Comparison Essay Structure

What it does?

It compares:

• It shows similarities between two things or among more than two things.

• It highlights specific commonalities

It contrasts

• It shows differences between two things or among more than two things.

• Highlights specific differences

Sample Content and Structure

Let’s pretend we’re going to write an essay that compares and contrasts

SOUP and SANDWICHES.

BLOCK METHOD Introductory Paragraph

• A HOOK (generally talk about the topic)

• Elaborate on the topic

• Introduce text(s) and author(s), film(s) and director(s)

• THESIS is the LAST sentence. It states the argument AND gives a preview of the three body paragraphs. For this one, the preview will list Macbeth, A Simple Plan, and comparison of both. * should reflect the order you include them in the body paragraphs

BLOCK METHOD Body Paragraphs

CONTRAST: 3 unique features of SOUP, discussed with examples, explanation, defended, etc.

CONTRAST: 3 unique features of SANDWICHES, discussed with examples, explanation, defended, etc.

COMPARE: 3 unique similarities of SOUP and SANDWICHES. Examples, explanation, defended, etc.

Here, you can rebut details from Body 1 and 2.

BLOCK METHOD Concluding Paragraph

• Restate thesis

• Review each body paragraph point (perhaps each in its own sentence)

• End on a broad note

• Introduce no new information

For those who are visual learners:

BODY PARAGRAPHS

FOR BLOCK

METHOD:

One item

Other item

Both items

CONTRAST in BODY 1

COMPARE in BODY 3

CONTRAST in BODY 2

Red & blue make purple

POINT by POINT METHOD Introductory Paragraph

• A HOOK (generally talk about the topic)

• Elaborate on the topic

• Introduce text(s) and author(s), film(s) and director(s)

• THESIS is the LAST sentence. It states the argument AND gives a preview of the three body paragraphs. For this one, the preview will list the three overarching proofs you’ll discuss in each body paragraph. * should reflect the order you include them in the body paragraphs

POINT by POINT METHOD Body Paragraphs

For ONE overarching topic, compare AND contrast SOUP and SANDWICHES.

For ANOTHER overarching topic, compare AND contrast SOUP and SANDWICHES.

For A THIRD overarching topic, compare AND contrast SOUP and SANDWICHES.

POINT by POINT METHOD Concluding Paragraph

• Restate thesis

• Review each body paragraph point (perhaps each in its own sentence)

• End on a broad note

• Introduce no new information

For those who are visual learners:

BODY

PARAGRAPHS

FOR POINT by

POINT

METHOD:

COMPARE

IN BODY 1

COMPARE

IN BODY 3

COMPARE

IN BODY 2

ORGANIZATION REVIEW:

BLOCK METHOD POINT by POINT METHOD

No matter what you do, you MUST have deliberate organization. Here are two ways. If the essay argues that soup is better than sandwiches…..

Introduction

CONTRAST: 3 unique features of SOUP, discussed with examples, explanation,

defended, etc.

CONTRAST: 3 unique features of SANDWICHES, discussed with examples,

explanation, defended, etc.

COMPARE: 3 unique similarities between SOUP and SANDWICHES, with examples, explanation, defended, etc.

Conclusion

Introduction

For ONE overarching topic, compare AND contrast SOUP and SANDWICHES.

For ANOTHER overarching topic, compare AND contrast SOUP and

SANDWICHES.

For A THIRD overarching topic, compare AND contrast SOUP and SANDWICHES.

Conclusion