This article is a guideline on how to write a compare and contrast essay. Basically, a compare and contrast essay is a paper writing assignment for students at various levels of education. It provides critical insights for learners who often have to write these essays for assessment purposes. By reading the article, students can develop the necessary skills and get new ideas about various topics they can choose to write their papers, the three types of outlines, and the technical details they must focus on when writing. The article also includes sample outlines and essays to enrich the reader’s experience and understanding of what students’ instructors might expect from them. In particular, an in-depth discussion concerning the best practices for writing a good contrast and compare paper focuses on its definition and meaning, examples of topics, structure, sample outlines, examples of essays, and easy 4 steps to follow.
General Aspects on How to Write an Outstanding Compare and Contrast Essay & Examples
A clear understanding of the expected content to be delivered when writing a compare and contrast essay is necessary for the development of an effective paper. Writing is integral to a college education because various types of papers are the platform upon which students apply knowledge. In this sense, creating various documents through writing allows individuals to develop intellectually. Compare and contrast essays are standard texts that learners in higher learning environments write as part of semester assessments. According to academic writing conventions, specific rules apply to different types of essays. When students receive instructions to write a specific essay from their tutor, they should first determine its type, whether it is a personal narrative, a cause and effect essay, an evaluation essay, or an analytical essay. This article provides a valid guideline for writing a compare and contrast paper. It also offers sample compare and contrast outlines and essays and invites college students and anyone interested in knowing how to write this type of essay to read and grasp essential insights.
Definition of What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay and Its Meaning
A compare and contrast essay is a scholarly text that examines two or more topics related to people, objects, or ideas and compares their similarities and contrasts their differences. Typically, most college professors ask students to compare and contrast, but this feature is not mandatory. There are circumstances when tutors may ask students to focus exclusively on comparing similarities, contrasting differences, or both. The most important thing that learners should understand is that writing a compare and contrast essay means examining two or more topics from the perspectives of similarities and differences. Therefore, this type of essay differs from others, including an expository essay, a descriptive essay, and a persuasive essay. For example, an argumentative essay requires students to make a claim about a person, object, or idea and defend it using evidence from various credible sources.
Content of a Compare and Contrast Essay
For writing a well-organized compare and contrast essay, students must provide detailed explanations of the similarities and differences between the two or more subjects mentioned in the assignment prompt. In this case, the number of similarities and differences included in a comparative essay is either determined by a college essay length or instructions. Moreover, the presentation of similarities and differences requires authors to establish a basis for comparison. In turn, these are themes that enable readers to follow and distinguish the relevance of specific differences or similarities. As a result, the content of this type of essay should present an unbiased analysis of 2 or more themes or subjects.
Examples of Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
When writing a compare and contrast paper, one should use the instructions from their lecturer as a guide. While it is common for tutors to define essay topics explicitly, sometimes, they require students to decide by themselves. In the case of the latter context, one should brainstorm with their peers on what topic to base their essay on. The following compare and contrast essay topics are ideal for writing good papers because they suggest the need to compare similarities and contrast differences.
- Classical Music vs. Modern Pop Music: A Historical Perspective
- College Essay vs. High School Paper: Similarities and Differences
- What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Employment and Entrepreneurship?
- Compare and Contrast Public and Private Transportation in a Metropolis
- What Is of More Value Between Going to College and Starting a Business?
- Compare and Contrast Cars and Motorcycles as Means of Transportation
- Describe the Similarities and Differences Between Textbooks and E-Books
- What Have More Advantages to Students Between Classroom Attendance and Online Learning?
Structure and Types of a Compare and Contrast Essay
When writing a compare and contrast paper, one should know a traditional essay structure. Essays are unique from other texts because they have specific rules for essay outline. As such, writing a compare and contrast essay without knowing how content should appear from the beginning to the end is a grave mistake that can lead to stiff penalties for students. There are several structures and types of a compare and contrast essay one can follow. The block approach involves discussing one subject point by point to compare and then repeating the same structure for the next subject. The point-by-point approach entails discussing one point at a time, explaining how it applies to each subject, and then discussing the next point, including its relevance. In turn, the similarities and differences approach involves discussing the similarities between two or more subjects first and then their differences.
