1. Comparison/Contrast
Paper
Karen S. Wright

2. Making comparisons
examines two or more items:
•Items alike
•Items different
•Or items that are both

3. S om e I ssues are T rivial
Whether to ord er. . .
hot, juicy p izza
or
a sub sand wich

4. Should I buy a. . .
Ford
or
Chevy?

5. C o mp a r is o n A l s o Dis c u s s e s
Un f a mil ia r T h in g s
A sportswriter
might compare:
The English sport
of rugby
American
football

6. A history teacher might compare:
France’s court system
United States court system

7. Com isons Inf l uence Im t ant Decisions
par por
What will be
your major?
engineering
chemistry
law medicine

8. Com isons M
par ust Shar e Com on Gr ound
m
T wo golfers:
D riving ab ility
P utting ab ility
S and p lay
P referred club s

9. Or g a n i zi n g a Com pa r i s on
T here are two b asic p atterns to
organize a com p arison/contrast
p ap er:
B lock P attern
Alternating P attern

10. Block Organization
In the block style of organization, each
subject is discussed one at a time and
there are at least two paragraphs.
Each section
needs to be
short.
Readers can
only remember
short pieces of
information.

11. Block Style
For an essay that compares and contrasts
writing in college and writing at work:
Subject A: Writing in College
Point 1: Audience Instructor
Point 2: Purpose To fulfill an
assignment.
Point 3: Outcomes: Feedback,
evaluation,
grade

12. Block Organization
Subject B: Writing at Work
Point 1: Audience:
Boss or customer
Point 2: Purpose :
To convey information
Point 3: Outcomes:
Follow-up action

13. Point-By Point O rganization
Point 1: A udience
C ollege: Instructor
Work: Boss
Point 2: Purpose
C ollege: To fulfill an
assignm ent
Work: To convey inform ation
Point 3: Outcomes
C ollege: Feedback, grade
Work: Follow-up action

14. Vocabulary of
Comparing/Contrasting
Although on the contrary
both on the other hand
however similarly
in contrast though
like where (whereas)
while

15. Can be as simple as comparing a
Kitten
to a
Puppy

16. C
C
O
O
N
M
T
P
R
A
A
R
S
I
T
N
I
G
N
Different Kinds of Cows G

17. Most important: be organized
and it will. . .
put a smile on your face.