a beautiful portrait of an important general, or a poet might write about the hardships families endured during wartime. Similarly, artists may create commemorative sculptures of war heroes at the sites of significant victories. Filmmakers also often depict wars and the figures who contributed to them.

hope this helped (:

5. Who was the President during the passage of The Alien Act, Sedition Act & The XYZ Affair? (last name & capitalize) Enter your answer

president adams

why do you think the slave traders were so cruel to the slaves they transported across the ocean?

do you agree with the point of view of Jose Rizal?

I need help with this question please

Explain the event that effectively won the "space race" for the United States

An idea or explanation you make based on information you have that you then test through study and experimentation is called a:

Thats called a Hypothesis

a hypothesis is an idea or explanation that you then test through study and experimentation. Outside science, a theory or guess can also be called a hypothesis. A hypothesis is something more than a wild guess but less than a well-established theory. ... Anyone who uses the word hypothesis is making a guess.

¿Cuáles son las características de las clases sociales en el liberalismo?

El liberalismo tiene varias características que lo diferencian de otras corrientes de pensamiento. Una de ellas es que defiende a toda costa la libertad del individuo como base para una sociedad en progreso. A su vez, esto se ejecuta mediante un marco jurídico que reconozca a todas las personas como iguales con los mismos derechos y deberes. Por otro lado, el liberalismo promueve la división de poderes del Estado, ya que consideran que es la manera idónea para limitar un gobierno.

Otra de las características del liberalismo es que promueve el debate público como forma de resolución de los problemas de una sociedad. Esto permite que cada persona pueda aportar sus ideas y al final se llegue a una conclusión en común. Asimismo, la propiedad individual es estimulada como la manera para que cada quien se esfuerce para tener sus bienes propios. Por ende, no tendrán el riesgo de que puedan ser perseguidos o expropiados por un gobierno opresor.

what were pro southern new england textile owners who were economically tied to the southern lords of thd lash

known as Lords of the Loom

Does anyone know some good website I can search up, so I can do research on the French Revolution?

Was gonna ad some sites but couldn't add any links, look up the Antoinette Hayden Library and look up french revolution on the site. itll give you loads of links to follow

how can online voting be more democratic?

When did congress call for independence from Great Britain ​

Answer: July 4, 1776

Hannah Grabenstein Hannah Grabenstein

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/are-the-2024-paris-olympics-gender-equal-that-depends-how-you-measure-it

Are the 2024 Paris Olympics gender equal? That depends how you measure it

The last time the French capital played host to the Olympic Games, 135 women competed out of the more than 3,000 athletes – a participation rate of about 4.4 percent.

WATCH: U.S. athletes to watch in the Paris Olympics

A century later, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has dubbed the 2024 Paris Games the #GenderEqualOlympics, with half of the athlete spots available to men and half to women, the organization says.

The reality is more complex. Experts say that while the IOC has made substantial progress in leveling the playing field for women in its decadeslong push for gender parity, there is still a lot of work to do, for women, transgender and nonbinary athletes.

This year’s Games are the first to impose a cap on the number of participating athletes, which had steadily grown to more than 11,000 at Tokyo 2020. The IOC has since limited the Games to 10,500 athlete spots, half of which were designated for men and half for women. This year’s game schedule also works to balance the number of women’s and men’s events held daily.

Team USA Olympic champions in the women’s 4x100m relay at the 1924 Paris Games, at Tourelles Watersports Stadium, Paris, France, July 18, 1924. Photo by Archives CNOSF/AFP via Getty Images

Although there’s a good chance the number of athletes in Paris will be nearly equally divided between men and women, that’s not the same as the Games being gender equal, said Michele Donnelly, associate professor of sport management at Brock University.

“There is this kind of investment by the IOC and a narrative around gender equality, gender parity, and a lot of that I think is well-meaning and well-intentioned,” said Cheryl Cooky, a professor who studies the intersection of gender, sport and culture at Purdue University.

But, Cooky added, when you dig a bit deeper through the history of the Olympics, the lack of equality has been expressed in a number of ways.

A rocky start for women in sport

The first modern Games were played in 1896 in Athens, and its founder, Pierre de Coubertin , did not want women athletes.

