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Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay | Tips & Examples
Published on August 6, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on November 11, 2022.
Comparing and contrasting is an important skill in academic writing . It involves taking two or more subjects and analyzing the differences and similarities between them.
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.
Many assignments will invite you to make comparisons quite explicitly, as in these prompts.
- Compare the treatment of the theme of beauty in the poetry of William Wordsworth and John Keats.
- Compare and contrast in-class and distance learning. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?
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.
Comparing and contrasting is also used in all kinds of academic contexts where it’s not explicitly prompted. 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.
For example, you might contrast French society before and after the French Revolution; you’d likely find many differences, but there would be a valid basis for comparison. However, if you contrasted pre-revolutionary France with Han-dynasty China, your reader might wonder why you chose to compare these two societies.
This is why it’s important to clarify the point of your comparisons by writing a focused thesis statement . Every element of an essay should serve your central argument in some way. Consider what you’re trying to accomplish with any comparisons you make, and be sure to make this clear to the reader.
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Comparing and contrasting can be a useful tool to help organize your thoughts before you begin writing any type of academic text. You might use it to compare different theories and approaches you’ve encountered in your preliminary research, for example.
Let’s say your research involves the competing psychological approaches of behaviorism and cognitive psychology. You might make a table to summarize the key differences between them.
Or say you’re writing about the major global conflicts of the twentieth century. You might visualize the key similarities and differences in a Venn diagram.
These visualizations wouldn’t make it into your actual writing, so they don’t have to be very formal in terms of phrasing or presentation. The point of comparing and contrasting at this stage is to help you organize and shape your ideas to aid you in structuring your arguments.
When comparing and contrasting in an essay, there are two main ways to structure your comparisons: the alternating method and the block method.
The alternating method
In the alternating method, you structure your text according to what aspect you’re comparing. You cover both your subjects side by side in terms of a specific point of comparison. Your text is structured like this:
Mouse over the example paragraph below to see how this approach works.
One challenge teachers face is identifying and assisting students who are struggling without disrupting the rest of the class. In a traditional classroom environment, the teacher can easily identify when a student is struggling based on their demeanor in class or simply by regularly checking on students during exercises. They can then offer assistance quietly during the exercise or discuss it further after class. Meanwhile, in a Zoom-based class, the lack of physical presence makes it more difficult to pay attention to individual students’ responses and notice frustrations, and there is less flexibility to speak with students privately to offer assistance. In this case, therefore, the traditional classroom environment holds the advantage, although it appears likely that aiding students in a virtual classroom environment will become easier as the technology, and teachers’ familiarity with it, improves.
The block method
In the block method, you cover each of the overall subjects you’re comparing in a block. You say everything you have to say about your first subject, then discuss your second subject, making comparisons and contrasts back to the things you’ve already said about the first. Your text is structured like this:
- Point of comparison A
- Point of comparison B
The most commonly cited advantage of distance learning is the flexibility and accessibility it offers. Rather than being required to travel to a specific location every week (and to live near enough to feasibly do so), students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows not only for a wider geographical spread of students but for the possibility of studying while travelling. However, distance learning presents its own accessibility challenges; not all students have a stable internet connection and a computer or other device with which to participate in online classes, and less technologically literate students and teachers may struggle with the technical aspects of class participation. Furthermore, discomfort and distractions can hinder an individual student’s ability to engage with the class from home, creating divergent learning experiences for different students. Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.
Note that these two methods can be combined; these two example paragraphs could both be part of the same essay, but it’s wise to use an essay outline to plan out which approach you’re taking in each paragraph.
Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.
Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .
Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.
You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.
Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:
- The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
- The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.
It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.
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How to Write a Character Comparison in 8 Steps
Sometimes two characters are clearly alike, while other times it’s not as obvious. In order to write a successful character comparison, you must move beyond a description of the characters and analyze how they relate to each other. You should examine both characters’ individual roles in their respective literary works to understand how they contribute to the overall meaning of the text.
Let’s take a look at eight steps for writing a character comparison.
1. Choose two characters
The first step to writing a character comparison is to determine two characters you want to compare. Before you start comparing, revisit parts of the text where each character appears. Take note of the various character descriptions throughout the text and become familiar with the role of each character.
A few popular choices for writing character comparisons:
- Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov , Crime and Punishment
- Hamlet and Laertes , Hamlet
- Lucy Manette and Madame Defarge , A Tale of Two Cities
- Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker , The Great Gatsby
2. Establish a purpose for comparison
Why are you comparing these two specific characters? Are you comparing to find meaningful similarities and differences or is it to demonstrate your understanding of the work as a whole? By establishing a purpose, you’re laying the foundation for your comparison and can refer back to it when you start to analyze each character.
Several reasons for comparing two characters:
- Compare how each character’s actions and attributes affect the plot
- Major similarities or differences in character can show what themes the author wants to emphasize
- Explain how the relationship between the characters provides deeper understanding of the themes
3. Describe the characters
This is a good time to refer to any earlier notes you’ve taken about specific characters in the text: physical descriptions, style of dialogue, narrative elements, etc. It may be helpful to create a two column chart where you can list the traits of each character and cross reference your findings. Remember to always cite direct textual evidence!
Important points to consider:
- Physical descriptions
- Beliefs / Values
- Descriptions by narrator and other characters
4. Identify similarities and differences
Although the assignment may say “compare,” the assumption is that you will compare and contrast—consider both the similarities and differences. Once you’ve determined the traits of each character, identify the similarities and differences between them. Focus on the overarching personal qualities or nature of the two characters rather than describing their physical features.
For example, if you’re writing about Pride and Prejudice , don’t write something like, “ Darcy is a man, and Elizabeth is a woman.” Instead, write something like this: “Despite the fact that Darcy is a man and rich and Elizabeth is a woman and relatively poor, they share the following characteristics: ____.” And then finish by supplying striking examples in a way that explains the novel for your readers.
5. Formulate a thesis
Your thesis statement should reflect your purpose for comparing two characters and incorporate the effects their similarities and differences have on your essay. Refer back to your purpose for comparing characters as well as your list of similarities and differences in order to formulate the main claim you’re making in the essay.
For example:
- Though both members of the same social circles, Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker reveal the freedoms and restrictions imposed on women in The Great Gatsby .
- Though both receive prophecies from the witches. Macbeth and Banquo react differently to the news, illustrating through contrast the corrupting effects of power and pride.
6. Form a conclusion
Fill in the blanks of the following statements:
- “I am comparing these two characters in order to show ____ about the work.”
- “These characters share the following characteristics: ___.”
- “These characters differ in the following ways: ____.”
- “These similarities and differences relate to the essential meaning of the work because ____.”
Once you’re able to complete these statements, refer back to your thesis for your character comparison. Have you gathered enough information to make an accurate comparison between the two characters? Have you demonstrated your understanding of the work as a whole?
For example, If you’re writing about Shakespeare’s Hamlet and you compare Marcellus and Gertrude , you’ve pretty much demonstrated you don’t understand the play well, because there’s little meaningful connection between the two. On the other hand, if you compare Ophelia and Hamlet , as two adults following their respective fathers’ advice to their deaths, you’ve demonstrated superior comprehension.
7. Structure your comparison
Consider how you will compare the characters. Broadly speaking, there are two general ways to structure your comparison:
- You can write about both characters in each paragraph (paragraph 2: A’s appearance, B’s appearance; paragraph 3: A’s motivation, B’s motivation, etc).
- You can write all about A, then all about B, and relate both characters to each other in a following paragraph.
No matter which structure you choose, remember why you’re comparing these two characters. You must always make a larger argument about the meaning of the similarities and differences, and you must always support those arguments with specific examples from the work.
Once you’ve outlined the structure of your character comparison, you’re finally ready to write! Make sure that all of the information in your essay is accurate and can be supported by the text. Once you’ve finished writing, it’s always a good idea to proofread your work and make revisions if necessary.
For more how-to lessons, visit eNotes’ How To Series .
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How to Write a Character Comparison
How to write a character comparison in 8 steps.
Last Updated on June 1, 2019, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 890
Sometimes two characters are clearly alike, while other times it’s not as obvious. In order to write a successful character comparison, you must move beyond a description of the characters and analyze how they relate to each other. You should examine both characters’ individual roles in their respective literary works to understand how they contribute to the overall meaning of the text.
Writing an essay? Get a custom outline
Our Essay Lab can help you tackle any essay assignment within seconds, whether you’re studying Macbeth or the American Revolution. Try it today!
Let’s take a look at eight steps for writing a character comparison.
1.) Choose two characters
The first step to writing a character comparison is to determine two characters you want to compare. Before you start comparing, revisit parts of the text where each character appears. Take note of the various character descriptions throughout the text and become familiar with the role of each character.
A few popular choices for writing character comparisons:
- Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov, Crime and Punishment
- Hamlet and Laertes, Hamlet
- Lucy Manette and Madame Defarge, A Tale of Two Cities
- Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker, The Great Gatsby
2.) Establish a purpose for comparison
Why are you comparing these two specific characters? Are you comparing to find meaningful similarities and differences or is it to demonstrate your understanding of the work as a whole? By establishing a purpose, you’re laying the foundation for your comparison and can refer back to it when you start to analyze each character.
Several reasons for comparing two characters:
- Compare how each character’s actions and attributes affect the plot
- Major similarities or differences in character can show what themes the author wants to emphasize
- Explain how the relationship between the characters provides deeper understanding of the themes
3.) Describe the characters
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This is a good time to refer to any earlier notes you’ve taken about specific characters in the text: physical descriptions, style of dialogue, narrative elements, etc.. It may be helpful to create a two column chart where you can list the traits of each character and cross reference your findings. Remember to always cite direct textual evidence!
Important points to consider:
- Physical descriptions
- Beliefs / Values
- Descriptions by narrator and other characters
4.) Identify similarities and differences
Although the assignment may say “compare,” the assumption is that you will compare and contrast—consider both the similarities and differences. Once you’ve determined the traits of each character, identify the similarities and differences between them. Focus on the overarching personal qualities or nature of the two characters rather than describing their physical features.
For example, if you're writing about Pride and Prejudice , don't write something like, "Darcy is a man, and Elizabeth is a woman." Instead, write something like this: "Despite the fact that Darcy is a man and rich and Elizabeth is a woman and relatively poor, they share the following characteristics: ____." And then finish by supplying striking examples in a way that explains the novel for your readers.
5.) Formulate a thesis
Your thesis statement should reflect your purpose for comparing two characters and incorporate the effects their similarities and differences have on your essay. Refer back to your purpose for comparing characters as well as your list of similarities and differences in order to formulate the main claim you’re making in the essay.
For example:
- Though both members of the same social circles, Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker reveal the freedoms and restrictions imposed on women in The Great Gatsby .
- Though both receive prophecies from the witches. Macbeth and Banquo react differently to the news, illustrating through contrast the corrupting effects of power and pride.
6.) Form a conclusion
Fill in the blanks of the following statements:
- "I am comparing these two characters in order to show ____ about the work."
- "These characters share the following characteristics: ___."
- "These characters differ in the following ways: ____."
- "These similarities and differences relate to the essential meaning of the work because ____."
Once you’re able to complete these statements, refer back to your thesis for your character comparison. Have you gathered enough information to make an accurate comparison between the two characters? Have you demonstrated your understanding of the work as a whole?
For example, If you're writing about Shakespeare's Hamlet and you compare Marcellus and Gertrude, you've pretty much demonstrated you don’t understand the play well, because there's little meaningful connection between the two. On the other hand, if you compare Ophelia and Hamlet, as two adults following their respective fathers' advice to their deaths, you've demonstrated superior comprehension.
7.) Structure your comparison
Consider how you will compare the characters. Broadly speaking, there are two general ways to structure your comparison:
- You can write about both characters in each paragraph (paragraph 2: A's appearance, B's appearance; paragraph 3: A's motivation, B's motivation, etc).
- You can write all about A, then all about B, and relate both characters to each other in a following paragraph.
No matter which structure you choose, remember why you're comparing these two characters. You must always make a larger argument about the meaning of the similarities and differences, and you must always support those arguments with specific examples from the work.
Once you’ve outlined the structure of your character comparison, you’re finally ready to write! Make sure that all of the information in your essay is accurate and can be supported by the text. Once you’ve finished writing, it’s always a good idea to proofread your work and make revisions if necessary.
Cite this page as follows:
"How to Write a Character Comparison - How to Write a Character Comparison in 8 Steps " eNotes Publishing Ed. eNotes Editorial. eNotes.com, Inc. eNotes.com 2 Mar. 2023 <https://www.enotes.com/topics/how-write-character-comparison#how-to-how-write-character-comparison>
Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates.
- If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original publication in traditional print. The second is the date of publication online or last modification online. The last date is today's date — the date you are citing the material.
- If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. The second date is today's date — the date you are citing the material.
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Compare and Contrast Essay: Full Writing Guide and 150+ Topics
Compare and contrast essays are academic papers in which a student analyses two or more subjects with each other. To compare means to explore similarities between subjects, while to contrast means to look at their differences. Both subjects of the comparison are usually in the same category, although they have their differences. For example, it can be two movies, two universities, two cars etc.
Good compare and contrast papers focus on a central point, explaining the importance and implications of this analysis. A compare and contrast essay thesis must make a meaningful comparison. Find the central theme of your essay and do some brainstorming for your thesis.
This type of essay is very common among college and university students. Professors challenge their students to use their analytical and comparative skills and pay close attention to the subjects of their comparisons. This type of essay exercises observance and analysis, helps to establish a frame of reference, and makes meaningful arguments about a subject. Let's get deeper with our research writing services .
Video Guide on How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay
Here is the video guide from our college essay writer .
How to Start a Compare and Contrast Essay: Brainstorm Similarities and Differences
When you are set with your topic, the first thing you should do is grab a piece of paper and make a list with two columns: similarities and differences. Jot down key things first, the most striking ones. Then try to look at the subjects from a different angle, incorporate your imagination.
If you are more of a visual learner, creating a Venn diagram might be a good idea. In order to create it, draw two circles that overlap. In the section where it overlaps, note similarities. Differences should be written in the part of circle that does not overlap.
Let’s look at a simple example. Let one of the subjects be oranges, and the other one be apples. Oranges have thick peel, originally from India, and are tropical fruit. These characteristics pertain only to oranges and should be in the part of the circle that does not overlap. For the same section on apples, we put thin peel, originated in Turkey or Kazakhstan, and moderate to subtropical. In the section that overlaps, let’s put that they are both fruit, can be juiced, and grow on trees. This simple, yet good example illustrates how the same concept can be applied to many other complicated topics with additional points of comparison and contrast.
This format of visual aid helps to organize similarities and differences and make them easier to perceive. Your diagram will give you a clear idea of the things you can write about.
Another good idea for brainstorming in preparation for your comparison contrast essay is to create a list with 2 columns, one for each subject, and compare the same characteristics for each of them simultaneously. This format will make writing your comparison contrast paper argument a breeze, as you will have your ideas ready and organized.
One mistake you should avoid is simply listing all of the differences or similarities for each subject. Sometimes students get too caught up in looking for similarities and differences that their compare and contrast essays end up sounding like grocery lists. Your essay should be based on analyzing the similarities and differences, analyzing your conclusions about the two subjects, and finding connections between them—while following a specific format.
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Compare and Contrast Essay Structure and Outline
Compare and contrast papers rely heavily on factual analysis. Two outline methods can help you organize your facts: use the block method, or point-by-point method, to write a compare and contrast essay outline.
While using the block structure , all the information is presented for the first subject, and its characteristics and specific details are explained. This concludes one block. The second block takes the same approach as the first for the second subject.
The point-by-point structure lists each similarity and difference simultaneously—making notes of both subjects. For example, you can list a characteristic specific to one subject, followed by its similarity or difference to the other subject.
Both formats have their pros and cons. The block method is clearly easier to write, as you simply point out all of the information about the two subjects, and basically leave it to the reader to do the comparison. The point-by-point format requires you to analyze the points yourself while making similarities and differences more explicit to the reader for them to be easier to understand. Here is a detailed structure of each type presented below.
Point-by-Point Method
- Introduce the topic;
- Specify your theme;
- Present your thesis - cover all areas of the essay in one sentence.
Example thesis: Cars and motorcycles make for excellent means of transportation, but a good choice depends on the person’s lifestyle, finances, and the city they live in.
Body Paragraph 1 - LIFESTYLE
- Topic Sentence: Motorcycles impact the owner’s lifestyle less than cars.
- Topic 1 - Motorcycles
- ~ Argument: Motorcycles are smaller and more comfortable to store.
- ~ Argument: Motorcycles are easy to learn and use.
- Topic 2 - Cars
- ~ Argument: Cars are a big deal - they are like a second home.
- ~ Argument: It takes time to learn to become a good driver.
Body Paragraph 2 - FINANCES
- Topic sentence: Cars are much more expensive than motorcycles
- ~ Argument: You can buy a good motorcycle for under 300$.
- ~ Argument: Fewer parts that are more accessible to fix.
- ~ Argument: Parts and service are expensive if something breaks.
- ~ Argument: Cars need more gas than motorcycles.
Body Paragraph 3 - CITY
- Topic sentence: Cars are a better option for bigger cities with wider roads.
- ~ Argument: Riding motorcycles in a big city is more dangerous than with cars.
- ~ Argument: Motorcycles work great in a city like Rome, where all the streets are narrow.
- ~ Argument: Big cities are easier and more comfortable to navigate by car.
- ~ Argument: With a car, traveling outside of the city is much easier.
- Sum up all you wrote in the article.
Block Method
- Thesis — cover all areas of the essay in one sentence
Body Paragraph 1
- Topic Sentence: Motorcycles are cheaper and easier to take care of than cars.
- Aspect 1 - Lifestyle
- Aspect 2 - Finances
- ~ Argument: Fewer parts, easier to fix.
- Aspect 3 - City
- ~ Argument: Riding motorcycles in a big city is more dangerous than cars.
Body Paragraph 2
- Topic sentence: Cars are more expensive but more comfortable for a big city and for travelling.
- ~ Argument: Cars are a big deal—like a second home.
- ~ Argument: With a car, traveling outside the city is much more comfortable.
Body Paragraph 3
Use the last paragraph to evaluate the comparisons and explain why they’re essential. Giving a lot of facts can be intense. To water it down, try to give the reader any real-life applications of these facts.
Depending on the structure selected, you can begin to create an outline for your essay. The typical structure for any essay follows the format of having an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion — though, if you need to focus on each subject in more detailed ways, feel free to include an extra paragraph to cover all of the most important points.
To make your compare and contrast essay flow better, we recommend using special transition words and phrases. They will add variety and improve your paper overall.
For the section where you compare two subjects, you can include any of the following words: similarly, likewise, also, both, just like, similar to, the same as, alike, or to compare to. When contrasting two subjects, use: in contrast, in comparison, by comparison, on the other hand, while, whereas, but, to differ from, dissimilar to, or unlike.
Show Your Evidence
Arguments for any essay, including compare and contrast essays, need to be supported by sufficient evidence. Make good use of your personal experiences, books, scholarly articles, magazine and newspaper articles, movies, or anything that will make your argument sound credible. For example, in your essay, if you were to compare attending college on campus vs. distance-based learning, you could include your personal experiences of being a student, and how often students show up to class on a daily basis. You could also talk about your experience taking online classes, which makes your argument about online classes credible as well.
Helpful Final Tips
The biggest tip dissertation writing services can give you is to have the right attitude when writing a compare and contrast essay, and actively engage the reader in the discussion. If you find it interesting, so will your reader! Here are some more compare and contrast essay tips that will help you to polish yours up:
- Compare and contrast essays need powerful transitions. Try learning more about custom writing transition sentences using the words we provided for you in the “Compare and Contrast Structure and Outline” section.
