Transcript Comparison / Contrast Paragraph and Essay

Compare and Contrast Essay
To compare means to point out
similarities.
To contrast means to point out
differences
A Comparison/contrast essay shows
how things are alike or different to
help the reader choose between
alternatives or to increase
understanding of a literary work
Two things must be alike enough to
result in a meaningful comparison.
Choose subjects that are similar
enough to be compared or contrasted.
You need to find points of comparison
that are parallel to show how the
subjects are similar or different.
A baby is like a vacuum cleaner.
WRONG!
Even though my little brother Fred is 20 years
my junior, he and I have much in common.
Brainstorm by using either a chart or
a Venn Diagram
Story
#1
Story #2
Story
#2
Chart
Story #1
Venn Diagram
Highlight the key ideas that present
an insightful argument
Thesis
The thesis statement in the essay
includes the two subjects you are
comparing or contrasting and the main
point you want to make about them.
Thesis Statements
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This is your argument- your big idea
It must include BOTH stories
It must be specific and insightful
It should not include the first or second person (no “I” or “you”)
Bad thesis: I am going to compare the similarities and the
differences between Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T.
• Good Thesis: A close examination of the way Roy Neary, the
protagonist in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Elliott, the
protagonist in E.T. react to their encounters with aliens
demonstrate that Steven Spielberg uses both films to tell similar
stories about the difficulties of growing up.
• Bad Thesis: “Harrison Bergeron” and “The Dollhouse”
are stories with characters that fight injustice.
• Good Thesis: “Harrison Bergeron” and “The
Dollhouse” are stories with characters that fight injustice
yet “Harrison Bergeron” is a satirical story that ridicules
our perception of the rebellious hero and “The
Dollhouse” uses the stereotypical innocent child who
indirectly questions the established social norms.
Organization
Whether you decide to write about
similarities or differences, you will have
to decide how to organize your essay.
You can choose between two patterns
of organization:
Block Method
Say everything (your details) about your
first subject and then you say
everything about your second subject.
The same points should be discussed
for both subjects in the same order.
Usually this means a four paragraph
essay. Best for shorter essays.
Subject by subject Outline
I -Introduction: lead-in and thesis
II- Body:
Topic sentence
Subject 1
point 1
point 2
point 3
Topic sentence
Subject 2
point 1
point 2
point 3
III. Conclusion
Point by Point
You support and explain your thesis
statement by discussing each point of
comparison or contrast, switching back
and forth between subjects
Point by Point Outline
I- Introduction: Lead-in and Thesis
II- Body:
Topic sentence
point 1
subject 1
subject 2
Topic sentence
point 2
subject 1
subject 2
Topic sentence
point 3
subject 1
subject 2
III - Conclusion
Use Transitions
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One similarity
Another similarity
Similarly
Like
Both
As well as
Also
Too
In addition
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One difference
Another difference
In contrast
Unlike
Although
But, yet
Instead of
On the other hand
Whereas
Don’t forget comparative of adjectives
and adverbs:
more … than
less … than
as … as
the same …as
Quote Integration
One or two lines from the
story
• No quote bombs!
• Use a comma or colon
before the quote
• Use quotation marks around
the quote
• Cite your source at the end
of the quote with brackets
and page number. Eg. (pg.
11)
More than four lines from
the story
• End your text with a colon
before..
• Indent and make a block quote so
the lines line up
• Insert a blank line between your
text and the quote
• No quotation marks necessary
• Cite your source at the end of the
quote Eg. (pg. 12)
Parts of a quote- no comma before
the quote.
• The character Else was a “wishbone of a child” (166)
and portrayed as innocent and vulnerable.
• The girls wanted to be “horrid to them” (166) as a
way to gain playground power.
One to two lines of quotes-need commas or colons before the quote
-use one quotation mark for dialogue within the double
quotation marks
• The effect of the bullying made the Kelvey’s feel inferior:
“Burning with shame, shrinking together, Lil huddling
along like her mother, our Else dazed, somehow they
crossed the big courtyard and squeezed through the gate”
(page 169).
• One way the girls bullied the Kelveys was to point out
their parents occupations. As Lena, the playground bully
asks, “ ‘Is it true you’re going to be a servant when you
grow up, Lil Kelvey?’ shrilled Lena” (pg. 168).
Block Quotes
-no quotation marks around quote
-indent and insert a space
-use a colon before the quote
• The effect of excluding the Kelvey’s from the
wealthier girls was exhilarating:
This was such a marvellous thing to have said that
the little girls rushed away in a body, deeply, deeply
excited, wild with joy. Someone found a long rope,
and they began skipping. And never did they skip so
high, run in and out so fast, or do such daring
things as they did that afternoon. (pg. 168)
It is clear the girls felt great power by discriminating.