How to write a compare and contrast essay
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Home » Essay guidelines » How to write a compare and contrast essay
One of the essential writing skills is to compare and contrast in an academic essay. Simply, it is a type of essay where you evaluate the differences and similarities between two subjects.
You may compare a range of subjects, including but not limited to historical figures, research methods, political approaches, or even literary works.
Step 1: When to compare and contrast
You’ll be asked to write a compare and contrast essay both in high school and university. In your assignment instructions, you’ll be likely to have such essay topics:
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Compare and contrast essay topics
- Compare the romanticism theme in the books of Mary Shelley and Ludwig Tieck.
- Compare and contrast digital marketing and conventional marketing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
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Other topics
- Discuss the impacts of the 2008 crisis on the global economy.
- Discuss the impacts of the Covid outbreak on social life worldwide.
- Generally, many types of academic essays require you to compare and contrast. An argumentative essay and literary work involve comparing and contrasting, although it's not clearly stated in your instructions.
Step 2: Learn how to effectively compare and contrast
Therefore, regardless of the essay type, you should first understand the importance of argumentation. You should come up with a topic, claim, or idea that triggers a sense of discussion and curiosity in the reader.
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Subject Example
Important
However, suppose you contrast post Civil War American Society with pre-Revolution French Society. You'll not be able to base your contrasting on strong grounds as these two aren't quite the same.Step 3: Find a good topic & find similarities and differences
Right off the bat, you need two different subjects for a compare and contrast essay. However, these two must eventually have similar grounds. We provided some examples below, let’s check them out.
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Compare and contrast essay topic examples
- Digital marketing and conventional marketing
- Catholicism and Orthodox
- Romanticism and Modernism
- Roman Empire and Greece
Topic tip
Topic If you want to write about two athletes, it would be better to choose two footballers or two basketball players. Choosing a footballer and tennis player would be a bad idea for comparison. They aren't likely to have common grounds after all.Step 4: Prepare an outline and write a thesis statement
Writing the thesis statement
When you look at your list of differences and similarities, you need to choose the most striking difference as your thesis statement. This will intrigue the reader.
Preparing the outline
In any academic essay, preparing an outline is very important. You can make use of a traditional essay outline, as shown below.
This example is based on a common 5 paragraph compare and contrast essay (introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion). If you’re planning a longer essay, you may add more contrasting and comparing paragraphs.
There are different structures of writing a compare and contrast essay. For example, you may write a detailed paragraph for the first subject and switch to other one in the next.
Step 5: Add supporting evidence
- If you're comparing two authors, you could add quotes from their books and poems and reference them.
- You can always refer to real life experiences to boost your arguments.
- If you're comparing two different technical processes of a machine, make sure you add relevant statistics that show their performance metrics.
Step 6: Proofread your essay carefully
We tend to make a lot of writing mistakes when we’re deep into it. So when you finish, you should proofread your paper for grammar and punctuation mistakes such as tense selection, capitalization, and passive voice.
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Add transition phrases to the essay
Writing an essay is almost like telling a story. You either tell formally or informally. So, a story without good storytelling is boring. Transition phrases make your story progress smoothly.
Transition tip
Use phrases like "Likewise, similarly, similar to" when comparing the subjects. Add "Nevertheless, whereas, on the other hand" when contrasting.Frequently Asked Questions
How do you start a compare and contrast essay?
Start the compare and contrast essay by finding two different topics with a similar background or setting. Then, to properly start the writing process, define these subjects in the introduction.
How do you write a 5 paragraph compare and contrast essay?
The classic five paragraph structure for this essay type can be achieved by writing an introduction, three compare and contrast body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
What is a good hook for a compare and contrast essay?
Highlighting the most striking contrast of the two subjects might be a great idea for a compare and contrast essay hook.
How do you write a compare and contrast essay outline?
First, you need to write down your thesis statement. After that, construct your introduction, each body paragprahs in detail, and conclusion. It’ll make it easier for you to write the actual essay.
Thank you for reading. If you need further information, feel free to have a look at our essay samples or contact us at live chat.
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