Comparison Essays
As you can guess, comparison essays compare two or more things. Technically, comparing means looking at similarities, while contrast means looking at differences. Therefore, you may actually be writing about both in your essay, and in this case you could call it a compare/contrast essay. However, let's just call it a comparison essay.
You saw how the narrative essay was created in the last section. You can use clustering to create ideas for your comparison essay too. There are well-known ways to develop an outline for a comparison essay. One is called the "block method," the other is the "point-by-point method." Let's look at both types.
You saw how the narrative essay was created in the last section. You can use clustering to create ideas for your comparison essay too. There are well-known ways to develop an outline for a comparison essay. One is called the "block method," the other is the "point-by-point method." Let's look at both types.
The Block Method
This type of outline groups the body paragraphs by topics. For instance, if I wanted to compare two ESL programs in Northern Virginia, I could write about the ELI program at George Mason University and the Northern Virginia Community College program. Let's say I want to look at the cost, schedules, and instructors of each program. The block method would look like this:
I. Introduction with background information and a thesis statement
II. George Mason University
A. Cost
B. Schedule
C. Instructors
III. Northern Virginia Community College
A. Cost
B. Schedule
C. Instructors
IV. Conclusion that briefly summarizes the body paragraph information pointing out any important similarities and differences.
This type of outline groups the body paragraphs by topics. For instance, if I wanted to compare two ESL programs in Northern Virginia, I could write about the ELI program at George Mason University and the Northern Virginia Community College program. Let's say I want to look at the cost, schedules, and instructors of each program. The block method would look like this:
I. Introduction with background information and a thesis statement
II. George Mason University
A. Cost
B. Schedule
C. Instructors
III. Northern Virginia Community College
A. Cost
B. Schedule
C. Instructors
IV. Conclusion that briefly summarizes the body paragraph information pointing out any important similarities and differences.
The Point-by-Point Method
Another way to outline the same topic would be to organize the body information by sub-topics. In this example they would be cost, schedule, and instructors.
I. Introduction with background information and a thesis statement
II. Cost
A. George Mason
B. Northern Virginia Community College
III. Schedule
A. George Mason
B. Northern Virginia Community College
IV. Instructors
A. George Mason
B. Northern Virginia Community College
V. Conclusion that briefly summarizes the body paragraph information pointing out any important similarities and differences.
Notice that the introductions and conclusions can be the same in either method. What is different is the focus you give to the topics in the body paragraphs. With the block method it may be more important to give a longer summary of the body information so that a reader does not have to go back to the paragraphs to figure out what the similarities and differences are. The sample essay below is about the same topic. It is written in the point-by-point style.
Another way to outline the same topic would be to organize the body information by sub-topics. In this example they would be cost, schedule, and instructors.
I. Introduction with background information and a thesis statement
II. Cost
A. George Mason
B. Northern Virginia Community College
III. Schedule
A. George Mason
B. Northern Virginia Community College
IV. Instructors
A. George Mason
B. Northern Virginia Community College
V. Conclusion that briefly summarizes the body paragraph information pointing out any important similarities and differences.
Notice that the introductions and conclusions can be the same in either method. What is different is the focus you give to the topics in the body paragraphs. With the block method it may be more important to give a longer summary of the body information so that a reader does not have to go back to the paragraphs to figure out what the similarities and differences are. The sample essay below is about the same topic. It is written in the point-by-point style.
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