25 Prewriting the Comparison and Contrast

Exploring Topics

When writing a comparison and contras essay, don’t write merely to fulfill an assignment; if you do, your paper will likely ramble aimlessly and fail to deliver a specific message. Instead, build your paper around a clear sense of purpose. Do you want to show how sitcoms today different from those twenty years ago? Purpose governs the details you choose and the organization you follow.

If you are choosing your own topic,

• Brainstorm major areas of interest: movies, TV shows, teaching styles
• Brainstorm basic areas of comparison, or narrowing: “the representation of fathers on TV in the 1950s and now.”
• Identify your purpose for the comparison, such as to show progress or help consumers make a choice
• Identify what audience would be interested in your comparison.

Writing Exercise: Exploring topics for a comparison and contrast essay

Read the following questions, and write the first ideas that come to your mind. Think of two to three ideas for each topic.

Example: What are some key differences between toys that are traditionally for girls and for boys?

girls’ toys                                            boys’ toys

____- pastel colors______________          ____- noisy_______________________

____- stuffed animals____________         ____- toy cars, trucks, fire engines _____

____- dolls with clothes__________        _____- action figures_________________

1. What were your childhood goals? What are your goals today?

childhood goals                                               current goals

__________________________                _______________________________

___________________________              _________________________________

___________________________              _________________________________

2. What are the key features of your generation and your parents’ generation?

your generation                                               your parents’ generation

__________________________                _______________________________

___________________________              _________________________________

___________________________              _________________________________

3. What are some games that you enjoy? Think about board games or online game apps. Brainstorm the key features of two different games.

__________________________                _______________________________

___________________________              _________________________________

___________________________              _________________________________

___________________________              _________________________________

To develop your comparison,

• If possible, re-observe or use items to be compared and take notes of similarities and differences
• Brainstorm or create a chart of the major similarities and differences of the items being compared
• Branch or chart the details and examples
• Decide what points of comparison you will use based on audience and purpose
• Create a chart or create an outline that establishes an order for your comparison.

Organizing the Comparison and Contrast

There are two basic patterns to organize a comparison and contrast essay: block or alternating. The essay may deal with similarities, differences, or some combination of them.

The Block Pattern

The block pattern first presents all of the points of comparison for one item and then all of the points of comparison for the other. For example, following is the comparison of the two salespeople, Pat and Mike, outlined according to the block pattern.

1. Introduction: mentions similarities in sales skills and effort of both Pat and Mike but recommends Pat for promotion
2. Specific points about Mike
   • Leadership qualities
   • Knowledge of ordering and accounting procedures
   • Musical knowledge
3. Specific points about Pat
   • Leadership qualities
   • Knowledge of ordering and accounting procedures
   • Musical knowledge
4. Conclusion: reasserts that Pat should be promoted

The Alternating Pattern

The alternating pattern presents a point about one item, then follows immediately with a corresponding point about the other. Organize in this way, the Pat-and-Mike essay would look like this:

1. Introduction: mentions similarities in sales skills and effort of both Pat and Mike but recommends Pat for promotion
2. Leadership qualities
   • Mike’s qualities
   • Pat’s qualities
3. Knowledge of ordering and accounting procedures
   • Mike’s knowledge
   • Pat’s knowledge
4. Musical knowledge
   • Mike’s knowledge
   • Pat’s knowledge
5. Conclusion: reasserts that Pat should be promoted

Once you select your pattern, arrange your points of comparison in an appropriate order. Take up closely related points one after the other. Depending on your purpose, you might work from similarities to differences, or the reverse. Often, a good writing strategy is to move from the least significant to the most significant point so that you conclude with punch.