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10 Great Essay Writing Tips

Knowing how to write a college essay is a useful skill for anyone who plans to go to college. Most colleges and universities ask you to submit a writing sample with your application. As a student, you’ll also write essays in your courses. Impress your professors with your knowledge and skill by using these great essay writing tips.
Prepare to Answer the Question
Most college essays ask you to answer a question or synthesize information you learned in class. Review notes you have from lectures, read the recommended texts and make sure you understand the topic. You should refer to these sources in your essay.

Plan Your Essay
Many students see planning as a waste of time, but it actually saves you time. Take a few minutes to think about the topic and what you want to say about it. You can write an outline, draw a chart or use a graphic organizer to arrange your ideas. This gives you a chance to spot problems in your ideas before you spend time writing out the paragraphs.
Choose a Writing Method That Feels Comfortable
You might have to type your essay before turning it in, but that doesn’t mean you have to write it that way. Some people find it easy to write out their ideas by hand. Others prefer typing in a word processor where they can erase and rewrite as needed. Find the one that works best for you and stick with it.

View It as a Conversation
Writing is a form of communication, so think of your essay as a conversation between you and the reader. Think about your response to the source material and the topic. Decide what you want to tell the reader about the topic. Then, stay focused on your response as you write.

Provide the Context in the Introduction
If you look at an example of an essay introduction, you’ll see that the best essays give the reader a context. Think of how you introduce two people to each other. You share the details you think they will find most interesting. Do this in your essay by stating what it’s about and then telling readers what the issue is.

Explain What Needs to be Explained
Sometimes you have to explain concepts or define words to help the reader understand your viewpoint. You also have to explain the reasoning behind your ideas. For example, it’s not enough to write that your greatest achievement is running an ultra marathon. You might need to define ultra marathon and explain why finishing the race is such an accomplishment.

Answer All the Questions
After you finish writing the first draft of your essay, make sure you’ve answered all the questions you were supposed to answer. For example, essays in compare and contrast format should show the similarities and differences between ideas, objects or events. If you’re writing about a significant achievement, describe what you did and how it affected you.

Stay Focused as You Write
Writing requires concentration. Find a place where you have few distractions and give yourself time to write without interruptions. Don’t wait until the night before the essay is due to start working on it.

Read the Essay Aloud to Proofread
When you finish writing your essay, read it aloud. You can do this by yourself or ask someone to listen to you read it. You’ll notice places where the ideas don’t make sense, and your listener can give you feedback about your ideas.

Avoid Filling the Page with Words
A great essay does more than follow an essay layout. It has something to say. Sometimes students panic and write everything they know about a topic or summarize everything in the source material. Your job as a writer is to show why this information is important.
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Where Can I Get Help Writing My Thesis Online?

You’ve spent years preparing for your master’s degree or PhD. You’ve read, studied and spent hours of time and energy writing papers. Now you’ve arrived at the culmination of all this effort: writing your thesis. There are plenty of compelling stories about the time and energy that students have spent drafting their dissertations and theses.
The good news is that you’re not alone. While you certainly don’t want to hire someone to write your thesis for you, which goes against most institution policies and puts your academic integrity at risk, you can get plenty of help with certain aspects of your thesis online. Whether you’re looking for a little guidance or extensive assistance, various services can make writing or editing your thesis go smoothly.
Dissertation Editor
One of the greatest challenges of writing your thesis can be juggling your family or job responsibilities with your studies. The time that writing takes can add another layer of obligation to your already-packed schedule. Dissertation Editor is a company whose founder is a PhD-educated writer and professor, and it promises to help you complete your thesis or dissertation on time and in compliance with your university’s rules and regulations.

Dissertation Editor’s primary function is to guide you along in the writing process and provide a helping hand in understanding everything you need to take care of. It places you with a writer who specializes in your area of study, and this individual can help you organize and analyze your research while making sure that your thesis fits your writing style and personality. This company also specializes in helping with any statistical analysis that you use in your thesis.
Thesis Helpers
If you’re concerned about using a service to help you write your thesis because you think it’ll be obvious that you hired help, don’t worry. Thesis Helpers puts its team of experienced writers to work for you to help you craft a thesis that finishes your degree on a high note. No matter what level of help you need, from narrowing down a topic to advanced editing and proofreading, they’re available to help.

