Compare and Contrast Essay: ‘Compare’ comes from the Latin word ‘compar’ meaning ‘like, equal’. The word ‘contrast’ comes from the Latin root ‘contra’ and means ‘against’. When you compare two subjects you mainly focus on the similarities while contrasting is focusing on the differences between the topics.
Be it exams or important thesis compare and contrast essays play a major role in it. This article will make you familiar with the compare and contrast essay structure, with the help of compare and contrast essay example. Check out the free compare and contrast essay examples for more clarity.
Compare and Contrast Essays
- What are compare and contrast essays?
- Purpose of the essay
- Structure of compare and contrast essays.
- Terms used for comparisons
- Terms used for contrasting
- Criteria for comparison
- Example of topics used in compare and contrast essay
- Tips for acing an essay
What Are Compare And Contrast Essays?
Compare and Contrast Essays mainly focuses on comparing and contrasting between two or more subjects in concern. This type of essay is mainly used in academic purposes for providing learners with a clear idea of the topic. These are either used as an individual essay or used as a part of a big thesis or article. This type essay will be used in topics like comparing two theories, two eras, two historical time periods, etc.
Purpose of this essay
In writing, comparison is used to describe similarities, whereas contrast is used to illustrate contrasts. As a result, a comparison and contrast essay compares and contrasts two topics via contrasting, analyzing, or both. In literature, the terms comparison and contrast are used to describe similarities and differences, respectively.
As a consequence, a comparison and contrast essay contrasts and compares two subjects by comparing, analyzing, or combining the two. The key to producing a great evaluate-and-assessment essay is to pick one or more themes that are related in some way.
The purpose of an assessment or evaluation is generally to bring to light minor discrepancies or unexpected similarities, rather than to point out apparent contrasts. In writing, comparison is used to describe similarities, whereas contrast is used to illustrate contrasts. As a result, a comparison and contrast essay compares and contrasts two topics via contrasting, analyzing, or both.
In literature, the terms comparison and contrast are used to describe similarities and differences, respectively. As a consequence, a comparison and contrast essay contrasts and compares two subjects by comparing, analyzing, or combining the two. The key to producing a great evaluate-and-assessment essay is to pick one or more themes that are related in some way. The purpose of an assessment or evaluation is generally to bring to light minor discrepancies or unexpected similarities, rather than to point out apparent contrasts.
In writing, comparison is used to describe similarities, while contrast is used to illustrate contrasts. A comparison and contrast essay, on the other hand, compares and contrasts two topics through comparing, analyzing, or both. . In literature, the terms comparison and contrast are used to describe similarities and differences, respectively.
As a consequence, a comparison and contrast essay contrasts and compares two subjects by comparing, analyzing, or combining the two. The key to producing a great evaluate-and-assessment essay is to pick one or more themes that are related in some way.
The purpose of an assessment or evaluation is generally to bring to light minor discrepancies or unexpected similarities, rather than to point out apparent contrasts. In writing, comparison is used to describe similarities, whereas contrast is used to illustrate contrasts.
As a result, a comparison and contrast essay compares and contrasts two topics via contrasting, analyzing, or both. In literature, the terms comparison and contrast are used to describe similarities and differences, respectively. As a consequence, a comparison and contrast essay contrasts and compares two subjects by comparing, analyzing, or combining the two.
The key to producing a great evaluate-and-assessment essay is to pick one or more themes that are related in some way. The purpose of an assessment or evaluation is generally to bring to light small differences rather than pointing out obvious ones.
Structure of Compare and Contrast Essays
Compare and contrast essays can be written in mainly two types of structural organizations, namely the block structure and the point by point structure.
The block structure is mainly used in essays concerning causes and effects or problem-solution type essays. The block structure format is easier to write as it requires the author to list the points of comparison of one subject together and then the points for the other subject together.
The point by point structure demands the point of similarity to be immediately supported by the dissimilarity of the other object, making it a more preferred structure by the authors in account of its clarity.
Block structure
INTRODUCTION OBJECT 1 [point 1] OBJECT 1 [point 2] OBJECT 1 [point 3]
This will be followed by the transition sentence OBJECT 2 [point 1]
OBJECT 2 [point 2] OBJECT 2 [point 3] ENDING WITH THE CONCLUSION.
Point-By-Point Structure
INTRODUCTION POINT 1 [OBJECT1 – OBJECT 2] POINT 2 [OBJECT 1 – OBJECT 2] POINT 3 [OBJECT1 – OBJECT2] CONCLUSION
Terms used for comparisons
The following phrases are used to denote a comparison
- One similarity
- Another similarity
- Both
- Likely
- Likewise
- Similarity
- In a similar fashion
- Similarly
- Also
- To be alike
- To compare with
- Etc,
Example- Communication can be easily done with help of computers via emails, similarly/ likewise mobiles can also be used for communication.
Computers and mobile phone can both be used to communicate easily.
Terms used for contrasting
The following terms are used for contrasting amongst two subjects or topics:
- However
- In contrast
- In comparison to
- By comparison
- To be unlike
- Unlikely
- To be dissimilar to
- Whereas
- But
- While
- On the other hand
- Etc
Example: computers although useful for communication are not handy whereas mobile phones can be carried everywhere.
Mobile phones are portable while computers are not that portable.
Criteria for comparison
It is very essential to have a proper criterion of comparing or contrasting, on account of this criteria it is more specific to the reader to understand the background of the point. Supporting the criteria with evidences is also suggested. The presence of a criterion gives the points a totally different edge.
Example: Jack is tall and strong. In contrast, Rose is beautiful and very intelligent.
The different contrasting characters make this sentence confusing for the reader. The criterion used in case of Jack is height and strength while Rose had the criteria for looks and intelligence. It is expected that the contrasting points are similar.
This actively demonstrates that if the sentence would have been:
Jack is tall and strong. In contrast to Rose is short and weak. This makes the criteria for comparison clearer. To sum up everything that has been stated it can be said a clear criteria for comparison or contrasting acts as the backbone of this type of essay.
Example of topics used in compare and contrast essay
- Use chemical drugs or not
- Homeopathic or allopathic medication
- Plastic surgery or not
- Female vs. male doctors
- iOs vs. android
- Netflix vs. Amazon prime
- MS office or WPS office
- Online school or offline school
- Twitter or Instagram
- Rich vs. poor
- Economy or sociology
- Politics or economics
- Dependence on technology good or bad
- E-books vs. textbooks
- Gym or workout at home
- Meat eater or vegan
- Mammals vs. reptiles
- Herbs vs. shrubs
- Bacteria vs. viruses
- Plastic vs. paper
- etc
Tips for Acing an Article
- both similarities and dissimilarities are to be addressed
- have a clear statement of the thesis
- transitions should be clear
- structure your paper well
- research on the topic
- analyze for mistakes
- review several times
- have clear criteria for comparing and contrasting
- use point-by-point structure
- structure your essay well
Compare and contrast type of essay is very essential for good learning of the reader. This type of essay provides concept clarity and better understanding of the topic. It is suggested that the points are kept precise for a better mental focus the topics and if the steps are followed well with point-by-point structure used, the essay will be more appealing.
These types of essay are used all over the world for various aspects such as teaching, writing research paper, etc. happy reading and writing!