Comparison/Contrast Essay Assignment | Comparison/Contrast Essay
Compare “The 5:22” story found at https://georgeharrarbooks.com/the-522/ and also story “The Happy Prince” found at https://mookiejt.neocities.org/happyprince.htm
Your comparison should go beyond comparing the “stories” (i.e., plot) and instead focus on elements of the short stories. An example (that does not meet the assignment) would be to compare Chopin’s use of nature in “The Story of an Hour” and “The Storm.” That example would require analyzing the words she uses to evoke nature, as well as detailing why she uses those words and images in each story. Do they have the same purpose and effect, e.g.? Finally, you would need to come to a conclusion about the similarities and differences. You can compare themes, lessons, characters, styles, settings, or any other element.
The point of the essay should be either to show us things that appear similar yet have subtle differences or to show us things that appear very different yet contain similar properties.
Requirements: This essay should be prepared in MLA style, with a Works Cited page.
MLA style requirements include typed double-spaced, standard 12-pt font.
Organization: Remember your rules for comparison/contrast papers.
A “point by point” method is usually better than a “subject by subject” method. That is, if you have three points (similarities/differences), it is probably better to organize your paper the following way:
I. Introduction
II. Point 1 (similarity/difference) A. Story 1 B. Story 2
III. Point 2 (similarity/difference) A. Story 1 B. Story 2
IV. Point 3 (similarity/difference) A. Story 1 B. Story 2
V. Conclusion
Don’t forget to have a thesis. That is, what are you trying to say by making this comparison? The point is not just to make a list of similarities and differences. What do these similarities or differences mean to us?