The writers have advanced degrees in their areas of expertise, and one of the best things about Thesis Helpers is that it gives you ultimate say in the final product of your thesis. This company can help you with revisions and additional research, and you can rest assured that your thesis will meet anti-plagiarism standards.
Best Dissertation
Sometimes when you’re writing a thesis or dissertation, you can get stuck on one section or chapter. You may not need assistance writing the whole thing, but getting some help with the exact portion you’re struggling with can come in handy. That’s one of the strengths of using Best Dissertation . You don’t have to rely on it for help with your entire thesis if it’s not what you need.

Like most of the top thesis-assistance services, Best Dissertation employs writers with advanced degrees who specialize in various fields of study. What truly sets this company apart is the live support that it offers any time of the day or night. It claims to take the stress and strain out of writing your dissertation or thesis.
While some companies place a premium on helping you get your thesis written, others emphasize the editing and proofreading process. If you don’t need help with writing but need a hand with proofreading and editing, Scribbr is a good option for you. Its editors can help you get a grasp on the grammar and tone that are appropriate for academic writing.

Scribbr doesn’t just provide boilerplate feedback that you can find anywhere. It offers personalized feedback aimed at helping you become a better writer in the long run. You can even see examples of how its editors work by looking at the company’s website.
My Assignment Help
Writing a thesis has its own challenges that other academic writing simply doesn’t, which is why the team at My Assignment Help offers its particular brand of expertise. If you need assistance with a dissertation or thesis at the PhD or master’s level, its writers have the level of education and experience to help you write an expertly crafted and edited thesis.

My Assignment Help prides itself on hiring subject matter experts, meaning you can pair up with a helper who already has an advanced degree in your field. They understand the nuances of academic writing that are specific to your area of study, and they can provide advice on everything from making your abstract more unique to crafting a thought-provoking conclusion.
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Macdonald DeWitt Library at SUNY Ulster
Eng 101 oer: comparison.
- Reading to Write
- Why We Write
- Rhetorical Context
- Brainstorming
- Proofreading & Editing
- Paragraph Development
- Thesis Statements
- Introductions
- Conclusions
Transitions & Phrases
- Peer Reviews
- Exemplification
- Classification
- Cause/Effect
- Grammar Resources
Learning Objectives
- Determine the purpose and structure of comparison and contrast in writing.
- Explain organizational methods used when comparing and contrasting.
- Understand how to write a compare-and-contrast essay.
The Purpose of Comparing & Contrasting
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.
The Structure of a Comparison/Contrast Essay
The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both and the reason for doing so. The thesis could lean more toward comparing, contrasting, or both. Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide useful knowledge to the reader. Take the following thesis as an example that leans more toward contrasting.
Thesis statement: Organic vegetables may cost more than those that are conventionally grown, but when put to the test, they are definitely worth every extra penny.
Here the thesis sets up the two subjects to be compared and contrasted (organic versus conventional vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.
You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two ways:
- According to the subjects themselves, discussing one then the other
- According to individual points, discussing each subject in relation to each point
See Figure 10.1 “Comparison and Contrast Diagram” , which diagrams the ways to organize our organic versus conventional vegetables thesis.
Figure 10.1 Comparison and Contrast Diagram
The organizational structure you choose depends on the nature of the topic, your purpose, and your audience.
Writing a Comparison/Contrast Essay
First choose whether you want to compare seemingly disparate subjects, contrast seemingly similar subjects, or compare and contrast subjects. Once you have decided on a topic, introduce it with an engaging opening paragraph. Your thesis should come at the end of the introduction, and it should establish the subjects you will compare, contrast, or both as well as state what can be learned from doing so.
The body of the essay can be organized in one of two ways: by subject or by individual points. The organizing strategy that you choose will depend on, as always, your audience and your purpose. You may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other. Make sure to use comparison and contrast phrases to cue the reader to the ways in which you are analyzing the relationship between the subjects.
After you finish analyzing the subjects, write a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the essay and reinforces your thesis.
Comparison/Contrast Essays
Ellen Laird compares and contrasts traditional and distance education in I’m Your Teacher, Not Your Internet-Service Provider :
- http://eec.edc.org/cwis_docs/NEWS_ARTICLES_JOURNALS/Laird_Ellen.pdf
- http://celt.cui.edu/celt/webct_for_instructors/Laird_Article.htm
- http://depedia.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=I%27m_your_teacher%2C_not_your_Internet-Service_Provider
Deborah Tannen compares and contrasts conversation styles in Sex, Lies and Conversation: Why Is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each Other?
- http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/tannend/sexlies.htm
Alex Wright examines communication patterns, old and new, in Friending, Ancient or Otherwise :
- http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/weekinreview/02wright.html
Student Sample Essay
Comparing and Contrasting London and Washington, DC
Both Washington, DC, and London are capital cities of English-speaking countries, and yet they offer vastly different experiences to their residents and visitors. Comparing and contrasting the two cities based on their history, their culture, and their residents show how different and similar the two are.
Both cities are rich in world and national history, though they developed on very different time lines. London, for example, has a history that dates back over two thousand years. It was part of the Roman Empire and known by the similar name, Londinium. It was not only one of the northernmost points of the Roman Empire but also the epicenter of the British Empire where it held significant global influence from the early sixteenth century on through the early twentieth century. Washington, DC, on the other hand, has only formally existed since the late eighteenth century. Though Native Americans inhabited the land several thousand years earlier, and settlers inhabited the land as early as the sixteenth century, the city did not become the capital of the United States until the 1790s. From that point onward to today, however, Washington, DC, has increasingly maintained significant global influence. Even though both cities have different histories, they have both held, and continue to hold, significant social influence in the economic and cultural global spheres.
Both Washington, DC, and London offer a wide array of museums that harbor many of the world’s most prized treasures. While Washington, DC, has the National Gallery of Art and several other Smithsonian galleries, London’s art scene and galleries have a definite edge in this category. From the Tate Modern to the British National Gallery, London’s art ranks among the world’s best. This difference and advantage has much to do with London and Britain’s historical depth compared to that of the United States. London has a much richer past than Washington, DC, and consequently has a lot more material to pull from when arranging its collections. Both cities have thriving theater districts, but again, London wins this comparison, too, both in quantity and quality of theater choices. With regard to other cultural places like restaurants, pubs, and bars, both cities are very comparable. Both have a wide selection of expensive, elegant restaurants as well as a similar amount of global and national chains. While London may be better known for its pubs and taste in beer, DC offers a different bar-going experience. With clubs and pubs that tend to stay open later than their British counterparts, the DC night life tend to be less reserved overall.
Both cities also share and differ in cultural diversity and cost of living. Both cities share a very expensive cost of living—both in terms of housing and shopping. A downtown one-bedroom apartment in DC can easily cost $1,800 per month, and a similar “flat” in London may double that amount. These high costs create socioeconomic disparity among the residents. Although both cities’ residents are predominantly wealthy, both have a significantly large population of poor and homeless. Perhaps the most significant difference between the resident demographics is the racial makeup. Washington, DC, is a “minority majority” city, which means the majority of its citizens are races other than white. In 2009, according to the US Census, 55 percent of DC residents were classified as “Black or African American” and 35 percent of its residents were classified as “white.” London, by contrast, has very few minorities—in 2006, 70 percent of its population was “white,” while only 10 percent was “black.” The racial demographic differences between the cities is drastic.
Even though Washington, DC, and London are major capital cities of English-speaking countries in the Western world, they have many differences along with their similarities. They have vastly different histories, art cultures, and racial demographics, but they remain similar in their cost of living and socioeconomic disparity.