De Coubertin said the Olympics with women “would be impractical, uninteresting, unaesthetic and improper.” According to the IOC, he opposed women’s participation until his death in 1937.

In the 1900 Games , also played in Paris, women were allowed to compete in five events: tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrian and golf. Those sports were considered “ladylike” at the time, wrote Olympic scholar Rita Amaral Nunes , in contrast to sports that were believed to require more athletic ability and deemed socially unacceptable for women to practice.

Women’s Olympic participation remained below 20 percent of the total number of competitors until 1976, and then rose steadily to nearly 48 percent in Tokyo in 2021, according to IOC data.

WATCH: Why women’s sports are reaching new heights in popularity and revenue

The road toward equal female participation has not been smooth, Donnelly noted. Women were first allowed to run the 800-meter race at the 1928 Olympics, held in Amsterdam. As the women finished the race, in which all nine competitors broke the previous world record, one athlete fell to the ground, according to an article published in Sports History Review .

German runner Lina Radke wins the women’s 800-meter race in the 1928 Summer Olympics, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1928. Photo by Underwood Archives/Getty Images

The English-speaking press inaccurately reported that the race was catastrophic, with various outlets saying only two women remained standing, that “six out of the nine runners were completely exhausted and fell headlong to the ground,” and that some runners lay “sobbing.” Though the stories were false, the narrative stuck, and the women’s 800-meter race was eliminated from the Olympics until 1960.

A push toward gender equity

The IOC has publicly worked for the last three decades to improve gender equity in sports, as well as in executive leadership within its own committee. In 1996, the IOC updated the Olympic Charter to promote “women in sport at all levels and in all structures, particularly in the executive bodies of national and international sports organizations. ” That year, the IOC also held its first World Conference on Women in Sport, with the goal of placing women in at least 10 percent of decision-making positions by 2000, and 20 percent by 2005.

In Agenda 2020 , a 2014 roadmap for the future of the Olympics, one of the 40 recommendations was to “foster gender equality” by achieving 50 percent female participation and encouraging mixed-gender team events, in which both men and women compete on a single team.

Mixed-gender events promote equality in theory, Donnelly said, but in practice, they often favor men. For example, in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, the luge event featured one-man teams, one-woman teams and doubles teams. But all of the doubles teams were two men, USA Today reported .

In addition to mixed-gender events, there are also open events in which athletes compete against each other regardless of gender. In Paris, the only open events will be equestrian sports : dressage, jumping and eventing.

Sailing, shooting and doubles luge used to be open events, though historically they had very little female involvement, Donnelly said.

“This is what we’ve seen in sport in general. Unless there has been a push to say, ‘you must,’ there has not been a lot of sport-initiated change to be more inclusive,” she said.

Chinese shooter Zhang Shan aims at a target to win gold in the mixed skeet shoot event at the Olympics, Barcelona, July 28, 1992. Zhang set a new Olympic record with 223 points and was the first woman to beat men in this mixing category. Photo by Karl Mathis/AFP via Getty Images

Skeet shooting was an open sport in Barcelona in 1992, when Zhang Shan, a Chinese woman, won the gold medal. Subsequently, skeet shooting became segregated by gender.

“There’s nothing in the record that says, ‘And then once a woman won, we decided to have gendered categories,’ but the timing is notable,” Donnelly said.

The IOC began studying ways to improve gender equality in 2017, both within the Olympics and worldwide. A year later, they released 25 recommendations and accompanying actions to achieve those goals. Those recommendations included funding projects focused on gender balance and identifying and alleviating disparities in athlete pay and prize money. That same year, the IOC said the Youth Olympic Games had an equal number of male and female athletes.

READ MORE: At the Olympics, where are the Black figure skaters?

The IOC declined a request for comment from PBS News. Instead, a spokesperson highlighted the progress the IOC has made, including increasing the number of women in key broadcasting roles , working to ensure men and women’s events are scheduled for fair media coverage , and striving for greater female representation among IOC commissions and in the IOC executive board. The IOC also said they’re working to increase the number of female coaches and women in non-competitive and leadership roles.