Examples of Outlines for Writing Compare and Contrast Papers
1. Block Outline for Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay
- Introduce the topic – Cars and Motorcycles.
- Establish the background.
- Create a thesis statement addressing the similarities and differences covered in a compare and contrast essay.
II. First Body Paragraph: Point 1
- Topic Sentence 1: Cars and motorcycles enhance convenience by enabling people to move from one location to another speedily.
- Theme 1: Availability
- Argument 1 for Point 1: It is easier to find cars and motorcycles in urban centers.
- Argument 2 for Point 1: Public buses, taxis, and motorcycles for hire are common phenomena in most big cities worldwide.
III. Second Body Paragraph: Point 2
- Topic Sentence 2: Cars are more comfortable for long-distance traveling, while motorcycles are good for traveling within the city.
- Theme 2: Comfort
- Argument 1 for Point 2: Traveling with a car for long distances does not cause fatigue like traveling on a motorcycle.
- Argument 2 for Point 2: Navigating the city with a motorcycle is easier than a car.
IV. Third Body Paragraph: Point 3
- Topic Sentence 3: Cars are more expensive to buy and maintain than motorcycles.
- Theme 3: Purchase Price
- Argument 1 for Point 3: Cars cost more than motorcycles.
- Argument 2 for Point 3: Cars consume more gas than motorcycles.
V. Conclusion
- Restate the thesis in a compare and contrast essay and provide a summary of Points 1, 2, and 3.
2. Point-by-Point Outline for Writing a Compare and Contrast Paper
I. Introduction
- Introduce the topic: Cars and Motorcycles.
- Contextualize the topic.
- Create a 3-point thesis that captures the paper’s primary focus between 2 or more subjects under analysis.
II. First Body Paragraph: Convenience
- Topic Sentence 1: Cars and motorcycles are convenient modes of transport.
- Subject 1: Motorcycles
- Argument 1 for Subject 1: It is enjoyable to ride a motorcycle in a big city.
- Argument 2 for Subject 1: Motorcycles are convenient on narrow streets.
- Subject 2: Cars
- Argument 1 for Subject 2: Cars make it easy to move between locations as quickly as possible.
- Argument 2 for Subject 2: Cars make long-distance traveling less cumbersome.
III. Second Body Paragraph: Comfort
- Topic Sentence 2: While motorcycles are comfortable riding in cities, cars have greater comfort when traveling outside the city.
- Subject 1: Motorcycles
- Argument 1 for Subject 1: Motorcycles carry fewer passengers, increasing the comfort of individuals.
- Argument 2 for Subject 1: Motorcycles are easy to fix when they break.
- Subject 2: Cars
- Argument 1 for Subject 2: Cars allow one greater comfort when traveling for long distances.
- Argument 2 for Subject 2: Cars have a more expansive internal space that increases comfortability.
IV. Third Body Paragraph: Cost
- Topic Sentence 3: Cars are more expensive than motorcycles.
- Subject 1: Motorcycles
- Argument 1 for Subject 1: A good motorcycle can cost $300 or less.
- Argument 2 for Subject 1: Motorcycle parts are cheap to buy and fix.
- Subject 2: Cars
- Argument 1 for Subject 2: Car parts and car servicing are costly.
- Argument 2 for Subject 2 Cars consume more gas than motorcycles.
V. Conclusion
- Sum up a compare and contrast essay by rewording the thesis and reiterating the main body points.
3. Similarities and Differences Outline for Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay
I. Introduction
- Introduce the topic: Cars and Motorcycles.
- Establish the topic’s background.
- Create a thesis that covers similarities and differences between objects or includes other aspects.
II. First Body Paragraph: Similarities
- Topic Sentence 1: Cars and motorcycles enhance transportation convenience.
- Argument 1: Both vehicles are comfortable to use, park, or store.
