How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay | Best Essay Writers
How to write a compare and contrast essay is a common question among most students and research personnel. It is, therefore, very essential to comprehend all that it entails making the best compare and contrast essay. Everyday student and researchers face multiple tasks, which are subsequently difficult to complete. As a result, they turn to professional writers to help with the essays or even assignments. Of the numerous writers is myhomeworkwriters.com, the best essay writers, as referred to by thousands of students and clients.
First, before we tackle how to write a compare and contrast essay, let us get an insight into what a compare and contrast essay is. A compare and contrast essay is an essay expounding on the differences and similarities between two subjects.
These are two different subjects put in the same category of analysis. You might do a comparison and contrast of two different books from the same theme, two different sports, or a scientific topic, such as locomotion and movement. Thus, it is essential to know how to write a compare and contrast essay.
Extended Definition Essays
An extended essay is a research paper up to four thousand (4000) words for the International Baccalaureate, providing students with an opportunity to conduct independent research on a topic of their choice.
The extended essay is a compulsory prerequisite for the International Baccalaureate diploma.
Extended essays are marked by external assessors on a scale of 0 to 34. the International Baccalaureate base the general criterial of assessment on general criteria interpreted through subject-specific expectations.
How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay
Sometimes, you might think that writing an essay on a single topic is challenging enough! And is probably wondering where to start with a band comprehensive essay on two subjects?
Worry no more, here is a step-by-step guide by My Homework Writers on how to write a compare and contrast essay.
- Select your topics
- Analyze the similarities and differences
- Concentrate on your main argument
- Decide on the style of your presentation
- Write an outline
- Insert supportive evidence
- Use transitional words in your essay
- Revise carefully and proofread your essay
Step 1 – Select Your Topics
To create a comprehensive and meaningful compare and contrast essay, always remember that your two topics must be different, but in the same category. Remember, the winning or best compare and contrast essay does not only focus on how selected items are similar or different. Subsequently, you must support every statement you make by details and facts. The topic will guide on how to write a compare and contrast essay.
Finding a suitable topic is not rocket science, but on the other hand, needs proper planning and efforts. The following guides will make it easy when selecting the best topic for your essay.
How to Select a Compare and Contrast Subject
First, the topic is a key feature that attracts the reader’s attention. It is advisable to pick from public or motivational topics that most people familiarize with. At this point, a little meditation is essential. Follow the steps as you answer the questions below to help you select a great topic:
- Are you happy to write on the topics?
- Do you find the event, personality, or situation at hand exciting enough to write on?
- How much knowledge do you have on a particular subject?
- Is there enough information on the topic available online?
- Do you draw any inspiration or motivation from the subject?
After a keen consideration of the above factors, remember to find strong evidence to support your subject. Furthermore, your topic should be specific.
Catchy Topics You Might Consider to Make the Best Compare and Contrast Essay.
- Movies vs books
- Capitalism vs communalism
- Fiction vs reality
- Private vs public universities
- Devolved government vs centralized government
- Yahoo vs google
- Introverts vs extroverts
- Herbs vs modern medicine
- Monogamy vs polygamy
- Manual vs automatic vehicles
- Acoustic vs electric guitars
- IOS vs android
Step 2 – Analyze the Similarities and Differences
You can use two techniques to facilitate the analysis of the similarities and differences of your subject. First, you can draw a Venn diagram, and secondly, you can make two lines, one list of differences, and the other list for the similarities.
The Venn Diagram
The Venn diagram consists of two overlying circles, one for each of the subjects under comparison and contrast. Write the different traits separately, and within those that they share, write in the overlapping space. The Venn diagram is a visual tool because it organizes the differences and similarities precisely. Therefore, all you need to do is look at your Venn diagram to catch a glimpse of what you will write about. The diagram provides a visual representation that will guide on how to write a compare and contrast essay.
Two Lists – Parallel Lines
In the event you prefer to focus on one topic at a time, we recommend using two different lists. Additionally, keep the characteristics or features of the different topics almost parallel. Each line should have details on the different subjects you will discuss. By so doing, you will be able to structure a good argument. The two lists provide a starting point on how to write a compare and contrast essay.
Step3 – Concentrate on Your Main Argument
A comprehensive and good compare and contrast essay are more than just listing the differences and similarities of your subject to make a statement that is meaningful to a broad topic. Nevertheless, what strikes you upon looking at your list of similarities and differences should make the basis of your main argument.
