A compare-and-contrast essay is a type of essay in which the similarities and differences between two or more subjects are highlighted. It’s ideal for demonstrating what separates and unites related things or concepts, especially if the subjects are frequently confused for one another or are unfairly grouped.
Compare-and-contrast essay ideas share many similarities with other types of essays, but they also differ in many ways—and that is the heart of comparing and contrasting! By observing the differences and similarities, the reader better understands each subject by using the other as a frame of reference.
The goal of a compare and contrast essay
Assume you want to write an essay about how excellent renewable resources are, but you spend most of your time explaining how fossil fuels work. Your reader needs a little background on their alternative, fossil fuels, to understand why renewable resources are so excellent truly—but the essay’s attention is divided so evenly that it appears to be two topics.
That is when compare-and-contrast essays work best. If two topics are related to or define each other, you can better explain both by highlighting their similarities and differences. That is especially true for topics frequently conflated or confused with one another; it helps readers when someone points out what is similar and what is different about them.
In contrast to argumentative or persuasive essays, compare-and-contrast essays deal with multiple topics rather than focusing on just one. The disadvantage is that they do not describe individual subjects as thoroughly as single-topic essays. They’re also a common assignment for college essays because they demonstrate to the instructor how well you understand both subjects.
How to Write a Contrast and Compare Essay
When writing a compare-and-contrast essay, it is helpful to consider two factors: your compare and contrast thesis (the subject matter) and how you intend to structure it.
1. Thesis
When writing a compare-and-contrast essay, it is helpful to consider two factors; your compare and contrast essay thesis (the subject matter) and how you intend to structure it. Here are some compare-and-contrast essay topics to get you started:
- Opposing options for a specific category
- fossil fuels and renewable resources
- Coca-Cola and Pepsi
- Related works of art or cultural movements
- Mona Lisa and The Girl with a Pearl Earring
- ’80s punk rock music and ’90s grunge music
- Similar people, connected or associated with each other
- Elon Musk and Thomas Edison
- London in the 1600s and London today
- The LGBTQIA+ community before and after Stonewall
- Two distinct but connected locations
- Roman Empire and Greek Empire
- Differing theories or beliefs o loop quantum gravity and string theory
- Evolution and creationism
- Differing viewpoints or opinions
- Liberalism and conservatism
- Frequently confused topics
- Fascism and despotism
After you’ve decided on your topics, you can start brainstorming ideas. It is beneficial to begin by listing all of the similarities and differences between your subjects. When you’ve written them down, you can start making connections and deciding on a structure for your compare-and-contrast essay.
Make a Venn diagram if you’re stuck. This is a visual aid that will assist you in determining which characteristics your subjects share and which are unique to them.
You can then choose a thesis based on your lists. To do so, ask yourself the following questions: What are you attempting to demonstrate in your compare-and-contrast essay? What do you want your reader to remember about you? Do you want to emphasize that Elon Musk is a modern-day Thomas Edison or that they are two very different people?
2. Organization
Compare-and-contrast essays adhere to our essay structure. While the linked guide goes into greater detail, in a nutshell, your compare-and-contrast essay should follow the following compare and contrast essay structure:
- Introduction: where do you explain your thesis or what your essay will discuss
- Body: where you list the similarities and differences of your subjects; the most significant section
- Conclusion for compare and contrast essay: where you wrap up and summarize your points
The introduction, which should be one or two paragraphs long, should include a thesis statement that explains what the reader can expect from the rest of your essay. You can write your introduction in the same manner as other essay types, but make sure to include all your subjects. Similarly, you can write an essay conclusion using standard rules and best practices.
The body of a compare-and-contrast essay is where things get tricky. Do you write about both subjects simultaneously, or do you alternate? Let’s go into more detail about this below.
How to Write a Contrast and Compare Essay
Knowing when to discuss which subject is the most challenging aspect of writing a compare-and-contrast essay. You essentially have three choices:
· The block method (subject by subject)
You discuss one subject in full and then move on to the next subject.
· The different methods (point by point)
You discuss one subject’s perspective on a particular aspect, followed by another, and then a new aspect.
· Similarities and distinctions
You go over all the similarities and then all the differences between your subjects, or vice versa (differences first and then similarities).
