Comparing and

contrass essay
development
Facilitator: Erika G. Sandoval S.
Brainstorming
and outlining
A comparison and contrast essay can be used to illustrate the similarities and
differences between one idea or image and another. Often these comparisons
help us to see the image or idea in a new way.

It is recomemended to read about the topic.

For example:
Think of two places you know well and compare them.
 Describe both places.
 How is the appearance of both places similar or different?
 How are the people similar or different?
 How are the customes and traditions of both places similar or different?
What is a great topic for a comparison essay? Obviously, it should address two
subjects that are related in some way. You must have a logical reason for making
the comparison or contrast.
When selecting the topics to compare or to contrast, a good writer should
consider relevant questions such as:
• What features do the subjects share in common?
• What features do they not share in common?
• Can you develop a thesis by comparing and contrasting their traits?
• Can you find enough information about both topics? If not, your essay will not
appear balanced.
Here are some general topics that lend themselves well to a comparison essay.
Some topics are very broad and would need to be narrowed further.
General Topics for Comparison
two countries women today and women a century ago
two professional athletes two websites for learning English
an early and a later Shakespearean a current leader in your cou ntry and a
drama former leader
courses of study at two different World War I and World War II
colleges
a book and the movie based on vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets
the book
Read these eight topics. Put a check mark (✓) next to the four that could be
good topics for comparison essays.
1. ____ The steps in collecting data for a research study
2. ____ Rio de Janeiro versus Tokyo as a site for the Summer Olympic Games
3. ____ Reproductive processes of mammals and reptiles
4. ____ Societies with small families and societies with large families
5. ____ An analysis of voting trends and results in recent elections in Ecuador
6. ____ The career choice of becoming a teacher or a lawyer
7. ____ Daily life in Saudi Arabia
8. ____ A description of llamas in the Andes Mountains in Peru
After you have selected a topic and the two subjects withing that topic, your job is to
identify the similarities and differences between the two subjects. This process will also
help you to identify supporting details for your essay, which is a very important step in
constructing a solid essay.
When you brainstrom your plan for this essay, a useful technique is to fill in a Venn
diagram illustrating the similarities and differences. A Venn diagram usually consists of
two overlapping ovals that each represent one of the two subjects. The shared area in the
middle highlight their similiarities. The areas not shared highlight their difference.
Use a Venn Diagram and answer the questions below.
1. What two cities are
compared in this
diagram?
2. What are their
contrasting
Washington, Large characterisctic?
city Tokyo 3. What are their
D.C. capital common
• Japan characteristic¡
• USA
• skyscrapers
• Large parks
 Brainstorming vocabulary
A. Use the chart below to categorize the adjective according to the places they can describe.

Stimulating Boring Lonely

Tedious Competitive Filthy
Energetic Peaceful overwhelming

City Rural area Beach Bus station

Writing the first
draft
Comparison and contrast organization
A comparisson and contrast essay describes the qualities of a subject or
idea by discussing the similarities and differeneces it shares with a
different subject or idea.

A comparisson and contrast essay can be organized in two different

ways:
 By comparing and contrasting a number of issues point-by-point.
 By focusing first on the similarities and then the differences.

Introduction
 Presents the subject that is to be compared or contrasts.
 Ends with a thesis statement that focuses the comparison or contrast.
Comparison and contrast organization
Body paragraph for Point-by-point Essays.
 There are two body paragraphs, each with a clear topic sentence.
 Each body paragraph presents one main point to be compared or contrasted between
the two subjects.
 Withing each body paragraph, the topic sentence states the point of comparison or
contrast between the subjects. The supporting sentences that follow provide two or
three examples.
 The body paragraphs use sequence transitions, such as first, second, furthermore, etc.,
to connect the point-by-point analysis within the paragraph.
Body Paragraphs for Similarities and Differences Essays (Block)
 There are two body paragraphs, each with a clear topic sentence.
 One body paragraph is devoted to similarities between the two subjects, and one body
paragraph is devoted to differences.
Conclusion
 This allows the writer to summarize the differences and similariteies and state his or her
feeling about the topic.
Strong thesis statements for comparison essay

A strong thesis statement for a comparison essay indicates whether the essay
focuses on similarities, differences, or both. In addition, the thesis statement
sometimes uses hedging words such as may, might, can, seem, appear, or
some. A common structure employs a contrasting connector such as
although, while, or despite
Strong thesis statements for comparison essay

