In the prewriting stage of a researched essay, you will do a lot of reading and information gathering. In this stage of the process, you should keep your information organized carefully so that you can find it when it comes time to write your essay.
In your essay, you will describe how two topics are similar to and different from each other. You are not arguing that one is better than the other; you are simply drawing comparisons between them.
You can start brainstorming for a comparison essay by thinking about a category of things you are interested in (e.g., ancient civilizations, languages, advertising styles, etc.).
A Venn diagram is a chart with overlapping circles. In one circle, write your first topic, in the other, write your second topic. In the overlap of the two circles, write any similarities between the two topics.
Choose a topic you are interested in and type “types of ____” in a Google search (e.g., Types of natural disasters). Look at a list and choose two (e.g., hurricanes and tsunamis) to compare. Encyclopedias can also be an excellent source of information on your two topics. Example topics could include the following:
Finding sources to support your ideas can be a challenge. Here is a list of the type of information you might want to find from a source:
Depending on your topics, an internet search for "differences between __ and __" or "similarities between __ and __" might give you helpful results.
Make sure the topic isn’t too broad to cover in your essay. You should be able to find concrete examples of similarities and differences between your two topics.
At the end of your introduction paragraph, you should write your thesis. The thesis may list the categories that will be used for the comparisons in your body paragraphs. It may simply argue that the two topics are distinct. Note examples of comparison theses:
At the end of your introduction paragraph, you should write your thesis. The thesis may list the categories that will be used for the comparisons in your body paragraphs. It may simply argue that the two topics are distinct.
Start with your topic sentences and thesis. Add questions or quotes to help you develop each of your ideas. The organizational pattern you choose may depend on how much information you have for each topic. Each topic sentence should support your thesis. You may have several paragraphs that explain just one point of your thesis.
The outline for a comparison essay can be very flexible. Read the example thesis below and compare it to each of the outlines. Each outline could be effective for this thesis.
TH: Carbohydrates differ from proteins in the way they are consumed, stored, and used.
Outline #1
Outline #2
Option #3
Option #4
Option #5
Your body paragraphs should explain how or why your thesis sentence is true. You can organize your body paragraphs in two general ways: the block method or the point-by-point method.
1. The block method organizes your body paragraphs by keeping everything about one topic (e.g., freshwater fish: diet, habitat, size) together before transitioning to the second topic (e.g., saltwater fish: diet, habitat, size).
In shorter academic essays that follow the block method of organization, there is often only one paragraph for each of the topics. When writing a longer academic essay, think of the block method not as one large paragraph about each topic but as a section of your paper, made up of several paragraphs that relate to the same topic.
2: The point-by-point method alternates between both topics in every body paragraph (e.g., habitat of both freshwater and saltwater fish, then their diets).
Block Method | Point-by-Point Method |
Example 1: Education Thesis:
Body Paragraph 1: Zoom classes
Body Paragraph 2: In-person classes Students have physical interpersonal interaction and support Students build relationships with professors. | Example 1: Education Thesis:
Body Paragraph 1: Learning
Body Paragraph 2: Student relationships
|
Example 2: Facial hair Thesis: Although mustaches and beards are very similar, there are some surprising differences between them. Body Paragraph 1: Mustaches
Body Paragraph 2: Beards
*Optional Opposite POV Body Paragraph 3: more similar than different.
Restated Thesis:
| Example 2: Facial hair Thesis: Although mustaches and beards are very similar, there are some surprising differences between them. Body Paragraph 1: Maintenance
Body Paragraph 2: Public Perception
Body Paragraph 3: Eating
Restated Thesis:
|
Your body paragraphs should explain how or why your thesis sentence is true. You can organize your body paragraphs in two general ways: the block method or the point-by-point method.
1. The block method organizes your body paragraphs by keeping everything about one topic (e.g., freshwater fish: diet, habitat, size) together before transitioning to the second topic (e.g., saltwater fish: diet, habitat, size).
In shorter academic essays that follow the block method of organization, there is often only one paragraph for each of the topics. When writing a longer academic essay, think of the block method not as one large paragraph about each topic but as a section of your paper, made up of several paragraphs that relate to the same topic.
2: The point-by-point method alternates between both topics in every body paragraph (e.g., habitat of both freshwater and saltwater fish, then their diets).
Block Method | Point-by-Point Method |
Example 1: Education Thesis:
Body Paragraph 1: Zoom classes
Body Paragraph 2: In-person classes Students have physical interpersonal interaction and support Students build relationships with professors. | Example 1: Education Thesis:
Body Paragraph 1: Learning
Body Paragraph 2: Student relationships
|
Example 2: Facial hair Thesis: Although mustaches and beards are very similar, there are some surprising differences between them. Body Paragraph 1: Mustaches
Body Paragraph 2: Beards
*Optional Opposite POV Body Paragraph 3: more similar than different.
Restated Thesis:
| Example 2: Facial hair Thesis: Although mustaches and beards are very similar, there are some surprising differences between them. Body Paragraph 1: Maintenance
Body Paragraph 2: Public Perception
Body Paragraph 3: Eating
Restated Thesis:
|
Revise these thesis statements to be more effective for a comparison essay.
What advice would you give to the author of the following student outline? Is it an effective outline for a comparison essay?
Some preliminary research about Venus and Earth is presented in the T-chart below. Using the information, create a thesis for a comparison essay. Then write as many different outlines for your thesis as you can. Experiment with both block and point-by-point organization.
Venus | Earth |
|
|
There are two different ways that you can organize a comparison essay.
Directions:
1. Choose one of the prompts below.
2. Create an outline for a comparison essay using the point-by-point method. When you have finished, rewrite your outline so that it is in the block method. How do the two outlines differ? What are the advantages of each organizational style?
Comparison writing prompts:
1. Soccer players vs. basketball players
2. You and your best friend
3. Androids vs. iPhones
4. Your culture vs. American culture
After brainstorming ideas, write a thesis using the examples from the chapter as a model. Remember that your thesis can follow many structures, and does not necessarily need to follow a five-paragraph format.
Brainstorm some of your own ideas for a comparison essay! You can do this with a t-chart, Venn diagram, or any other graphic organizer.
This content is provided to you freely by BYU Open Learning Network.
Access it online or download it at https://open.byu.edu/up_writing_summer/prewritingC.