What makes a compare and contrast essay good

A good compare-and-contrast essay goes beyond a simple listing of similarities and differences to make a meaningful statement about a larger topic.

What do these similarities and differences say about the topic? That will be your main argument. There are many possibilities for structuring a compare-and-contrast essay.

You could write about one subject in detail, and then switch to the other. You could write two paragraphs about qualities that are common to women they tend to be more compassionate, they are good multitaskers along with some that they share with men they are capable of sacrificing self for the good of others.

Then you would focus on men in the next section. Men usually have superior physical strength and technical skills. You can also go point by point throughout the essay. Craft an outline that fits the structure you have chosen. Traditionally, an essay consists of an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

While the linked guide goes into more detail, in a nutshell, your compare-and-contrast essay should follow a simple format of beginning, middle, and end:. The introduction, usually one or two paragraphs, should include a thesis statement to show the reader what to expect for the rest of your essay. You can write your introduction following the same guidelines as other essay types, though be sure to mention all your subjects. Likewise, you can write an essay conclusion with the standard rules and best practices.

Do you write about both subjects at the same time, or switch back and forth? The hardest part of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay is knowing when to talk about which subject. Essentially, you have three options:. No matter which option you choose, you have to pay particular attention to topic sentences. The block method is usually divided into paragraphs: a paragraph about one subject and then a new paragraph about another subject.

In the first paragraph after the introduction, the author talks only about Ahab from Moby Dick , but in the next paragraph talks only about the narrator from The Raven. Each subject gets its own paragraph. Using the block method, you can go back and forth like this for pages, covering as many topics as you need. This approach is best for giving each subject its own attention but tends to slightly weaken the connection between the two. You might find yourself comparing all kinds of things in an academic essay : historical figures, literary works , policies, research methods , etc.

Doing so is an important part of constructing arguments. Table of contents When should I compare and contrast? Making effective comparisons Comparing and contrasting as a brainstorming tool Structuring your comparisons Frequently asked questions about comparing and contrasting. 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. 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.

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. However, if you contrasted pre-revolutionary France with Han-dynasty China, your reader might wonder why you chose to compare these two societies.

Every element of an essay should serve your central argument in some way. Comparing and contrasting can be a useful tool to help organize your thoughts before you begin writing any type of academic text. You might make a table to summarize the key differences between them. Suppose that you are writing a paper comparing two novels.

However, if you were writing a paper for a class on typesetting or on how illustrations are used to enhance novels, the typeface and presence or absence of illustrations might be absolutely critical to include in your final paper. Sometimes a particular point of comparison or contrast might be relevant but not terribly revealing or interesting. Talking about the different ways nature is depicted or the different aspects of nature that are emphasized might be more interesting and show a more sophisticated understanding of the poems.

Be careful, though—although this thesis is fairly specific and does propose a simple argument that atmosphere and delivery make the two pizza places different , your instructor will often be looking for a bit more analysis. Again, thinking about the context the class provides may help you answer such questions and make a stronger argument. You may find our handout on constructing thesis statements useful at this stage. The danger of this subject-by-subject organization is that your paper will simply be a list of points: a certain number of points in my example, three about one subject, then a certain number of points about another.