- Always clarify the concepts you introduce in your essay. Always explain lesser known information—don’t assume the reader must already know it.
- Do not forget to proofread. Small mistakes, but in high quantities, can result in a low grade. Pay attention to your grammar and punctuation.
- Have a friend or family member take a look at your essay; they may notice things you have missed.
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples
Now that you know everything there is to know about compare and contrast essays, let’s take a look at some examples to get you started on your paper or get a hand from our essay helper .
Different countries across the world have diverse cultural practices, and this has an effect on work relationships and development. Geert Hofstede came up with a structured way of comparing cultural dimensions of different countries. The theory explains the impacts of a community’s culture on the values of the community members, and the way these values relate to their behaviors. He gives scores as a way to help distinguish people from different nations using the following dimensions: long-term orientation, individualism, power distance, indulgence, necessity avoidance, and masculinity. Let us examine comparisons between two countries: the United Kingdom and China — based on Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of Culture.
Over the last two decades, the demand from consumers for organic foods has increased tremendously. In fact, the popularity of organic foods has exploded significantly with consumers, spending a considerably higher amount of money on them as compared to the amount spent on inorganic foods. The US market noted an increase in sales of more than 10% between 2014 and 2015 (Brown, n.p). The increase is in line with the views of many consumers that organic foods are safer, tastier, and healthier compared to the inorganic foods. Furthermore, considering the environmental effects of foods, organic foods present less risk of environmental pollution — compared to inorganic foods. By definition, organic foods are those that are grown without any artificial chemical treatment, or treatment by use of other substances that have been modified genetically, such as hormones and/or antibiotics (Brown, n.p).
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Finding the Best Compare and Contrast Essay Topics For You
When choosing a topic for your essay, remember that subjects cannot be drastically different, because there would be little to no points of comparison (similarities). The same goes for too many similarities, which will result in poor contrasts. For example, it is better to write about two composers, rather than a composer and a singer.
It is extremely important to choose a topic you are passionate about. You never want to come across something that seems dull and uninspiring for you. Here are some excellent ways to brainstorm for a topic from essay writer :
- Find categories: Choose a type (like animals, films or economics), and compare subjects within that category – wild animals to farm animals, Star Wars to Star Trek, private companies to public companies, etc.
- Random Surprising Fact: Dig for fun facts which could make great topics. Did you know that chickens can be traced back to dinosaurs?
- Movie vs. Book: Most of the time, the book is better than the movie — unless it’s Blade Runner or Lord of the Rings. If you’re a pop culture lover, compare movies vs. books, video games, comics, etc.
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How to Choose a Great Compare and Contrast Topic
College students should consider providing themselves with a chance to use all topic examples. With enough revision, an advantage is gained. As it will be possible to compare arguments and contrast their aspects. Also, discuss numerous situations to get closer to the conclusion.
For example:
- Choose a topic from the field of your interests. Otherwise you risk failing your paper.
- It is a good idea to choose a topic based upon the class subject or specialist subject. (Unless the requirements says otherwise.)
- Analyze each argument carefully. Include every detail for each opposing idea. Without doing so, can definitely lower grades.
- Write a conclusion that summarizes both arguments. It should allow readers to find the answer they’re looking for.
- It is up to you to determine which arguments are right and wrong in the final conclusion.
- Before approaching the final conclusion, it’s important to discuss each argument equally. It is a bad idea to be biased, as it can also lower grades.
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150 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics to Consider
Compare and contrast essay topics for college students.
When attending a college, at any time your professor can assign you the task of writing this form of an essay. Consider these topics for college students from our custom essay writing team to get the grades you deserve.
- Attending a College Course Vs. Distance-Based Learning.
- Writing a Research Paper Vs. Writing a Creative Writing Paper. What are the differences and similarities?
- The differences between a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree.
- The key aspects of the differences between the US and the UK education systems.
- Completing assignments at a library compared with doing so at home. Which is the most efficient?
- The similarities and differences in the behaviour among married and unmarried couples.
- The similarities and differences between the EU (European Union) and ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations)?
- The similarities and significant differences between American and Canadian English.
- Writing an Internship Report Vs. Writing a Research Paper
- The differences between US college and colleges in the EU?
Interesting Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
Some topics for the compare and contrast essay format can be boring. To keep up motivation, doing a research , have a look at these topics. Maybe they can be your research paper help .
- Public Transport Vs. Driving A Car. Which is more efficient?
- Mandarin Vs. Cantonese: What are the differences between these Chinese languages?
- Sports Cars Vs. Luxurious Family Cars
- Wireless Technology Vs. Wired Devices
- Thai Food Vs. Filipino Cuisine
- What is the difference and similarities between a register office marriage and a traditional marriage?
- The 2000s Vs. the 2010s. What are the differences and what makes them similar?
- Abu Dhabi Vs. Dubai. What are the main factors involved in the differences?
- What are the differences between American and British culture?
- What does the New York Metro do differently to the London Underground?
Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for High School Students
When writing essays for high school, it is good to keep them informative. Have a look at these topics.
- Highschool Life Vs. College Life
- Paying College Fees Vs. Being Awarded a Scholarship
- All Night Study Sessions Vs. Late Night Parties
- Teenager Vs. Young Adult Relationships
- Being in a Relationship Vs. Being Single
- Male Vs. Female Behavior
- The similarities and differences between a high school diploma and a college degree
- The similarities and differences between Economics and Business Studies
- The benefits of having a part-time job, instead of a freelance job, in college
- High School Extra Curricular Activities Vs. Voluntarily Community Services
Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Science
At some point, every science student will be assigned this type of essay. To keep things at flow, have a look at best topics for all sciences from our service.
- Undiscovered Species on Earth Vs. Potential Life on Mars: What will we discover in the future?
- The benefits of Gasoline Powered Cars Vs. Electric Powered Cars
- The differences of the Milky Way Vs. Centaurus (Galaxies).
- Earthquakes Vs. Hurricanes: What should be prepared for the most?
- The differences between our moon and Mars’ moons.
- SpaceX Vs. NASA. What is done differently within these organizations?
- The differences and similarities between Stephen Hawking and Brian Cox’s theories on the cosmos. Do they agree or correspond with each other?
- Pregnancy Vs. Motherhood
- Jupiter Vs. Saturn
- Greenhouse Farming Vs. Polytunnel Farming
Sports & Leisure Topics
Studying Physical Education? Or a gym fanatic? Have a look at our compare and contrast essay topics for sports and leisure.
- The English Premier League Compared With The Bundesliga
- Real Madrid Vs. Barcelona
- Football Vs. Basketball
- Walking Vs. Eating Outside with Your Partner
- Jamaica Team Vs. United States Team: Main Factors and Differences
- Formula One Vs. Off-Road Racing
- Germany Team Vs. Brazil Team
- Morning Exercise Vs. Evening Exercise.
- Manning Team Vs. Brazil Team
- Swimming Vs. Cycling
Topics About Culture
Cultural can have several meanings. If you’re an Religious Studies or Culture student, take a look at these good compare and contrast essay topics about culture.
- The fundamental similarities and differences between Pope Francis and Tawadros II of Alexandria
- Canadian Vs. Australian Religion
- The differences between Islamic and Christian Holidays
- The cultural similarities and differences between the Native Aboriginals and Caucasian Australians
- Native American Culture Vs. New England Culture
- The cultural differences and similarities between Italians and Sicilians
- In-depth: The origins of Buddhism and Hinduism
- In-depth: The origins of Christianity and Islam
- Greek Gods Vs. Hindu Gods
- The Bible: Old Testament Vs. New Testament
Unique Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
What about writing an essay which is out of the ordinary? Consider following these topics to write a compare and contrast essay on, that are unique.
- The reasons why some wealthy people pay extortionate amounts of money for gold-plated cell phones, rather than buying the normal phone.
- The differences between Lipton Tea and Ahmad Tea
- American Football Vs. British Football: What are their differences?
- The differences and similarities between France and Britain
- Fanta Vs. 7Up
- Traditional Helicopters Vs. Lifesize Drones
- The differences and similarities between Boston Dynamics and the fictional equivalent Skynet (From Terminator Movies).
- Socialism Vs. Capitalism: Which is better?
- Curved Screen TVs’ Vs. Regular Flat Screen TVs’: Are they really worth big bucks?
- Is it better to wear black or white at funerals?
Good Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
Sometimes, it may be a requirement to take it back a notch. Especially if you’re new to these style of writing. Consider having a look at these good compare and contrast essay topics that are pretty easy to start off.
- Is it a good idea to work on weekdays or weekends?
- Black of White Coffee
- Becoming a teacher or a doctor? Which career choice has more of an impacton society?
- Air Travel Vs. Sea Travel: Which is better?
- Rail Travel Vs. Road Travel: Which is more convenient?
- What makes Europe far greater than Africa. In terms of financial growth, regulations, public fund, policies etc…
- Eating fruit for breakfast Vs. cereals
- Staying Home to Read Vs. Travelling the World During Holidays. Which is more beneficial for personal growth?
- Japanese Vs. Brazilian Cuisine
- What makes ASEAN Nations more efficient than African Nations?
Compare and Contrast Essay Topics About TV Shows, Music and Movies
We all enjoy act least on of these things. If not, all of them. Why not have a go at writing a compare and contrast essay about what you have been recently watching or listening to?
- Breaking Bad Vs. Better Call Saul: Which is more commonly binge watched?
- The differences between Dance Music and Heavy Metal
- James Bond Vs. Johnny English
- Iron Man Vs. The Incredible Hulk: Who would win?
- What is done differently in modern movies, compared to old black and white movies?
- Dumber and Dumber 2 Vs. Ted: Which movie is funnier?
- Are Horror movies or Action Movies best suited to you?
- The differences and similarities between Mozart and Beethoven compositions.
- Hip Hop Vs. Traditional Music
- Classical Music Vs. Pop Music. Which genre helps people concentrate?
Topics About Art
Sometimes, art students are required to write this style of essay. Have a look at these compare and contrast essay topics about the arts of the centuries.
- The fundamental differences and similarities between paintings and sculptures
- The painting different styles of Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo Da Vinci.
- Viewing Original Art Compared With Digital Copies. How are these experiences different?
- 18th Century Paintings Vs. 21st Century Digitally Illustrated Images
- German Art Vs. American Art
- Modern Painting Vs. Modern Photography
- How can we compare modern graphic designers to 18th-century painters?
- Ancient Greek Art Vs. Ancient Egyptian Art
- Ancient Japanese Art Vs. Ancient Persian Art
- What 16th Century Painting Materials were used compared with the modern day?
Best Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
Almost every student at any stage of academics is assigned this style of writing. If you’re lacking inspiration, consider looking at some of the best compare and contrast essay topics to get you on track with your writing.
- The United States and North Korea Governmental Conflict: What is the reason behind this phenomenon?
- In the Early Hours, Drinking Water is far healthier than consuming soda.
- The United States Vs. The People’s Republic of China: Which economy is the most efficient?
- Studying in Foreign Countries Vs. Studying In Your Hometown: Which is more of an advantage?
- Toast Vs. Cereal: Which is the most consumed in the morning?
- Sleeping Vs. Daydreaming: Which is the most commonly prefered? And amongst who?
- Learning French Vs. Chinese: Which is the most straightforward?
- Android Phones Vs. iPhones
- The Liberation of Slaves Vs. The Liberation of Women: Which is more remembered?
- The differences between the US Dollar and British Pound. What are their advantages? And How do they correspond with each other?
Easy Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
In all types of academics, these essays occur. If you’re new to this style of writing, check our easy compare and contrast essay topics.
- The Third Reich Vs. North Korea
- Tea Vs. Coffee
- iPhone Vs. Samsung
- KFC Vs. Wendy’s
- Laurel or Yanny?
- Healthy Lifestyle Vs. Obese Lifestyle
- Forkes Vs. Sporks
- Rice Vs. Porridge
- Roast Dinner Vs. Chicken & Mushroom Pie
- What’s the difference between apples and oranges?
Psychology Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
Deciding upon good compare and contrast essay topics for psychology assignments can be difficult. Consider referring to our list of 10 psychology compare and contrast essay topics to help get the deserved grades.
- What is a more severe eating order? Bulimia or Anorexia
- Modern Medicine Vs. Traditional Medicine for Treating Depression?
- Soft Drugs Vs. Hard Drugs. Which is more dangerous for people’s psychological well-being?
- How do the differences between Lust and Love have an effect on people’s mindsets?
- Ego Vs. Superego
- Parents Advice Vs. Peers Advice amongst children and teens.
- Strict Parenting Vs. Relaxed Parenting
- Mental Institutions Vs. Stress Clinics
- Bipolar Disorder Vs. Epilepsy
- How does child abuse affect victims in later life?
Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Sixth Graders
From time to time, your teacher will assign the task of writing a compare and contrast essay. It can be hard to choose a topic, especially for beginners. Check out our easy compare and contrast essay topics for sixth graders.
- Exam Preparation Vs. Homework Assignments
- Homeschooling Vs. Public Education
- High School Vs. Elementary School
- 5th Grade Vs. 6th Grade: What makes them different or the same?
- Are Moms’ or Dads’ more strict among children?
- Is it better to have strict parents or more open parents?
- Sandy Beaches Vs. Pebble Beaches: Which beaches are more popular?
- Is it a good idea to learn guitar or piano?
- Is it better to eat vegetable salads or pieces of fruit for lunch?
- 1st Grade Vs. 6th Grade
Funny Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
Sometimes, it is good to have a laugh. As they always say : “laughter is the best medicine”. Check out these funny compare and contrast essay topics for a little giggle when writing.
- What is the best way to waste your time? Watching Funny Animal Videos or Mr. Bean Clips?
- Are Pug Dogs or Maltese Dogs crazier?
- Pot Noodles Vs. McDonalds Meals.
- What is the difference between Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson?
- Mrs. Doubtfire Vs. Mrs. Brown. How are they similar?
- Which game is more addictive? Flappy Bird or Angry Birds?
- Big Shaq Vs. PSY
- Stewie Griffin Vs. Maggie Simpson
- Quarter Pounders Vs. Big Macs
- Mr. Bean Vs. Alan Harper
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Compare And Contrast Essay Guide
Compare And Contrast Essay Examples
Last updated on: Feb 9, 2023
Good Compare and Contrast Essay Examples For Your Help
By: Barbara P.
Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.
Published on: Mar 17, 2020
Working on a compare and contrast essay can be an enriching experience for students. They get a chance to analyze different things, and this is what makes the process so exciting. Compare and contrast essay topics for college students mostly include non-fiction books and articles.
However, if you are worried about writing your essay, we have some good compare and contrast essay examples that simplify your writing phase.
On this Page
Good Compare and Contrast Essay Examples
A compare and contrast essay is all about comparing two subjects. Writing essays is not always easy, but it can be made easier with help from the examples before you write your own first. The examples will give you an idea of the perfect compare and contrast essay. We have gathered an example that will help you to understand how this type of essay is written.
SAMPLE COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY INTRODUCTION EXAMPLE
BOOK COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
CITY COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
CATS & DOGS COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
SCIENCE & ART COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
E-BOOKS & HARDBACK BOOKS COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
HOMESCHOOLING BOOKS COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
PARENTING STYLES COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
CONVENTIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
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Compare and Contrast Essay Examples University
Compare and contrast paper is a common assignment for university students. This type of essay tells the reader how two subjects are the same or different from each other. Also, show the points of comparison between two subjects.
Look at the example that is mentioned below and create a well-written essay.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE UNIVERSITY
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples College
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE COLLEGE
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples High School
Compare and contrast essays are often assigned to high school students to help them improve their analytical skills. In addition, some teachers assign this type of essay because it is a great way for students to improve their analytical and writing skills.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE HIGH SCHOOL
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE 9TH GRADE
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples Middle school
In middle school, students have the opportunity to write a compare and contrast essay. It does not require an expert level of skills, but it is still a way to improve writing skills.
Middle school students can easily write a compare and contrast essay with a little help from examples. We have gathered excellent examples of this essay that you can use to get started.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLES 5TH GRADE
Literary Analysis Compare and Contrast Essay Examples
The perfect way to inform readers about the pros and cons of two subjects is with a comparison and contrast essay. It starts by stating the thesis statement, and then you explain why these two subjects are being compared in this essay.
The following is an example that you can use for your help.
LITERARY ANALYSIS COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE
Compare and Contrast Essay Conclusion Example
The conclusion of an essay is the last part, in which you wrap up everything. It should not include a story but rather summarize the whole document so readers have something meaningful they can take away from it.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY CONCLUSION EXAMPLE
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Compare and Contrast Essay Writing Tips
A compare and contrast essay presents the facts point by point, and mostly, the argumentative essay uses this compared contrasted technique for its subjects.
If you are looking for some easy and simple tips to craft a perfectly researched and structured compare and contrast essay, we will not disappoint you.
Following are some quick tips that you can keep in mind while writing your essay:
- Choose the essay topic carefully.
- Research and brainstorm the points that make them similar and different.
- Create and add your main statement and claim.
- Create a Venn diagram and show the similarities and differences.
- Choose the design through which you will present your arguments and claims.
- Create compare and contrast essay outline. Use either block method and point-by-point structure.
- Research and add credible supporting evidence.
- Use transitional words and phrases.
- Edit, proofread, and revise the essay before submission.
Not sure if you could write your comparison essay successfully? You don't need to take the risk either. Simply consult 5StarEssays.com , the best do essay for me? academic writing service specializing in providing high-quality essays and papers at affordable rates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do i write a compare and contrast essay.
Here are some steps that you should follow and write a great essay.
- Begin by brainstorming with a Venn diagram.
- Create a thesis statement.
- Develop an outline.
- Write the introduction.
- Write the body paragraphs.
- Write the conclusion.
- Proofreading.
How do you start a compare and contrast essay introduction?
When writing a compare and contrast essay, it is important to have an engaging introduction that will grab the reader's attention. A good way to do this would be by starting with a question or fact related to the topic to catch their interest.
What are some good compare and contrast essay topics?
Here are some good topics for compare and contrast essay:
- E-books or textbooks.
- Anxiety vs. Depression.
- Vegetables and fruits.
- Cinnamon vs. sugar.
- Similarities between cultural and traditional fashion trends.
How long is a compare and contrast essay?
Usually, a compare and contrast essay would consist of five paragraphs but there are no hard and fast rules regarding it. Some essays could be longer than five paragraphs, based on the scope of the topic of the essay.
What are the two methods for arranging a comparison and contrast essay?
The two ways to organize and arrange your compare and contrast essay. The first one is the Point-by-Point method and the second one is the Block method.
Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.
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- Compare and Contrast Essay - A Complete Guide With Topics & Examples
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What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay? Simple Examples To Guide You
- DESCRIPTION young woman using laptop with compare and contrast essay definition
- SOURCE TravelCouples / Moment / Getty Images / via Getty created by YourDictionary
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If you’ve ever gone clothes shopping and wondered at the merits of a warm yak wool sweater compared to a cool and breezy denim jacket, you’ve already gone through phase one of a compare and contrast essay. With just a document and some extra research, you could have a fully built essay about outerwear. But what is a compare and contrast essay, and how do you write a good one?
What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay?
A compare and contrast essay is a type of analytical or informative essay that explores the similarities and differences between two subjects, hopefully leading to some larger insight about the two.
That can seem pretty basic, but the real key is to make connections between the subjects that aren’t obvious. Greater insight in compare and contrast essays comes from looking at subtle, nuanced, or surprising similarities and differences.
Unlike argumentative or critical essays , compare and contrast essays aren’t really intended for you to make some sort of argument or state an opinion. That’s not to say you can’t state a claim about what you hope a reader should learn from comparing the two subjects, but this is very much about analyzing the subjects, not criticizing them.
