Writing comparative essay

Writing comparative essay

How to Write a Comparative Essay – A Research Guide,Want a template to ace those comparative essays?

WebCome up with a structure for your essay Alternating method: Point-by-point pattern In the alternating method, you find related points common to your central Block method: WebWriting a comparison usually requires that you assess the similarities and differences between two or more theories, procedures, or processes. You explain to your reader WebMar 14,  · A comparative essay seeks to come up with a comparison between two objects in terms of both similarities and differences. Rather than creating arguments for WebFeb 26,  · Writing a comparative essay can be difficult, but it is also an opportunity for students to develop their analytical skills. Read more in detail here: how to write a ... read more

In the example, above, the fact that both humans and gorillas are mammals is thus listed just once in the middle. The dialectical method is important within the discipline of philosophy, and it has been used to great effect by thinkers such as Socrates and Hegel and Kierkegaard. This involves holding two ideas or items in tension with each other, to better clarify not only the ideas themselves but also the dynamic relationship that exist between the ideas. The first idea is called the thesis , and the second idea is called the antithesis. For example, Romanticism could be dialectically compared against the Enlightenment that came before it, because Romanticism was in some ways a rejection of the previous worldview.

Need help? Essay writing services from Ultius can help you produce a great sample compare and contrast essay. So, by setting up a comparison between Romanticism and the Enlightenment, it becomes possible to see both the continuities or similarities between the one and the other, as well as the contradictions or differences between them. Berlin, Isaiah. The Roots of Romanticism. Princeton: Princeton U P, From the table above, it is clear that we are able to understand both Romanticism and the Enlightenment better if we set them up in terms of dialectical contrast.

Clearly, they are different in some important ways logic vs. passion, for example , but we can also see that they are in continuity with each other both happened in Western Europe and responded to previous developments. This comparison also leads one to wonder about whether it would be possible to make a synthesis that takes the best from both the thesis and the antithesis. To analyze your subjects for a comparative essay, you need to identify clear parameters, or axes, in terms of which your two selected items can be compared. For example, in the table above, Romanticism and the Enlightenment were compared along the axis of " epistemology ". But that axis won't be relevant to all subjects. Your job when preparing to write a comparative essay is to identify the specific axes that are relevant for the items that you are comparing.

Why is the comparison interesting, and what insights are you trying produce? The answers to those questions will determine how you decide to frame your comparison. For example, we could compare the Democratic Socialists of America DSA against the Democratic Party in terms of the axis of membership. This would reveal that the DSA has far fewer registered members than does the Democratic Party. We could also compare them on the axis of healthcare policy, where it may be found that the DSA and the Democratic Party agree about the importance of universal coverage. When we look at the axis of economics, though, we may find that the DSA is much more radical in its proposals than the Democratic Party.

In principle, any one thing in the world could be compared with any other thing in the world. For example, you could compare your shoe with the moon, and conclude that one similarity is that they both exist within the Milky Way galaxy. But this would be a meaningless point even if it may make for some interesting poetry. It is important for you to figure out what exactly you are trying to determine through your comparative essay. What is your purpose for writing it? This will help you choose two items where setting up a dialectical contrast between them will produce actual insight, and it will also help you to choose the proper parameters by which to compare those items. For example, suppose that you are running a business, and there are two expansion options open in front of you. It would be logical for you to compare and contrast these options, since this will help ensure that you are making your decision with as much knowledge and insight as possible.

Likewise, one parameter that you are sure to consider is: which option will make your business the most money? If you pick parameters that are meaningless, then you will obtain no real insight that can help you make the important decision. Once you have identified both the two items of comparison and the axes along which they will be compared, you can proceed to analyze the items by applying the axes in the form of a table or rubric. This is what has been done, for example, in the tables that have been developed above in this article. In the left-most column, list the parameters you have selected in order to compare your items. Then, in the top-most row, list the items.

Then go ahead and list the relevant details for each parameter for each of the two items. This will produce a table where you can see how each item measures up against the other for each parameter. The important thing is to be systematic when you are making your comparison: it should not seem random or arbitrary. A strong comparative essay has well-chosen items for comparison, with the comparison producing actual insights of value through the juxtaposition of the two items. If the items appear to be chosen for no apparent reason, or if the comparison does not in fact produce insight, then the comparative essay would be quite weak or at any rate pointless.

The comparative essay is not meant to make an argument in favor of one thing or another, but it is meant to produce knowledge and insight about the two things under comparison. In order to compare and contrast items in an effective way, the two items must be different enough from each other, but they should also not be so different that it just feels absurd to even compare them at all. A good comparative essay not only includes well-selected items of comparison, it also includes well-selected parameters of comparison. Between any two selected items, you could theoretically make an endless number of comparisons. But a good comparative essay identifies parameters of comparative in terms of salience , or the reasons why anyone would be interested in the comparison in the first place.

