English College Writing
Essay #2 — Comparison & Contrast Essay
Length: 4-5 pages Percentage of Grade: 20%
Draft Due Date: Final Due Date:
Introduction:
While a Comparison and Contrast essay does take two things and show us how they are alike and how they are different, it also allows us to talk about something our readers might have very little understanding of. It does this by giving them something they can easily understand to check it out against. In some ways ice fishing is a lot like summer fishing, but in other ways they are very different.
Assignment:
Write a Comparison and Contrast essay. You are free to pick any two things you want to compare and contrast, so long as there is a reason for doing so. For instance, dogs and cats are alike in that they are common pets but different in that I hate cats won’t do, but training a cat is like training a dog in some ways, and different in others, might suffice.
Organization:
Generally, once you’re in the body of the paper, you will be going back and forth between the two things you are comparing. It is generally considered a good idea to address one topic for both things and then discuss that topic before moving on, or at least to continue in the same order for both. This helps to stave off confusion.
Format and Grading Criteria: See back.
Your Name
K.C. Hanson
English 1101
Today’s Date
Hey! Look at Me!:
I’m an example of the top of your paper
Say hello with something about your topic, and then tell us what you’re going to tell us about that topic, and maybe even how you’re going to go about telling us what you’re going to tell us about that topic. Just don’t be redundant.
Work your way back and forth between the things you are comparing in paragraphs. Give one whole paragraph to something, size for example, in the first thing.
And another whole paragraph on that same thing in the other. You might want to start this paragraph with something like: “This correlates with,” or “This is like,” or even my favorite, “We can see this in…” You might even want to add a third paragraph on how they are alike or different and what that might mean.
If you can accomplish this without ruining my day when I read it, you will probably get a C. You might even get a B if the organization is nice and the sentences are fairly strong. But if you want an A, as I assume most of you do, write a paper that can walk on water. That should get my attention.