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Assignment: You want to buy a specific piece of equipment for your job; however,
your immediate supervisor feels that a less expensive item would do the task. You
appeal the decision. The manager of the job site asks you to write a report about
the two items, as little is known about how they compare. Write a report comparing and
contrasting the attributes of the two pieces.
Compare and Contrast
Compare/contrast (C/C) reports tend to be one of the most common, yet useful
types of reports. 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 report is a necessary tool for any writer.
A couple things to consider when writing C/C reports are
organization and content. Remember a strong thesis
statement which guides the report is a must.
Organization
Three common types of organization
patterns exists for this type of writing:
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Block Style -- choose either similarities or differences in the
thesis, for example, rewritable
compact discs (CD) are far superior to zip drives;
 | in the first paragraph all the
attributes of the first item are discussed, i. e., the traits of the
compact disc; |
| 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 zip drive can
hold up to two megabytes, a rewritable CD can hold seven times that amount; |
| the third body paragraph
addresses what's significant or interesting about the comparison you have made, so that
the reader knows exactly why you have written the report. |
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Item-by-Item -- again decide what you are discussing before you
begin, either compare or contrast; again your thesis would point out
your findings:
rewritable compact discs (CD) are far superior
to zip drives;
| the easiest of the three in
this strategy, you discuss the first item in the first body paragraph in
terms of both; both CDs and zip drives
store vast amounts of information, |
| and the second in the second; in addition,
durability is also a measure that
should be considered when choosing before purchasing either
a CD or a zip drive; |
| the third in the third body paragraph; cost
is the final attribute that needs considered; |
| the conclusion contains what's significant about the attributes you mentioned |
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Point-by-point is the final and most sophisticated type;
| here you organize by three or
four key attributes, so that you can discuss either similarities or
differences within each, i.e., zip and rewritable CDs
cost, storage
capacity, storage, and ease of access could be discussed in a point-by-point
report -- a strong thesis is a must. |
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Content
When writing C/C, please 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.
The parameters of this report then:
| An explicit thesis statement is a must. An example:
Rewritable compact discs (CD) are far superior to zip drives
and can prevent financial loss for the corporation when the industry
standards change. |
| Choose one of the three
organizational patterns listed above. |
Go http://ol.scc.spokane.edu/jstrever1/models/ to see compare/contrast examples from former students. While
some of these are not reports, they show how the three different strategies can be used. |
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