1. Essay Structure
Comparison or Contrast Essays

2. Purpose
 Compare- What is similar?
 Contrast- What is different?
 We use this manner of thinking all the
time. Which college is better? Which
car should I buy? Which product is a
better deal?

3. Block Arrangement (five paragraphs)
I. Introduction in which you state your purpose, which is to
discuss the differences or similarities between folklore in
different cultures.
II. Culture 1
A. Setting
B. Characters
C. Theme
III. Culture 2
A. Setting
B. Characters
C. Theme
IV. Culture 3
A. Setting
B. Characters
C. Theme
V. Conclusion
One Format

4. Point-by-Point or Alternating Arrangement (five paragraphs)
I
.
Introduction in which you state your purpose, which is to discuss the
differences or similarities between folklore in different cultures.
I
I
.
First difference (One element)
A. Culture 1
B. Culture 2
C. Culture 3
I
I
I
.
Second difference (Another element)
A. Culture 1
B. Culture 2
C. Culture 3
I
V
.
Third difference (Yet another element)
A. Culture 1
B. Culture 2
C. Culture 3
V
.
Conclusion
Another Option

5. Here is a list of comparison conjunctions you can use:
Short Conjunctions Longer Expressions
Similarly,
Likewise,
...the same...
...the same as...
...also...
..., too.
both
In the same way,
X is similar to Y in that
(they)...
X and Y are similar in that
(they)...
Like X, Y [verb]...
In like manner,
One way in which X is
similar to Y is (that)...
Another way in which X is
similar to Y is (that)...

6. Here are some contrast conjunctions
that you can use:
Short Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions
However,
In contrast,
By contrast,
..., but
..., yet
On the other hand,
even though +
[sentence]
although + [sentence]
whereas + [sentence]
unlike + [sentence]
while + [sentence]
nevertheless,

7. Here are some contrast conjunctions
that you can use:
Short Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions
However,
In contrast,
By contrast,
..., but
..., yet
On the other hand,
even though +
[sentence]
although + [sentence]
whereas + [sentence]
unlike + [sentence]
while + [sentence]
nevertheless,