Focus Example thesis statement

More differences Although Joe's Diner and Burger Town both serve hundreds of
hamburgers each day, the similarities end there.
Although Malaysia and Thailand may seem similar because these
neighboring nations share a common border, they have striking
differences.
More similarities Despite obvious differences in the two languages, Engl ish and French
share a n umber of important similarities.
While Nite Owl and Rorschach, the heroes of Alan Moore's Watchmen,
appear to be exact opposites, they share three important qual ities that
enable their heroic acts.
Both differences and Although both Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed and Jeffrey
similarities Sachs's The End of and similarities Poverty discuss the topic of poverty,
they approach this topic in very different ways.
Practice.2 Writing strong thesis statements for
comparison essays

Write thesis statement for each topic. Then share it.

1. A book and the movie based on the book.
2. Vegetarian and non-vegetairan diets
3. A currect leader (or historical person) with a previous leader (or historical
person)
Review your brainstroning ideas. Then use the chart below to write an outline for your
similarities and diffeences essay. Remember to write your outline in note form.

Introduction
two places to be compared:
1. _________________________ 2. ________________________
Hook:
Thesis statemente:
Body paragraph 1
Topic sentences about similarities:
Supporting ideas:
Body paragraph 2
Topic sentences about differences:
Supporting ideas:
Conclusion
Summary sentence:
Review your brainstroning ideas. Then use the chart below to write an outline for your
similarities and diffeences essay. Remember to write your outline in note form.
Introduction Supporting idea 2
Hook: Detail 1
Background inforamtion. Detail 2
Thesis statemente: Supporting idea 3
Body paragraph 1 Detail 1
Topic sentence with point of comparison: Detail 2
Supporting idea 1 Body paragraph 3
Detail 1 Topic sentence with point of comparison:
Detail 2 Supporting idea 1
Supporting idea 2 Detail 1
Detail 1 Detail 2
Detail 2 Supporting idea 2
Supporting idea 3 Detail 1
Detail 1 Detail 2
Detail 2 Supporting idea 3
Body paragraph 2 Detail 1
Topic sentence with point of comparison: Detail 2
Supporting idea 1 Conclusion
Detail 1 Summary of points of comparison and contrast.
Detail 2
Read the essay. What does Willowbrook Mall remind the writer of?
A Walk on Sunday Afternoon
I enjoy spending my Sunday afternoons ouside the house. I cannot have the same experience in the
United States that I had in Mexico when I was a child, but I have found a place that is similar to my
home. Willowbrook Mall in Houston, Texas, is my favorite place in the U.S. to take a walk because it
reminds me of Morelia Street in Morelia, Mexico. They are very different but also similar in some ways,
especially on a Sunday afternoon.
For me, Willowbrook Mall has an atmosphere that is like Morelia Street’s. In both places, people stroll
and gather. In Morelia, families leave church and go for a walk along Morelia Street on Sunday
afternoon. Often people stop at an outdoor café and have an ice cream or coffee and watch people walk
by. Now that I live in Houston, Willowbrook Mall is the place where I go to see people on Sundays for
their afternoon walk. I sit in a food court where I can drink a coffee with my friend, as I watch teenagers
and famous walking through the mall. When I see them, I remember how life was when I was a child.
Read the essay. What does Willowbrook Mall remind the writer of?
A Walk on Sunday Afternoon
Despite their similarities, Morelia Street and Willowbrook Mall are very different. Willowbrook Mall
is more modern. On the one hand, Morelia Street has old colonial building and beutiful old trees that
shade the street. It is also quiet. On the other hand, Willowbrook Mall is new and the light are bright,
and loud music plays in the stores. The people on Morelia Street also have more traditional ways. Men
wear attractive, conservative suits and women wear light summer dresses. Fathers watch their teenage
daughters closely and do not let their daughters hold hands with boys. In contrast, many teenagers go
to Willowbrook Mall without their parents, and boyfriends and girlfriends walk with their arms around
each other. When I see them, I realize that my daughter will have a different experience growing up in
Houston than I did in Morelia. Then, I worry about her, and I miss Morelia Street, where life is more
traditional.
It is interesing to see how people and places from different countries can be similar and different at the
same time. Morelia Street and Willowbrook Mall are very different in appearance and culture, but they
are also similar because they are both places where people like to go to relax on a Sunday afternoon.
Comparison and contrast organization
A comparisson and contrast essay describes the qualities of a subject or
idea by discussing the similarities and differeneces it shares with a
different subject or idea.