Key Takeaways
- A compare-and-contrast essay analyzes two subjects by either comparing them, contrasting them, or both.
- The purpose of writing a comparison or contrast essay is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities between two subjects.
- The thesis should clearly state the subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both, and it should state what is to be learned from doing so.
- Organize by the subjects themselves, one then the other.
- Organize by individual points, in which you discuss each subject in relation to each point.
- Use phrases of comparison or phrases of contrast to signal to readers how exactly the two subjects are being analyzed.
This is a derivative of WRITING FOR SUCCESS by a publisher who has requested that they and the original author not receive attribution, originally released and is used under CC BY-NC-SA. This work, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License .
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- Last Updated: Sep 9, 2022 1:19 PM
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How to Create a Thesis for a Compare & Contrast Essay
Related articles, teaching kids how to write an introductory paragraph, three components of a good paragraph, how to take a stand in a thesis statement.
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Any compare and contrast essay compares two things, ideas, or people for the purpose of arriving at a conclusion. The thesis statement for this type of essay is the sentence in the introduction that relays to readers the results of the comparison and what to expect from the essay that follows. This sentence must also clearly state the significance of the comparison, answering the question of why this comparison is worthy of attention.
Developing a Purposeful Thesis
The first step in developing a thesis that contains purpose and meaning is to decide on the direction of comparison. For example, the topic of online college courses versus on-site college courses is too broad and can contain more opinions than facts. If the question is narrowed down to "Which method of learning is more effective for adult learners, on-site or online?" a more specific and relevant direction and purpose is created for a target audience.
Compare and Contrast the Characteristics
After developing the purpose, you can compare the chosen subjects. A graphic organizer like a Venn Diagram -- in which similarities are placed within the overlapping section of two circles and differences go in the outer sections -- is effective for analyzing the characteristics of the two types of learning. A conclusion is then reached following analysis of the two subjects. For example, "Despite the advantages of on-site courses, online learning provides adult learners with more flexibility and cost savings."

