Compare/Contrast Papers

Academic writing can be a daunting task. Don't worry; even the most experienced writer had to learn how to write. Start early to give yourself time to research and put your essay together. 

Each subject requires its own types of essays. The best instructions for how to start on a paper are found within your course outline or assignment instructions. Talk to your instructor if you are unsure.

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• Organization: The most defining aspect of a compare and contrast essay is its organization. There are two primary ways of organizing such an essay: subject arrangement and point-by-point arrangement.
  • When using subject arrangement, the writer discusses all of the points regarding one thing first and then moves on to the second thing. In point-by-point, the writer focuses on one point that involves both things, discusses this point as it is demonstrated in each, and then moves on to a new point. Generally speaking subject arrangement is best reserved for shorter essays.
  • If a writer is going to compare two things at greater length, then the point-by-point arrangement helps prevent the reader from forgetting important information along the way.

1. Group the main ideas of your notes/research and their supporting ideas into categories. Be sure to keep your stance in mind when considering what makes each piece of evidence similar to others.
2. Select from among the ideas those which seem to work together.
3. Organize the main ideas and their supporting ideas into a logical pattern. These can later help form topic sentences for your supporting paragraphs.
4. Reduce the ideas to an outline based on how they work together.
5. Now, based on the outline of the ideas, generate a thesis which coordinates and encapsulates your ideas.
6. Review your main ideas in light of your thesis.
   1. Do they still seem to be in the right order?
   2. Are they all still needed?
   3. Are there any voids in your argument?
   4. Have you included all the necessary details and examples?
7. When you have all the necessary ideas in good order, decide what the linking words or ideas are between main and supporting ideas and between main idea groups. At this time you may decide that one or more main ideas should precede your statement of thesis as an introduction.
8. You are now ready to write. In fact, you have already done most of the work. Don't forget to include your citations as you link together your evidence.
9. Your main ideas should provide the topic sentences for your paragraphs. Your supporting ideas should develop your main ideas. When you have completely explored a main and supporting idea group move onto another paragraph and another main and supporting idea group.
10. When you have explored all of the ideas that you have collected, you are ready to comment on them in a reflective or analytical conclusion.