Compare and Contrast Essay

What is the purpose of the thesis statement

(more than one answer is possible)

• hooks the reader to want to read more

• states the action the writer wants the reader to take

• lets the reader know what information he/she will read and in which order it will be written

• gives the writer a focus to maintain throughout the essay

What is the purpose of a compare/contrast essay?

• talk about the similarities and differences of two subjects
• inform or explain a subject to the reader
• tell a story
• use the five senses to paint a picture for the reader, incorporating imagery and specific details

What comes after the hook in an essay?

• thesis statement
• body paragraphs
• evidence to support the ideas in the hook
• background information

Define thesis statement.

• a statement of the main claims of the essay
• the judgement that appears at the end of an essay
• the evidence used to back up claims
• a device used to pull readers into your essay

An integrated or side-by-side comparison...

• has one paragraph that focuses on the similarities while the following focuses on the differences

• the first paragraph focuses on one subject while the following focuses on another

• each paragraph focuses on one point of comparison (similarities or differences)

Which organizational style does the following outline represent?

Paragraph 1 - a comparison of how Grimm's Cinderella and Cinderellas from around the world are saved from a life of slavery

Paragraph 2 - a comparison of how Grimm's Cinderella and Cinderellas from around the world are especially kind to others

• Block Method

• Subject to Subject Method

• Side-by-side Method

Which two things should a conclusion paragraph include?

• a summary of the main points and a final opinion
• a final point of comparison and a salutation
• the most important piece of evidence and a restatement of the thesis
• a new idea and a concluding statement

Before you write a compare and contrast essay, you should, ________.

• choose one difference between the items that is most important

• pick which item is better

• revise your essay using a flow chart

• pre-write for your essay using a Venn diagram

When comparing and contrasting, you should ________.

• write similarities in the overlapping sections of a Venn diagram

• write differences in the overlapping sections of a Venn Diagram

• write similarities in the arrows of a flow chart

• skip pre-writing and begin writing the essay right away

If you’re comparing and contrasting three items, you ________.

• can’t use a Venn diagram

• only have to describe two of them

• can add a third circle to your Venn diagram

• can compare them without contrasting