- Argument 2: They are comfortable for long-distance traveling.
III. Second Body Paragraph: Differences
- Topic Sentence 2: Cars and motorcycles have different cost implications.
- Argument 1: A good motorcycle can cost $300 or less.
- Argument 2: Cars are generally expensive
- Argument 3: Motorcycle parts are cheap to buy and fix.
- Argument 4: Car parts, care servicing, and gas make cars expensive to own and maintain.
IV. Third Body Paragraph: Other Aspects
- Topic Sentence 3: Motorcycles have a shorter lifecycle than cars.
- Argument 1: It is easy to have a cat yard for old cars than one for old motorcycles.
V. Conclusion
- Summarize a compare and contrast essay by restating the thesis and emphasizing the similarities and differences between cars and motorcycles.
Note: The number of body compare and contrast paragraphs depends on assignment instructions or essay length. For example, a compare and contrast essay may include 1 paragraph on similarities between objects and 2 paragraphs on differences or vice versa. Usually, the length of a compare contrast essay is about 500-1000 words (2-4 double spaced pages or 1-2 single spaced pages)
Examples of Compare and Contrast Papers
Example 1: Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay Using a Block Outline
Topic: Cars and Motorcycles as Means of Transportation
I. Block Introduction
Cars and motorcycles are modern means of transportation because people find them convenient for various reasons. Essentially, people use tools to travel from one location to another for work, leisure, or domestic engagements. While it is common to find individuals who own both, most populations use them for personal reasons. These two types of vehicles are similar and different because they enhance convenience and vary in purchase price and maintenance costs, respectively.
II. First Body Paragraph: Point 1 – Availability
Cars and motorcycles enhance convenience by enabling humans to move from one location to another speedily. One aspect that both means of transportation share is availability. Arguably, almost every urban center in contemporary global society has these machines. The growth of urban centers and the resulting rural-urban migration of populations has exerted immense pressure on the public transport system in most countries. For manufacturers, this development is a business opportunity. Indeed, most people in urban centers have embraced various machines because they are easy to find. Although not everyone may afford a car or a motorcycle, public buses, taxis, and motorcycles for hire significantly meet people’s travel needs. Hence, cars and motorcycles availability in urban centers have enhanced people’s convenience in traveling between locations, such as home and workplace or marketplace.
III. Second Body Paragraph: Point 2 – Comfort
However, cars are more comfortable for long-distance traveling, while motorcycles are good for moving within the city. In short, cars and motorcycles differ in comfort, making them ideal for different kinds of travel. Ideally, using a car for long-distance travel is comfortable because it does not cause fatigue. How a car is built allows people to stretch themselves or change their sitting style for greater comfort. In contrast, a motorcycle lacks such an aesthetic, making it ideal for city travel because of the short distances one makes. In essence, the differences between a car and a motorcycle in built aesthetics make the latter appropriate for navigating the city. Since city travel involves a lot of stopping and traffic maneuvering, a motorcycle creates greater flexibility in movement than a car.
IV. Third Body Paragraph: Point 3 – Purchase Price
Another critical difference between two vehicles is that the former is more expensive to buy and maintain than the latter. Because of built aesthetics, cars have a higher purchase price than motorcycles. Some features that make cars costly include the time it takes to build them, the components that go into their production, and the labor involved throughout the manufacturing process. In contrast, motorcycles have a short production cycle, utilize fewer components, and consume less labor in production. To compare, cars are also costly to maintain because they consume more gas than motorcycles for the same distance. Arguably, this feature explains why most individuals are shifting from cars to motorcycles in big cities worldwide. The shift to electric cars and motorcycles will significantly impact what mode of transportation people use in big cities because the gas price will no longer be an issue.
V. Block Conclusion
Cars and motorcycles are a common transport phenomenon in cities worldwide. These transportation modes have similarities and differences, including enhancing convenience and having varied purchase price and maintenance cost implications. Therefore, one has to find each feature that makes it a convenient means of transport at any given time.