Compare and Contrast Essay Template: General Format and Structure
The structure of a compare and contrast essay will depend largely on your subjects and the amount of space and time that you have, which might not always fit a five-paragraph essay assignment .
In its most basic form, a compare and contrast essay could look like:
- An introduction that provides background context and a thesis stating what you’re comparing and why
- A body paragraph discussing the similarities between the two subjects
- A body paragraph discussing the differences between the two subjects
- A conclusion that restates the thesis and looks at further potential questions for consideration
The biggest variation here will come in the body paragraphs. Aside from the above general structure, you could approach the similarities and differences using the block method, wherein you discuss all the information about one subject before discussing all the information about the second subject.
You can also use the point-by-point method. This involves dedicating one paragraph to each point of comparison. For example, you can spend one paragraph talking about how both the yak wool sweater and denim jacket will keep you warm, though to different degrees.
Examples of Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
Coming up with what to actually compare and contrast is half the battle, partly because you can potentially compare and contrast nearly anything. Use your brainstorming skills, figure out what interests you, and otherwise have fun with it.
If you need to get the cogs turning in your noggin, it doesn’t hurt to look at some example topics.
- American English vs. British English : What's the Difference?
- Android vs. iPhone: Which Has the Best Bang for Your Buck?
- Aphrodite or Hercules: Which Greek God Possessed More Power?
- Border Collies vs. Labrador Retrievers: Which Breed Is Better for Young Families?
- Coffee vs. Tea: Which One Is Healthier?
- Commuting or Dorming: What's the Best Way to Enjoy College?
- Facebook or Instagram: Which Will Help Your Business Grow?
- Irish and Scottish Mythology: What Themes Do They Share?
- Liberal Arts or the Sciences: Which Degree Program Offers More Job Prospects?
- Music and Poetry: Which Is More Personal?
- Music from the 1950s and the 1970s: Who Rocked It Out Better?
- PC vs. Mac: Which Computer Lasts Longer?
- The Bible vs. the Quran: What's the Difference?
Compare and Contrast Essay Example
You have a pretty solid idea of how to write a compare and contrast essay , but it doesn’t hurt to see what a compare and contrast essay could look like. We can’t write your essay for you because you might have some amazing, nuanced, and surprising insights on similarities and differences that we just won’t notice. Besides, we wouldn’t want to take that opportunity away from you anyway.
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Sample Compare and Contrast Essay Introduction
A compare and contrast essay’s introduction doesn’t have much variance from intros in other essays, so don’t skimp on the details here. Include a good hook and some basic background context. End with a thesis statement that discusses what you’re comparing and why the comparison even matters.
When people think monster , they might recall blood-draining vampires, brain-hungry zombies, or boogeymen under the bed. Few might consider the terrors of an amphibious puppet and a lonely ogre. While these two strange creatures might not have much in common, Fremont the Toad and Gerf (from the animated film series of the same name) present interesting similarities that help to understand both of them as deeper characters and closer to human than the audience may realize.
Compare and Contrast Essay Body Paragraph Examples
Body paragraphs for compare and contrast essays will see a lot of variance, maybe more so than any other essay type. This comes down to how you frame your comparison, what you want to focus on with your subjects, and countless other factors. In general, you’ll be highlighting the similarities and why they matter and highlighting the differences and why they matter.
Fremont and Gerf have some significant differences that set them apart in both goals and personalities. Fremont is a musical toad with big show business aspirations. In contrast, Gerf is an ogre with a self-imposed isolationist view. Fremont’s aspirations mean that he is constantly in interaction with others, from strangers to friends, as a means of learning and making connections to further his dreams. On the other hand, Gerf possesses no such dreams and instead prefers keeping others away as both a safety measure and defense mechanism. In spite of their differences, Fremont and Gerf do share some similarities. Aside from both being a similar shade of chartreuse, Fremont and Gerf share a similar home environment: the swamp. This flooded, damp biome acts as a place of hiding and solitude for both of them. This might run counter to Fremont’s big dreams, but to this talented toad, the swamp is a space to get away from the spotlight, to find himself. Gerf, however, must venture outside the swamp to understand himself better.
Compare and Contrast Essay Conclusion Example
You should always make your conclusions matter. It’s your opportunity to get a little cheesy, draw on other questions, and consider the “why” of your entire essay. Even if it’s the “last part” of your essay, your conclusion can inform the rest of your essay, so give it some extra thought.
Both Fremont the Toad and Gerf the ogre are mysterious creatures with some distinctly different aspirations. However, they both have a deeper need to connect to themselves while connecting to others. In other words, these two strange creatures may be more human than what viewers initially think, creating a deeper reading of their characters beyond the superficial.
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Two Character Compare/contrast
- Word count: 420
- Category: Character Contrast Mind Steinbeck
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The main characters from the stories Of Mice and Men and “The Scarlet Ibis”, Lennie and Doodle, have similar dependencies, yet are completely different people. The writers of the book Of Mice and Men, John Steinbech, and the writer of “The Scarlet Ibis”, James Hurst, outline characters that in certain characteristics, are almost exactly like or completely opposite. It is easily seen while reading these works the instant connection between these characters.
One of the first things noticed about a character is their physical features. Lennie and Doodle have many physical differences. First of all, Lennie is a very big man, and doodle is a very small boy. Also Lennie is very physically strong, something doodle is not. Doodle can barely walk nor do anything else because of his frail body, while Lennie can do almost anything he wants physically. It is their extremes that make them similar in their vulnerability.
Another thing I see when analyzing the characters of Lennie and Doodle are their mental differences. Doodle is a very imaginative, intelligent, child, always telling stories and pretending. Lennie is a slow adult, like a big child, Lennie by today’s standards would be considered mentally retarded. As said before, Doodle has a very expansive mind, while Lennie has a one-track mind. Lennie is very incapable mentally and usually needs a lot of help.
In these two tales there is a major theme of a certain companionship and relationship, something both Doodle and Lennie share. Doodle’s prognosis after berth was a near death, which did not come, instead Doodle grew up very weak, and a cripple for a while. Doodle’s brother was very important to him, he pulled him around, taught him to do things including walking, and was also just like a friend to Doodle. This relationship meant a lot to both of them. As for Lennie,”Lennie had George and George had Lennie”. Whenever Lennie needed some help or some guidance George was there. They meant a lot to each other like Doodle and his brother.
Physical and mental differences seem like simple traits but actually play a deep role in these writings. As I said earlier, Doodle and Lennie are very opposite physical and mental people, even so they share the need for a companion. Their relationships with other people provide what they can not provide for themselves. That’s what I think is the main theme of both pieces of writing and the most important characteristics between these two extreme and vulnerable individuals.
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Comparing and Contrasting
What this handout is about.
This handout will help you first to determine whether a particular assignment is asking for comparison/contrast and then to generate a list of similarities and differences, decide which similarities and differences to focus on, and organize your paper so that it will be clear and effective. It will also explain how you can (and why you should) develop a thesis that goes beyond “Thing A and Thing B are similar in many ways but different in others.”
Introduction
In your career as a student, you’ll encounter many different kinds of writing assignments, each with its own requirements. One of the most common is the comparison/contrast essay, in which you focus on the ways in which certain things or ideas—usually two of them—are similar to (this is the comparison) and/or different from (this is the contrast) one another. By assigning such essays, your instructors are encouraging you to make connections between texts or ideas, engage in critical thinking, and go beyond mere description or summary to generate interesting analysis: when you reflect on similarities and differences, you gain a deeper understanding of the items you are comparing, their relationship to each other, and what is most important about them.
Recognizing comparison/contrast in assignments
Some assignments use words—like compare, contrast, similarities, and differences—that make it easy for you to see that they are asking you to compare and/or contrast. Here are a few hypothetical examples:
- Compare and contrast Frye’s and Bartky’s accounts of oppression.
- Compare WWI to WWII, identifying similarities in the causes, development, and outcomes of the wars.
- Contrast Wordsworth and Coleridge; what are the major differences in their poetry?
Notice that some topics ask only for comparison, others only for contrast, and others for both.
But it’s not always so easy to tell whether an assignment is asking you to include comparison/contrast. And in some cases, comparison/contrast is only part of the essay—you begin by comparing and/or contrasting two or more things and then use what you’ve learned to construct an argument or evaluation. Consider these examples, noticing the language that is used to ask for the comparison/contrast and whether the comparison/contrast is only one part of a larger assignment:
- Choose a particular idea or theme, such as romantic love, death, or nature, and consider how it is treated in two Romantic poems.
- How do the different authors we have studied so far define and describe oppression?
- Compare Frye’s and Bartky’s accounts of oppression. What does each imply about women’s collusion in their own oppression? Which is more accurate?
- In the texts we’ve studied, soldiers who served in different wars offer differing accounts of their experiences and feelings both during and after the fighting. What commonalities are there in these accounts? What factors do you think are responsible for their differences?
You may want to check out our handout on understanding assignments for additional tips.
Using comparison/contrast for all kinds of writing projects
Sometimes you may want to use comparison/contrast techniques in your own pre-writing work to get ideas that you can later use for an argument, even if comparison/contrast isn’t an official requirement for the paper you’re writing. For example, if you wanted to argue that Frye’s account of oppression is better than both de Beauvoir’s and Bartky’s, comparing and contrasting the main arguments of those three authors might help you construct your evaluation—even though the topic may not have asked for comparison/contrast and the lists of similarities and differences you generate may not appear anywhere in the final draft of your paper.
Discovering similarities and differences
Making a Venn diagram or a chart can help you quickly and efficiently compare and contrast two or more things or ideas. To make a Venn diagram, simply draw some overlapping circles, one circle for each item you’re considering. In the central area where they overlap, list the traits the two items have in common. Assign each one of the areas that doesn’t overlap; in those areas, you can list the traits that make the things different. Here’s a very simple example, using two pizza places:
To make a chart, figure out what criteria you want to focus on in comparing the items. Along the left side of the page, list each of the criteria. Across the top, list the names of the items. You should then have a box per item for each criterion; you can fill the boxes in and then survey what you’ve discovered.
As you generate points of comparison, consider the purpose and content of the assignment and the focus of the class. What do you think the professor wants you to learn by doing this comparison/contrast? How does it fit with what you have been studying so far and with the other assignments in the course? Are there any clues about what to focus on in the assignment itself?
Here are some general questions about different types of things you might have to compare. These are by no means complete or definitive lists; they’re just here to give you some ideas—you can generate your own questions for these and other types of comparison. You may want to begin by using the questions reporters traditionally ask: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? If you’re talking about objects, you might also consider general properties like size, shape, color, sound, weight, taste, texture, smell, number, duration, and location.
Two historical periods or events
- When did they occur—do you know the date(s) and duration? What happened or changed during each? Why are they significant?
- What kinds of work did people do? What kinds of relationships did they have? What did they value?
- What kinds of governments were there? Who were important people involved?
- What caused events in these periods, and what consequences did they have later on?
Two ideas or theories
- What are they about?
- Did they originate at some particular time?
- Who created them? Who uses or defends them?
- What is the central focus, claim, or goal of each? What conclusions do they offer?
- How are they applied to situations/people/things/etc.?
- Which seems more plausible to you, and why? How broad is their scope?
- What kind of evidence is usually offered for them?
Two pieces of writing or art
- What are their titles? What do they describe or depict?
- What is their tone or mood? What is their form?
- Who created them? When were they created? Why do you think they were created as they were? What themes do they address?
- Do you think one is of higher quality or greater merit than the other(s)—and if so, why?
- For writing: what plot, characterization, setting, theme, tone, and type of narration are used?
- Where are they from? How old are they? What is the gender, race, class, etc. of each?
- What, if anything, are they known for? Do they have any relationship to each other?
- What are they like? What did/do they do? What do they believe? Why are they interesting?
- What stands out most about each of them?
Deciding what to focus on
By now you have probably generated a huge list of similarities and differences—congratulations! Next you must decide which of them are interesting, important, and relevant enough to be included in your paper. Ask yourself these questions:
- What’s relevant to the assignment?
- What’s relevant to the course?
- What’s interesting and informative?
- What matters to the argument you are going to make?
- What’s basic or central (and needs to be mentioned even if obvious)?
- Overall, what’s more important—the similarities or the differences?
Suppose that you are writing a paper comparing two novels. For most literature classes, the fact that they both use Caslon type (a kind of typeface, like the fonts you may use in your writing) is not going to be relevant, nor is the fact that one of them has a few illustrations and the other has none; literature classes are more likely to focus on subjects like characterization, plot, setting, the writer’s style and intentions, language, central themes, and so forth. 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. For example, if you are writing a paper about Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” and Coleridge’s “Frost at Midnight,” pointing out that they both have nature as a central theme is relevant (comparisons of poetry often talk about themes) but not terribly interesting; your class has probably already had many discussions about the Romantic poets’ fondness for nature. 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.
Your thesis
The thesis of your comparison/contrast paper is very important: it can help you create a focused argument and give your reader a road map so she/he doesn’t get lost in the sea of points you are about to make. As in any paper, you will want to replace vague reports of your general topic (for example, “This paper will compare and contrast two pizza places,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in some ways and different in others,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in many ways, but they have one major difference”) with something more detailed and specific. For example, you might say, “Pepper’s and Amante have similar prices and ingredients, but their atmospheres and willingness to deliver set them apart.”
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. In this case, the obvious question is “So what? Why should anyone care that Pepper’s and Amante are different in this way?” One might also wonder why the writer chose those two particular pizza places to compare—why not Papa John’s, Dominos, or Pizza Hut? Again, thinking about the context the class provides may help you answer such questions and make a stronger argument. Here’s a revision of the thesis mentioned earlier:
Pepper’s and Amante both offer a greater variety of ingredients than other Chapel Hill/Carrboro pizza places (and than any of the national chains), but the funky, lively atmosphere at Pepper’s makes it a better place to give visiting friends and family a taste of local culture.
You may find our handout on constructing thesis statements useful at this stage.
Organizing your paper
There are many different ways to organize a comparison/contrast essay. Here are two:
Subject-by-subject
Begin by saying everything you have to say about the first subject you are discussing, then move on and make all the points you want to make about the second subject (and after that, the third, and so on, if you’re comparing/contrasting more than two things). If the paper is short, you might be able to fit all of your points about each item into a single paragraph, but it’s more likely that you’d have several paragraphs per item. Using our pizza place comparison/contrast as an example, after the introduction, you might have a paragraph about the ingredients available at Pepper’s, a paragraph about its location, and a paragraph about its ambience. Then you’d have three similar paragraphs about Amante, followed by your conclusion.
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. This is usually not what college instructors are looking for in a paper—generally they want you to compare or contrast two or more things very directly, rather than just listing the traits the things have and leaving it up to the reader to reflect on how those traits are similar or different and why those similarities or differences matter. Thus, if you use the subject-by-subject form, you will probably want to have a very strong, analytical thesis and at least one body paragraph that ties all of your different points together.
A subject-by-subject structure can be a logical choice if you are writing what is sometimes called a “lens” comparison, in which you use one subject or item (which isn’t really your main topic) to better understand another item (which is). For example, you might be asked to compare a poem you’ve already covered thoroughly in class with one you are reading on your own. It might make sense to give a brief summary of your main ideas about the first poem (this would be your first subject, the “lens”), and then spend most of your paper discussing how those points are similar to or different from your ideas about the second.
Point-by-point
Rather than addressing things one subject at a time, you may wish to talk about one point of comparison at a time. There are two main ways this might play out, depending on how much you have to say about each of the things you are comparing. If you have just a little, you might, in a single paragraph, discuss how a certain point of comparison/contrast relates to all the items you are discussing. For example, I might describe, in one paragraph, what the prices are like at both Pepper’s and Amante; in the next paragraph, I might compare the ingredients available; in a third, I might contrast the atmospheres of the two restaurants.
If I had a bit more to say about the items I was comparing/contrasting, I might devote a whole paragraph to how each point relates to each item. For example, I might have a whole paragraph about the clientele at Pepper’s, followed by a whole paragraph about the clientele at Amante; then I would move on and do two more paragraphs discussing my next point of comparison/contrast—like the ingredients available at each restaurant.
There are no hard and fast rules about organizing a comparison/contrast paper, of course. Just be sure that your reader can easily tell what’s going on! Be aware, too, of the placement of your different points. If you are writing a comparison/contrast in service of an argument, keep in mind that the last point you make is the one you are leaving your reader with. For example, if I am trying to argue that Amante is better than Pepper’s, I should end with a contrast that leaves Amante sounding good, rather than with a point of comparison that I have to admit makes Pepper’s look better. If you’ve decided that the differences between the items you’re comparing/contrasting are most important, you’ll want to end with the differences—and vice versa, if the similarities seem most important to you.
Our handout on organization can help you write good topic sentences and transitions and make sure that you have a good overall structure in place for your paper.
Cue words and other tips
To help your reader keep track of where you are in the comparison/contrast, you’ll want to be sure that your transitions and topic sentences are especially strong. Your thesis should already have given the reader an idea of the points you’ll be making and the organization you’ll be using, but you can help her/him out with some extra cues. The following words may be helpful to you in signaling your intentions:
- like, similar to, also, unlike, similarly, in the same way, likewise, again, compared to, in contrast, in like manner, contrasted with, on the contrary, however, although, yet, even though, still, but, nevertheless, conversely, at the same time, regardless, despite, while, on the one hand … on the other hand.
For example, you might have a topic sentence like one of these:
- Compared to Pepper’s, Amante is quiet.
- Like Amante, Pepper’s offers fresh garlic as a topping.
- Despite their different locations (downtown Chapel Hill and downtown Carrboro), Pepper’s and Amante are both fairly easy to get to.
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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write a compare/contrast essay for the great gatsby.
Book Guides
These compare/contrast essays are an opportunity for you to tie the character similarities and differences to larger observations about society and class , the American Dream , or identity in the novel. They also allow you to practice standard English class skills: close reading, using lines from the text as evidence, and taking a stance and presenting a supporting argument in an essay.
We’ll go over some basic dos and don’ts for writing compare/contrast essays before diving into some analysis of the most asked-about character pairings. Keep reading if you have a Compare/Contrast assignment on the horizon!
Article Roadmap
- The do's of a compare and contrast essay
- The don'ts of a compare contrast essay
- Why some characters are paired for comparison more often than others
- Nick and Gatsby
- Tom and George
- Tom and Gatsby
- Daisy and Jordan
- Daisy and Myrtle
What to Do in a Compare/Contrast Essay
Like anything you write for English class, your essay should be clearly organized, with a thesis statement (a one-sentence summary of your argument), and topic sentences for each body paragraph.
And you should definitely have an overall argument! The point of the compare/contrast essay isn’t for you to just list the differences and similarities between two characters, you need to take those observations and make a larger argument about the novel as a whole . That larger argument allows you to practice writing an essay that contains an argument, which is a skill that nearly all English teachers are focused on building.
To take a quick example, don’t just list the differences between Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby. Instead, make an argument like, “Fitzgerald’s portrayal of wealthy New York society through Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan allows him to critique both old money and the newly rich, while reserving his most pointed critiques for the old money crowd.” (Obviously, that’s just one example, and there are dozens of potential arguments you could make while comparing and contrasting characters in Gatsby!)
Make sure to address your larger argument in each body paragraph as you draw out the similarities and differences between the two characters. Don’t get caught in the weeds as you tease out the many differences and similarities in each character pair. Always link back to the bigger picture.
Finally, analyze each quote you use – in other words, don’t stick a quote in your essay and do nothing with it. Make sure to explain how and why the quote demonstrates a key similarity or difference, and what that means for your bigger argument.
What to Avoid in a Compare/Contrast Essay
Don’t just list differences and similarities without an overarching argument . Although you can definitely start brainstorming by making a list of similarities and differences, just presenting that list in essay form won’t get you a good grade, since you need to go deeper and explain what the similarities/differences suggest about the novel as a whole.