This can be difficult, because in principle, any comparison could be interesting, depending on the audience of the comparative essay and the intended purpose of the essay. For example, one could use the parameter of zodiac sign to compare Romantic artists against Enlightenment artists. This could be very interesting to people who are very serious about the zodiac, but it would probably seem ridiculous to just about everyone else. But if you were writing for an audience of zodiac fanatics, then this comparison could actually be a success. So, there is no parameter of comparison that is "inherently" bad.

Rather, the point is to find parameters that highlight specific salient aspects of the selected items. For example, when comparing Romanticism against the Enlightenment, core values would be a solid parameter of comparison, because that will surely help produce insights about how worldviews changed from the one paradigm to another. If you want your comparative essay to be a success, then it absolutely must have strong organizational structure. This is because an effective comparison must be easy for your reader to follow. It can't just jump all over the place at random, which not only be confusing but could also result in the reader forgetting what the point of the comparison was in the first place.

In general, there are two ways in which you can organize your comparative essay. In the first format, each of the parameters would be considered in the section for similarities and the section for differences. In the first format the comparative essay is organized in terms of similarities and differences, whereas in the second format the essay is organized in terms of parameters of comparison. In the second format, both similarities and differences would be considered within each of the parameter sections. How to write a comparative essay Establish a basis of comparison A basis of comparison represents the main idea , category , or theme you will investigate.

You will have to do some preliminary reading , likely using your course materials, to get an idea of what kind of criteria you will use to assess whatever you are comparing. A basis of comparison must apply to all items you are comparing, but the details will be different. For example, if you are asked to "compare neoclassical architecture and gothic architecture," you could compare the influence of social context on the two styles. Gather the details of whatever you are comparing Once you have decided what theme or idea you are investigating, you will need to gather details of whatever you are comparing, especially in terms of similarities and differences.

Doing so allows you to see which criteria you should use in your comparison, if not specified by your professor or instructor. Criteria Neoclassical Archtecture Gothic Architecture Neoclassical architecture versus Gothic architecture Churches Appeal to Greek perfection Appeal to emotion Civic buildings Columns Towers and spires Palaces Formulaic and mathematical Wild and rustic Helpful tip: Organize your criteria in columns or a Venn diagram ; using visual methods to map your pre-writing work can help you to stay on track and more clearly get a sense of how the essay will be structured.

Develop a thesis statement After brainstorming, try to develop a thesis statement that identifies the results of your comparison. Here is an example of a fairly common thesis statement structure: e. Organize your comparison You have a choice of two basic methods for organizing a comparative essay: the point-by-point method or the block method. The point-by-point method examines one aspect of comparison in each paragraph and usually alternates back and forth between the two objects, texts, or ideas being compared. Download your free comparative essay planner. A structured planner to help you write exceptional comparative essay responses. We take your privacy seriously. Comparative essays are essays that require you to examine similarities and differences between two or more different texts to find key themes and messages.

Remember, you will be expected to write paragraphs that compliment each other. This means that you can either write your essay in a divided approach or an integrated one. So, the texts are having a one-way conversation as the newer re-imagined text is commenting on aspects of the older text. In this module, students explore the ways in which the comparative study of texts can reveal resonances and dissonances between and within texts. Students consider the ways that a reimagining or reframing of an aspect of a text might mirror, align or collide with the details of another text. In their textual studies, they also explore common or disparate issues, values, assumptions or perspectives and how these are depicted.

By comparing two texts students understand how composers authors, poets, playwrights, directors, designers and so on are influenced by other texts, contexts and values, and how this shapes meaning. Students identify, interpret, analyse and evaluate the textual features, conventions, contexts, values and purpose of two prescribed texts. As students engage with the texts they consider how their understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of both texts has been enhanced through the comparative study and how the personal, social, cultural and historical contextual knowledge that they bring to the texts influences their perspectives and shapes their own compositions. By responding imaginatively, interpretively and critically students explore and evaluate individual and common textual features, concepts and values.

They further develop skills in analysing the ways that various language concepts, for example motif, allusion and intertextuality, connect and distinguish texts and how innovating with language concepts, form and style can shape new meaning. They develop appropriate analytical and evaluative language required to compose informed, cohesive responses using appropriate terminology, grammar, syntax and structure. By composing critical and creative texts in a range of modes and media, students develop the confidence, skills and appreciation to express a considered personal perspective.

