As a student, your professor or mentor might assign you to submit a completed write-up using a specific essay outline or essay format. There are also different types of essays such as argumentative essays, expository essays, descriptive essays, and narrative essays. There is also the compare and contrast essay which describes the similarities and differences between two or more subjects, possibly gaining a larger insight into the two subjects.

FREE 10+ Compare and Contrast Essay Samples

1. Compare and Contrast Essay Template

compare and contrast essay template

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2. Compare and Contrast Essay

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3. Compare and Contrast Essay Thesis Statement

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4. Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

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5. Compare and Contrast Method Essay

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6. Compare and Contrast Thesis Essay

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7. Organizational Comparison and Contrast Essay

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8. Compare and Contrast Essay Assignment

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9. Student Compare and Contrast Essay

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10. Standard Compare and Contrast Essay

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11. Academic Compare and Contrast Essay

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What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay?

A compare and contrast essay is an analytical and informative essay that aims to discover the similarities and differences between two subjects and analyzes topics from various perspectives. This type of essay writing is usually assigned to students from middle and high school and teaches them about the analytical writing process and prepares them for more advanced academic writing. To compare is to identify the similarities between the chosen subject while contrast refers to the examination and identification of their differences.

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

Gaining insights while writing a compare and contrast essay means looking at faint, distinct, and surprising differences and similarities between two or more subjects. Unlike an argumentative essay, a compare and contrast essay does not intend to make an argument or state the writer’s opinion but is about data analysis. Writing a compare and contrast essay means you will discuss two subjects in the same student paper, which also means that you should determine your thesis statement, topic sentences, and descriptive details that will cover the two subjects.

Step 1: Brainstorm Using a Venn Diagram

Before you begin writing your essay, you first need to brainstorm for compare and contrast essay topics. You can use a Venn diagram which is an effective visual tool for your brainstorming session. This diagram displays overlapping circles that show the characteristics of each subject in each circle.

Step 2: Think of Your Thesis Statement

After mapping out the similarities and differences between your subjects or topics, you will better understand the relationship between each of them. This will also enable you to develop a thesis statement and topic sentence.

Step 3: Create Your Essay Outline

Once you are done with data analysis, your essay outline. An effective compare-and-contrast essay outline also follows the standard and basic essay structure which consists of an essay introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding statement or paragraph.

Step 4: Review and Proofread

Your essay writing process is not complete until you have reviewed and proofread your composition. This includes checking your spacing, making sure that you presented a clear point of view, and checking for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.

FAQs

How do I organize the body paragraphs of my compare and contrast essay?

There are two methods to organize the body of your compare-and-contrast essay which refer to the block method and the point-by-point method. The block method is where the author provides an explanation of all of the points of comparison and contrast about a topic while the point-by-point method has a separate paragraph for each point of comparison.

What is the general format of a compare and contrast essay?

A compare-and-contrast essay structure depends on the subject which means it might not always fit a 5 paragraph essay task. This essay has a basic structure that includes an introduction, a body paragraph for each of the similarities and differences between two or more subjects, and a conclusion that summarizes the thesis and looks for possible questions for consideration.

What are the helpful tips when writing a compare and contrast essay?

If you are writing a compare and contrast essay, make sure to use powerful transitions, clarify the concepts you are introducing in your essay, and make sure to proofread your essay. You can also ask a friend or family member to review your essay for things you might have missed.

A compare and contrast essay aims to analyze and examine the similarities and differences or two or more topics like ideas, people, concepts, or more. This essay is ideal when you want to separate and unite relevant objects or concepts. Like other essays, a compare and contrast essay follows the basic structure or format of an essay which is the introduction, a separate body paragraph for the similarities and differences of the subject, and a conclusion.

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