And, on the other side, don’t make big claims without some evidence from the text to back them up . For example, don’t say “Tom is selfish while Gatsby cares about others.” Prove those two separate claims (Tom is selfish” and “Gatsby cares about others”) with relevant lines from the book. (And if you’re having a hard time locating good quotes, find a digital version of Gatsby you can search using the CTRL-F function. It’s a lifesaver when gathering relevant quotes for an essay!)
Why Are These Characters Paired Most Often?
We will tackle these major pairings in the next sections of this article:
Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby
Tom buchanan and jay gatsby, tom buchanan and george wilson, daisy buchanan and jordan baker, daisy buchanan and myrtle wilson.
Before we dig into the analysis, you might be wondering: “why are we only comparing characters of the same gender?” or maybe “why not other pairings? Why not Jordan and Myrtle, or Nick and Tom?” We are focusing on these specific pairings because they are by far the most commonly asked about pairs in essay prompts and discussion topics for The Great Gatsby . And we want this guide, first and foremost, to be helpful to students as you work on assignments involving Gatsby!
Furthermore, these pairings help teachers get you to explore some of the novel’s larger themes . For example, comparing Daisy/ Myrtle or Tom/George can help you explore the differences between the wealthy and the working class . Comparing Daisy/Myrtle or Daisy/Jordan can help you explore the changing status of women during the 1920s. Comparing Tom and Gatsby can get at the old money/new money divide . Finally, differences between Nick and Gatsby raise some of the novel’s larger questions about the American Dream , repeating the past, and identity. In short, these pairings have become common because they each allow fairly easy access to one of the novel’s larger issues.
That’s not to say you couldn’t also explore some of those themes by comparing, say, Jordan and George, or Daisy and Gatsby, but cross-gender compare/contrast essays can be challenging because the status of women and men is so different in the novel. If you are interested in seeing how a particular male and female character are paired, you may be better off studying them through the lens of love, desire, and relationships in the novel, or through the way they relate to one of the novel's symbols or motifs .
With those thoughts in mind, let's jump into the top 5 pairings! For each pairing, we will suggest a few possible larger arguments you can either build from or disagree with, but these are far from comprehensive! You should add to our analysis of the characters and come up with an argument you’re excited about.
Quick Note on Our Citations
Our citation format in this guide is (chapter.paragraph). We're using this system since there are many editions of Gatsby, so using page numbers would only work for students with our copy of the book. To find a quotation we cite via chapter and paragraph in your book, you can either eyeball it (Paragraph 1-50: beginning of chapter; 50-100: middle of chapter; 100-on: end of chapter), or use the search function if you're using an online or eReader version of the text.
Although Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway vary both in outlook and temperament, they are also alike in interesting ways. Despite somewhat similar desires, attitudes, and social positions, Nick and Gatsby make very different choices during the novel.
Love and Romance . Nick and Gatsby both want women that are out of their reach, although in different degrees. Daisy is miles above Gatsby in terms of social class. Jordan and Nick are of the same social status, but Jordan doesn't seem free to make her own decisions since an aunt controls her financial life. There is a significant passion gap between Gatsby and Nick as well. Gatsby obsesses over Daisy - he has thought of nothing else for five years, going as far as to buy a house across the bay from her just in case she notices. Nick, meanwhile, is attracted to Jordan's cool and self-sufficient demeanor, but he is clearly not in love with her, as he himself notes ("I wasn't actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity" (3.159)).
Approach to Women. Both men are not particularly interested in the inner lives of the women they want to be with. Gatsby is devastated when Daisy doesn't want to renounce her relationship with Tom completely. Similarly, Nick cavalierly discounts Jordan's penchant to lie, cheat, and generally be cynically uninterested in other people, and then is deeply disappointed when she acts this way after Myrtle's death.
Class and Social Standing. Although both Gatsby and Nick are outsiders to the wealthy communities of East and West Egg, Nick is a much more in-between character socially than Gatsby. Nick is familiar with the ways of the old money crowd because of his own family's privilege and the fact that he is related to Daisy. Gatsby is not only self-made, but is a criminal who is desperate to pass as part of the old money elite without knowing its customs or rules of behavior. What isolates Nick from East Egg life is his Midwestern values and the importance he places on morality and decency. Gatsby is isolated from everyone by the fact that he can never actually be himself - he is always playing a role and putting on his "Oxford man" persona. It may be this sense of feeling out of place that connects them.
Outlook and Temperament. Gatsby is an optimist (almost to a delusional degree) while Nick is a realist who finds Gatsby's idealism inspiring and admirable. Gatsby believes in his ability to shape his own life and future, which makes sense since he has managed to transform himself from a farmer to a successful gangster, to impersonate an "Oxford man," and to accumulate a fantastic amount of wealth in a very short time. This belief in his power translates to Gatsby being sure that he and Daisy can go back to their month of idyllic love ("'Can't repeat the past?', he cried incredulously. 'Why of course you can!'" (6.129). Nick tries his best to be an objective realist and to reign in his tendency to judge others. He is deeply in awe of self-directed men like Gatsby, and even Wolfshiem (Nick is amazed to think that one man could be behind a huge event like the rigged World Series).
Ambition. Gatsby dreams of greatness. As a young man his mind “romped like the mind of God,” and so as an adult, he seems to have made good on this promise by buying the most ridiculous mansion and throwing the most extravagant parties (6.134). Nick is much less ambitious in comparison. While he comes to New York seeking excitement, he doesn't want to be the wealthiest bond salesman on Wall Street or to have the biggest house. He is happy to be an observer at the edge of the drama rather than being in its midst.
Nick and Gatsby Essay Ideas
Here are potential arguments to build on or disagree with based our observations. These are certainly not the only possible arguments, so be creative! Make sure your essay considers what the similarities and differences between Nick and Gatsby reveal about the novel as a whole.
- Nick is a passive person and Gatsby is active, which is why Gatsby is the hero and Nick simply the observer.
- Nick has much more in common with Gatsby than he thinks he does, which explains why he becomes so enamored of him.
- Nick serves as a foil (someone who serves as a contrast) to Gatsby, which makes Nick the best possible observer of Gatsby.
- At the end of the novel, Tom says that Gatsby “threw dirt in [Nick’s] eyes, just like Daisy’s,” meaning that both Nick and Daisy were taken in and could never see the true Gatsby: a narcissist and a criminal. Tom is right - the whole novel is Nick trying to spin a negative character into a positive one.
As they battle over Daisy’s love, Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby sometimes seem surprisingly similar - particular in their self-centeredness, wealth, and concern with appearances. At the same time, these surface parallels point to major conflicts in their social class, and say a lot about the world of the novel.
Appearance. Gatsby is driven by his materialism to be very invested having fashionable clothes, a beautiful mansion, and visually overwhelming parties - for him, the outfit is the thing that makes the Oxford man . Meanwhile because Tom doesn't have to dress the part of the moneyed elite to be one, he is instead very attuned to the behavior of others. This is why he immediately sees how fake Gatsby's persona is, both because of Gatsby's overly ostentatious clothes, and because of how much Gatsby misreads the fake invitation from the Sloanes. Tom is never fooled into thinking that Gatsby is anything other than an upstart, and mostly likely a criminal one.
Self-Centeredness. Tom and Gatsby are both completely selfish, and fully convinced that their desires have to be acquiesced to by those around them. Tom, for example, starts his affair with Myrtle by pressing himself against her on a train platform - basically, his version of flirting is bodily assault. Gatsby, meanwhile, also thinks nothing of starting an affair with a married woman, assuming that his obsessive feelings are enough to justify any behavior.
Wealth. Despite the fact that both are unimaginably rich, these men come from totally different sides of the big money divide. Tom comes from old money and is forever worried about the encroachment of the nouveau riche, minorities, and others onto what he thinks is his. At the same time, Gatsby is the most successful of the novel's many ambitious social climbers, using his lack of ethical scruples to parlay his criminal activity into a higher social status.
Power. Tom loves being powerful and wields his power directly. He is physically aggressive and uses his body to threaten and intimidate (Nick, for one, is clearly very cowed by Tom's bulk). He is also quick to violence, whether it's socially sanctioned - like his football accomplishments - or not - like when he breaks Myrtle's nose without a second thought. Gatsby also holds significant power, but his methods are much more indirect. Still, whether he is offering Nick some illegal bond trading action, or showing off his get-out-of-a-ticket-free card to a cop on the highway, Gatsby is clearly happy to be in control of a situation.
Love. Tom and Gatsby both seem to be in love with Daisy. But what does that really mean to each of them? For Tom, Daisy is clearly partly appealing because she completes his horse-riding, East Egg, 350-thousand-dollar pearl necklace lifestyle. He cheats on her because he clearly has never denied himself anything, but he also understands Daisy as a person. He knows that she is too weak to leave him, but he also loves her enough to tolerate her affair with Gatsby and to stay with her after Myrtle's murder. Gatsby's love, on the other hand, is in some ways purer because he so idealizes Daisy and connects her to all of his other hopes and dreams. But this love is overly pure - he doesn't really seem to know Daisy as anything other than an idealized object, and is incapable of accepting that she has led a life apart from him for five years.
Tom and Gatsby Essay Ideas
In a compare/contrast essay, you can’t just present a list of similarities and differences. You also need to have an underlying argument you’re supporting. Feel free to take these at face value or as jumping-off points for your own thoughts.
- Tom loves Daisy as a person, Gatsby loves her as an idea.
- Both Tom and Gatsby’s tendency to control women and see them as prizes reveals the misogyny of the 1920s.
- Although Tom sees Gatsby as someone from an entirely different class than him, what they have in common (selfishness, affairs, obsession with appearances) makes a larger argument for an overall moral hollowness of the rich of any class.
- We see both Gatsby and Tom through the eyes of Nick, who worships one of them and hates the other. In reality, they are both much more similar than different, and their different treatment reveals Nick's insecurities and biases.
At first, most readers see Tom Buchanan and George Wilson as opposites. But, these markedly different characters face very similar circumstances and offer two takes on masculinity and power in the novel.
Appearance and Presence. Where Tom is strong and cowering, George is meek and shrinking. Tom exudes power and confidence while George tends to just fade into the background. These differences are borne out in the way these two men interact with the world. Tom is violent towards others, while George’s instinct is to be passive or to try and escape situations, the notable exceptions being his locking up of Myrtle and murder of Gatsby. Tom is confident, privileged, and assured while George is timid; George is “ruled by his wife” where Tom is selfish and acts on his own desires.
Reaction to Adversity. There is a dramatic difference in the way the two men react to the fact that their wives are cheating on them. Tom notices Daisy’s love for Gatsby and immediately starts making power plays. On the other hand, George discovers Myrtle’s affair and is undone by it. Nick compares the two men in a memorable description:
“the shock had made him physically sick. I stared at him and then at Tom, who had made a parallel discovery less than an hour before--and it occurred to me that there was no difference between men, in intelligence or race, so profound as the difference between the sick and the well. Wilson was so sick that he looked guilty, unforgivably guilty--as if he had just got some poor girl with child" (7.160).
In this description, Tom is “well” and George is “sick.” These are certainly arresting ways to describe Tom's more traditional masculinity and George's less overtly masculine character. Tom is self-assured in the face of adversity and immediately takes action to win Daisy back, insisting on driving Gatsby's car, bullying those around him into driving to Manhattan, and using his romance skills to remind Daisy of the pluses of their relationship. Meanwhile, George's weakness makes him look sick and guilty as he contemplates Myrtle's betrayal and is driven to violence to reassert his power over her.
Approach to Women. Both Tom and George assume they know what’s best for their wives: Tom dismisses Daisy’s professed love for Gatsby despite their obvious closeness, while George is determined to take Myrtle out west once he learns about the affair. But, while it seems that Tom does fundamentally understand Daisy and is right about her unwillingness to leave their marriage, George is unable to hold on to Myrtle either emotionally or physically. She is killed trying to run away from him.
Tom and George Essay Ideas
Differences in attitude and outcome, despite a relatively similar situation, reveal some unexpected truths about the world of the novel. Argue the reverse of any of these topics for a really provocative essay!
- The fact that Tom manipulates George into killing Gatsby and then himself (which allows Tom and Daisy to walk away from the entire affair without consequence) shows the huge privileges of having money in the novel.
- Nick's approach to Tom and George shows his admiration of a physical, brutish, domineering kind of masculinity.
- The fact that the relatively good guy turns into a murderer while the bad guy lives to cheat another day is a very cynical take on what happens in a world without a moral compass.
Despite Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker 's similar “white girlhoods” (1.140) in Louisville, their attitude and motivations are quite distinct, making them really interesting to compare and contrast.
Attitude and Outlook. Both Daisy and Jordan display an entitled, bored attitude that’s typical of Fitzgerald’s depiction of the old money segment of wealthy New York society. The fact that they are introduced in tandem, both lying on the couches in their white dresses, speaks to their initially similar attitudes. But soon we see how different their takes on this kind of life are. Daisy is increasingly despondent, even nihilistic, asking in Chapter 7 , “what shall we do today, and tomorrow, and for the next thirty years?” (7.74). Jordan meanwhile is a pragmatic opportunist, who sees possibilities everywhere, arguing that “life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall” (7.75). In other words, Daisy’s pessimistic attitude from Chapter 1 comes through again, while Jordan, despite coming across as cynical and sharp, actually still seems excited about the possibilities life has to offer.
Appearance and Personality. Both Daisy and Jordan very alluring in their own way, though Daisy’s allure comes through her enchanting voice and feminine charms, while Jordan is masculine, “jaunty,” witty, sharp, and physical. Daisy maintains a squeaky-clean reputation despite moving with a fast crowd, while there are plenty of rumors about Jordan’s cheating in golf, and Nick comments on her dishonest attitude. More significantly, Daisy is incredibly self-absorbed while Jordan is very observant.
Role in Society. Daisy seems caught between what society expects of her and some deeper, more powerful desires she can’t name, resulting in restlessness, depression, and her affair. Daisy is sticking to her prescribed societal role by marrying and having a child, while Jordan plays golf, “runs around town” and doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to marry, at least in the beginning of the novel. Perhaps Jordan is still somewhat optimistic about the possibilities of life since she hasn’t settled down yet, while Daisy realizes that nothing major in her life will change at this point. Jordan, meanwhile, is content to chase after fun and intrigue via other people’s bad behavior. And she doesn’t get dragged down by the tragedy in the book – on the contrary, she is callous in how little Myrtle’s death seems to shake her, coolly calling Nick the next day and asking him to meet like nothing has happened (8.50-61). Perhaps her motivations are a bit less accessible to the reader since her role was significantly downsized between some of Fitzgerald’s earlier drafts. But in any case, as we watch Daisy struggle in her marriage, what we see of Jordan is cool, calm, collected, and rather uncaring.
Daisy and Jordan Essay Ideas
So what are some possible conclusions we can draw from Daisy and Jordan’s characters? One of the most common strategies is to tie the differences between these women onto one of the book’s larger themes, like the role of society and class or the American Dream . Another is to think about an important feature of the novel, like Nick’s narration, and see what these two characters can reveal about it. With those strategies in mind, here are some potential arguments you could argue for or against!
- Jordan and Daisy, because they are generally disempowered, both use their sexuality in different ways to gain power, with different results.
- Despite Jordan’s overt cheating and lying, Daisy is, in fact, the more morally compromised person.
- The way Nick treats Jordan versus the way he describes Daisy reveals the novel’s preoccupation with Gatsby above all, to the detriment of the female characters.
While Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson obviously come from very different backgrounds and have conflicting motivations, they also have some surprising similarities.
Physical Appearance. Daisy and Myrtle both derive power from their looks. Myrtle's comfort with her voluptuous body is clearly appealing to Tom, while Daisy's magnetic voice and ethereal presence obsess Gatsby. Throughout the novel, Myrtle is frequently reduced to being just a body - one to be used or violated by those around her. Tom sees little in Myrtle besides someone to either rub up against, have sex with, or punch at will; George resorts to imprisoning Myrtle while she eggs him on to "beat" her (7.314) the way Tom does; and finally, Daisy gruesomely rips Myrtle's body apart with a car. Meanwhile, Daisy's voice also serves to make her less of a person in her own right and more of an idealized, mythic figure from fairy tales. For Gatsby, Daisy's voice is appealing because it is "full of money" (7.105) - he is attracted to her not because of who she is, but because he sees her as a prize.
Social Standing. Myrtle puts on the airs that Daisy has been born and raised with. This allows Myrtle to wield considerable social power within her group, as seen by how her guests fawn on her at the Manhattan party she throws. Daisy, in contrast, never exerts such overt power over a group – rather, she seems to move with crowds, doing what it expected of her (for instance marrying Tom despite still loving Gatsby).
Love and Relationships. Daisy and Myrtle’s marriages are strikingly quite different. Daisy and Tom are able to stay together even through serial affairs and murder. They end up loyal co-conspirators, protected by their wealth. Meanwhile, Myrtle has nothing but disdain for George despite his evident love for her. Still, both women use affairs with other men as a way to escape. Daisy wants to get away from an increasingly unhappy marriage and try to recapture the spontaneity and possibility of her youth, while Myrtle loves the status that her affair with Tom grants her. However, both learn that they can’t escape forever through their affairs. Obviously, their biggest difference is that Daisy gets to walk away from the novel unscathed, while Myrtle gets killed.
Daisy and Myrtle Essay Ideas
Here are ways to write about these different women who face similar choices with dramatically opposite conclusions.
- Despite their similarities in action and motivation, Daisy is protected from any lasting harm by her wealth and old money status, while Myrtle is punished for the same behavior, revealing how the class system in America protects the wealthy.
- The novel refuses to give any inner life to women, and instead reduces them to their physical qualities no matter what social class they come from. Daisy and Myrtle's similar treatment by the narrator and by the men around them shows that gender trumps class when determining status.
- Daisy and Myrtle’s similarities reveal how hollow the progress of the women’s movement really was at that point in time. Despite the big gains the movement made in the early twentieth century, including winning the right to vote and pushing for more freedom in how they could dress and act, both of these women’s lives aren’t vastly improved. They’re both trapped in unhappy marriages, they both rely on their looks/charms/sexuality to get what they want, and neither of them has even a chance of pursuing a fulfilling life through a career.
What’s Next?
Now that you’ve gone over the novel’s most popular compare/contrast pairings, check out our analysis of the novel’s romantic pairings in our guide to love, desire, and relationships in The Great Gatsby .
Have an essay about a symbol or motif? Get started with our symbols overview and motifs overview .
Still a little hazy on some of the plot elements in Gatsby? Not to worry, we have you covered with our complete book summary !
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Compare And Contrast Essay
Compare And Contrast Essay Outline
Compare And Contrast Essay Outline with Examples
Published on: Mar 23, 2018
Last updated on: Jan 1, 2023
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A compare and contrast essay is a type of academic writing often assigned to high school and college students. In this essay type, a writer selects two objects or subjects to draw a comparison or contrast between them.
Like other essay types, drafting a compare and contrast essay is based on some prewriting and writing steps. The prewriting phase of a compare and contrast essay plans out the whole essay for the writer and the reader.
If the essay’s planning is correct and strong, the execution of the ideas and points will also be on point. This is the reason why the planning phase is given such importance.
Forming an outline of the essay falls under the planning section as well. Continue reading the article to know how a perfect compare and contrast essay outline is drafted.
Drafting a Compare and Contrast Essay Outline
The function of an essay outline is to organize all the information in a readable manner. All the information and data you gather for your essay needs a structure to be presented to the readers. Without a proper structure, the data will make absolutely no sense.
Below are listed some significant reasons why you should give a proper outline to your essay:
- An essay outline shows proficiency in writing.