A comparisson and contrast essay can be organized in two different

ways:
 By comparing and contrasting a number of issues point-by-point.
 By focusing first on the similarities and then the differences.

Introduction
 Presents the subject that is to be compared or contrasts.
 Ends with a thesis statement that focuses the comparison or contrast.
Examining the student essay
A.Respond to the essay by answering the questions below in full sentences.

1. What does the writer like to do on Sunday afternoons?

2. Where did the writer go on Sunday afternoons in Morelia?
3. Where does the writer go in Houston?
4. What does the writer do in these places?
Examining the student essay
B. Now examine the organization of the essay. Answer the questions
below.

1. Is this a point-by-point essay or a block essay?

2. Identify the thesis statement of the essay.
3. Write the topic sentence of the first body paragraph. In what way are
the two places similar?
4. Write the topic sentence of the second body paragraph. In what ways a
the two places different?
5. Identify the sentence in the conclusion where the writer summarizes the
main points.
Transitions and connectors are important in comparison essays because they
help clarify the relationship between the two subjects. Transitions and
connectors are especially useful in the point-by-point method in which both
subjects are discussed in relation to each point. Precise use of transitions helps
the reader to follow the writer's comparisons.
Transtitions and Connectors that focus on Similarities
also compared to in the same way a similarity
as equally like similar to
as well (as) have in common likewise similarly
both in addition (the) same as too
 Transitions and connectors are important in comparison essays because they
help clarify the relationship between the two subjects. Transitions and
connectors are especially useful in the point-by-point method in which both
subjects are discussed in relation to each point. Precise use of transitions helps
the reader to follow the writer's comparisons.
Transtitions and Connectors that focus on Diferences
An advantage A/another difference Instead Though
Although Different from on the contrary Unless
But A disadvantage On the other hand Unlike
Contrary to contrasted Even though (the) opposite Whereas
Contrasted (to/with) However Rather While
X differs from Y In contrast (to) (the) reverse yet
In comparisson and contrast essays, connectors help create coherence by indicating
the relationship between ideas in sentences.
Connectors that show similarity
 Use connectors such as like (+ noun phrase) or similarly to show similarity.
Like her sister, Angela was very tall.
I grew up overseas in Shanghai. Similarly, my wife spent her childhood abroad in
Laos.
Connectors that show contrast
 Use connectors like unlike (+ noun phrase), in contrast, or on the one hand
… on the other hand to show contrast.
Unlike the fathers in Morelia, the fathers in Houston do not watch their teenagers as
carefully.
The place of life in New York is very rapid. In contrast, life in Xela is slower.
On the one hand, I enjoy the fast pace of New York. On the other hand, the pace
of life in Xela relaxes me.
Rewrite the following sentences to show similarity or contrast. Choose the correct
connector in parentheses to add more coherence.
1. Lemons are yellow. Limes are Green. (unlike / similarly)
2. Many families can live in an apartment building. Only one or two families usually
live in a house. (on the one hand … on the other hand / like)
3. A frog can live in wáter or on land. A fish cannot. (like / unlike)
4. A parrot can fly. An ostrich cannot. (similarly / in contrast)
Editing your
writing
Now that you have written your first draft, it is time to edit.
Editing involves making changes to your writing to improve it and
correct mistakes.
Comparison and contrast essays often use comparatives. Comparatives are used with
adjectives, adverbs, and nouns to show differences between two subjects (people, objects,
ideas, places, or actions).

Comparative with Adjectives and Adverbs

 To form the comparative of one-syllable adjectives and adverbs, add –er. If the
adjective or adverb ends in a single vowel and consonant, double the consonant.
 To form the comparative of most two-syllable adjectives and adverbs, add more,
however, if the adjective ends in –le, use –er. If the adjective ends in a consonant plus
y, change y to f and add –er.

