|
| |
| Compare/contrast essays tend to be one of
the most common types of essay. However, that does not mean it is an unimportant
rhetorical strategy, rather it is a favored one. Since we have had to make choices and
distinguish between one thing and another all of our lives, most of us like to see how
others make their decisions. We especially appreciate this strategy if it helps us or
informs us in some way. For that reason, writing a well-developed, interesting
compare/contrast essay is a necessary tool for any student. A couple things to consider when writing C/C essays are
organization and content. Remember interesting introductions and conclusions are necessary to any essay. Also, a strong thesis statement, which guides the essay is a must.
Organization
Three common types of organization patterns exists for
this type of writing:
Block Style -- choose either similarities or
differences in the thesis, for example, Like minds think alike;
|
the second paragraph compares (or contrasts) the second
item to the first, making sure to address each point mentioned in the first body
paragraph, i.e., while a person of German descent is known to like a good laugh, a
Japanese person might prefer a more subtle humor;
| the third paragraph addresses what's interesting about
the comparison you have made, so that the reader knows exactly why you have written the
essay.
Item-by-Item-- again decide what you are discussing
before you begin, either compare or contrast;
-
the easiest of the three, in this strategy, you discuss
the first item in the first body paragraph and the second in the second;
-
| the third contains what's interesting about the
attributes you mentioned.
Point-by-point is the final and most sophisticated
type;
-
| here you organize by three or four key ideas, so that
you can discuss either similarities or differences within each, i.e., German and Japanese
attitudes, food preferences, fads, and family orientation could be discussed in a
point-by-point essay -- a strong thesis is a must.
Content
When writing C/C essays, please avoid the common,
mundane connections people will make on their own. What you want to do is take something
known to you and portray it in a new way. For example, if you want to talk about the
difference between dogs and cats, the topic is so well covered that you would need to find
some intriguing way to write about them--maybe discussing their dream-lives or the regard
they hold for butterflies. Whatever you choose, please refrain from boring your audience.
Another imperative: be specific. Refer to level of abstractions to help you with this. Beginning writers too often leave out
information the reader does not have. Having more information than one needs is preferred
to not having enough. Remember, too, keep your focus narrow, avoiding vague generalities
and unsupported opinion. |
| | | |
|