- All the ideas are presented in a systematic order.
- If writing an essay for academics, a clear outline will help you earn better grades.
- It arranges your thoughts and saves your time while drafting an essay.
- An outline serves as a checklist for your essay.
- It keeps the writer focused on the main argument.
If you want your compare and contrast papers to be effective, make sure that an understandable outline is given.
How to Create a Compare and Contrast Essay Outline?
When a writer collects information for the compare and contrast essay, he uses either a Venn Diagram or a simple list to analyze the similarities and differences between the objects. This data needs an outline to take the form of formal writing.
A compare and contrast essay uses the traditional essay outline. According to the standard outline, there are three components of an essay outline:
- Introduction
- The main body
All types of essays use this basic outline. All the brainstormed ideas and the gathered information is divided among these three parts to give a structure to the essay. No matter what the subject is or what field you are writing your essay for, the basic outline will work for every piece.
Similarly, a compare and contrast essay is based on an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The only difference between the compare and contrast essay and the other essays is that a compare and contrast essay body can be written using two methods.
Depending on the writers’ choice, there are two ways in which a compare and contrast essay is drafted. Following is an outline for compare and contrast essay:
1. Compare and Contrast Essay Introduction
The first section of a compare and contrast essay outline is the introductory paragraphs. This section carries the following information:
- Hook Statement - it is the first or the opening sentence of the introductory paragraph. Depending on the topic, choose a catchy statement for your introduction to make it interesting for the readers.
- Purpose - Every writing has a purpose, and stating it in the first place is important. This is to inform the readers about the writer’s reason for choosing a certain topic. The goal can be anything from just discussing differences to analyzing the similarities and differences correspondingly.
- Significance - To make your essay introduction strong and engaging, state the significance of the topic.
- Thesis Statement - A thesis statement is the writer’s main argument about the topic. A thesis statement comes at the end of the introduction section. It should be an arguable statement that vividly present’s the writer’s claim.
2. Compare and Contrast Essay Body Paragraphs
The body of an essay is a place where all the details on the topic are provided. All the paragraphs in this section attempt to prove the thesis statement made earlier in the introduction. A compare and contrast essay body section can be drafted using two methods. It is totally on the writer’s choice, which method he chooses to portray the comparison and contrast of the subjects or objects.
Point By Point Compare and Contrast Essay
A point-by-point method is an organizational pattern that attempts to analyze a certain feature of each object or subject one by one. If you are using a 5 paragraph format to write your compare and contrast essay, the following will be the format of your body paragraphs:
Rather than analyzing one subject at a time, the point-by-point or chain method discusses subjects simultaneously.
For example, if you are writing a compare and contrast essay on high school versus college, you can discuss each of them point by point in different paragraphs. The three issues you can discuss for the topic can be:
- Social aspects
Point By Point Method Example
Block Method Compare and Contrast Essay
Another method to approach a compare and contrast essay is by using a block pattern. According to a block or subject by subject method, a writer first discusses one selected object individually and then the other object.
A block method provides all the points and ideas about one object and then all the points of the second object, giving an essay a structure of a list.
Either of the methods can be used in compare and contrast essay writing. Apart from differences in the two approaches, there are some similarities as well. For instance, both ways require a writer to start the paragraph by using a topic sentence. A topic sentence will create a clearer picture of the point being discussed in a particular section.
In addition to this, both methods need transition words to bind the essay. Specifically for compare and contrast essays, using transition words will give your essay strength and charm.
3. Compare and Contrast Essay Conclusion
After organizing the points according to the desired method, the conclusion of a compare and contrast essay is given. No matter which pattern you choose, the conclusion of the essay is similar for both methods.
To draft a conclusion, a writer summarizes and evaluates the main points and sums up the discussion. The thesis statement that you made in the introduction is restated and summarizes points that prove the thesis.
It is important to keep in mind that no new points are introduced in a concluding paragraph. Moreover, the length of the conclusion should not exceed the size of the essay introduction.
Compare and Contrast Essay Outline Template
If you are assigned a compare and contrast essay for your academics, it is suggested by the professionals at MyPerfectWords.com to first decide on the method and then start drafting your essay.
For this purpose, you can get help from the compare and contrast essay examples to write your essay effectively. You can get free essay examples and samples at MyPerfectWords.com and also get assistance from expert writers.
Whether you are looking for compare and contrast essay topics or complex term papers, MyPerfectWords.com is the right place for every student. Our professional essay writing service prides itself on providing original content and legit writing guides.
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10.7 Comparison and Contrast
Learning objectives.
- Determine the purpose and structure of comparison and contrast in writing.
- Explain organizational methods used when comparing and contrasting.
- Understand how to write a compare-and-contrast essay.
The Purpose of Comparison and Contrast in Writing
Comparison in writing discusses elements that are similar, while contrast in writing discusses elements that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay , then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.
The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities. For example, if you wanted to focus on contrasting two subjects you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to compare and contrast two types of oranges or two types of apples to highlight subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny Smiths are tart and acidic. Drawing distinctions between elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of that category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.
Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a comparison essay, you likely would not choose two apples or two oranges because they share so many of the same properties already. Rather, you might try to compare how apples and oranges are quite similar. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.
Writing at Work
Comparing and contrasting is also an evaluative tool. In order to make accurate evaluations about a given topic, you must first know the critical points of similarity and difference. Comparing and contrasting is a primary tool for many workplace assessments. You have likely compared and contrasted yourself to other colleagues. Employee advancements, pay raises, hiring, and firing are typically conducted using comparison and contrast. Comparison and contrast could be used to evaluate companies, departments, or individuals.
Brainstorm an essay that leans toward contrast. Choose one of the following three categories. Pick two examples from each. Then come up with one similarity and three differences between the examples.
- Romantic comedies
- Internet search engines
- Cell phones
Brainstorm an essay that leans toward comparison. Choose one of the following three items. Then come up with one difference and three similarities.
- Department stores and discount retail stores
- Fast food chains and fine dining restaurants
- Dogs and cats
The Structure of a Comparison and Contrast Essay
The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both and the reason for doing so. The thesis could lean more toward comparing, contrasting, or both. Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide useful knowledge to the reader. Take the following thesis as an example that leans more toward contrasting.
Thesis statement: Organic vegetables may cost more than those that are conventionally grown, but when put to the test, they are definitely worth every extra penny.
Here the thesis sets up the two subjects to be compared and contrasted (organic versus conventional vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.
You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two ways:
- According to the subjects themselves, discussing one then the other
- According to individual points, discussing each subject in relation to each point
See Figure 10.1 “Comparison and Contrast Diagram” , which diagrams the ways to organize our organic versus conventional vegetables thesis.
Figure 10.1 Comparison and Contrast Diagram
The organizational structure you choose depends on the nature of the topic, your purpose, and your audience.
Given that compare-and-contrast essays analyze the relationship between two subjects, it is helpful to have some phrases on hand that will cue the reader to such analysis. See Table 10.3 “Phrases of Comparison and Contrast” for examples.
Table 10.3 Phrases of Comparison and Contrast
Create an outline for each of the items you chose in Note 10.72 “Exercise 1” and Note 10.73 “Exercise 2” . Use the point-by-point organizing strategy for one of them, and use the subject organizing strategy for the other.
Writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay
First choose whether you want to compare seemingly disparate subjects, contrast seemingly similar subjects, or compare and contrast subjects. Once you have decided on a topic, introduce it with an engaging opening paragraph. Your thesis should come at the end of the introduction, and it should establish the subjects you will compare, contrast, or both as well as state what can be learned from doing so.
The body of the essay can be organized in one of two ways: by subject or by individual points. The organizing strategy that you choose will depend on, as always, your audience and your purpose. You may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other. Make sure to use comparison and contrast phrases to cue the reader to the ways in which you are analyzing the relationship between the subjects.
After you finish analyzing the subjects, write a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the essay and reinforces your thesis. See Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” to read a sample compare-and-contrast essay.
Many business presentations are conducted using comparison and contrast. The organizing strategies—by subject or individual points—could also be used for organizing a presentation. Keep this in mind as a way of organizing your content the next time you or a colleague have to present something at work.
Choose one of the outlines you created in Note 10.75 “Exercise 3” , and write a full compare-and-contrast essay. Be sure to include an engaging introduction, a clear thesis, well-defined and detailed paragraphs, and a fitting conclusion that ties everything together.
Key Takeaways
- A compare-and-contrast essay analyzes two subjects by either comparing them, contrasting them, or both.
- The purpose of writing a comparison or contrast essay is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities between two subjects.
- The thesis should clearly state the subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both, and it should state what is to be learned from doing so.
There are two main organizing strategies for compare-and-contrast essays.
- Organize by the subjects themselves, one then the other.
- Organize by individual points, in which you discuss each subject in relation to each point.
- Use phrases of comparison or phrases of contrast to signal to readers how exactly the two subjects are being analyzed.
Writing for Success by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Compare And Contrast Essay
Compare And Contrast Essay Examples
Interesting Compare and Contrast Essay Examples
Published on: Mar 7, 2020
Last updated on: Jan 20, 2023
On This Page On This Page
Compare and contrast essay is a common type of academic writing. This type of essay is based on analyzing the similarities and differences and contrasting two subjects.
Writing a compare and contrast essay is not a difficult task like an argumentative essay if you follow proper guidelines. It needs a proper structure and outline. This type of essay is commonly assigned in schools and universities.
Through this type of essay, the teacher analyzes the student’s abilities by asking to find the similarities and differences between two methods, two characters in a novel, two movies, etc.
Good compare and contrast essays are focused on the main point and explain the importance of analysis. Such type of essay establishes the analysis of ability in students. Make a meaningful argument about the topic is the main skill of the writer.
The writer explains why two things are similar/different, and they should provide proper details.
The key to this type of essay is to choose two or more subjects that associate in a meaningful way.
Good Compare and Contrast Essay Examples
The compare and contrast essay is assigned to school and university students. It is not as difficult as compared to other essays. But if you are writing it for the first time, every writer needs good examples and samples to understand how to write a compare and contrast essay.
The following are the best free compare and contrast essay examples that can be categorized for different levels. Take help from these examples and write a well-written essay.
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Compare and Contrast Essay Examples for College
When writing the compare and contrast essay for a college assignment, the students may seem it the most difficult task. The main purpose of this essay is to focus on logical comparison and contrasting the different aspects of life.
If the students don’t have time to write the college essay example and get confused in this phase. Don’t worry; here are some good examples that can help college students to write a perfect essay in no time.
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples for High School
When writing the example for the essay, make sure that you can easily write the similarities and differences. The compare and contrast essay for high school is different from a college essay.
It does not require professional logical skills, but it is a good way to develop logical analysis skills.
Compare and Contrast Essay Example for High School Students
Compare And Contrast Essay Example High School vs College
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples for Middle School
Comparison and contrast essays allow students to learn about the similarities and differences of subjects. At the middle school level, students are able to write a basic level of essay. In a compare and contrast essay, the writer is able to highlight diverse elements.
Each essay has a different purpose and perspective. The essays that are written for middle school students are usually focused on and highlight the education and general conception of students in schools.
The following are good compare and contrast essay examples for middle school students:
Compare and Contrast Essay Example for Middle School Students
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples for 6th Grade
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples for Elementary Students
Elementary school students also have to write essays to compare and contrast two things. This can help them learn how to write better. Here are some example essays for kids at the elementary level that make their writing process easy.
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples for 4th Grade
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples 5th Grade
Compare and Contrast Essay Examples for 3rd Grade Students
Thesis for Compare and Contrast Essay Examples
A thesis statement highlights the main points of your essay and what two objects or topics you will be further discussing in your essay. Here is an example that will help you to understand better how to write a great thesis statement for an essay.
Thesis for Compare and Contrast Essay Example
How to Start a Compare and Contrast Essay?
To write a great compare and contrast essay, you need to plan well and execute properly. When you are given this type of essay to write, it is best not to start writing it right away.
Focus on the prewriting steps, which include planning and outlining the information. This will help make your essay readable. The prewriting steps for starting a compare and contrast essay are below:
The best way to pick an interesting compare and contrast essay topic is by being creative. Make sure that you choose something unique, not too broad or specific in nature, because this will make your essay more appealing to readers.
Brainstorming is a great way to get creative and think outside of your box. By brainstorming similarities and differences, you can compare two or more things from an interesting and new perspective.
When considering a topic for your paper, it is important to ensure that the chosen topic makes sense. If not then return back to the first step in this process until you find something which does.
The more information you have about a particular topic, the better you will write your essay. Researching your chosen topic will not only give you insight into what kind of information is popular but also help to know what readers like to read.
The main goal of a thesis statement is to summarize your argument in one short sentence. It should not be confused with an essay’s introduction, which often contains various points or ideas.
How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay?
To write a compare and contrast essay, you should first create a Venn diagram to identify the similarities and differences between the objects. Once you have that completed, you can then create an outline that will serve as your template for the essay. The outline should have three components:
Introduction
- Body paragraphs
Below is a compare and contrast essay outline template that you can use for your help.
Compare and Contrast Essay Outline
Let’s discuss these parts in detail.
The introduction part contains basic information about the analyzed objects. In this section, the writer describes why they chose these subjects and how their research will be beneficial for the reader.
An attention-grabbing introduction attracts the reader’s attention and will glue readers to your essay until the last words in it.
The essay introduction part starts with a strong hook statement, and it should be interesting. The hook statement can be a quotation, story, or anything that captures the audience’s attention.
The purpose of the essay is also explained in this part. Inform the reader about why you have chosen this subject.
The thesis statement is also stated in the introduction, and it is the main writer’s argument. It should be included at the end of the introductory part.
Compare and Contrast Essay Introduction Examples
Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs should include 5-paragraphs. The writer presents their evidence and analyzes how the objects are similar and different.
The body paragraphs can be written by using two methods.
Point by Point: In this method, the writer lists the similarities and differences of both subjects.
Compare and Contrast Example Point by Point Method
Block Method: In the block method, the writer organizes the information. Firstly, define the first object's details and then describe the information about the second object.
Body Paragraph Outline Template
In the conclusion part, summarize and evaluate the entire paper. The conclusion for this type of essay is the same as other types of essays.
The thesis statement is also restated in this part, and it should be impressive. In the essay conclusion part, do not add new ideas or information. This is the last text that the audience read, so try to make it powerful.
Now you have got good compare and contrast essay examples for your academic assignment, making your writing process easy.
However, you can also get online help from professional writers of CollegeEssay.org . We are the best platform that provides original written essays. We have experienced writers, and they can assist you 24/7.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you start a compare and contrast essay introduction.
You should begin with an attention-grabbing question or fact that will draw in your audience. When starting, it is important to introduce the topic clearly, so readers understand it from the start.
What are compare and contrast words?
The most common compare and contrast words are:
- Similarly
- Again
- Likewise
- Nevertheless
- Despite
- Regardless
- Although
- Unlike
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The Best List of Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
If you were asked to compare two characters or two books and you don’t know what topic to choose, look through our good compare and contrast essay topics about literature and start with listing obvious characteristics of heroes: age, appearance, origin, education, social status, material wealth, etc.
In the introduction to the compare and contrast essay it is necessary to determine the object of comparison. For example, if you are going to compare characters from a book, you should consider not only book heroes, but also the author’s intention and context of the book. The main part of the literature compare and contrast essay is a parallel comparison of actions and behaviors of heroes in similar situations or for the same reasons. In the conclusion you should sum up characteristics that you have compared and an analysis of these characteristics.
Literature topics for a compare and contrast essay
- Compare main themes of two books by Mark Twain: “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
- Find differences and similarities of these three characters: Peter Pan, Oliver Twist, and Tom Sawyer.
- Find differences and similarities between the movie and book titled “Fight Club.”
- Compare the main characters of two books: “Robinson Crusoe” by Defo and “Gulliver’s Travels” by Swift.
- Find differences and similarities of characters: Raskolnikov and Sonya in the novel “Crime and Punishment.”
- Compare the main characters of two books: Mr. Rochester (“Jane Eyre”) and Mr. Darcy (“Pride and Prejudice”).
- Find similar lines in the plots of two books: “Fifty Shades of Grey” and “Twilight.”
- Find similarities and differences among characters of “The Lord of Flies” and “Hunger Games.”
- Compare characteristics of main characters from “Portrait of Dorian Grey” and “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.”
- Find similarities and differences in main themes of “Martin Eden” and “The Great Gatsby.”
History topics for a compare and contrast essay
- Compare religious beliefs of Greeks and Egyptians.
- Comparative analysis of monarchy in Scandinavian countries.
- Compare the codes of Hammurabi and Manu.
- Compare historical concepts of Kant and Schiller.
- Find similarities and differences of Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman deities.
- Compare the geography of Egypt and Mesopotamia.
- Comparative analysis of Christianity and Judaism.
- Analyze the ethics of Protestantism and ethics of the Old Believers.
- Comparative analysis of US and Soviet economic policy of 1947-1973.
- Comparative analysis of the culture of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Brand topics for a compare and contrast essay
- Compare the brands of Apple and Xiomi.
- Find distinctive characteristics of Domino’s Pizza and Pizza Hut.
- Compare AirPods and Beats headphones.
- Describe similarities between Marvel and DC Comics characters.
- Find similarities between characters and episodes in Star Trek and Star Wars.
- Describe differences of these brands: Timberland and Caterpillar.
- Describe differences of these brands: Lush and Body Shop.
- Describe what similar problems H&M and Zara have.
- Compare Suzuki and Harley Davidson motorcycles.
- Find the similarities and differences of Netflix and Hulu.
Personality topics for a compare and contrast essay
- Who has had more influence on society, Jony Ive or Paul McCartney?
- Which of your parents had more influence on you in your childhood: your mother or father?
- Does Hans Zimmer belong in the same category as Mozart?
- What similarities exist between Oedipus and Darth Vader?
- What differences and similarities exist between Elon Musk and Iron Man?
- What historical similarities exist between Dr. House and Thomas Bolty?
- What historical similarities exist between Sherlock Holmes and Josef Bell?
- How can Adolf Hitler be related to Mahatma Gandhi?
- Compare and contrast the activities of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi.
- What similarities and differences exist between Tokugawa Ieyasu (samurai) and Richard the Lionheart (knight)?
Health and psychology topics for a compare and contrast essay
- Differences and similarities of smoking and vaping.
- Differences and similarities of psychological development of children from families and orphanages.
- Differences and similarities of self-evaluation of preschoolers and teenagers.
- Describe differences and similarities of eastern and western diagnostics methods.
- Describe differences and similarities about the image of family in mass media and real life.
- Compare the psychological theory of J. Watson and the theory of B. Skinner.
- Difference between a person with autism and Down syndrome.
- Compare and contrast the characteristics of the bipolar I and II disorder.
- Compare and contrast the tendency of alcoholism among men and women.
- Difference and similarities between suicide and homicide.
Sports topics for a compare and contrast essay
- Football or hockey: which is more popular?
- Key differences between football and soccer.
- Comparison of sports for individual development.
- Differences between individual and team sports.
- Comparison of strategies of different football clubs.
- Differences between English and Spanish styles of football.
- Differences between club football and world cups.
- Comparison of traditional sports for different countries.
- Features of the organization and conduct of the Olympiads of recent years.
- Golf: the choice of equipment for the playstyle.
Traveling topics for a compare and contrast essay
- Which countries are worth visiting?
- Types of extreme tourism: risks and benefits.
- Costs matter: comparing costs when traveling to different countries.
- Europe or Asia: what to visit first?
- The best states for tourism in the United States.
- Landmarks of Los Angeles and New York: places you won’t forget.
- The seven most scenic places in the states: logistics and costs.
- Comparison of travel expenses in Asia and Europe.
- What wonders of the world are worth visiting first.
- Development of tourism infrastructure in different countries of Europe.