Comparative with Nouns

 To form the comparative of nouns, use more.
 Adjectives

ONE SYLLABLE TWO SYLLABLES THREE OR MORE

SYLLABLES
Tall – taller Simple – simpler Beautirul – more beautiful

Cold – colder Happy – happier Expensive – more expensive

Cute – cuter Famous – more famous Creative – more creative

Big – bigger Polite – pliter / more polite Intelligent – more intelligent

 Adverb Regular Forms Adverb iregular Forms

ONE SYLLABLE TWO SYLLABLES Adjective ADVERB COMPARATIVE

hard – harder quickly – more quickly good Well better

Late – later clearly – more clearly Bad Badly Worse

Noun
Count noun Comparative Non-count Comparative

a book more books homework more homework

 When one thing is more than another Examples

With all adjectives and adverbs, the opposite idea is Fast – less fast
expresed by the Word less. Heavy – less heavy
Dangerous – less dangerous.
Write the comparative form of the following adjectives and
adverbs, using –er or more.
1- difficult
2- challenging
3- Smart
4- tired
5- sleepy
6- energetically
 When two thing are similar Examples

If the Word is an adjective or adverb, use as … as Fast – as fast as

Heavy – as heavy as
Dangerous – as dangerous as
If the word is a noun, use the seme … as Price – the same price as
Reason – the same reason as
The most common usage for these two structures is in a This year’s winter storm was
negative sentence. not as powerful as last year’s.
When we use a comparative in a sentence, we sometimes
delete the second subject and verb. We also sometimes use the
comprative without than when the context is clear. Look at the
examples and charts below:
People in Xela are less stressed than New Yorkers are.
New Yorkers are always rushing around. People in Xela are
less stressed.
 Comparatives with than and subjects

Comparative Than Subejct (+ verb or auxiliary)

Lisa is taller her brother (is).

than
Tony works harder you (work).
you (do)
We read more books they (do)
 Comparatives with than and object pronouns
Comparative Than Object pronoun
Lisa is taller him.
than
Tony works harder you.
We read more books them
Underline the comparative in the sentence below.
1) Time passes more slowly in Xela than it does in New York.
2) The colonial buildings of Morelia Street are more beautiful than
those in Willowbrook Mall.
3) The buildings in New York are taller than the buildings in Xela.
4) The parents on Morelia Street are more vigilant than the parents
at Willowbrook Mall.
Circle the correct form of the comparative in each sentence.
1) She was (exciteder / more excited) than he was about the party.
2) Franz spoke (enthusiasticallier / more enthusiastically) than
Sabina about New York.
3) New York is much (cleaner / more clean) than it was a few years
ago.
4) In Quetzaltenango the buildings are (older / more old).
5) My brothers are (taller / more tall) than I am, but my sisters are
(shorter / more short).
Complete each sentence using a comparative. Use –er, -ier, more, or
less.
1) A skycraper is ______________________-than a sand dune.
2) Canada is _________________ than Singapore.
3) A pizzería is ________________ than a four-star restaurant.
4) A baseball is __________________ than a tennis ball.
5) A hospital is _______________________ than a medical clinic.
Write a sentence using not as … as for any fact related to the
subject given.
1) Geography: Egypt is not as large as Saudi Arabia.
2) Population.
3) Medicine
4) Climate
5) Economy
6) Education
Good writers use parallel structure in their writing. Parts of a
sentence that have the same function should have the same form.
Using parallel structure makes your writing much easier for the
reader to understand.
Use parallel structure with and (coordinating conjunctions).
x In July, the weather is hot, dry, and it is very Be sure to use parallel
windy. structure with a coordinating
✓ In July, the weather is hot, dry, and very windy. conjunction such as and .
Use parallel structure for items in a list or series.
x The number of days in January is greater than The first example is wrong
April. because you are comparing
✓ The number of days in January is greater than the number with April, which are
number of days in Apri l. not similar things.
✓ January is longer than April.
X The smell of fried chicken is not as strong as fried The first example is wrong
fish. because it compares a smell
✓ The smell of fried ch icken is not as strong as the with a food, which are not
smell of fried fish. similar things.
✓ Fried chicken does not smell as strong as fried
fish .
To avoid using the same noun twice, it is common to use the pronouns that (singular) or those
(plural).
OK In some countries, the cost of water is h igher than the The fi rst example is acceptable,
cost of oil. Better In some countries, the cost of water is h but it is wordy and a little
igher than that of oil. awkward. The that of structure
resu lts in a more fluent sentence.
Each sentence contains an error in parallel structure. Rewrite the sentence correctly.

1. According to the most recent data, the population of Spain is larger than Greece.

2. The company's annual report indicates excellent sales in January, March, and in July.

3. With only five days until the deadline, our team's project is not as good as the other
team.

4. Many children like watching television and to play computer games.