Example 2: Writing a Compare and Contrast Paper Using a Point-by-Point Outline
Topic: Cars and Motorcycles as Means of Transportation
I. Point-by-Point Introduction
In today’s globalized cities and urban centers, cars and motorcycles are common in people’s lives. The need to travel from one location to another, such as from home to work or from the office to the field, explains why people buy cars or motorcycles. In essence, both vehicles have similarities, such as convenience, and differences, including comfort and cost, influencing people’s choices in meeting their travel needs.
II. First Body Paragraph: Convenience
Cars and motorcycles are convenient modes of transport in the contemporary world. The advantage of motorcycles is that they are enjoyable to ride in big cities because of their flexibility. A person can easily navigate a traffic jam and ride through narrow streets using a motorcycle. Big cities can be a menace to people’s travel needs because the population bust has made many individuals own cars, which is an inconvenience in areas where city authorities do not expand roads to accommodate many vehicles. Consequently, the closeness of buildings makes it impossible to improve wide roads in some areas. As such, motorcycles help people to deal with these inconveniences. On their part, cars make it easy for individuals to travel between locations in the shortest time possible. They also make traveling long distances less cumbersome because of their features, including navigation systems.
III. Second Body Paragraph: Comfortable Trip
A difference between two vehicles is that, while the latter is comfortable riding in cities, the former has greater comfort when traveling outside the city. Motorcycles carry fewer passengers, increasing the comfort of individuals. In many cities, authorities have passed by-laws prohibiting carrying more than one passenger on a motorcycle. Consequently, they are easy to fix when they break down. Dealing with problems when traveling increases one’s comfort through the journey to compare with others. On their part, cars have greater comfort when traveling long distances. Features like the navigation system make it easy for drivers to find their destinations quickly, reducing the time spent on the road. Consequently, cars have a more expansive internal space that increases comfort. A challenge of traveling long distances is fatigue. In a car, one can shift the sitting position for greater comfort.
IV. Third Body Paragraph: Cost
Another difference between two vehicles is that the former is more expensive. In most cities, a good motorcycle can cost $300 or less. As such, most people can afford them. Consequently, their spare parts are cheap, meaning one can fix them quickly after they break down. In contrast, cars are costly to maintain because their spare parts are expensive, and servicing is costly. Many people see these reasons as why they opt to buy motorcycles. Another disadvantage of cars is that they consume more gas than motorcycles, making them costly for frequent travel.
V. Point-by-Point Conclusion
Each vehicle is an essential mode of transport in modern cities. The convenience they provide is why many individuals buy and use them. However, they are different because they offer various comfort levels and have varied cost implications. As such, one should consider the advantages and disadvantages of each before buying.
Example 3: Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay Using a Similarities and Differences Outline
Topic: Cars and Motorcycles as Means of Transportation
I. Introduction for Similarities and Differences
Cars and motorcycles are transportation modes people in modern cities find valuable in daily activities. Traveling is an activity people cannot avoid in contemporary society because of different engagements, including work and visiting relatives. Cars and motorcycles are valuable because of their similarities and differences.
II. First Body Paragraph: Similarities
About similarities, these vehicles enhance transportation convenience. The advantage of using motorcycles in big cities is that one can easily use, park, or store them because of their small size. As such, space is not an issue when traveling to a new location because they can always find a place to keep their motorcycle. On their part, cars are comfortable for long-distance traveling. People can travel non-stop to distant locations if they fill the gas tank, reducing the time. Therefore, one can use a car to travel to a distant location and return the same day for other engagements.
III. Second Body Paragraph: Differences
Concerning differences, both vehicles have some cost implications. There are higher chances of someone owning a motorcycle than a car because one can get a motorbike costing $300 or less. This low price explains why many people own motorcycles in most metropolitan areas in many countries. However, cars are generally expensive, and only a few individuals can afford them. This characteristic also explains why second-hand car yards are many more than second-hand motorcycle yards in most urban centers. Another difference is that motorcycles are cheaper to maintain than cars. While motorcycle parts are cheap to buy and fix, car parts, servicing, and gas make cars expensive.