Educational topics for a compare and contrast essay
- How to choose a college in the United States.
- Comparison of educational programs of various institutions.
- Comparison of the cost of education in different colleges.
- Europe and the United States: A fundamental comparison of the education systems.
- How do parents choose schools for children?
- Features and benefits of scholarship programs.
- Features of various online learning services.
- What direction for self-development to choose?
- What professional skills are most in-demand in the modern world?
- What profession will be the most promising in a few years?
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Beef Up Critical Thinking and Writing Skills: Comparison Essays
Organizing the compare-contrast essay.
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The compare/contrast essay is an excellent opportunity to help students develop their critical thinking and writing skills. A compare and contrast essay examines two or more subjects by comparing their similarities and contrasting their differences.
Compare and contrast is high on Bloom's Taxonomy of critical reasoning and is associated with a complexity level where students break down ideas into simpler parts in order to see how the parts relate. For example, in order to break down ideas for comparison or to contrast in an essay, students may need to categorize, classify, dissect, differentiate, distinguish, list, and simplify.
Preparing to Write the Essay
First, students need to select pick comparable objects, people, or ideas and list their individual characteristics. A graphic organizer, like a Venn Diagram or top hat chart, is helpful in preparing to write the essay:
- What is the most interesting topic for comparison? Is the evidence available?
- What is the most interesting topic to contrast? Is the evidence available?
- Which characteristics highlight the most significant similarities?
- Which characteristics highlight the most significant differences?
- Which characteristics will lead to a meaningful analysis and an interesting paper?
A link to 101 compare and contrast essay topics for students provides opportunities for students to practice the similarities and differences such as
- Fiction vs. Nonfiction
- Renting a home vs. Owning a home
- General Robert E. Lee vs General Ulysses S. Grant
Writing the Block Format Essay: A, B, C points vs A, B, C points
The block method for writing a compare and contrast essay can be illustrated using points A, B, and C to signify individual characteristics or critical attributes.
A. history B. personalities C. commercialization
This block format allows the students to compare and contrast subjects, for example, dogs vs. cats, using these same characteristics one at a time.
The student should write the introductory paragraph to signal a compare and contrast essay in order to identify the two subjects and explain that they are very similar, very different or have many important (or interesting) similarities and differences. The thesis statement must include the two topics that will be compared and contrasted.
The body paragraph(s) after the introduction describe characteristic(s) of the first subject. Students should provide the evidence and examples that prove the similarities and/or differences exist, and not mention the second subject. Each point could be a body paragraph. For example,
A. Dog history. B. Dog personalities C. Dog commercialization.
The body paragraphs dedicated to the second subject should be organized in the same method as the first body paragraphs, for example:
A. Cat history. B. Cat personalities. C. Cat commercialization.
The benefit of this format is that it allows the writer to concentrate on one characteristic at a time. The drawback of this format is that there may be some imbalance in treating the subjects to the same rigor of comparing or contrasting.
The conclusion is in the final paragraph, the student should provide a general summary of the most important similarities and differences. The student could end with a personal statement, a prediction, or another snappy clincher.
Point by Point Format: AA, BB, CC
Just as in the block paragraph essay format, students should begin the point by point format by catching the reader's interest. This might be a reason people find the topic interesting or important, or it might be a statement about something the two subjects have in common. The thesis statement for this format must also include the two topics that will be compared and contrasted.
In the point by point format, the students can compare and/or contrast the subjects using the same characteristics within each body paragraph. Here the characteristics labeled A, B, and C are used to compare dogs vs. cats together, paragraph by paragraph.
A. Dog history A Cat history
B. Dog personalities B. Cat personalities
C. Dog commercialization C. Cat commercialization
This format does help students to concentrate on the characteristic(s) which may be may result in a more equitable comparison or contrast of the subjects within each body paragraph(s).
Transitions to Use
Regardless of the format of the essay, block or point-by-point, the student must use transition words or phrases to compare or contrast one subject to another. This will help the essay sound connected and not sound disjointed.
Transitions in the essay for comparison can include:
- in the same way or by the same token
- in like manner or likewise
- in similar fashion
Transitions for contrasts can include:
- nevertheless or nonetheless
- however or though
- otherwise or on the contrary
- in contrast
- notwithstanding
- on the other hand
- at the same time
In the final concluding paragraph, the student should give a general summary of the most important similarities and differences. The student could also end with a personal statement, a prediction, or another snappy clincher.
Part of the ELA Common Core State Standards
The text structure of compare and contrast is so critical to literacy that it is referenced in several of the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards in both reading and writing for K-12 grade levels. For example, the reading standards ask students to participate in comparing and contrasting as a text structure in the anchor standard R.9 :
"Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take."
The reading standards are then referenced in the grade level writing standards, for example, as in W7.9
"Apply grade 7 Reading standards to literature (e.g., 'Compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character and a historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history')."
Being able to identify and create compare and contrast text structures is one of the more important critical reasoning skills that students should develop, regardless of grade level.
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Compare & Contrast Essays How things are similar or different
Compare and contrast is a common form of academic writing, either as an essay type on its own, or as part of a larger essay which includes one or more paragraphs which compare or contrast. This page gives information on what a compare and contrast essay is , how to structure this type of essay, how to use compare and contrast structure words , and how to make sure you use appropriate criteria for comparison/contrast . There is also an example compare and contrast essay on the topic of communication technology, as well as some exercises to help you practice this area.
What are compare & contrast essays?
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To compare is to examine how things are similar, while to contrast is to see how they differ. A compare and contrast essay therefore looks at the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences. This essay type is common at university, where lecturers frequently test your understanding by asking you to compare and contrast two theories, two methods, two historical periods, two characters in a novel, etc. Sometimes the whole essay will compare and contrast, though sometimes the comparison or contrast may be only part of the essay. It is also possible, especially for short exam essays, that only the similarities or the differences, not both, will be discussed. See the examples below.
- Compare and contrast Newton's ideas of gravity with those proposed by Einstein ['compare and contrast' essay]
- Examine how the economies of Spain and China are similar ['compare' only essay]
- Explain the differences between Achaemenid Empire and Parthian Empire ['contrast' only essay]
There are two main ways to structure a compare and contrast essay, namely using a block or a point-by-point structure. For the block structure, all of the information about one of the objects being compared/contrasted is given first, and all of the information about the other object is listed afterwards. This type of structure is similar to the block structure used for cause and effect and problem-solution essays. For the point-by-point structure, each similarity (or difference) for one object is followed immediately by the similarity (or difference) for the other. Both types of structure have their merits. The former is easier to write, while the latter is generally clearer as it ensures that the similarities/differences are more explicit.
The two types of structure, block and point-by-point , are shown in the diagram below.
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Compare and contrast structure words are transition signals which show the similarities or differences. Below are some common examples.
- both... and...
- not only... but also...
- neither... nor...
- just like (+ noun)
- similar to (+ noun)
- to be similar (to)
- to be the same as
- to be alike
- to compare (to/with)
- Computers can be used to communicate easily, for example via email. Similarly/Likewise , the mobile phone is a convenient tool for communication.
- Both computers and mobile phones can be used to communicate easily with other people.
- Just like the computer, the mobile phone can be used to communicate easily with other people.
- The computer is similar to the mobile phone in the way it can be used for easy communication.
- In contrast
- In comparison
- By comparison
- On the other hand
- to differ from
- to be different (from)
- to be dissimilar to
- to be unlike
- Computers, although increasingly small, are not always easy to carry from one place to another. However , the mobile phone can be carried with ease.
- Computers are generally not very portable, whereas the mobile phone is.
- Computers differ from mobile phones in their lack of portability.
- Computers are unlike mobile phones in their lack of portability.
Criteria for comparison/contrast
When making comparisons or contrasts, it is important to be clear what criteria you are using. Study the following example, which contrasts two people. Here the criteria are unclear.
- Aaron is tall and strong. In contrast , Bruce is handsome and very intelligent.
Although this sentence has a contrast transition , the criteria for contrasting are not the same. The criteria used for Aaron are height (tall) and strength (strong). We would expect similar criteria to be used for Bruce (maybe he is short and weak), but instead we have new criteria, namely appearance (handsome) and intelligence (intelligent). This is a common mistake for students when writing this type of paragraph or essay. Compare the following, which has much clearer criteria (contrast structure words shown in bold).
- Aaron and Bruce differ in four ways. The first difference is height. Aaron is tall, while Bruce is short. A second difference is strength. Aaron is strong. In contrast , Bruce is weak. A third difference is appearance. Aaron, who is average looking, differs from Bruce, who is handsome. The final difference is intelligence. Aaron is of average intelligence. Bruce, on the other hand , is very intelligent.
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Below is a compare and contrast essay. This essay uses the point-by-point structure . Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes to the right) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay, i.e. similarities, differences, and structure words. This will highlight not simply the paragraphs, but also the thesis statement and summary , as these repeat the comparisons and contrasts contained in the main body.
Title: There have been many advances in technology over the past fifty years. These have revolutionised the way we communicate with people who are far away. Compare and contrast methods of communication used today with those which were used in the past.
Before the advent of computers and modern technology, people communicating over long distances used traditional means such as letters and the telephone. Nowadays we have a vast array of communication tools which can complete this task, ranging from email to instant messaging and video calls. While the present and previous means of communication are similar in their general form , they differ in regard to their speed and the range of tools available . One similarity between current and previous methods of communication relates to the form of communication. In the past, both written forms such as letters were frequently used, in addition to oral forms such as telephone calls. Similarly , people nowadays use both of these forms. Just as in the past, written forms of communication are prevalent, for example via email and text messaging. In addition, oral forms are still used, including the telephone, mobile phone, and voice messages via instant messaging services. However , there are clearly many differences in the way we communicate over long distances, the most notable of which is speed. This is most evident in relation to written forms of communication. In the past, letters would take days to arrive at their destination. In contrast , an email arrives almost instantaneously and can be read seconds after it was sent. In the past, if it was necessary to send a short message, for example at work, a memo could be passed around the office, which would take some time to circulate. This is different from the current situation, in which a text message can be sent immediately. Another significant difference is the range of communication methods. Fifty years ago, the tools available for communicating over long distances were primarily the telephone and the letter. By comparison , there are a vast array of communication methods available today. These include not only the telephone, letter, email and text messages already mentioned, but also video conferences via software such as Skype or mobile phone apps such as WeChat, and social media such as Facebook and Twitter. In conclusion, methods of communication have greatly advanced over the past fifty years. While there are some similarities, such as the forms of communication , there are significant differences, chiefly in relation to the speed of communication and the range of communication tools available . There is no doubt that technology will continue to progress in future, and the advanced tools which we use today may one day also become outdated.
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Below is a checklist for compare and contrast essays. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.
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Author: Sheldon Smith ‖ Last modified: 08 January 2022.
Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .
Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.
Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).
Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.
Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).
Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.
Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.
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Though the film fails to delve into the specifics of his childhood, it does become evident that Will bounced between foster homes and was often a victim to physical and emotional abuse. These childhood factors play a huge role in behavior as an adult. A recent study concluded that, “Toxic childhood stress alters neural responses to stress, boosting the emotional and physical arousal to threat, and making it more difficult for that reaction to be shut off” (LaBier). An inability to rationalize and control emotions and responses after abuse would indeed be seen as true in this film. This can be seen in the numerous fistfights Will found himself in. Despite the fact that Will could typically weasel his way out of convictions, he was convicted of assaulting a police officer. His conviction would turn out to be life altering. When Professor Gerald Lambeau saw potential in Will, he was offered a life that could include more than beers with friends and janitorial work. The arrangement Lambeau worked out
Psychological Analysis Of Good Will Hunting : Movie Review
Will has Traumatic and Stress Disorder. Rightfully so, he was in foster care all throughout his child hood and was beaten, stabbed, and burnt with cigarettes. He learned how to fight and be defensive with the abusiveness. No family gave him the time of day since he was so defensive and got into trouble often. Will throughout his life struggled with trust issues, anger issues, and not being confident in himself. Will was book smart and full of aggression, he allowed his past to overshadow his future. He used reading as a coping mechanism from his reality. He would get lost in the books and was starving for knowledge. Will used being smart as another defense mechanism. He talked his way out of court several times and talking back to therapist by reading their books, also to people that thought he was stupid. He would show them that he was actually a genius and made them feel stupid. However, as Will soon figures out that the therapist knows exactly what he is doing and that he can read all the books he
Good Will Hunting Borderline Personality Disorder
For example, when confronting an old foster home “Friend”, by the name of Carmine, Will unleashed an onslaught of punches, which lead to Will Knocking out Carmine then being arrested for assault by the local cops. When Will saw his old friend, memories of the abuse that his foster family gave him sprang onto Will’s head and triggered his mind to give some payback for everything that he experienced as an abused kid in the foster home. Not only that but his mood drastically changed from the moments prior to seeing Carmine. Before seeing Carmine, Will was planning to have a good time with his friends at a baseball game, But that changed as he saw Carmine at the game as well. Once he saw Carmine, Will was determined to beat Carmine up, as carmine did to him when he was a kid. Clearly in the movie, Will is a mathematical genius, as he was able to solve the problem that Professor Lambeau wrote on the chalkboard outside his room. However when Lambeau confronted Will, after he found out who solved the problem, Will ran away from the professor instead of being congratulated for his success in solving the problem. A valid reason why Will did not accept the praise from the professor was because he had a negative self-image of himself. To understand what a negative self-image is, it is important to know what the term self-image means. Karl Perera, from the website, More-selfesteem.com defines the term self-image as, “ how you see yourself. This may be how you see yourself physically or your opinion of who and what you are which is normally called self concept. It is important as it
Analysis Of The Movie ' Forrest Gump '
The movie Forrest Gump played by Tom Hank is a story about Forest Gump a simple man and his journey through life. Gump was simple minded and lived his life by a set of values taught to him by his mother (Sally Field). While Forest sat down waiting for a bus, he tells his story. Forest takes part in several defining historical moments such as the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal and also had painful experiences. Despite his setbacks and naive nature, he struggles and triumphs in everything he did. Forrest developed a good self-esteem and self-concept with the help of his mother’s observation, love, and sincerity. With his mother and Jenny’s encouragements, he was able to overcome his physical handicap and become an outstanding runner among other things. This movie is an example of the how a child’s mind developed through series of stages. This paper shows the following key points; intellectual disability, Erickson’s intimacy vs isolation, low self-esteem, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Related Topics
- English-language films
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Business Ethics Compare and Contrast Essay
Table of Contents
It is often said that the business community thrives on capitalism and greed. This perspective of business is based on the principle notion that improving the quality of life requires the society to have some level of greed. It is true to state that business are driven by the desire to have more in terms of profit and, therefore, exhibiting some level of “greed” (Stout, 26). In this paper, the issue of ethical business behavior will be analyzed in the light of two films, Wall Street and Election.
“Wall Street”
Shareholder perspective of business ethics.
Oliver Stone in the Wall Street film takes us through the unscrupulous business deals that signify a significant decline in the business ethics and values that should be the cornerstone of businesses in America. Gordon Gekko is a character in the movie portrayed as an unscrupulous and wealthy corporate player. The movie portrays an economic aspect of the society characterized by greed (Stone, 24). The movie presents ethical dilemmas, one of the most significant involving security fraud and significant use of insider trading by two money hungry characters.
The two big shots in the Wall Street exhibit great ambitions and greed for extreme wealth. Significantly, Gekko and Bud Fox are the aim characters who start taking advantage of shareholders through the manipulation of stocks and insider trading. This exemplifies an unethical business practice. Bud who is a stockbroker and has a strong desire for wealth, as a result, he works in the firm by the day and works with an angle with Gekko who is extremely successful, high-powered, greedy, and ruthless in his spare time (Stone, 27). Eventually, Bud subscribes into Gekko’s principle of “greed is good” and start participating in shady business deals in pursuit the pursuit for fast money and good life. The two then start conniving to use insider information and manipulation of stocks to their advantage at the expense of the shareholders as it lowered stock prices. In the stakeholder management perspective, the film has identified how unethical and unscrupulous business practices corrupt business values thus sacrificing the interest of the shareholder due to greed.
Actions of Characters
The actions of Bud Fox and Gordon Gekko show ethical business practices. Both characters have connived to use their positions in the society and in the corporate world for their own benefit and at the expense of others, especially the shareholders. Most importantly, this is driven by more desire and greed. From the perspective of ethical theories and management ethics, Bud breaks the principles of ethical business practices because he spends much of his efforts and time in the adventure to get in Gekko’s inner circle (Stone, 54). As a stockbroker protecting the interests of shareholders is of primary importance, but Bud works against this principle by working with Gekko at the expense of the stakeholders. This shows the conflict of interest between Bud’s ambitions and shareholders’ interest at the firm because he wants fast money and good life.
Investment Regulations
From the movie’s perspective, investment regulations and financial reforms are important in the business environment. Although the ethical concept in this movie may be hard to relate to financial reforms, the motives to benefit oneself at the expense of others are harmful and immoral (Stout, 37). Such practices are caused by poor business strategies which are coincidentally determined by the moral standards of the contemporary society. However, in the business context, investment regulation and financial reforms are necessary as the local ethical standards cannot be used as the appropriate guide for business.
Unethical behavior
In the movie “election”, the theme of the morals and ethics is well defined. In this satirical movie whose plot is in a school in Nebraska, every character is put in a dilemma as they make choices in their relationships and behavior. McAllister who is the civics teacher has trouble relating with Tracy Flick who is an overachieving and overzealous character running for the post of the student president in the school (Payne, 25). Tracy has had McAllister’s colleague and friend fired after their secretive love affair was discovered. The movie shows how relationships built on contempt, vindictiveness, hidden secrets, and crime are unethical as they end in regrets and frustrations.
From the movie, different characters are engaged in punitive relationships. The most obvious being the relationship between McAllister and Tracy. Although it is understandable that McAllister holds grudge against Tracy after she was involved in a secret love affair with his colleague friend, Dave, the way he treats Tracy is with contempt and is both immoral and unethical (Payne, 52). Although McAllister is enthusiastically involved in the school, other aspects of his social life are full of frustrations and his involvement only masks these frustrations. One of the frustrations he has is that he is envious of Tracy and he has a sexual attraction to her. However, he has contempt over her as she had been involved in a sexual relationship with Dave, which unfortunately ended in Dave’s firing upon discovery.
Unethical McAllister
McAllister despises Tracy because of her overachieving character and her sexually vindictive side. This is unethical and immoral. From the play, it is clear that Jim I sexually attracted to Tracy but he treats her with hated and contempt because she is seemingly armor-plated with ambitions and armed with a victim stature (Payne, 46). This infuriates Jim who secretly works on an undignified plot to bring her down and destroy her political career. Certainly, this contempt was highly fueled by the fact that Tracy was a female who seemed somewhat successful and McAllister feared being outpaced by her. This is an unethical way is which the strong are usually sabotaged by the weak.
American Political context
In the context of popular culture, business and politics, the description of Tracy and her victimization is indicative of the treatment of most women by men. For instance, the “Tracy Flick Effect” greatly affected the candidacy and election of Hillary Clinton in America’s 2016 presidential election. Hillary Clinton is also an overachieving personality but her candidacy was treated with contempt, disrespect, and spite by her opponents. The treatment of Tracy shows the unethical, immoral, and undignified plan to destroy and sabotage the political career of women in the American political context.
Both Films
From the two films, the theme of ethics has been deeply illustrated. Although Wall Street delved on business ethics and values and Election delved on personal values and morals, both movies addressed the issue of ethical dilemma. In “Election”, the movie has dissected the unlovely, immoral, and unethical male psyche which is characterized by a mean-minded envy and a seething desire. It is show how the sexual-political arena exemplifies nightmarish vision which cheapens and humiliates self regard with paranoia. In the business context, “Wall Street” shows how desire and greed destroys company’s left and the management mercies of unscrupulous people who serve their personal interests at the expense of others.