The IOC has made progress in improving the state of women’s sports, both Donnelly and Cooky said.

“People can be doing really good work in certain spaces and also maybe needing to do better at others,” Cooky said.

Exclusionary policies persist

In striving for gender parity at the Olympics, the IOC has also reinforced a gender binary that categorizes athletes as male or female, experts say. That overlooks transgender and nonbinary athletes, whose participation in sport is often contested or flat out banned.

Quinn, a nonbinary soccer player for Canada’s team, and Nikki Hiltz, a nonbinary American middle-distance runner, will both compete in the Paris Games in women’s events.

READ MORE: Will the Olympics ever truly welcome nonbinary athletes?

Trans men largely can compete in men’s sports without any additional regulation, according to Donnelly.

“It is only trans women who have been policed with these kinds of eligibility requirements, with sex testing requirements,” Donnelly said. And by necessity, those testing requirements are not limited just to transgender individuals, but all athletes competing in those events.

In 2004, the IOC recommended conditions under which transgender athletes could compete, including undergoing hormone therapy, completing “surgical anatomical changes” and obtaining “legal recognition of their assigned sex.” The committee then released new guidelines in 2015, dropping the requirement for surgery while establishing a cap on testosterone levels for female athletes. They updated the guidelines again in 2021 to remove the limit and instead recommended an “evidence-based” and “stakeholder-centered” approach to establishing eligibility criteria.

Donnelly criticized the IOC for allowing sports federations to make their own rules, saying the organization “abdicated responsibility” and allowed “very exclusionary policies.”

READ MORE: New NAIA policy prevents transgender women from competing in women’s college sports

Some governing bodies have enacted strict policies in the past few years, such as the International Rugby League, which in 2022 banned trans women from women’s teams, as well as the International Swimming Federation, which banned female swimmers who transition after age 12 .

‘Numbers matter, until they don’t’

The percentage of women athletes or events isn’t the only way to measure the progress of gender equality in sports, researchers say. There are other markers of gender imbalances, such as the uniforms athletes wear, the funding devoted to each event and the quality of media coverage.

“Numbers matter, until they don’t,” Cooky said. “Numbers can give us a certain understanding, a certain picture or a certain viewpoint. But I think for me, what’s always been just as meaningful, if not more, is the kind of qualitative dimensions of it.”

Coverage of women’s events can often sexualize or trivialize athletes, Cooky argued, a tendency potentially driven by uniforms that can be more revealing for women. For example, female competitors in trampoline events are required to wear a leotard while their male counterparts are not, Donnelly said.

Nike’s reveal of two of the uniform options for American competitors in the Paris Games caused controversy, with critics, including some former athletes, calling out the lack of coverage in the women’s track and field kit compared to the men’s.

“I do feel that it is possible that a more sexualized representation of women get a higher amount of visibility, and I am not a fan of that,” said Katrina Young, an Olympic diver who competed for Team USA in Rio and Tokyo. “I would like to be considered for my hard work and my merit, over what I look like. And I know other female athletes would like that as well.”

The IOC recognizes that gender equality is not limited to athlete breakdown, and much of their public-facing material highlights their efforts to increase the number of women in decision-making positions and leadership roles. On International Women’s Day, the IOC acknowledged that progress has been limited, with women comprising only 13 percent of coaches in Tokyo and 10 percent in Beijing.

“In sports in general, I feel like the male voice is more dominant and respected,” Young said. “It’s an ongoing battle because, as women, we’re told to smile over the pain and we’re supposed to be the peacekeepers. And at some point that becomes toxic.”

“The percentage of women in governing and administrative bodies of the Olympic Movement has remained low,” the IOC acknowledged in a fact sheet published in April . At the end of 2016, their executive board had encouraged National Olympic Committees to set a minimum target of 30 percent for women’s representation by 2020, though it’s not clear how successful that’s been.

Young said she “was really scared to stir the pot ever, when it came to speaking up” about her own potential when she was coming of age, but it was something she chose to work on. Now, she hopes more girls and women are given the opportunity to develop their voice and gain the clarity “to speak to what is true and right for them.”

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