A Guide to Compare/Contrast

Essays
COM 170
Roxanne Grandis
What is a compare/contrast
essay?
In this class you will write a compare/contrast
essay. A compare/contrast essay does two
things.
• It compares two things or ideas.
• It shows how those two things or ideas are
different or similar to one another.
How to approach a compare/contrast
essay?
There are two major ways to
approach a compare/contrast essay.

1.Choose two things that seem similar, but

show how they are different.
2. Choose two things that seem different, but
show how they are actually similar.
 Examples
Here are a few examples of thesis
statements for compare/contrast essays.

Notice that I have used three-part thesis

statements.

This will make it easier to create an outline

and write your essay because it will allow
you to write an introduction, a conclusion
and at least three paragraphs in the body of
your essay.
 Star Trek and Star Wars
Star Trek and Star Wars are both science fiction dramas that take
place in outer space, but Star Trek is more utopian, has a greater
emphasis on personal relationships and explores ethical
dilemmas in a way that Star Wars does not.

Similarities Differences
Science fiction Star Trek utopian/Star Wars
negative/violent
Outer space Star Trek focuses on personal
relationships/Star Wars more
on action
Dramas Star Trek focuses on ethical
dilemmas/Star Wars more on
action
 New York and San Francisco
• New York City and San Francisco are both large cities, but New
York has more diversity, is easier to walk around and has
more entertainment options than San Francisco.

Similarities Differences
Both large cities NYC more diverse

NYC easier to walk-less hills

NYC more entertainment

 Flying and Taking the Train
Flying and taking the train are both options for relatively short
distances of travel, but the train is less stressful, more
comfortable and usually cheaper than flying.

Similarities Differences
Methods of transportation Flying is stressful

Train is more comfortable

Train often cheaper for short

distances
 Taking Care of a Child vs. an
Elderly Person
Taking care of a child and taking care of an elderly person may
seem different, but both require patience, physical strength and
often dealing with a lack of sleep.

Similarities Differences
Both require patience Age difference

Both require physical strength

Both can cause lack of sleep

 Marriage and Friendship
Marriage and friendship may not seem like they have that much
in common, but both require trust, good communication and
the ability to compromise.

Similarities Differences
Both require trust Different kind of relationships

Both require good

communication
Both need the ability to
compromise
 Organizing Your Essay
You can organize a compare/contrast essay in
two ways.
These are by subject or by point.
 Point by Point Outline Example
When you write an outline for your paper, a point by point outline might look like this:

I. Introduction: Thesis: Marriage and friendship may not seem like they have that much in
common, but both require trust, good communication and the ability to compromise.
II. Body
A. Marriage and friendship both require trust.
1. Example 1: Marriages and friendships can both end when people lie to each other.
2. Example 2: Friends and spouses both depend on each other to support them.
B. Marriage and friendship both require good communication.
1. Example 1: Friendships and marriages often fail when people don’t tell each other
how they feel.
2. Example 2: Sharing experiences is an important part of both kinds of relationships.
C. Marriage and friendship both require the ability to compromise.
1. Example 1: Friends and spouses both have to give in sometimes to make the other
person happy.
2. Example 2: If friends and spouses don’t sometimes compromise, the other person
can feel used or hurt.
III. Conclusion
 Subject Outline Example
When you write an outline for your paper, a subject outline might look like this:

I. Introduction: Thesis: Marriage and friendship may not seem like they have that much in common, but both require trust, good
communication and the ability to compromise.
II. Body
A. Marriage
1. Requires trust
A. Marriages can end when people lie to each other.
B. Spouses depend on each other for support.
2. Requires good communication
A. Marriages often fail when people don’t communicate.
B. Sharing experiences is an important part of marriage.
3. Requires the ability to compromise
A. Spouses sometimes have to give in to make the other person happy.
B. If a spouse doesn’t compromise, the other person can feel used or hurt.

B. Friendship
1. Requires trust
A. Friendships can end when people lie to each other.
B. Friends depend on each other for support.
2. Requires good communication
A. Friendships often fail when people don’t communicate.
B. Sharing experiences is an important part of friendship.
3. Requires the ability to compromise
A. Friends sometimes have to give in to make the other person happy.
B. If a friend doesn’t compromise, the other person can feel used or hurt.
III. Conclusion
 Compare/Contrast Thesis Model
When you are thinking of topics for your compare and
contrast essay, try to use this model:

A and B are similar because of __________, but they are

surprisingly different because of ___________, ____________
and _______________.

Or…

A and B are different because of _______________, but they

are surprisingly similar because of ______________,
_______________, and ______________.
 Remember!
Try to write about something that you know a
lot about and that does not require much
additional research.

You will need to back up your opinions with

examples!