Source: Module A Rubric from NESA website. Note: If you want to learn more about what Module A is, and break down the rubric, then check out our HSC Guide: Overview of Module A: Textual Conversations. It is crucial that you adequately incorporate these 3 requirements in your Module A essays. When you study the pair of texts together, their resonances and differences will be more noticeable. So, as you are reading or watching your texts for the 2nd or 3rd time, write notes on the similarities and differences between them.

Then categorise them by themes or ideas, and analyse them in more detail. This will help you find relevant and comparable evidence when you are writing your essays. However, be careful to not fall into the trap of finding meagre links between the texts for the sake of comparing. Think of resonance like an echo or reverberation. When a text has a resonance, it usually means that some aspect of another text is appearing, reflecting or being referenced. This can include themes, values, characters, storyline, setting, techniques, form, structure etc. However, the setting, characters, and parts of the plot are entirely different. This can be influenced by the shifting contexts of the newer text, which will affect the values and social issues explored in the text. Context is a crucial element of Module A: Textual Conversations essays.

In a scholastic career, writing a comparative essay is one of the most common assignments. Generally, to write an engaging comparative essay, you should first pick two topics with enough similarities and dissimilarities, and then compare them in a meaningful way. Moreover, your essay should be well-organized and should have valid comparisons with supporting facts. On the whole, the content should also captivate your readers. In case, you are unsure of how to write a successful comparative essay, check this blog post. Here, we have explained how to write a comparative essay effectively with examples.

What is a Comparative Essay? A Comparative Essay is an essay that contains paragraphs explaining how the two subjects of discussion are either similar or different. Compare will describe the similarities between the subjects while contrast will highlight the differences. For example, if you are assigned a task to write the Comparison between the Indian Cricket Team and the Australian Cricket Team, then you should do proper research about the two sports teams and discuss the similarities and differences both the teams share in the form of a specific essay structure. To write a comparative essay, the two topics need not have a close relation, it can also be different. Furthermore, in a comparative analysis essay, you can choose to discuss the similarities and differences of ideas, places, items, views, events, concepts, etc.

So, how to write a comparative analysis essay? Simply jumping directly to the topic and generating ideas is not an effective way of writing a compare-and-contrast essay. To address the comparison in a meaningful way, remember to follow the comparative essay writing steps mentioned below. If you are given an essay prompt or a question, then, first try to understand what is stated in the question by marking the important words or key phrases. Your essay topic can be specific or general too. For example, if you are asked to compare the Indian Cricket Team and the Australian Cricket Team, then you need to specifically focus only on these two teams.

But if your question says, to compare any two International Cricket Teams, then you can research various teams and pick any two ideal teams for your discussion. In the case of general topics, you need to build the basis of comparison by yourself. If you are clear with your essay prompt, then go ahead and find out what points need to be included in your essay. The content should contain all the similarities and differences. So, list out the main points that you wish to speak about in your essay. The hints you have noted will act as your essay plan with which you need to develop the content. Ignore the less significant points and consider speaking only about the points that add value to your comparison.

No matter whether your essay topic is specific or general, you need to create a thesis statement. To build a clear thesis statement, first, analyze the key points you have listed and spot whether your topic is more inclined towards similarities or dissimilarities, and then based on that develop a simple thesis statement. Your thesis statement should highlight the comparisons in a crispy way. After creating a thesis statement, develop the key points you have noted and structure the essay by adding paragraphs. The content should be written in a simple manner. Most importantly, your readers should be able to understand what you have discussed in your comparative essay.

When you write a comparative essay, make sure to structure the essay in an easy way to deliver the key points of your comparison. Generally, you can write an essay in many different structures. The alternation method focuses on the discussion of one aspect of comparison in one paragraph. That means, at first you need to pick one item of comparison in relation to the first subject and explain that in detail in the first paragraph. Then, followed by that paragraph, you need to explain the same item of comparison in relation to the second subject. The third and fourth paragraphs will deal with another aspect of comparison in relation to the first and second subjects respectively. Sequentially, explain your comparative points until the end of your essay. The alternating method helps to present a well-analyzed paper, and also with this method you can effectively handle two different subjects and explain your items of comparison in a deep and neat manner.

You can use the alternating method to structure your comparative essay if your topic needs a detailed comparison or when the comparison points of two subjects are not related. Read more topic: What are Narrative Essay Topics? In this method, one paragraph should be devoted to explaining the subject comparison in one aspect. That means you need to explain one item of comparison with respect to both subjects in a single paragraph. The mixed paragraph method gives equal weight to the subjects in terms of comparison. In this method, the readers can easily find the comparison factor. You can use the mixed-paragraph method to write a long comparative essay.