Step 4 – Decide on the Style of Your Presentation
There are different ways of structuring a compare and contrast essay.
- First, write one topic in detail, then switch to the other topic.
Assuming that you are comparing and contrasting rhythm and blues and hard rock. You can use the first two paragraphs on features common to rhythm and blues, along with some elements they share with hard rock. Afterwards, you can then focus on hard rock in the preceding section.
- Secondly, you can decide to go point by point throughout the essay. You can decide to write the similarities than the differences.
Step 5 – Write an Outline
It is from the structure that you choose that you will craft an outline. Particularly, an essay consists of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, always consider four-body paragraphs instead of the regular three-body paragraph to balance your two subjects.
Step 6 – Insert Supportive Evidence
Usually, you should back up your claims with evidence from personal experience, reading, or research. In short, with any information, you include in your essay, be ready and sure to provide an explanation of why it is essential in the context of your broad argument.
Step 7- Use Transitional Words in your Essay
The core function of the transitional words in your essay is to provide a nice flow from one statement to the next. When making any form of comparisons throughout your compare and contrast essay, use transitional words like “on the contrary”, “on the other hand”, “nevertheless, nonetheless”.
Step 8 – Revise Carefully and Proofread your Essay
When you finish, carefully read through your essay several times to check grammar, spelling, punctuations, and tenses. Sometimes it is advisable to get a neutral person, maybe a friend, to quality assure your essay. By so doing, you get a neutral opinion on any available errors you might have ignored.
By following these steps, you will be in a position to write a compare and contrast essay that captivates your audience.
Compare and Contrast Essay Introduction
Introductions play a key role in catching the attention of the readers. Therefore, it is an area of interest especially when it comes to writing a compare and contrast essay. A good introduction needs to make the reader eager to know the content of the rest of the essay. Furthermore, an introduction needs not to be direct to the point of making the reader have the idea that they have read the whole text. An introduction should not be too long or too short, but rather should contain all the information that will be captured in the text, that is, you can use a hook to create suspense or ask a question that compels the reader to read further.
How Do You Start a Compare and Contrast Essay?
It is always advisable to begin your compare and contrast essay with a strong introduction that captivates your readers and clearly introduces your subject.
How Do I Start My Introduction?
On how to write a compare and contrast essay introduction, it is good to start with a question you will provide answers to in the course of your work. You can also begin with a fact that will draw the attention of your audience.
The introduction introduces the reader into two topics. It is important to make it appealing, believable, and strong.
You can also decide to provide some background information on the topics you are going to compare and contrast.
Finish up the introduction with a precise statement. That is to say; the statement should be an overall view of the essay. It will be easy to start the essay once you have your introduction. In case you still have challenges or find assignments overwhelming, you can hire myhomeworkwriters.com best essay writers.
How Do You Write a Compare and Contrast Essay Outline?
Before we look at a compare and contrast essay outline, it is essential to understand that a good compare and contrast essay must:
- Stipulate the unknown
- Remove all sorts of misunderstanding
- Illustrate how one subject is different from the other
- Present a new way of doing, understanding, and seeing a certain issue
- Expound on a point and provide relevant supporting evidence.
Comparison and Contrast Essay Examples Point By Point
Point-by-point means a comparison that focuses on comparing and contrasting one aspect in both subjects, at the same time.
To keep an essay simple, an outline has three main parts:
- An introduction
- The main body
- Conclusion
Compare and Contrast Essay Outline
It is at this point where you present your subject in wide and specific terms. It is here that you will also state your thesis statement. A compare and contrast thesis statement is the basis of the ideas in your essay. Therefore, the outline of your essay should be compelling and well organized to keep a consistent flow of thoughts.
How to Write a Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement?
Elements to include in the thesis statement:
An Introduction to The Key Idea
Beginning with a hook line is the best way to introduce your main point. Preceding, write the points of focus on your topic. A comparison and contrast essay examples point by point outlines such as a comparison and contrast of two dogs, Alex and Max, may be as follows:
It Entails Aspects of Contrast and Comparison
After the catchy introduction, there is a need for the specification of what you are comparing and contrasting. This should be part of the main topic, just below the main topic. Taking on with Max and Alex example, the next line would be like:
The Thesis Statement
Finally, present your main point with clarity at the end of your introduction. You can achieve clarity by expressing all the ideas you are comparing and contrasting. As a result, you provide your audience with the direction of the essay.