Whatever option you select, you must pay close attention to topic sentences. Since paragraphs in compare-and-contrast essays can become complicated, it’s critical to have a good topic or introduction sentence for each paragraph to ensure the flow of ideas is evident.
The block method (subject by subject)
The block method is usually divided into paragraphs: one about one subject and another about another. Consider the compare-and-contrast essay When Nothing Lies Beyond the Mask: Moby Dick and The Raven. The author talks only about Ahab from Moby Dick in the first paragraph after the introduction but only about the narrator from The Raven in the next paragraph. Each topic is given its paragraph.
You can go back and forth for pages using the block method, covering as many topics as you need. This method is ideal for giving each subject attention while slightly weakening the connection between the two.
A different method (point by point)
Another option is to divide paragraphs into specific topics and issues and then discuss both or all of them in each paragraph. Consider another example of a compare-and-contrast essay, The Reality of Science Fiction: Comparing Clarke to Cruise. Both topics are discussed in the same paragraph, one after the other.
This method works best when you want to emphasize the connection, or lack thereof, between your subjects. In our example above, the author wishes to emphasize how different Arthur Clarke’s aliens are from those of other authors, particularly H. G. Wells. To emphasize this, the essay author juxtaposes the two points within the same paragraph.
Similarities and distinctions
The third option is similar to the alternating approach in that each subject is discussed in the same paragraph. The paragraphs are divided not by different topics but by what the subjects have in common and what they don’t.
Consider the compare-and-contrast essay example. Government by the People, for the People, has Perished from the Earth, contrasting George Orwell’s 1984 with Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We. The first paragraph, following the introduction, discusses what the governments in the two books have in common, but the following paragraph discusses how they differ.
This method is best for focusing on a specific similarity or difference between your subjects or for building up to a powerful conclusion or reveal at the end.
Compare and contrast essay outline
Do you want to know precisely how to write a compare-and-contrast essay? The writing process is similar to that of any other essay, but it has been explicitly modified for drawing comparisons:
1. Brainstorming
As previously stated, this should include a list of all the similarities and difficulties; drawing a Venn diagram is an effective method.
2. Preparation
Choose the best structuring method for your point based on your brainstorming lists: block, alternating, or similarities/differences.
3. Drafting
This is the most prolonged and challenging phase in which you write your rough draft.
4. Revising
Does the structure you’ve chosen work? With the first draft finished, you can more easily identify any areas that need to be fixed, revised, or rewritten from scratch.
5. How to end a compare and contrast essay
Finally, ensure that you have corrected all spelling and grammatical errors in your draft. This stage is a breeze with a writing assistant like Grammarly. If you want to learn more about this process, read our comprehensive essay writing guide, which goes into greater detail.
How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay
Aside from understanding the entire process of writing a compare-and-contrast essay, it is beneficial to learn a few pointers to ensure that it shines.
I. Select topics that are related
Choose topics that have a lot in common, or your essay will be all contrasting and no comparing. Subjects in compare-and-contrast essays typically have a strong connection, such as two people in the same profession or two products in the same category.
Without this connecting thread, the reader may wonder, “What is the point of comparing these two things?” It will not only confuse your audience but also make it more difficult for you to come up with points when writing. Solve these issues before they arise by selecting your subjects wisely at the outset.
II. Write for clarity
Essays with only one subject can be difficult enough; imagine how difficult it becomes with two or more subjects. One of the most challenging aspects of compare-and-contrast essays is communicating clearly so that your reader understands which points relate to which subject and what conclusion the entire essay is building toward.
However, when you’re in the thick of a writing session, it can be difficult—and distracting—to pause and assess your work for clarity. Fortunately, Grammarly provides suggestions for rewriting entire sentences to improve the clarity of your writing.
If the writing in your compare-and-contrast essay becomes clumsy, Grammarly’s writing suggestions suggest alternative phrasings to help you clear things up. With just one click, you can have your writing professionally edited. Try Grammarly right now and see how much better your writing becomes.
Conclusion
The compare and contrast essay’s body can be organized in two ways: by subject or by individual points. Your audience and purpose will always determine your organizing strategy. Consider your approach to the subjects and the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects may lend themselves better to one structure or the other. Use comparison and contrast phrases to direct the reader’s attention to how you analyze the relationship between the subjects.
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