Follow these steps when writing a comparison/contrast essay:

  • Identify similarities and differences.  If you have two items to compare or contrast, figure out how they are similar and how they are different.  You will need to find at least three points for comparison or contrast.  Then write the detailed characteristics for each point.  Let’s say you want to compare two types of dogs.

Points

Labradors

Cocker Spaniels
Appearance: large, solid color, short hair small, mixed color, long hair
Temperament: easy going, social, rarely bites high strung, independent, often bites
Performance: retrieves in water, excellent swimmer, complex fetching retrieves on land, average swimmer, simple fetching

  • State your purpose in the thesis sentence.  Identify the two subjects that you will compare or contrast and state whether you will focus on similarities, differences, or both.  The thesis may also indicate which points you will compare or contrast.
  • Choose a pattern to organize your essay.  The two major patterns for organizing a comparison/contrast essay are:

Point-by-Point.  Each point is addressed in a separate paragraph.  You discuss both of your subjects together for each point of comparison and contrast.  Maintain consistency by discussing the same subject first for each point.

 The following is an example of point-by-point organization: 

 Introduction

    1. Appearance
      1. Lab
      2. Cocker Spaniel
    2. Temperament
      1. Lab
      2. Cocker Spaniel
    3. Performance
      1. Lab
      2. Cocker Spaniel

Conclusion

Subject-by-Subject (Whole-to-Whole).  You write first about one of your subjects, covering it completely, and then you write about the other, covering it completely.  Each subject is addressed in a separate paragraph.  The points of comparison or contrast will be the same for each subject and will be presented in the same order.

The following is an example of subject-by-subject organization:

Introduction

    1. Labs
      1. Appearance
      2. Temperament
      3. Performance
    2. Cocker Spaniels
      1. Appearance
      2. Temperament
      3. Performance

Conclusion

  • Use appropriate transitions. Transitions are important in comparison/contrast writing, especially with the point-by-point organization, to avoid confusion.  Without transitions, the points you are comparing/contrasting may blur into one another.  Also, a variety of transitions prevent monotony.

A list of transitions follows:

For comparison:  like, same, both, the same as, similar, in the same way, most important, similarly, as, too, have in common, as well as.

For contrast:  although, however, differ, unlike, even though, yet, but, instead, on the contrary, on the other hand, whereas, while, unless, contrary to, the reverse.