Compare and contrast essays are among the most common assignments given to students. The main purpose is to allow you to demonstrate that you can analyse two distinct subjects and pinpoint both the similarities and the differences.
The comparison aspect comes from emphasizing the similarities that occur between the two aspects, while the contrast element highlights the differences. There are various approaches that can be used when writing this type of essay, so we have put together our top 5 tips on how to write a compare and contrast essay.
Find the Similarities & Differences
One of the best ways to get started is to sit down and make note of the similarities and the differences in each of your topics. The easiest way to do this is to create a Venn Diagram. You can do this by drawing out two overlapping circles, one for each topic.
The left circle is for topic #1 and the right circle is for topic #2. You can write down important points about each one in the relevant circle, and where there are similarities you can write them in the overlapping section. As an example, you can look at the illustration below.
Decide What is Relevant to Your Assignment
Once you have a list of differences and similarities you will need to decide which of these are actually relevant to your assignment. If you have been asked to compare and contrast how two different books approach childhood, then you will pick out those things that relate to the child characters rather than other ones. At this point you should be starting to think about your overall thesis or argument, so that you know which points are going to be the most important.
Choose How to Organize Your Essay
Every essay needs a good essay plan which details the structure before you begin to write. This is especially true of compare and contrast essays because there are a number of ways they can be approached. It makes an organization very important if you want your essay to flow appropriately. So, how to write a compare and contrast essay outline?
There are generally two common approaches, ‘subject by subject’ (block) or ‘point by point’ (alternating). The ‘subject by subject’ approach tackles each topic in turn, so you would start with an introduction, then discuss everything you have to say about one topic before starting on the other one, and then drawing a conclusion.
However, this will not offer much opportunity to draw comparisons and you may find you need to add an additional section to discuss these. However, if you choose a ‘point by point’ approach, you will be able to take each of your points in turn and make comparisons and contrasts between your two topics.
Create a Strong Introduction
In a compare and contrast essay a strong introduction is particularly important as this is where you will explain how you are going to perform your comparisons and contrasts. Not only should you be introducing your topic, but you will also summarize the points you have chosen to highlight. A general rule of thumb is that your introduction should tell the reader what you are going to do, then in the body of your essay you will do it, and finally your conclusion will summarize what you have done.
Clarity is very important, so make sure that your introduction offers a clear explanation of your intentions. It may be useful to write your introduction after the body of your essay, so that you are not mentioning points that you end up not covering!
Always Assume Your Reader Knows Nothing
When the time comes for you to write an essay, you should have done enough research that you are familiar with your topics. However, when writing your essay you need to remember that you are writing for the reader and you have to assume that they know nothing about your topics.
Read over your work and make sure than none of your points make assumptions about other aspects of the topic that you have not mentioned. Of course, in an educational setting it is likely that your professors know the topic. You should still assume that they don’t, otherwise you could be missing out some important points and you will lose mark. You do not need to provide exhaustive information, but do make sure that you offer supporting evidence where required.
In conclusion, like for many other types of essay, one of the keys to a successful compare and contrast essay is planning. You will need to do a careful research and choose your points wisely before creating an essay plan. If you keep these 5 tips in mind, you will have a good foundation to build your assignment on.