IV. Third Body Paragraph: Other Aspects
Another difference is that motorcycles have a shorter lifecycle than cars. While it is common to see old cars from generations past, one must travel widely to see a motorcycle from past generations. This characteristic might explain the scenario above, where spotting a car yard for second-hand cars is easy than seeing one for motorcycles. In essence, this feature of these transport modes suggests that one should understand that owning a motorcycle might be a short-lived experience than a car. For families, it makes sense to own a car because it can pass from the father to the child to the grandchild, which might not happen for a motorcycle.
V. Conclusion for Similarities and Differences
Both vehicles are essential tools for transport in today’s society. Their similarities and differences are crucial because they represent the advantages and disadvantages of each. As such, people must consider how both modes of transport are similar and different to know the one that suits their purpose and status.
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4 Easy Steps on How to Start Writing a Good Compare and Contrast Essay
Writing a well-structured compare and contrast essay is a technical process that requires students to understand crucial details that enhance the quality of their work. In essence, writing is an intellectual activity that demands one to be systematic from the beginning to the end. Some issues writers should pay attention to include preparing, setting up the stage, writing the paper, and perfecting the document. These steps represent the technical flow of producing a high-quality compare and contrast essay.
Step 1: Preparation
In this first step, students must demonstrate a deep understanding of how a compare and contrast essay satisfies the expectation of their instructor. The crucial details writers should consider include defining the topic in case the lecturer has not explicitly stated it. Choosing a good topic is vital in establishing a mental picture of the text and its contents. The second detail one should focus on is idea generation. Because no one knows everything, students should brainstorm ideas with their peers and colleagues. However, they should ensure they remain within the topic. Then, writers should consider the audience, the people who will consume their compare and contrast essay, including the instructor and fellow students. Doing so helps authors to remain formal throughout their texts. In short, when writing a compare and contrast essay, one should know its purpose because it guides ideas and forms the paper’s contents.
Step 2: Stage Set-Up
Setting the stage is the second step in writing a compare and contrast essay. The first technical detail to consider is using reliable sources that help support the arguments. Students should use different databases to research scholarly materials that address the topic. Another crucial detail is to make notes when researching the sources. Note-taking helps writers to create a pattern of ideas and thoughts to avoid centering a compare and contrast essay on their opinions. Then, students should create a clear outline of their paper, choosing either block, point-by-point, or similarities and differences outlines. Moreover, learners should choose a compare and contrast method that they find appropriate if their instructors do not explicitly specify one. Lastly, writers should create an annotated bibliography to ensure every idea has a corresponding source to avoid plagiarizing the work.
Step 3: Writing a First Draft
The third step is to start writing a first draft when organizing a compare and contrast essay. The authors’ focus should be to create a draft that incorporates all ideas they generated in the preparation stage. Ideally, students use a first draft to put everything together to produce a logical document. The next activity is adding or deleting sources, depending on whether compare and contrast papers need new ideas. In most instances, professors may give new instructions, such as increasing the paper’s length, which compels writers to generate additional ideas. Deletion of content happens when one realizes some ideas are irrelevant to the topic. The next task is to alter a well-organized outline if there are new instructions from the tutor, or if the student realizes another outline suits the paper. Lastly, writers should create a thesis to guide their compare and contrast essays.
Writing a Compare and Contrast Introduction
A compare and contrast essay has an introductory segment that includes a thesis statement. When writing the introduction, writers should introduce the topic through a statement that captures the reader’s attention. Then, they should provide the background of the topic by stating facts. For instance, the introduction of compare and contrast essays discusses 2 or more subjects under comparison from a general point of view to give the audience adequate contextual information. In turn, this section should end with a well-organized thesis statement emphasizing the text’s focus: comparing and contrasting two objects or ideas. Various thesis statement examples are unique because they require authors to identify their preferred subject and highlight its superiority. In this case, writers should provide a clear thesis statement that acts as a reference point for readers. Hence, the introductory paragraph of a compare and contrast essay should be comprehensive.
