College students have to write many different types of papers, including comparison-contrast. In a history class, for example, you might be asked to compare the zeitgeist of the 60’s to that of the current era; in an art class, the works of Salvador Dali to those of Pablo Picasso; and in a political science class, communism in the former USSR to communism in the People’s Republic of China. Regardless of the topic, though, you can greatly increase your chances of earning a good grade by using one of the two most effective methods to develop your paper and by providing adequate examples to support your argument.
The Difference between Comparing and Contrasting
When you compare, you examine similarities between two subjects. What are their commonalities? On the other hand, when you contrast, you examine the dissimilarities. What are their differences? Of course, although you might be instructed to write a paper that focuses solely upon commonalities or solely upon differences, it’s more likely that you’ll be asked to discuss both the similarities and the dissimilarities between two people, objects, places, events, processes, etc.
The Two Methods to Use to Compare and Contrast
There are two basic methods, or formats, for developing a comparison or contrast paper (Langan, 2001); and these methods will work regardless of whether your goal is to demonstrate the likenesses, differences, or both between two subjects:
- Address one point at a time: When using this method, “follow the same order of points for each subject” (Langan, 2001, p. 207. For instance, present a point for the first subject and provide relevant details; then present the same point for the second subject, followed by relevant details (Barnwell & Dees, 1999, p. 148). For example, if comparing life in the city to life in the country, you might discuss traffic, followed by sense of community, followed by overall pace of life, providing details about what these things are like in each place.
- Address one subject completely then the other: After introducing the two subjects and stating the main point of the paper, cover the first subject completely, presenting relevant details, and then cover the second subject completely, again presenting relevant details. For example, if writing about city life versus country life, first discuss city life entirely; then discuss country life entirely. Note, though, that the conclusion should summarize the main points made regarding both places. (Barnwell & Dees, 1999)
Guidelines for Writing a Good Comparison-Contrast Paper
According to William H. Barnwell and Robert Dees, coauthors of The Resourceful Writer: A Basic Writing Course (1999), students should keep these guidelines in mind:
- Choose similar subjects to compare and contrast. Make certain that the subjects “fit into the same category and are related in some way” (p. 146). However, if the subjects are too similar to one another or, for that matter, too dissimilar, they cannot be successfully compared. For example, comparing red roses to pink roses would not lend itself to an effective paper, any more than comparing dogs to roses would.
- State the main point in the introductory paragraph. Do not, though, announce to the reader what you intend to discuss, but begin with a statement that implies a similarity or difference between the two subjects you intend to discuss; for example, “Life in the city is more stressful, lonelier, and faster-paced than life in the country.”
- Use specific examples. Examples are the “meat” of any paper, and they strengthen an argument by providing particular instances that support, illustrate, or define the idea presented in the thesis statement. Subsequently, you should choose examples carefully and use only those that will help make your argument convincing.
- Use adequate examples. How many examples are enough? The key to deciding how many examples to include lies in “understanding what you are trying to demonstrate” (p.140). The more challenging the idea, the more concrete evidence you will need to offer in its support. Moreover, bear in mind that one example is never enough.
- Edit for errors. If you follow the preceding tips, but your paper is filled with numerous errors, it will most likely not earn a very good grade. Therefore, proofread it carefully, looking for errors in grammar, mechanics, paragraph unity, and spelling, and then correct as many of those errors as possible. Also review it for problems in formatting, and if you conducted any research, make certain to include proper citations and a reference page.
In summary, when called upon to write about the similarities and differences between two subjects, you can greatly increase your chances of earning a good grade by using one of the two most common methods of development, providing adequate and specific examples in support of your argument, and, finally, proofreading your paper for errors.
Sources:
Barnwell, W. H. & Dees, R. (1999) The Resourceful Writer: A Basic Writing Course. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company
Langan, J. (2001) English Skills. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Carol Rzadkiewicz - Carol Rzadkiewicz has taught college English for over 14 years and is the author of three published novels and numerous short stories.