Also, this method is effective to deal with complex subjects that need special attention. The block method is one of the easiest methods in which you can divide the essay into two parts and then, discuss the first subject in one part and the second subject in another part. But here, all the items of comparison in relation to the first subject should be explained in a particular order. When you write the second paragraph, the comparison points should be presented in the same order as explained in the first paragraph. You can use the block method when dealing with a short essay, simple subjects, and multiple subjects. With this method, you can develop the ideas of subject two from the ideas listed in subject one. Also, you can use this method if there is no clear relation between the comparison items of both subjects.

By now, you have gained an idea of how to structure a comparative essay with the methods such as alternating, mixed paragraphs, and blocks. But to effectively write a comparative essay, you should first create a good comparative essay outline in a specific format. Discussed here is the Comparative Essay Outline Format. While sketching the comparative essay outline, remember to include the following essential components. Like every other essay, the comparative essay should also begin with an introduction paragraph. In this paragraph, you need to give a glimpse of the essay to the reader in terms of the content. The introduction should be simple, and concise, and should have a clear thesis statement.

It is the heart of the essay where you need to compare and contrast the two subjects in a preferred structure. End the essay by giving an overview of what you have discussed in the body paragraphs. Your conclusion should be based on the similarities and dissimilarities you have identified and should not be on a personal note. Summer and winter are two of the four important seasons in the world. Like winter, the view of plants is also beautiful in summer. Even though there are several similar points between summer and winter, they both have some differences when it comes to clothing, activities, and food. In summer, because of the extreme hotness, people prefer wearing short pants or skirts.

But in contrast, people love to cover their full bodies and protect themselves from the cold climate by wearing long pants, sweaters, scarf, and gloves. Another difference between summer and winter is the activities. During summer, people like to take part in various activities such as surfing, spending time in the water park, visiting beaches, etc. But such activities are not convenient to do at the time of winter. The final different thing between them is the food. In summer, because of the temperature, people prefer eating ice creams, watermelons, cucumbers, coconut water, and so on to keep the body cool.

On the other hand, during winter, to keep the body warm, people eat hot pot. Basically, these are the three common things between summer and winter. Besides clothing, activities, and food, a few other differences between them include temperature, daytime, and the views. Even though there are a lot of differences between summer and winter, one can still enjoy the season by doing many fun things. By following the essential points discussed in this post, you can write an engaging comparative essay. After writing, be sure to proofread the content.

Remove the errors if there are any and prepare a final draft that addresses both the subjects and their items of comparison in detail. If you are still not sure how to write a comparative essay, then reach out to us. At greatassignmenthelp. Especially, to assist you in writing an outstanding comparative essay, we have plenty of essay helpers in our team who are skilled enough to draft content for all types of academic essays. According to the essay writing instructions you share with us, our experts will come up with a brilliant well-structured essay on time. How to Write a Comparative Essay Effectively- Learn with Examples. Home » How to Write a Comparative Essay Effectively- Learn with Examples. Table of Contents. Written By: Jay Cooper January 23, Assignment help Reading Time: 10 minutes.

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The Comparative Essay,Sample outlines for comparative essays on neoclassical and gothic architecture

WebMar 14,  · A comparative essay seeks to come up with a comparison between two objects in terms of both similarities and differences. Rather than creating arguments for WebFeb 26,  · Writing a comparative essay can be difficult, but it is also an opportunity for students to develop their analytical skills. Read more in detail here: how to write a WebWriting a comparison usually requires that you assess the similarities and differences between two or more theories, procedures, or processes. You explain to your reader WebCome up with a structure for your essay Alternating method: Point-by-point pattern In the alternating method, you find related points common to your central Block method: ... read more

Enlightenment Romanticism Epistemology reason, logic imagination, passion Where did it happen? A comparative essay is not a place to get too creative with your writing, whether in terms of organization or in terms of style. To build a clear thesis statement, first, analyze the key points you have listed and spot whether your topic is more inclined towards similarities or dissimilarities, and then based on that develop a simple thesis statement. See services. Types of evidence in writing.

You can utilize this block method for writing a short essay, writing comparative essay, simple subjects, and multiple subjects. Writing comparative essay mixed paragraph method gives equal weight to the subjects in terms of comparison. Western Europe Western Europe Values science, rationality, objective truth poetry, enchantment, subjective truth Emerged in response to. Although one may feel the need to provide only similarities, it is expected than one will discuss the differences too. Tables, rubrics, and outlines will also work to help ensure that you are developing a strong backbone of logic and systematic reasoning for your comparative essay. When you write a body paragraph, remember to use TEEL to structure your analysis and argument.