- Stout, L. A. “The shareholder value myth: How putting shareholders first harms investors, corporations, and the public”. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. 2012. Print.
- Payne, Alexander, “Election”, 1999. www.hotstar.com/movies/wall-street/1770000954.
- Stone, Oliver, “Wall Street”, 1987. www.ionlinemovies.com/watch/election/.
- How It Works
- Essay Examples
Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
Compare and contrast essays are some of the most interesting assignments and students (well, some) enjoy writing them. This is because unlike most kinds of essays, it is hardly possible to get writer's block when you are handling these. You are given the freedom to not only pick compare and contrast topics on your own, but you have the freedom to choose the side of your support as well as how to contrast it.
However, the fact that you are given all this freedom does not mean that this is the simplest essay to write. The biggest challenge is usually in picking the best topic for you and this can be quite a huge issue if you are not careful in what you are doing. Let's see compare and contrast essay topics ideas as well as brief strategies you can use in your writing.
Tips On How To Write Superb Compare And Contrast Essays
The first thing that you need to do before you start writing is to choose an appropriate topic to write about. This should essentially be a topic of interest to you or something that you can discuss in length without any problem whatsoever. Lucky for you, there are so many topics you could focus on when writing and it is all up to you to determine the exact topic that you want to build on.
In most cases, the topics you choose should be closely related. For example if you chose to go with sports, choose two contrasting topics that are in the same category such as soccer vs basketball. You should steer clear of choosing topics that do not have any kind of relationship whatsoever such as pasta vs winter. This will be difficult to compare as they do not have any similarities and are basically worlds apart.
However, there is an exception of really good art students who can pull off contrasting two things that are completely different or discussing certain topics from an artistic point of view. For example one may choose a topic such as, life in the shoes of a werewolf. You see that it is an unusual topic that may be quite difficult to imagine or explain, but some students may just turn that topic into a masterpiece.
Students are encouraged that when choosing a topic, you think outside the box as this will most likely earn you better grades. Students who excel in writing about such complex topic may have a chance to be enrolled into some of the best Art universities to develop their skills and talent.
How To Choose Your Sources
Just because you are given total freedom about what you are going to write, does not mean that you should write casually without giving any proof. Remember that a compare and contrast essay is an academic essay so the language and formatting should all be formal.
Referencing and giving citations in your work is one of the best ways of proving your points, hence explaining why you chose a particular stand. The sources that you choose should be up to date and not more than 5 years old unless you are discussing a historical topic. Always check for the credibility of your sources before using them in your essay so as not to give false information. Some of the best sources of information include:
- Official textbooks and encyclopedias.
- Published journals.
- Official magazines.
- Academic and research reports.
- Documentaries.
Steps To Writing A Compare And Contrast Essay
As you may know, a compare and contrast essay is not really written like other common kinds of essays . There are certain aspects about it that make it so different from all these other essays and you need to be aware of that before you start writing.
The first thing you need to do is identify the type of compare and contrast essay that you are handling. There are basically four types:
- Events . These essays focus on the comparison of different historical events in life or in books.
- Different situations . They examine the differences of certain cases that you may have found yourself in or even others. If you know how to write a newspaper editorial you are familiar with this stylistics
- Characters . Focused on people or characters in books, what they did and the impact.
- Locations or travelling essays . Discusses different places and locations in the world.
As much as compare and contrast essays are written a bit differently from other types of essays , there are certain aspects about them that are similar to the writing format of other essays.
- Introduction . Just like in any other essay, a good compare and contrast essay has to have an introduction that is catchy and functional. Here, you need to explain what your topic is all about and what you hope to achieve at the end of the discussion. It should also have a thesis statement that will give a little more information about the subject matter and why you have chosen to discuss it.
- Your argument . The next step is to start writing about your stand point, while giving proof of why you think that the way you are looking at it is the best. Use references, quotations and citations to develop your argument into something readable and easy to understand.
- Opposing arguments . You need to do thorough research about the opposing arguments that your rival would use to counter your points. You should discuss at least two points here and refute these points standing with your own.
- Concluding statement . Here, you can choose to rephrase your thesis statement and supporting that your point of view is the best. Conclude with a powerful statement that will impact on the reader. Use some cause and effect essay outline to emphasise the connection between the paragraphs.
Writing Tips To Make Your Essay Stand Out
Any good essay has to stand out and encourage the reader to continue reading from the beginning to the end, no matter the type of essay it is. This is why you need to ensure that you make your compare and contrast essay as interesting and accurate as possible using these tips.
- Check other essays for inspiration. Starting your own essay from scratch can be a bit confusing for most students. This is why you need to take some time and check out other written essays in the same category as the one you are writing for the best ways to start, develop your argument and finally conclude. See how to incorporate quotes, sayings and humor into your compare and contrast essay. Also check on creative ways to use our references to add some backbone to your argument.
- Think critically. This is necessary when you are trying to find a suitable topic to write about since there are so many to choose from. Brainstorm and write down a list of your best topics listing down the differences and similarities to see which work well together and have a lot of points that you can discuss.
- Seek professional assistance. Identifying great education services can help you get your hands on really useful sources on your chosen topics. This will help you build a strong argument and to be able to back what you are discussing. You can write literature review where you reveal your sources and how they helped in your discussion. It is a really great way of increasing your word count without unnecessary fluff.
- Proper formatting and in text citations. As earlier mentioned, a compare and contrast essay is an academic paper so the correct formatting needs to be used according to what you were instructed to do. In text citations give evidence of your discussion and why you chose the argument that you did.
So now you know how to choose the best compare and contrast topics and the different segments that you need to address when writing. You also understand how to find sources and the best kind to use in your paper to make it relevant and interesting. however, you may still have a problem identifying the best topics for you to discuss, which is why we have highlighted different topics that you can use in your compare and contrast essay.
Best Compare And Contrast Topics For University Students
- Sciences vs Arts: which are the most viable in the job market?
- Essays vs research papers: what is the difference:
- Home schooling: what are the benefits and disadvantages?
- College education: should it be free? What is to be gained if that step was taken?
- College degrees: how relevant are they in today’s job market?
- Education: is it necessary to become successful in life?
- Exams: are they a true reflection of a student’s ability?
- Boarding schools vs day schools: what are the major differences?
- Hostels vs renting: what are the advantages and disadvantages?
Political And Historical Topics
- Karl Marx vs Friedrich Hegel: who made the most impact?
- The bible vs the Quran: what are the differences in teachings
- The 60s vs the 90s music: which was better?
- Capitalism vs communism: which is superior?
- Dictatorship and democratic: how are they different?
- Al Qaeda vs Boko Haram: are they the same?
- African government vs western governments: what are the differences in governance?
- Greek gods: real or not?
- Us president vs Monarch of England: what are the differences in power?
Compare And Contrast Topics For Starters
- Tomatoes: are they fruits or vegetables?
- Netball vs basketball: are the rules different or the same?
- Samsung vs apple: which is the better brand?
- Being miserable in a mansion or happy in a shanty: which is better?
- Differences between the American and the British.
- Aliens: real or not?
- Marijuana: is it dangerous or a blessing in disguise?
- Winter vs summer: which is better?
- Dinner date vs movie and drinks.
Battle Of The Opposites Essay Topics
- White vs black.
- Alibaba vs amazon.
- Religious marriage vs civil marriage.
- Dogs vs cats.
- Happiness vs sadness.
- Pizza vs pasta.
- WW1 vs WW2.
- Good girl vs bad boy.
- Electric vs gas cars.
Teenage Compare And Contrast Essays
- Watching at home vs going out to a movie.
- When should one be allowed to date?
- Reading vs watching? Which is easier
- Arts vs Science
- Hip hop vs RnB
- White collar vs blue collar
- Android vs IOS
- Casual vs casual official? What is more appropriate?
- Snapchat vs Instagram: which is better?
IT And Social Media Essay Topics
- Does paper mailing have a space in future?
- Desktop computers vs tablets
- Facebook vs Twitter: which is better?
- Online jobs vs traditional jobs?
- SEO vs traditional marketing? Which yield more results?
- Blogs vs websites.
- Traditional learning vs E-learning: what does the future hold?
- Windows vs IOS.
- Radio vs newspapers.
Movie and Music Comparison Ideas
- Rock vs country.
- Batman vs superman: who is the true hero of the world?
- DC vs Marvel?
- Comedy vs Horror
- Dumbledore vs Voldemort
- Vampires vs werewolves: who are stronger?
- 3D vs normal screening? Differences and similarities?
- Avengers vs fantastic four
- Michael Jackson vs Prince: who is the true kind of pop music?
Compare And Contrast Literature Topics
- Fiction vs nonfiction: which has a larger readership?
- Romance vs horror.
- Past vs present works of literature: which is better?
- Hardcopy vs E- books
- Romeo and Juliet: takeaway lessons
- Is Shakespeare the greatest poet who ever lived?
- Poetry vs hip hop: are there any similarities?
- Greek vs Egyptian mythology
- Is harry potter the best magical fantasy book ever written?
Scientific Topic Ideas
- Uranus vs Saturn: are there any similarities?
- The sun vs the moon
- Chemistry vs biology
- Nuclear vs fossil energy
- Disputable scientific statements
- Science and technology: are they interdependent?
- Is there life on other planets
- Can theories in physics be used to explain all aspects of life?
- Hurricanes vs tornados
Everyday Compare And Contrast Topics
- Coffee vs tea
- Wood vs bricks: which is better to build with
- The west vs the east: similarities
- Catholics vs protestants
- African countries vs European countries
- Flying vs driving: which one is better?
- McDonalds vs KFC
- Cartoon network vs Nickelodeon
- American English vs British English
Philosophy Topic Ideas
- Music vs poetry: do they have the same effect on people
- Philosophers vs historians: are they similar?
- Which is more important food or health care?
- Are humans wilder than wild animals?
- Should there be justification for evil deeds?
- Friends vs enemies: who should you be weary of?
- Good vs evil: where is the line drawn?
- Simplest explanation vs complex explanation: which is best?
- Similarities between philosophy and religion.
- The pen is mightier than the sword: how true is this?
Final Thoughts
The above mentioned compare and contrast essay topics are just a few of the many topics you can choose to discuss in your essay. If you are still having problems making a decision, then you can always ask for assistance from our professional essay writers who will help you find the best topic. You can also order a fully written compare and contrast essay and ease the amount of work you have to do.
It’s no wonder that students like to write contrast and compare essays because they leave a lot of space for creativity and own opinion. Such an essay allows the student to put in his own thoughts on the subjects compared and it can be quite fun to compare two entities rather just analyzing one and composing an essay on that. Of course, this doesn’t make it a very easy job and there are some rules and tips you should be aware of before starting to write a comparative essay.
Main Parts of Writing a Compare Essay
Before you even start writing it is very important to choose the topic that will put you in advantage. In most of the situations, you should look for items to compare that have some differences but similarities as well. For example, you can’t go on writing a comparative essay between a stone and rock and roll. So focus on comparison items that will give you the chance to talk about things they have in common but as well on how one is better than the other at certain aspects.
After you establish the comparison items you needs to do some proper research so that you have enough information on both to be able to perform a proper comparison. There are several sources from where you can gather information on your subjects but make sure that you always go with facts. Your text will need some proper back-up and sources to be cited. You can use sources like:
- Documentaries
- Scientific magazines
- Academic journals
- Official Reports
How to Write a Comparative and Contrast Essay
If you think that you can simply use the basic essay tips you learned in class or for other types of essays, you’re wrong. The thing with comparative and contrast essays is that you’re not just focusing on one item and anything you write has to be constructed in such a way that it can be used to compare it with the other one.
You can start with the type of topic you choose for your compare and contrast essay. Usually, the topics are divided into 4 categories:
- People and Fiction
No matter what category you choose to go with, you will have to always follow the structure of any academic paper. If you’re not sure how that goes, let us refresh your memory a bit.
Introduction
Here is the place where you have to try and get your readers to listen and hook them with your story. You need to present your topic, of course, and also your thesis statement which has the role of indicating to your readers what is the probable course of the entire work. The thesis statement usually goes in the first paragraph, somewhere around the last sentence of it.
Emphasizing on your arguments
After you’ve done the research, it’s time to develop the arguments that you make when comparing one thing to another. Makes sure to include reliable sources and don’t overdo it, just make it enough for your comparison to look well-researched.
Refuting arguments
In this section things will go the other way around. You need to research the selected topic and find facts to contradict your initial thesis. Again, choose at least one example and expand it into a paragraph at least that contains the counter-argument and as well as sources you used to reach that conclusion.
Obviously, this is the part where you draw your conclusions. You can restate your thesis statement and point out some of the arguments used over the entire essay that backs it up.
More Tips on Writing a Comparative and Contrast Essay
Always check for possible examples of essays when working on your hook sentence. This sentence has a great influence on a first-time reader of your work decision to keep reading or simply pass. There’s a wide variety of hooks you can use such as:
- Literary queotes
- Anecdotes or jokes
- Quotes of important persons
- Setting scenes
- Quotes from poetry
- Scientific arguments
- Rhetorical questions
Never stop brainstorming since it’s the best way to make a decision regarding the two items you’re going to write about. Make sure to write them down so you can go over them later and finally decide what you’re going to focus on. You can even start to sketch a few similarities and differences between the topic you brainstormed so that you have an idea on how complicated it will be to write the essay.
If needed, you can always turn to professionals to give you a nudge or help you with your topics or sources. You can appeal to books, movies or articles that are discussing the same topic you’re going to approach in your essay.
Make sure you don’t forget about in-text citations and formatting since you’re writing an academic paper. You have to use all the correct citations, including indirect and direct quotes to make your text even more believable.
We are trying to keep the part on how to write a comparative and contrast essay as brief as possible as we already approached this subject, in full, in another article. This article puts more focus on subjects and topic for these types of essays since without a good topic, you might end up getting stuck and have to start over and over again. So here are the best 150 topics you can elaborate a compare and contrast essay on.
Topics for Compare and Contrast Essays That Can be Used by College Students
As you can see, the topics are divided into multiple categories so that it would be easier for you to select one. We chose to start this list of categorized topics with what’s most relevant for college students and that’s obviously college itself and how to handle it. So, here we go:
- College vs Schools – what’s changed?
- Unemployed students compared to students that work. Who’s having the right approach.
- Essays vs research papers – what’s the best choice?
- British English or American English – what are the major differences?
- Are there any similarities between employment and education?
- TOEFL and SAT – what are the similarities and differences?
- Ph. D and Master Degree – main differences
- Argumentative papers vs persuasive paper – same or different
- Traditional Education or remote education – what works best?
6th Grade Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
- Summer or Winter – what’s the best season?
- Christmas at home vs Christmas traveling
- Wolves and dogs – differences and similarities
- Flowers and Weeds – why do we need both?
- Novels or comic books – what’s more interesting to read?
- Ping-pong vs tennis – what’s your favorite game?
- Reading a book vs watching TV
- Female friend or male friends – which ones are best?
- Western USA vs Eastern USA
Middle School Essay Topics
- Zeus vs King Arthur – which one is cooler?
- Role models of 1950s compared to modern role models
- Watching a move at home compared with going to the cinema
- Is there a link between school bullies and dictators?
- Is a hurricane worse than a tsunami or the other way around?
- Christmas, Halloween or Prom night – which one is the most fun?
- Bicycle or car driving – which one is more difficult?
- 5-star hotels vs 3-star ones – why should you choose each of them?
- Parents or celebrities – who influences a teenager most of all?
High School Compare and Contrast Essay Themes
- Historic literature or fiction – which one appeals most to college students?
- College Tests vs High School examinations – what is the most important of the two?
- E-learning versus traditional learning – is science and technology really helping with the learning process?
- New England Patriots vs Atlanta Falcons – who has more fans?
- Printed books vs e-books – what is the most appealing form of reading for colleague students?
- Story buildings or wooden houses – what type of construction is best?
- Portugal and Spain – what are the main similarities and differences?
- Japanese concept of beauty compared with the American one – what are the standards?
- Modern rock music compared with rock from the early 20th century – what are the differences and how did this genre evolve?
Day-to-day Compare and Contrast Essay Themes
- Buffy or Twilight – similarities and differences in characters
- Macbeth vs Julius Caesar – what do they have in common?
- Modernism vs realism – main differences and similarities
- Prose vs poetry – what are the literary elements that differentiate these genres
- Rural vs urban living – what are the similarities and differences
- Hillary Clinton vs Donald Trump – who should have won and what do they have in common?
- Barcelona vs Real Madrid – differences and things the two clubs have in common
- Android vs iOS – benefits of both operating systems
- Textbooks or tablets in schools – what are the advantages and disadvantages of each in the process of learning?
- Asylums vs Jails
- Star Trek vs Star Wards
- Family Guy vs American Dad
- Pineapple vs Apple
- Scandinavian Mythology vs Greek Mythology
Politics and History Compare Essay Topics
- Washington’s Ideas compared with Lincoln’s way of action
- Baroque vs Renaissance epochs
- Religious Studies vs Anthropology
- Soviet Government opposed to the American Government
- UK Prime Minister vs US President
- South and North Before the events of the Civil War in the United States
- King Louis XIV compared with Henry VIII
- Nazism and fascism: are there any differences?
- Difference in the events of World War II and World War I
Easy to Approach Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
- Comparing an orange to an apple
- Day Time vs Night Time – what are the advantages of each time frame?
- What are the main differences between animals and people
- Being rich opposed to living in poverty
- Tea or Coffee – What are the similarities and contrasts?
- Living in a small village opposed to living in a big city
- The differences between feeling sad or lonely
- Main differences and similarities between British and American traditional dishes
- Camping sites – seashore or in the woods?
Opposite Compare Essay Topics
- Males vs Females
- Pepsi or Coke?
- White vs Red
- Peace vs War
- Riding the bus or driving a car?
- Hatred and love
- Positive and negative aspects of working a lot
- Sun and the Moon
- Soft toys or dolls – what are the most appropriate toys?
Compare and Contrast Topics for Teenagers
- Adulthood vs Childhood
- Living on Campus opposed to living at home
- Watching a movie or reading the book that the movie was made after?
- Freelancing or working in an office?
- Scientific writing vs academic writing
- Radio shows or TV show?
- Professional career or education – what should you focus on?
- Roman and Greek culture – what are the main similarities and differences
- Science Classes compared with Art Classes
Social Media and IT Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
- Traditional Mailing vs email
- Traditional Commerce vs e-commerce
- Real-life dating vs online dating sites and apps
- Video Computer games vs smartphone games
- Forbes or New York Times?
- MySpace or Facebook? What’s the best social network?
- Online job application vs traditional methods
- Traditional writing services compared with online writing services
- Online advertising compared with traditional advertising
Music and Movie Compare and Contrast Essay Themes
- Charmed or Buffy?
- Movies against books: Reading is the best way to explore a novel?
- Rock vs Jazz
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Compare And Contrast Essay On The Poisonwood Bible
Transformation in the poisonwood bible.