Word Choices in Constructing a Thesis
The language of a compare and contrast thesis usually begins with a conditional word, like "although" or "whereas," then expresses the outcome of the comparison. For example, "Although the advantages of on-site college courses benefit students living on campus, online courses provide returning adult learners with more flexibility and cost savings." Here, the two groups affected by the comparison are more clearly identified and connected to the value judgement made by the comparison.
Placement of Thesis in the Introduction
The usual place readers expect to find thesis statements in a compare and contrast essay is the last sentence of the introduction. Preceding background material should logically lead up to the thesis, which then provides the reader with a revelation that is both reasonable and arguable. Quality thesis statements at the end of opening paragraphs provoke readers into a conversation with the writer and prompt them to read on.
- Owl Purdue Online Writing Lab: Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The Writing Center: Comparing and Contrasting
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The Writing Center: Thesis Statements
An English teacher for 22 years, Michelle McCleese specializes in the areas of Advanced Placement and writing strategies. She holds National Board Certification in Adolescent and Young Adult ELA and Master Teacher status.
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13 Compare and Contrast Thesis Examples to Inspire You
Creative geniuses cannot create their masterpieces until they’re inspired. Perhaps you’re that creative genius who simply hasn’t been inspired to write a thesis statement to help focus your thoughts for your upcoming compare and contrast essay.
Perhaps you don’t fancy yourself a creative genius at all. Maybe you’re more of a major procrastinator who’s only now inspired to write a thesis statement because the clock is ticking and by this time tomorrow, you need a complete essay .
Whatever your reason(s) for looking for help, you’ve come to the right place. Before those 13 compare and contrast thesis examples that will (hopefully) inspire you to write your next essay, though, let’s do a quick recap on this essay type.
What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay?
If you have to write a compare and contrast essay and are struggling to figure out how turn a set of assignment guidelines into an actual essay, here are a few tips that can put you on the right track.

The name of the essay pretty much tells you what you’ll be doing: comparing and contrasting things or ideas. Sounds easy enough, right?
It can be fairly easy to construct a compare and contrast essay. The key to writing a successful essay is to choose the right points to compare and contrast and to tie them all together with a strong thesis statement .
Need a little help with the basics of the compare and contrast essay? Take a look at these two posts:
- How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay
- Compare and Contrast Essay Tips From a Kibin Editor
Now that you have a clear understanding of how to write a compare and contrast essay, let’s move on to those thesis statement examples.
The thesis statement provides a roadmap to the rest of your essay, so it’s important that you take the time to craft a thesis statement that tells readers the focus of your paper.
Remember: Readers should be able to read your thesis (without reading the rest of your paper) and understand the intended focus of your paper. If your thesis doesn’t do this, it’s time to revise .
Also, compare and contrast essays can take different approaches . Some require you to focus on primarily similarities (or differences). But others require you to focus on both. Check your assignment guidelines to see which type of compare and contrast essay you need to write.
With these points in mind, let’s take a look at 13 compare and contrast thesis statement examples to get you started with your essay.
I’ve included a broad topic for each thesis statement and divided the lists into general comparisons and literary comparisons. I’ve also linked each of the topics to a related example essay for extra inspiration.
6 compare and contrast thesis examples (general comparisons)
Topic #1 how does culture and tradition impact student achievement.
Example thesis: In both Japan and the United States, cultural expectations greatly influence academic achievement in high school students.
Topic #2 What are the differences between high school and college?
Example thesis: While there a number of differences between high school and college, one of the most important is the level of emotional maturity required for success.

