English 1301: Compare/Contrast Essay

You’ve learned a lot about planning and writing a compare/contrast essay. You don’t need to memorize everything. Use this page as a quick reminder of the most important things to keep in mind as you draft and revise.

1. Go Beyond Similarities and Differences

Don’t stop at identifying that two subjects are alike or different. Consider why those similarities or differences matter and what they reveal. Your comparison should lead to insight.

2. Keep Your Comparison Points Clear

Each body paragraph should focus on one distinct point of comparison. Make that point clear in the topic sentence and stay focused on it throughout the paragraph.

3. Discuss Both Subjects in Every Body Paragraph

Remember that this assignment uses point-by-point organization. Each body paragraph should discuss both Subject A and Subject B in relation to the same comparison point.

4. Develop—Don’t Just State

If you make a claim about a person, place, school, workplace, experience, or other subject, show your reader what you mean. Explain the idea and provide specific examples, details, or illustrations.

5. Give Both Subjects Enough Attention

Don’t thoroughly develop Subject A and then give Subject B only a sentence or two. The two sides don’t have to be exactly equal in length, but both need enough development for a meaningful comparison.

6. Don’t Forget the Evaluation

After discussing A and B, ask: So what? What does this comparison reveal? Why is this similarity or difference interesting or significant? This is where your own thinking becomes especially important.

7. Guide Your Reader

Use topic sentences and transitions to help readers follow your movement between comparison points, subjects, examples, and evaluation. But remember: transitions should clarify relationships, not appear mechanically in every sentence.

8. Revise as a Reader

Before submitting, read your essay as though you know nothing about your subjects. Ask yourself:

Can I clearly see what is being compared, how the subjects are similar or different, and why the comparison matters?