The clash of the West and Africa, creates unique situations that everyone must face. The Poisonwood Bible, written by Barbara Kingsolver, shows how foreigners who enter another land are affected by the countries culture and faith, and in return how a society is affected. In the novel, children are led by the missionary father, Nathan into the Congo, where they face the task of religious conversion. Also, the Price children were influenced by the African culture and faith, in which changed how they view life and their attitudes toward the Congo. Each child’s perception of life distinct and molds them into the person they will become. This is impacted by the father’s obsession with God and the oppression of the Congo, because is makes the children
Ruth May's Reconciliations In Kilanga
Spending a generous amount of time in the heart of the African Congo is bound to change an American family. After spending over a year in the small Congolese village of Kilango, the Price family comes to terms with the fact that they cannot leave Africa without being changed by it, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Living in the Congo at a time when their race was doing all in their power to Westernize Africa, the Price women left Kilanga feeling immense guilt for being a part of this unjust manipulation of the African people. By the end of the novel, all of the Price women leave with the task of reconciling the wrongs they have committed and learning to live with the scars of their mistakes. Kingsolver showcases the moral reassessments
Alienation In The Poisonwood Bible
In The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver creates a character Orleanna Price who was semi-voluntarily exiled to the Congo. She was exiled from a happy life due to her marriage to Nathan Price, she was exiled from both America and Americans when she moved to the Congo, and she was exiled from her family when her youngest daughter died. With each exile, Orleanna’s personality is enriched by the things she learns during that exile, and Orleanna finds herself alienated from the people and lifestyle she used to have before each exile. In the first exile, Orleanna’s personality is enriched from the general life lessons she learns with the experience of age. During that exile, she is alienated from everyone she meets if they meet, have met, or even
The Poisonwood Bible Literary Analysis
In the novel, The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver, a missionary family travel to the African Congo during the 1960’s, in hopes of bringing enlightenment to the Congolese in terms of religion. The father, Nathan, believes wholeheartedly in his commitment, and this is ultimately his downfall when he fails to realize the damage that he is placing upon his family and onto the people living in Kilanga, and refuses to change the way he sees things. However, his wife, Orleanna, and her daughters, Rachel, Leah, Adah, and Ruth May, take the Congo in, and make the necessary changes in their lives, and they do this in order to survive with their new darkness that they are living in. Curiosity and acceptance help the ones with curious minds,
The Poisonwood Bible Language Analysis
In Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, religion is key. The family dynamic - at least superficially - revolves around the father's mission to bring the teachings of Baptism and the Bible to Kilanga, a village in the Congo. It becomes clear that this mission is really only the father's: the Price women in the novel, although originally somewhat excited about this experience, are not nearly as passionate as Nathan, the actual preacher of the religion, the active missionary. While the women are not as devoted to the mission's goals as Nathan, only Adah articulates why; only Adah discusses why she does not believe in God, and why she disagrees with the Western world's intent on converting African people to a religion which acts, in Leah's words,
What Is The Theme Of Imperialism In The Poisonwood Bible
Through the voices of five female narrators with contrasting perspectives, Barbara Kingsolver analyzes the extent to which imperialism affects the lives of indigenous populations and the lives of the imperialists. Each perspective places blame for the events of the novel on a different entity and each narrator feels a different degree of guilt for those events. The Poisonwood Bible’s secondary themes include the extent to which an environment affects the way that children grow up. This secondary theme creates the connection between familial dynamics and international relationships. While the novel paints a picture of imperialism by recounting the brief independence of the Congo, the relationship of the Price family and their interactions with Africa are more representative of the effects of imperialism on different types of people. In the novel, the father and missionary Nathan Price represents an imperialist power, his wife and daughters represent the civilians of imperialist countries, and Kilanga and the Congo
Leah Price In The Poisonwood Bible
Pauline Hopkins once said that “our surroundings influence ours lives and characters as just as much as fate, destiny, or any supernatural agency does.” In most cases, Hopkins would be correct. One can absolutely see this concept in the case of Leah Price from The Poisonwood Bible. Early in this novel, Leah Price is the daughter that tried to follow in her father 's footsteps. Almost everything that Leah does is to gain the respect from her father, Nathan, that she so craves. Leah’s fight for Nathan’s attention and love has gone on for years, since she was born basically. Things quickly change for Leah, however when she meets Anatole. Being with and around Anatole shows Leah exactly how bad life in the Belgian Congo really is for the Congolese
Kingsolver's Hyperbole Analysis
Kingsolver heavily uses hyperbole when speaking from Rachel’s perspective and includes blame as a theme to add personality to characters throughout the book. It is easy to discern Rachel’s voice from the other sisters due to her voice and the way she processes thoughts and emotions. Rachel overexaggerates nearly everything, causing her to be rarely satisfied and constantly discontent with the world around her but never blaming herself for any misfortunes. By describing Leah as “the cause of all our problems,” (Kingsolver, 335) you can see her need to displace any blame away from herself or a predicament’s true factors and onto one set person in the same dramatic way she does anything. A similar attitude can be seen throughout the Price family,
Gender Roles In The Poisonwood Bible
Set deep in the dense forests of Congo and in the heart of African culture, The Poisonwood Bible presents a story of the Price family and their revelations on confronting a different culture. In The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver presents the theme that women must overcome the naturally forming barriers that are created as a result of societal norms. The female characters of The Poisonwood Bible are oppressed by not only the rules of society but the chauvinistic and supercilious ways of the male, Nathan Price. Orleanna and Leah demonstrate the importance of making life altering choices in order to redeem themselves. Kingsolver demonstrates that by overcoming the barriers of societal and personal expectations, women are able to be empowered.
The Poisonwood Bible By Barbara Kingsolver
She writes about a man taking his family on a journey to the Congo and during this time the Congo is in a fight for Independence from Belgium. In the novel some of the characters depict are real historical people affecting the Congo during their fight for independance. Some of these people being Patrice Lumumba who was the prime minister in the Congo and Joseph Kasa-Vubu who was the Congo’s president. These people play an important role in the Congo’s war for Independence from Belgium and the different things that each wanted for the Congo. This affected the people in The Poisonwood Bible on their journey to the Congo. In the time of the Price’s stay they go through many seasonal things that the Congo also goes
Themes In The Poisonwood Bible
Facing adversity in life provides knowledge and life lessons that can be used to change and influence how one views religion. The Poisonwood Bible is a novel written by Barbara Kingsolver, portraying the life of the Price family, coming from Georgia to the Congo as a missionary family in 1959. Throughout the novel, Kingsolver takes the challenges and hardships faced by the characters in the Congo and shows how they change each character's individual outlook on life. These experiences intensify and transform the faith of a Baptist preacher Nathan Price, the previous Congolese missionary Brother Fowles, and one of Nathan's four daughter
Analysis Of The Poisonwood Bible
Critic Carey Snyder delivers an analysis of Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible, picking apart the various narrative elements utilized to establish the novel’s anti-imperialist themes. Spanning a wide range of literary elements within the work, Snyder first begins with her views of Nathan, an ethnocentric patriarch and embodiment of American arrogance, defined as much by his zealotry as by his failure to achieve his goals. Building off this, she uses Nathan’s role in the novel to expound upon his lack of a perspective in the novel’s narrative, examining the thematic consequences of viewpoints from all the female Prices, particularly in regard to the chronological divide between Orleanna’s
Analysis Of The Poisonwood Bible By Barbara Kingsolver
In the Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, the Price family is living in the ever changing country of the Congo, the author seeks to make a statement on the way that colonialism affects the people of the country being colonized.
Internal Conflicts In Kingsolver's Kilanga
Kingsolver uses strong diction, metaphor, and many other literary devices to describe Leah’s internal conflicts throughout the novel. While discussing Anatole and Leah’s time spent in Kilanga during their youth, she describes the hunger experienced as “starvation burning bitter on the backs of our tongues.” (Kingsolver 504) The word choice and personification used here adds a deeper sense of nostalgia and relief, as though you can almost taste the hunger yourself. The diction and imagery used in this passage suggests Leah and Anatole both have their farfetched dreams and are still clinging on to their past, hoping they can defeat the guilt and contempt they still hold, as Leah describes when saying she wishes to “walk on a compassionate earth
The Role Of Baptism In The Congolese
In 1959, when the Price family first arrives to the Congo, the country is controlled by the Belgians through colonial rule. In the past, Belgium attempted to “civilize” the Congolese by bringing them Catholic missionaries to convert them and tried to establish schools for education. The Belgians also established businesses (such as diamond mining) where the Congolese people were forced to work to enrich the Belgians. This mirrors the actions of Nathan Price, the Baptist minister who brings his family over from the United States on a religious mission. Nathan Price, being the only male figure in his family, rules over his wife and daughters. He is eager to spread God 's words throughout the village, thinking he is bringing the natives salvation and will easily convert them to Baptism.
More about Compare And Contrast Essay On The Poisonwood Bible
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Compare and Contrast Essay Examples, Outline & Structure
Feb 1, 2022
Feb 1, 2022 | Blog
What are compare and contrast essays?
Compare and contrast essays (also known as comparison essays) compares two things that are alike in some ways but different in others. The basic idea is to show alike, and differences and then provide evidence to support your points. We have included some amazing compare and contrast essay examples to inspire you.
Compare and contrast essays usually have three basic parts: the introduction, the comparison section, and the conclusion. The introduction is where you pose a question or present an idea leading to your compare and contrast essay. In the comparison section, you examine both subjects, pointing out their similarities and differences. In this section, you also use evidence to support your claims. Finally, the conclusion summarises what you have said by rephrasing your thesis statement and circling back to your introduction.
You can make a great compare and contrast essay even better by using strategies such as metaphors, similes, anecdotes, quotes, expert opinions, interesting statistics, or any concrete evidence that supports or clarifies what you are saying. Or you can use strategies such as juxtaposition (placing things side by side so that their differences or similarities become clear) or emphasis (stressing certain facts by writing them in boldface or italics) to make your academic essay more effective for the reader.
The Purpose of Compare/Contrast in Writing
The purpose of the compare and contrast essay may be different. For example:
- To show the similarities and differences between two objects or ideas.
- To show your ability to think critically about two things that have many aspects in common and some that are different. It is necessary to explain how and why they are similar and why they are different.
- To give your reader information about two separate subjects. The easiest way to do this is by giving the reader specific details about each subject. It would help if you tried to choose details that are different from each other and similar enough to help your reader see how they are similar. These specifics help your readers understand and remember what you’re trying to say.
- Some teachers assign this essay type for students to analyze two subjects or different topics related to one another on a deeper level than just being similar or different. Sometimes such an assignment may be given as part of an English class where students need to analyze how two literary works discuss similar topics from opposing points of view or focus on opposite subjects to understand each work better. Finally, teachers may also use this essay type of assignment for students in social studies or history classes to see how two different people, places, periods in time, events, or other subjects are directly related to one another when trying to explain cause and effect relationships.
The Compare and Contrast Structure of an Essay
There are two main ways to structure a compare and contrast essay: using a block or a point-by-point structure. For the block structure, all information about one of the objects being compared/contrasted is given first, and all of the information about the other object is listed afterwards. For the point-by-point structure, each similarity (or difference) for one object is followed immediately by the other’s similarity (or difference).
Here are some hypothetical examples:
Block Structure
Introduction Point 1 (object A) Point 2 (object B) Point 3 (object A) Point 4 (object B) Conclusion
Point By Point Structure
Introduction Similarity 1 (between A and B) Similarity 2 (between A and B) … Difference 1 (between A and B) Difference 2 (between A and B) … Conclusion
Compare and Contrast Essay Outline
Introduction
Introduce the two or more topics. Please indicate that you will be comparing and contrasting them. Add a compare and contrast essay thesis statement (one sentence at the end of your introduction paragraph)
Body Paragraphs
For each point of comparison, describe one subject and then describe the other. You will need to address each subject in the same order (for example, if you first discuss Topic A’s point 1, you must then talk about Topic B’s point 1).
Restate your thesis, summarizing the points of comparison you made in the body paragraphs.
A compare/contrast essay has two basic parts in its structure: the introduction and the body paragraphs.
The introduction is where you put your thesis and preview your points to give readers a sense of what’s coming. The body paragraphs are the heart of the essay, where you actually explain your meaningful arguments. Each body paragraph is devoted to one comparison or contrast between two things.
Taken together, these paragraphs make up the essential part of your essay. They’re your evidence for the claims you make in your thesis and your introduction. You can’t do without them. The rest of the essay is just there to support those paragraphs. You can get away without an introduction or conclusion or even a title, but if you don’t have four solid body paragraphs, you don’t have a good compare/contrast essay.
Essays vary greatly in how they turn their points of comparison into contrasts and vice versa, but that’s not something to worry about very much at first. Ask yourself only this: when my reader finishes this paragraph, will they be able to say clearly why it’s there? That’s all you need to aim for now.
Phrases of Comparison and Contrast
Writing a compare/contrast essay.
The basic organization of any compare/contrast essay is similar. You’ll begin with some formulation of the differences between the two things you’re discussing. Then you’ll describe the similarities.
Telling the reader about the similarities and differences could easily become a simple list, and a list is not an essay. So you want to use your description of similarities and differences to tell an organized story, with a beginning, middle, and end.
Telling a story means having some conflict, so your essay will have two parts: first, you’ll talk about how one thing is better than the other in some way or is more typical or important; then you’ll talk about how this good thing actually causes problems.
The first part of your essay will argue that one thing is better than another. You’ll describe why one thing is interesting or important in some way. The second part will be your argument that this quality makes it difficult to deal with.
Compare and Contrast Sample Paper
Strong compare and contrast essay examples, harry potter vs. draco malfoy essay example.
The Harry Potter book series, adapted into a popular movie series, includes several notable characters. Two of the most well-known are Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. While it might seem like these two teens (Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy) are two sides of a coin, they actually have several similarities in addition to their differences. Use this fun compare and contrast example to highlight the similarities and differences between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy by making a list of points in which they’re similar and which they differ.
High school Vs. College Essay Example
Perhaps the first essay you have to write as a new college student is on the differences and similarities between high school and college. Given your own experience at both types of institutions, you are in a great position to write this essay. While it may be difficult to uncover the similarities, you can easily list the differences between these two institutions. That is the high school and college experiences:
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When comparing and contrasting in an essay, there are two main ways to structure your comparisons: the alternating method and the block method. The alternating method In the alternating method, you structure your text according to what aspect you're comparing. You cover both your subjects side by side in terms of a specific point of comparison.
Consider how you will compare the characters. Broadly speaking, there are two general ways to structure your comparison: You can write about both characters in each paragraph (paragraph 2:...
1.) Choose two characters. The first step to writing a character comparison is to determine two characters you want to compare. Before you start comparing, revisit parts of the text where each ...
One way to analyze the characters is to compare and contrast them. When discussing literature, the term compare means to show the similarities between two or more things. On the other hand,...
To compare means to explore similarities between subjects, while to contrast means to look at their differences. Both subjects of the comparison are usually in the same category, although they have their differences. For example, it can be two movies, two universities, two cars etc.
Following is a list of 101 topics for compare and contrast essays that you are welcome to use in your classroom. As you look through the list you will see that some items are academic in nature while others are included for interest-building and fun writing activities. Apple vs. Microsoft Coke vs. Pepsi Renaissance Art vs. Baroque Art
A compare and contrast essay is all about comparing two subjects. Writing essays is not always easy, but it can be made easier with help from the examples before you write your own first. The examples will give you an idea of the perfect compare and contrast essay.
A compare and contrast essay is a type of analytical or informative essay that explores the similarities and differences between two subjects, hopefully leading to some larger insight about the two. That can seem pretty basic, but the real key is to make connections between the subjects that aren't obvious.
Lennie and Doodle have many physical differences. First of all, Lennie is a very big man, and doodle is a very small boy. Also Lennie is very physically strong, something doodle is not. Doodle can barely walk nor do anything else because of his frail body, while Lennie can do almost anything he wants physically.
Character Compare and Contrast The 2 characters that are the main spotlight in this story are Jack and Ralph. They are great leaders but they have different ways of leading others. However they have different goals and that leads to arguments and in the end separation.
Stuck on your essay? Browse essays about Character Comparison and find inspiration. Learn by example and become a better writer with Kibin's suite of essay help services. > Character Comparison Essay Examples. 40 total results ... Character Comparison Essay Examples. 40 total results.
Novel Study: The Lightning Thief: Discussion Guide #3. Worksheet. Novel Study: A Wrinkle in Time: Discussion Guide #1. Worksheet. Response Writing: Comparing Firsthand and Secondhand Accounts. Worksheet. The Flying Dutchman. Worksheet. Genre Guide & Reading Challenge.
Some assignments use words—like compare, contrast, similarities, and differences—that make it easy for you to see that they are asking you to compare and/or contrast. Here are a few hypothetical examples: Compare and contrast Frye's and Bartky's accounts of oppression.
A very common essay prompt/discussion topic for The Great Gatsby is to have you compare and contrast a pair of characters in Gatsby. Why do teachers love these prompts so much? These compare/contrast essays are an opportunity for you to tie the character similarities and differences to larger observations about society and class, the American Dream, or identity in the novel.
A compare and contrast essay is a type of academic writing often assigned to high school and college students. In this essay type, a writer selects two objects or subjects to draw a comparison or contrast between them. Like other essay types, drafting a compare and contrast essay is based on some prewriting and writing steps.
The Purpose of Comparison and Contrast in Writing. Comparison in writing discusses elements that are similar, while contrast in writing discusses elements that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay, then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.. The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way.
In a compare and contrast essay, the writer is able to highlight diverse elements. Each essay has a different purpose and perspective. The essays that are written for middle school students are usually focused on and highlight the education and general conception of students in schools.
Compare the main characters of two books: "Robinson Crusoe" by Defo and "Gulliver's Travels" by Swift. Find differences and similarities of characters: Raskolnikov and Sonya in the novel "Crime and Punishment.". Compare the main characters of two books: Mr. Rochester ("Jane Eyre") and Mr. Darcy ("Pride and Prejudice").
The block method for writing a compare and contrast essay can be illustrated using points A, B, and C to signify individual characteristics or critical attributes. This block format allows the students to compare and contrast subjects, for example, dogs vs. cats, using these same characteristics one at a time.
A compare and contrast essay therefore looks at the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences. This essay type is common at university, where lecturers frequently test your understanding by asking you to compare and contrast two theories, two methods, two historical periods, two characters in a novel, etc.
In This essay you will see how William and Jamal are alike and different in the terms of struggle,love and Family. Jamal and William connecting was best thing that could happening to them. Love is a theme that affects both of the characters in the movie finding Forrester. William and Jamal both shared a love for writing. William is a famous ...
Business Ethics Compare and Contrast Essay essay example for your inspiration. ️ 1158 words. Read and download unique samples from our free paper database. ... Gordon Gekko is a character in the movie portrayed as an unscrupulous and wealthy corporate player. The movie portrays an economic aspect of the society characterized by greed (Stone, 24).
Scientific Topics for Compare and Contrast Essays. Microwave vs Oven. Chemistry vs Physics. Andromeda and Milky Way. What are the differences between Mars and Earth. Differences and similarities of the two moon missions. DaVinci vs Thomas Jefferson. Tsunami vs Earthquakes - what's the worse natural phenomenon.
Compare And Contrast Essay On The Poisonwood Bible. In Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, relocating to the Congo has contrasting effects on each character. Facing the grueling elements and the lack of normalcy, these characters both react differently to this change and grow in their own way. Rachel and Leah are two distinctive ...
5 Phrases of Comparison and Contrast. 6 Writing a Compare/Contrast Essay. 7 Compare and Contrast Sample Paper. 8 Strong Compare and Contrast Essay Examples. 8.1 Harry Potter Vs. Draco Malfoy Essay Example. 8.2 High school Vs. College Essay Example. 9 Conclusion.
A compare and contrast essay discusses the similarities and differences between two things or subjects. To compare means to note the similarities, ... It names the play, characters, and provides a ...
Using effective transitions, students are guided to write about similar characters, setting, and mood, and write about major differences only read in the book or seen in the movie. (I also sell a Venn Diagram worksheet and compare-and-contrast essay for this activity.)
Compare and Contrast Essay Samples. This type of essay can be really confusing, as balancing between comparing and contrasting can be rather difficult. Check out our compare and contrast essay samples to see how to write essays of this type on your own. Feeling too tied up to look through all compare and contrast essay samples?