Topic #3 Which parenting style is most effective?
Example thesis: While authoritative and permissive parenting are seemingly complete opposites, they have one key similarity: parents who practice both parenting styles encourage their children to make their own decisions.
Topic #4 How have gender roles changed throughout history?
Example thesis: On the surface, it may seem as though women’s roles have changed drastically throughout history; however, a comparison of various eras illustrates how women are still repressed and shamed, especially in sexual expression and behavior.
Topic #5 What are the differences between brands of soda?
Example thesis: Even though many people cannot tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi, there are distinct differences in taste, nutritional content, and advertising.
Topic #6 How do classic movie genres compare to current genres?
Example thesis: While classic musicals used musical numbers to showcase artists, current musicals rely on musical numbers to advance the plot.
Interested in a learning a few more tips for analyzing films? Read How to Analyze a Movie for Dramatic Effect .

7 compare and contrast thesis examples (literary comparisons)
Topic #7 how is the theme of oppression portrayed in literature.
Example thesis: Though the plot lines in A Doll’s House and Animal Farm differ greatly, the two share a core theme: oppression.
Topic #8 How are the themes of political and social power struggles portrayed in literature?
Example thesis: The Kite Runner and The Handmaid’s Tale both utilize political and social power struggles to advance the plot and illustrate the core themes .
Looking for more help analyzing dystopian literature, such as The Handmaid’s Tale? Check out What 4 Popular Dystopian Novels Have in Common (and How To Write About Them) .
Topic #9 How do characters define fate and free will in literature?
Example thesis: Harry Potter and Never Let Me Go both examine the notion of whether characters have free will or are destined to live out their fates.
Topic #10 How does poetry explore identity?
Example thesis: The poems “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks and “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke both explore the struggles young people face while developing their identities.
Want a little more assistance analyzing poetry? Read How to Analyze a Poem and Sound Smart Doing It .
Topic #11 What role do animals play in classic children’s stories and fables?
Example thesis: While many classic children’s stories include animal characters that are helpful to the protagonist, both Alice in Wonderland and Little Red Riding Hood portray animals that present a danger to the protagonist.

Topic #12 How does literature address the concept of The American Dream?
Example thesis: The failed pursuit of The American Dream is a prominent theme used to define the protagonists in both The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman.
Topic #13 In what ways is the theme of alienation portrayed in literature?
Example thesis: The negative effects of alienation are central themes of both Flowers for Algernon and Catcher in the Rye .
More Compare and Contrast Essay Help
Inspired by one of compare and contrast thesis examples to write a masterpiece but having a hard time writing your own thesis? Read How to Write a Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement .
Perhaps your muse has not yet inspired you with the perfect topic (or thesis) for your paper. That’s okay. One of these 70 compare and contrast essay topics might just spark your creative genius.
If you have a few ideas for your paper but would like to see a finished essay (complete with annotations explaining what the essays do well) check out 2 Compare and Contrast Essay Examples Worth Emulating .
Finally, have a bunch of ideas swirling around in your head but still don’t know what to do with them? Try this compare and contrast essay outline to help beat writer’s block .
Already drafted your paper and compared it to the example essays? Are you now questioning whether your writing is truly a masterpiece? Let a Kibin editor help make sure your paper reflects your true genius!
Psst... 98% of Kibin users report better grades! Get inspiration from over 500,000 example essays .

