ENGLISH 200 COMPARISON and CONTRAST
Like every other type of essay we’ve covered, a comparison-and-contrast essay has an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Within the body of your paper, you can use either of two basic comparison and contrast strategies – subject by subject or point by point. Specifically, you should concern yourself with the following strategies:
· Does your essay have a clear thesis statement that identifies both the subjects you are comparing and the points you are making about them?
· Do you discuss the same or similar points for both subjects?
· If you have written subject-by-subject comparison, have you included a transition paragraph that connects the two sections of the essay?
· If you have written a point-by-point comparison, have you included appropriate transitions and varied your sentence structure to indicate your shift from one point to another?
· Have you included transitional words and phrases that indicate whether you are discussing similarities or differences?
· Have you demonstrated some credibility with the subject? (research, background, experience etc.)
1. Find a description of the same news event from 2 different sources. Write a comparison-and-contrast essay discussing the similarities and differences between the two sources.
2. Locate 2 children’s books written on the same subject (they should be dated about 10 years apart from one another). Write an essay discussing which elements are the same and which are different. The thesis statement should be about the similarities and/or the differences between the two books. Be sure to identify the materials for your reader.
3. Taking careful notes, watch 2 different television news programs about the same event(s). In addition pay careful attention to the overall presentation/bias/intent of the stations. Write an essay comparing the two programs, paying particular attention to the news content and to the journalists’ broadcasting styles.
4. How are the attitudes toward education different among students who work to finance their own education and students who do not? Your thesis statement should indicate what differences exist and why.
5. Compare and contrast the college experiences of commuters and students who live in dorms on campus. Interviews and research on the subject would help validate examples.
6. How is being a participant – playing a sport or acting in a play, for instance – different from being a spectator? Write a comparison- and- contrast essay in which you address this question. Possibly rely on sources outside of your own personal feelings.
7. Write a comparison-and-contrast essay about two different popular songs on the same subject from two different eras, focusing on lyrics from the songs, music, or political/social messages. You can quote from these songs and arrive at some conclusions.
8. Compare-and-contrast two political figures or sports figures from two different eras. There should be some basis for comparison (party affiliation, military service, philosophies, accomplishments/lack of, record holding, personal deportment etc.). In your thesis statement, be sure to indicate the basis for comparison/contrast.
REQUIREMENTS
1. ML A format
2. 3 page requirements
3. use 12 font
4. Title the paper
5. Work Cited Page required
6. 3 sources are required
7. 2 of these sources must be used in the paper
8. Paper must be turned in in time – NO EXCEPTIONS PLEASE