You explain the
similarities and the differences between two items. Comparison and contrast is
very common pattern in most academy feild. It is also a common type of essay
test question. You might encounter questions such as ;
Comapare the forms of government of
great britian and the united states.
Comapare the characters of unclr
melik and his nephew in william saroyan’s short story “ the pornegranate
trees.”
Compare and contrast methods for
promoting a new business, product, or service.
What are
compare & contrast essays?
To compare is to examine how things are
similar, while to contrast is to see how they differ. A compare and
contrast essay therefore looks at the similarities of two or more objects, and
the differences. This essay type is common at university, where lecturers
frequently test your understanding by asking you to compare and contrast two
theories, two methods, two historical periods, two characters in a novel, etc.
Sometimes the whole essay will compare and contrast, though sometimes the
comparison or contrast may be only part of the essay. It is also possible,
especially for short exam essays, that only the similarities or the
differences, not both, will be discussed. See the examples below.
- Compare and contrast Newton's ideas of gravity with those proposed by Einstein ['compare and contrast' essay]
- Examine how the economies of Spain and China are similar ['compare' only essay]
- Explain the differences between Achaemenid Empire and Parthian Empire ['contrast' only essay]
Block organize
Block
Introduction
Object 1 - Point 1
Object 1 - Point 2
Object 1 - Point 3
Transition sentence/paragraph
Object 2 - Point 1
Object 2 - Point 2
Object 2 - Point 3
Conclusion
|
Point-by-point
Introduction
Point 1
Object 1 ➤ Object 2
Point 2
Object 1 ➤ Object 2
Point 3
Object 1 ➤ Object 2
Conclusion
|
The Purpose of
Comparison and Contrast in Writing
Comparison in
writing discusses elements that are similar, while contrast in writing
discusses elements that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay, then,
analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.
The key to a
good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect
in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is
not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or
unexpected similarities. For example, if you wanted to focus on contrasting two
subjects you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to
compare and contrast two types of oranges or two types of apples to highlight
subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny
Smiths are tart and acidic. Drawing distinctions between elements in a similar
category will increase the audience’s understanding of that category, which is
the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.
Similarly, to
focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated.
For a comparison essay, you likely would not choose two apples or two oranges
because they share so many of the same properties already. Rather, you might
try to compare how apples and oranges are quite similar. The more divergent the
two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.
Writing at Work
Comparing and
contrasting is also an evaluative tool. In order to make accurate evaluations
about a given topic, you must first know the critical points of similarity and
difference. Comparing and contrasting is a primary tool for many workplace
assessments. You have likely compared and contrasted yourself to other
colleagues. Employee advancements, pay raises, hiring, and firing are typically
conducted using comparison and contrast. Comparison and contrast could be used
to evaluate companies, departments, or individuals.
Compare and Contrast Structure Words
Compare and contrast structure words are transition signals which show the similarities or differences. Below are some common examples.Compare
- Similarly
- Likewise
- also
- both... and...
- not only... but also...
- neither... nor...
- just like (+ noun)
- similar to (+ noun)
- to be similar (to)
- to be the same as
- to be alike
- to compare (to/with)
Examples
- Computers can be used to communicate easily, for example via email. Similarly/Likewise, the mobile phone is a convenient tool for communication.
- Both computers and mobile phones can be used to communicate easily with other people.
- Just like the computer, the mobile phone can be used to communicate easily with other people.
- The computer is similar to the mobile phone in the way it can be used for easy communication.
Contrast
- However
- In contrast
- In comparison
- By comparison
- On the other hand
- while
- whereas
- but
- to differ from
- to be different (from)
- to be dissimilar to
- to be unlike
Examples
- Computers, although increasingly small, are not always easy to carry from one place to another. However, the mobile phone can be carried with ease.
- Computers are generally not very portable, whereas the mobile phone is.
- Computers differ from mobile phones in their lack of portability.
- Computers are unlike mobile phones in their lack of portability.
Sources ;
http://www.eapfoundation.com/writing/essays/candc/
Exercise 1
Bobot soal(50)
Brainstorm an essay that leans toward contrast. Choose
one of the following three categories. Pick two examples from each. Then come
up with one similarity and three differences between the examples.
- Internet search engines
- Cell phones
Exercise 2
Bobot soal(50)
Brainstorm an essay that leans toward comparison.
Choose one of the following three items. Then come up with one difference and
three similarities.
- Fast food chains and fine dining restaurants
- Dogs and cats