About the Author
Susan M. Inez is a professor of English and writing goddess based out of the Northeast. In addition to a BA in English Education, an MA in Composition, and an MS in Education, Susan has 20 years of experience teaching courses on composition, writing in the professions, literature, and more. She also served as co-director of a campus writing center for 2 years.
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Types of Thesis Statements
Persuasive thesis statement.
A persuasive thesis statement is used when you are asked to create an essay that takes a position on a debatable subject. Your thesis must be about something that people would likely have differing opinions on and the body of your paper provides information intended to help persuade the reader regarding your position.
Example: School Uniforms are beneficial to students because differences in income are less visible, morning routines are easier, and school spirit is promoted.
Research Thesis Statement
Research papers begin with a question and you will be expected to gather information and evidence from appropriate, valid sources to inform your final thesis statement. In this case, your thesis statement answers your research question and is formed as a result of the research you have completed. As part of this type of paper, you are often expected to define your topic and evaluate some aspect of the topic. Your sources will need to be included in your paper to support your thesis.
Example: While some studies have found that freedom of choice allows students to express individuality, schools that have a school uniform policy report less incidents of theft of personal belongings and less incidents of violent behavior indicating that school uniforms may reduce bullying incidents.
Compare and Contrast
A compare and contrast essay is intended to present the similarities or differences between two people or ideas or things, etc. This type of thesis statement introduces the reader to the result of the comparison and the significance of the contrast.
Example: Although many public and private schools are comparable in that safety of students is a high priority and anti-bullying programs are on the rise, they differ in that private schools typically have a uniform policy, and there are more reported incidents of bullying in public schools.
Return to the Thesis Generator
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The Comparative Essay
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What is a comparative essay?
A comparative essay asks that you compare at least two (possibly more) items. These items will differ depending on the assignment. You might be asked to compare
- positions on an issue (e.g., responses to midwifery in Canada and the United States)
- theories (e.g., capitalism and communism)
- figures (e.g., GDP in the United States and Britain)
- texts (e.g., Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Macbeth )
- events (e.g., the Great Depression and the global financial crisis of 2008–9)
Although the assignment may say “compare,” the assumption is that you will consider both the similarities and differences; in other words, you will compare and contrast.
Make sure you know the basis for comparison
The assignment sheet may say exactly what you need to compare, or it may ask you to come up with a basis for comparison yourself.
- Provided by the essay question: The essay question may ask that you consider the figure of the gentleman in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations and Anne Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall . The basis for comparison will be the figure of the gentleman.
- Developed by you: The question may simply ask that you compare the two novels. If so, you will need to develop a basis for comparison, that is, a theme, concern, or device common to both works from which you can draw similarities and differences.
Develop a list of similarities and differences
Once you know your basis for comparison, think critically about the similarities and differences between the items you are comparing, and compile a list of them.
For example, you might decide that in Great Expectations , being a true gentleman is not a matter of manners or position but morality, whereas in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall , being a true gentleman is not about luxury and self-indulgence but hard work and productivity.
The list you have generated is not yet your outline for the essay, but it should provide you with enough similarities and differences to construct an initial plan.
Develop a thesis based on the relative weight of similarities and differences
Once you have listed similarities and differences, decide whether the similarities on the whole outweigh the differences or vice versa. Create a thesis statement that reflects their relative weights. A more complex thesis will usually include both similarities and differences. Here are examples of the two main cases:
While Callaghan’s “All the Years of Her Life” and Mistry’s “Of White Hairs and Cricket” both follow the conventions of the coming-of-age narrative, Callaghan’s story adheres more closely to these conventions by allowing its central protagonist to mature. In Mistry’s story, by contrast, no real growth occurs.
Although Darwin and Lamarck came to different conclusions about whether acquired traits can be inherited, they shared the key distinction of recognizing that species evolve over time.
Come up with a structure for your essay
Note that the French and Russian revolutions (A and B) may be dissimilar rather than similar in the way they affected innovation in any of the three areas of technology, military strategy, and administration. To use the alternating method, you just need to have something noteworthy to say about both A and B in each area. Finally, you may certainly include more than three pairs of alternating points: allow the subject matter to determine the number of points you choose to develop in the body of your essay.
When do I use the block method? The block method is particularly useful in the following cases:
- You are unable to find points about A and B that are closely related to each other.
- Your ideas about B build upon or extend your ideas about A.
- You are comparing three or more subjects as opposed to the traditional two.

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Knowing how to write a college essay is a useful skill for anyone who plans to go to college. Most colleges and universities ask you to submit a writing sample with your application. As a student, you’ll also write essays in your courses.
You’ve spent years preparing for your master’s degree or PhD. You’ve read, studied and spent hours of time and energy writing papers. Now you’ve arrived at the culmination of all this effort: writing your thesis.
Writing a perspective essay begins with choosing a topic, determining the thesis statement for the essay, choosing a specific point of view and backing up the essay with concrete examples, illustrations and questions.
1) Note the key words in this essay prompt: compare and contrast. This means you must write a thesis that expresses what Judaism and Christianity had in
A compare and contrast thesis statement should state what two subjects are being compared and contrasted in the essay. It should also briefly
The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both and the
In the body of the essay, Chad offers a text-by-text-by-text analysis, deliberately linking each section not only to his thesis but to preceding sections. In
The usual place readers expect to find thesis statements in a compare and contrast essay is the last sentence of the introduction. Preceding background material
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Effective Thesis Statements for Compare & Contrast Essays. Adapted from “The Comparative Essay” (University of Toronto) and “How to Write a Thesis Statement
Example thesis: Even though many people cannot tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi, there are distinct differences in taste, nutritional
A compare and contrast essay is intended to present the similarities or differences between two people or ideas or things, etc. This type of thesis
Once you have listed similarities and differences, decide whether the similarities on the whole outweigh the differences or vice versa. Create a thesis
The following are some crucial points in writing a clear and analytic thesis for Compare Contrast essays. Example Question: For several hundred years the