26 Planning and Drafting the Comparison and Contrast

The Outline

When you decide upon an order for your comparison, copy the points of comparison and the details, arranged in the order you will follow, into a chart like the following.

Before writing, you should develop an outline stressing major points of comparison that are related to the reader’s interests. Here is how to organize your paper.

The Thesis Statement

In a comparison and contrast essay, the thesis statement indicates what you are comparing and contrasting, and it expresses a controlling idea. For example, the following thesis statement indicates that the essay will compare the myths and reality of mold to prove that it does not seriously threaten human health.

 topic                                        controlling idea

Common household mold is not as dangerous as many people believe.

 Writing Exercise: Similarities or Differences

Read each thesis statement, and then answer the questions that follow: State whether the essay would focus on similarities or differences.

1. The weather in our region is more extreme than it was in the past
   • What is being compared? ____________________________________________
   • What is the controlling idea? __________________________________________
   • What will the essay focus on? ____ similarities _____ differences

2. Commerce students and art students have some surprising traits in common.
   • What is being compared? ____________________________________________
   • What is the controlling idea? __________________________________________
   • What will the essay focus on? ____ similarities _____ differences

 Writing Exercise: Write Thesis Statement

For each topic, write a thesis statement that includes what you are comparing and contrasting and a controlling idea.

Example: Topic: girls’ and boys’ toys

Thesis statement: Both girls’ and boys’ toys reinforce gender stereotypes.

1. Topic: Childhood goals and current goals

Thesis statement: ________________________________________________________

2. Topic: two generations

Thesis statement: ________________________________________________________

3. Topic: two games

Thesis statement: ________________________________________________________

The Supporting Ideas

After you have developed an effective thesis statement, generate supporting details.

In a comparison and contrast essay, think of examples that help to clarify the similarities or differences, and then incorporate some ideas in your final essay plan.

To generate supporting ideas, you might try using a Venn diagram. In the example below, you can see how the writer draws two circles to compare traditional boys’ and girls’ toys and how some ideas fall into both categories.

Writing Exercise: Developing Supporting Ideas

Choose one of the thesis statements from the previous writing exercise. List some similarities and differences.

Useful transitions for a comparison and contrast essay