Compare Contrast Essays

Compare and contrast essays are about highlighting the similarities and differences in the objects being studied. There are three ways to go about this: you can compare, you can contrast or you can compare and contrast. Whatever it is you want to write, even college application essay it is important that you first organize your thoughts. There are two ways in which you can organize your thoughts. This is not the last of the choices you have in this genre of essays. There are several options even in the way you present your findings.

In a compare and contrast research papers you must thoroughly study the two subjects in focus. If it will help you could use a T chart. A T chart is one in which you organize two facets of a topic recording for instance pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages and so on. Such a chart will immediately show the most significant attributes of both subjects juxtaposed. Alternatively you could use a Venn diagram. A Venn diagram consists of two or more overlapping circles used to show the relationship between two sets; in our case two sets of attributes. In this case a Venn diagram would pictorially represent the similarities and differences between the two objects being compared.

Once you have organized your thoughts, you have to decide if you want to merely make a comparison or a contrast or go the whole hog and do a compare and contrast. A business plan essay merely highlights the similarities between two objects, while a contrast showcases the differences. A compare and contrast is a combination of the two.

Next evolve a thesis statement. Your thesis statement should tell the readers how you will be interpreting the significant aspects of the objects that are the focus of your study. It should tell the readers what your paper is all about. A thesis statement is usually one sentence long and is placed at the beginning of the introductory paragraph. A thesis statement in a compare and contrast may look something like ?While both Bill Gates and Bono worked to alleviate human suffering; Gates worked through his foundation while Bono preferred to work directly?.

Primarily there are two ways in which you can present your data in a compare and contrast. You can either use the divided pattern or you can choose the alternating pattern. In a divided pattern you will present all the supporting evidence for one object and the supporting evidence for the other object. In an alternating pattern you will alternate the similarity or contrast from subject a to subject b.

The last part of your compare contrast essay is your conclusion. This part should include a brief correlation between your two subjects. Here restate the essence of your thesis. If your paper is a mere contrast, briefly summarize the similarities between your subjects so that you do not leave your readers thinking that you are on an exercise finding opposites. Whatever may be the form of presentation you choose, make sure you stick with it throughout the essay.