Contrast/Comparison Essay

Comparison

Things that are similar

Contrast

Things that are different

Connectors that show similarities

• Like

Like her sister, Angela is very tall.

• Similarly

• I grew up overseas. Similarly, my wife spent her childhood abroad in the US.

Contrasting Connectors• Unlike

Unlike my father who studied business, I studied communication.

• In contrastTokyo is a very crowded city. In contrast, there seem to be very people in Sydney.

• On the one hand; on the other handOn the one hand, I enjoy the fast pace of the city. On the other hand, I like to relax in the countryside.

1. Describe the scene 　(Freewriting).

2. How are they similar?

3. How are they different?

Picture 1 Picture 2

1. Describe scene

• Couples on vacation

• Summer

• Winter

• Beach

• City

• Romantic

• Honeymoon?

Similar/Different

• Look happy• Vacations• Young • Close

• Cold/warm• Lots of clothes/little

clothes• Casual/More formal• Relaxed/Busy• Cheap/Expensive• Peaceful/Noisy• Quiet/Noisy

A Comparison/Contrast Essaycan be organized in 2 ways.

Block style

Introduction

1st body paragraph about similarities

2nd body paragraph about differences

Conclusion

A 4-paragraph essay:

Point-by-point style

Introduction

1st body paragraph: 1st main difference

2nd body paragraph: 2nd main difference

3rd body paragraph: 3rd main difference

Conclusion

A 5-paragraph essay

We are going to focus on the point-by-point style essay.

Introduction

Describe the two things you are comparing

in your background/comments.

Thesis Statement

The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast the main differences between a vacation at the beach or in the city.

1st Body Paragraph

• Topic sentence describes the main difference.

• Give examples of beach vacation.

• Use a contrasting connector

(However, in contrast, unlike, etc.)

• Give examples of city vacation

2nd Body Paragraph

• Topic sentence describes the next main difference.

• Give examples of beach vacation.

• Use a contrasting connector

• (However, in contrast, unlike, etc.)

• Give examples of city vacation

3rd Body Paragraph

• Topic sentence describes the final main difference.

• Give examples of beach vacation.

• Use a contrasting connector

• (However, in contrast, unlike, etc.)

• Give examples of city vacation

Conclusion

• Summarize your main reasons

• Restate your thesis

• Don’t add any new information

Beach vs City

Around the world there are many places to enjoy a vacation. There are famous beach resort areas such as Waikiki in Hawaii, Treasure Island in Fiji, and the Whitsunday Islands in Australia. They are places where you can go to relax in a beautiful natural setting and leave your worries behind. However, for those who want to be more active and are in search of excitement and nightlife, the city is the place to go. Cities like New York, London, Paris and Tokyo offer tourists a great variety of things to do. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast the main differences between a vacation at a beach or in the city.

Thesis Statement

General comments about the beach General comments about the city

First major difference

The first major difference is the pace of life during your vacation. Staying at a beach resort is about taking it easy and relaxing with your family or friends. The fresh air and beautiful views can put your mind at rest. All you need to worry about is whether you want to go swimming or not. There is no hurry to go anywhere because the beach is right in front of your hotel room. In addition, most resorts have spas for guests to have a massage or beauty treatment. On the contrary, a visit to the city can be a little hectic if you want to do many of the things on offer. For instance, if you want to see the sights, go shopping, and go out at night, you have to plan and coordinate everything.

Relaxing beach vacation

Contrast connector

Topic sentence

Hectic city vacation

Second major difference

Another difference is what you will need to take with you on your vacation. If you decide to go to the beach, you won’t have to take too much. Everything you wear will be casual such as your bathing suit, shorts, short-sleeve shirts, sandals, sunglasses, and sun block. Even at night, you won’t really need to dress up for dinner or a show. In contrast, for a trip to the city, you will need to pack more because you will be doing a variety of things. You will need comfortable and casual clothing such as jeans and sneakers for sightseeing trips, and good clothes for restaurants and concerts. Also, you will need to take more accessories, including bags and jewelry to complement your style.

Topic sentenceA few things for the beach.

Contrast connectorClothes for different occasions

Third major difference

The final difference is the way you will use your spending money. At a beach resort, most of the activities will be included in your holiday package, so you won’t need to spend much money while you are on your vacation. Even if you buy souvenirs, you can put the cost onto your room charge. However, in the city, you will have extra expenses if you choose to eat at restaurants outside of your hotel. Also, you will need to spend money on taxis and buses to get around the city. Shopping will be the biggest expense, because it is unpredictable. There is a good chance you will buy more than you expected because you may find something special you would like.

Topic sentenceSpend a little at the beach.

Contrast connector Spend a lot in the city.

Conclusion

In conclusion, whether you take a vacation at the beach or in the city, they are excellent ways to take a break from your usual lifestyle. If you want to relax and refresh yourself from your busy lifestyle, the beach is probably the best place for you. However, if just lying in the sun and working on your tan doesn’t interest you, and you are looking for excitement, the city is a good holiday destination for you.

Restate thesis

Summarize city main ideas

Summarize beach main ideas.

Compare and contrast

Brainstorm

• Similarities • Differences

Select three main differences

Complete the essay plan

Topics

• Private university and public university in Japan• Coke Zero and Pepsi Nex• iPhone and another brand of smart phone• Facebook and Mixi• Disney Animation and Ghibli Animation• Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan• Shinkansen and Plane

Freewriting Journal topic: Write a draft comparison/contrast essay.

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