The Main Body
A well-organized outline for compare and contrast essay paragraphs has several good points. You will have to show the differences and similarities of each subject in the body.
Also, in the third paragraph, which is mostly the last paragraph, you should finish up on the last part you included in your thesis.
Points to note:
- First, depending on the ideas that you have, you can include as many paragraphs as possible.
- Secondly, clearly outline and explain your points in a candid way.
Conclusion
To conclude, you put all the elements together using three easy areas:
- Summarizing the main points
- Evaluation – you conduct a simple analysis of all that you have written down.
The conclusion should complete a whole circle back to your introduction.
Compare and Contrast Paragraph Examples
“My present life and my life five years ago have some factors in common, but with several differences. Five years ago, I lived in Miami while I attended high school. With my parent’s support, I never worked. Also, I had to babysit my nephew since my parents worked late. Additionally, I watched over had and fed her. On the other hand, now I live in New York and done with high school. On the brighter side, I have a job now and I support myself.
There are more responsibilities now than there were five years ago. Furthermore, I account for all my actions and decisions. Currently, I am more objective and goal-oriented. For instance, I am looking forward to having my bachelor’s and master’s degree. Most importantly, I am looking forward to achieving my goals. However, I still stay with my parents as I attend college. But I still babysit my niece every once in a while. Furthermore, I still have some of the same responsibilities. Also, I help my mom take care of my oldest nephew as he has always lived with us. To conclude, I still depend on my parents for transportation because I don’t have a vehicle. My life has changed a lot in a span of only five years.”
What are the 5 Types of Hooks?
- Declaration hook – a declarative hook is a statement or sentence that makes a firm claim about your topic. It connects to the thesis statement and illustrates the importance of your essay. The declarative hook at some point but present a sense of debatable finality.
- Facts and statistics hook – the facts/ statistics hook your audience because they provide real-life information about a subject. Also, the hook can have more significance if the readers can relate to the information presented.
- Story hook – a story hook is where you start with a short episode or story that relates to your topic. It is advisable that you do not dwell on the story hook to the point of shifting the reader’s attention to focus on the story and rather not the subject.
- Descriptive hook – this is a hook where a vivid description of a scene draws your readers into your writing.
- Quotation hook – this is a hook where you begin your essay with a quote, can be from a famous person, when it connects to what you are writing about.
Compare and Contrast Words
There are several words used in the comparison and contrasting of different subjects under study. We will focus on the compare and contrast word list.
Comparison Words List
The following words show a comparison of two subjects:
| Just as | In addition |
| Like | In the same way |
| Most importantly | Comparatively |
| Similarly | Both |
| The same as | As well as |
| Too | Also |
Contrast Word List:
The words that show a contrast between two subjects:
| More than | Although |
| Nevertheless | Besides |
| But | notwithstanding |
| On the other hand | Compared with |
| Conversely | otherwise |
| Rather than | Differ |
| Even though | regardless |
| Though | unless |
| However | unlike |
| In contrast to | Instead |
| While | Yet |
Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
A good essay stands out and draws the reader to continue reading from the start to the end, irrespective of the topic. Below are some compare and contrast essay ideas:
- Which are most lucrative as a career: arts vs sciences
- What are the cons and pros: hostels vs renting?
- State the major differences: boarding schools vs day schools
- Discuss: research papers vs essay papers
- College education: should it be free vs not free?
- The army vs the navy
- Religion vs atheism
- What are the differences and similarities in teachings: the bible vs the Quran?
- Which is superior: communism vs capitalism
- what is the difference: democracy vs dictatorship?
- Plants vs animals
- Tradition vs civilization
- What is the difference in power: presidency vs monarchy?
- What are the governance differences: western governments vs African governments?
- Elaborate: movement vs locomotion
- Expound: reality movies vs fiction
- Discuss: the African version of beauty vs the American version of beauty
- Which is better: air transport vs water transport
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To conclude, it is essential for a student to learn how to write a compare and contrast essay that is captivating and scoring high marks. Here at myhomeworkwriters.com, we ensure that students and all our customers attain their desired satisfaction. We have a team of best essay writers that ensure we accomplish our mission.
