1. Contrast/Comparison Essay

2. Comparison
Things that are similar

3. Contrast
Things that are different

4. Connectors that show similarities
• Like
Like her sister, Angela is very tall.
• Similarly
• I grew up overseas. Similarly, my wife
spent her childhood abroad in the US.

5. Contrasting Connectors
• Unlike
Unlike my father who studied business, I studied
communication.
• In contrast
Tokyo is a very crowded city. In contrast, there
seem to be very people in Sydney.
• On the one hand; on the other hand
On the one hand, I enjoy the fast pace of the
city. On the other hand, I like to relax in the
countryside.

6. Picture 1
Picture 2
1. Describe the scene
(Freewriting).
2. How are they similar?
3. How are they different?

7. 1. Describe scene
• Couples on vacation
• Summer
• Winter
• Beach
• City
• Romantic
• Honeymoon?

8. Similar/Different
• Look happy • Cold/warm
• Vacations • Lots of clothes/little
• Young clothes
• Close • Casual/More formal
• Relaxed/Busy
• Cheap/Expensive
• Peaceful/Noisy
• Quiet/Noisy

9. A Comparison/Contrast Essay
can be organized in 2 ways.

10. Block style

11. A 4-paragraph essay:
Introduction
1st body paragraph about similarities
2nd body paragraph about differences
Conclusion

12. Point-by-point style

13. A 5-paragraph essay
Introduction
1st body paragraph: 1st main difference
2nd body paragraph: 2nd main difference
3rd body paragraph: 3rd main difference
Conclusion

14. We are going to focus on
the point-by-point style essay.

15. Introduction
Describe the two things you are comparing
in your background/comments.

16. Thesis Statement
The purpose of this essay is to compare
and contrast the main differences
between a vacation at the beach or in the
city.

17. 1 Body Paragraph
st
• Topic sentence describes the main
difference.
• Give examples of beach vacation.
• Use a contrasting connector
(However, in contrast, unlike, etc.)
• Give examples of city vacation

18. 2 Body Paragraph
nd
• Topic sentence describes the next main
difference.
• Give examples of beach vacation.
• Use a contrasting connector
• (However, in contrast, unlike, etc.)
• Give examples of city vacation

19. 3 Body Paragraph
rd
• Topic sentence describes the final main
difference.
• Give examples of beach vacation.
• Use a contrasting connector
• (However, in contrast, unlike, etc.)
• Give examples of city vacation

20. Conclusion
• Summarize your main reasons
• Restate your thesis
• Don’t add any new information

21. Beach vs City
General comments about the beach General comments about the city
Around the world there are many places to enjoy a vacation. There
are famous beach resort areas such as Waikiki in Hawaii, Treasure Island
in Fiji, and the Whitsunday Islands in Australia. They are places where
you can go to relax in a beautiful natural setting and leave your worries
behind. However, for those who want to be more active and are in search
of excitement and nightlife, the city is the place to go. Cities like New
York, London, Paris and Tokyo offer tourists a great variety of things to
do. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast the main
differences between a vacation at a beach or in the city.
Thesis Statement

22. First major difference
Relaxing beach vacation
Topic sentence
The first major difference is the pace of life during your vacation.
Staying at a beach resort is about taking it easy and relaxing with
your family or friends. The fresh air and beautiful views can put
your mind at rest. All you need to worry about is whether you want
to go swimming or not. There is no hurry to go anywhere because
the beach is right in front of your hotel room. In addition, most
resorts have spas for guests to have a massage or beauty
treatment. On the contrary, a visit to the city can be a little hectic if
you want to do many of the things on offer. For instance, if you
want to see the sights, go shopping, and go out at night, you have
to plan and coordinate everything.
Contrast connector
Hectic city vacation

23. Second major difference
A few things for the beach.
Topic sentence
Another difference is what you will need to take with you on your vacation. If
you decide to go to the beach, you won’t have to take too much. Everything
you wear will be casual such as your bathing suit, shorts, short-sleeve shirts,
sandals, sunglasses, and sun block. Even at night, you won’t really need to
dress up for dinner or a show. In contrast, for a trip to the city, you will need to
pack more because you will be doing a variety of things. You will need
comfortable and casual clothing such as jeans and sneakers for sightseeing
trips, and good clothes for restaurants and concerts. Also, you will need to
take more accessories, including bags and jewelry to complement your style.
Contrast connector
Clothes for different occasions

24. Third major difference
Spend a little at the beach.
Topic sentence
The final difference is the way you will use your spending money. At a
beach resort, most of the activities will be included in your holiday
package, so you won’t need to spend much money while you are on your
vacation. Even if you buy souvenirs, you can put the cost onto your room
charge. However, in the city, you will have extra expenses if you choose
to eat at restaurants outside of your hotel. Also, you will need to spend
money on taxis and buses to get around the city. Shopping will be the
biggest expense, because it is unpredictable. There is a good chance you
will buy more than you expected because you may find something special
you would like.
Contrast connector Spend a lot in the city.

25. Conclusion
Restate thesis Summarize beach main ideas.
In conclusion, whether you take a vacation at the beach or in the
city, they are excellent ways to take a break from your usual
lifestyle. If you want to relax and refresh yourself from your busy
lifestyle, the beach is probably the best place for you. However, if
just lying in the sun and working on your tan doesn’t interest you,
and you are looking for excitement, the city is a good holiday
destination for you.
Summarize city main ideas

26. Compare and contrast

27. Brainstorm
• Similarities • Differences

28. Select three main differences

29. Complete the essay plan

30. Topics
• Private university and public university in Japan
• Coke Zero and Pepsi Nex
• iPhone and another brand of smart phone
• Facebook and Mixi
• Disney Animation and Ghibli Animation
• Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan
• Shinkansen and Plane

31. Freewriting Journal topic:
Write a draft comparison/contrast essay.
.