Writing Compare and Contrast Body Paragraphs
In this section, authors should use several paragraphs to emphasize the thesis, depending on the paper’s length. Each paragraph should open with a topic sentence, a statement that emphasizes an idea. Then, writers should use the rest of the paragraph to reiterate this idea. Basically, there are three conventional methods of organizing the body of contrast and compare essays: block, point-by-point, and similarities and differences approaches. Firstly, the block approach is ideal for short compare and contrast essays where authors can explain a single subject in detail within a single section entirely before moving on to the next subject. Basically, it is ideal for short essays because readers can easily relate to two sections that contain limited information. Secondly, the point-by-point style in a compare and contrast essay involves dividing the paper based on a given basis of comparison. In this case, people discuss both subjects within a single paragraph or within a section. Moreover, this method is appropriate for lengthy essays. Finally, the last approach allows authors to exhaustively examine a particular point for both subjects, making differences and similarities more apparent in their compare and contrast essay. Other essential components of each paragraph are evidence, a concluding sentence, and a transition. Evidence-based writing suggests that students should incorporate ideas from other sources to make the work scholarly. However, writers should provide proper citations to avoid plagiarizing a compare and contrast essay.
Writing a Compare and Contrast Conclusion
As the last part of a compare and contrast essay, the conclusion paragraph allows students to sum up their work. As such, writers should restate the thesis by rewording it and reemphasizing the main points, which should be the similarities and differences between 2 or more objects or ideas. The conclusion part in a compare and contrast essay must also follow the typical writing rules. Firstly, the concluding paragraph does not introduce any new information to readers since it is an overview of the main points discussed in a compare and contrast essay. When writing this part, learners should refrain from introducing new ideas because it would confuse readers and make the entire paper illogical. Secondly, authors need to develop a tightly-knit paragraph to show the relevance of the overview and extend it to a broader line of thinking. Thus, this section is an opportunity for students to emphasize the critical points alluded to in the thesis statement.
Step 4: Wrap Up
The last step of writing a compare and contrast essay is to wrap up the work by producing a final draft. Essentially, writers take a first draft paper and perfect it by revising the sections that do not make sense, such as deleting irrelevant ideas or adding new ones. Then, writers edit their papers to ensure their content aligns with all expectations, including topic sentences, concluding sentences, and transitions. The next task is ensuring proper formatting by correcting mistakes like missing citations. In turn, students need to fix all grammatical errors, missing punctuation, or formatting issues of not following the rules of MLA, APA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian formatting standards and finish the process by ensuring a logical flow of ideas and thoughts. In this respect, authors should read and reread their documents to ensure no mistakes. As a result, one should give a compare and contrast paper to a colleague or friend to read because fresh eyes might point out glaring errors.
Summing Up on How to Write a Perfect Compare and Contrast Essay
Writing a compare and contrast essay requires people to know the characteristics of the expected essay and the ideal structure. Basically, the similarities and differences should be identified based on a definitive criterion that isolates the most relevant themes. In turn, a compare and contrast paper must adhere to the general essay structure. Besides, students have much freedom in organizing their body section and conclusion. Some tips include:
- Based on the preceding sections, writing a good compare and contrast paper is a complex process requiring understanding essential tips.
- The first tip is that students should choose a specific compare and contrast essay topic on their own if their instructors have not explicitly specified one.
- The second tip is brainstorming with peers to generate ideas.
- Writers should choose one outline out of the three types, such as block, point-by-point, and similarities and differences outlines, if their instructors have not given a specific direction.
- The next step is to find good sources to enrich a compare and contrast paper by providing critical insights, including the similarities and differences between 2 or more objects or ideas.
- Students should produce a first draft of a compare and contrast essay that incorporates all ideas.
- The next task is to perfect a first draft by eliminating all mistakes, like grammatical errors, missing punctuation, formatting errors, improper citations, inconsistencies, misplaced words, and unclear sentences, to produce a final draft.