How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

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By toogie2
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Students from middle school to college are asked to write compare and contrast essays all the time. You may have an assignment to write it at home, or you may have to write one in class, in a dreaded essay test.

Many people freeze up when having to write an essay test, but compare and contrast essays can be one of the easiest essays to write, if you already know how.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

First look at the items you are supposed to compare and contrast. Do you understand them? If you are writing an essay outside of class, look them up. Start with your text book but also look at your notes from class, and even go and check them out at Wikipedia. If you are taking a test, and can't look things up, pause and think over what these things mean. The next two steps will help you remember.
Step 2

Make a list of ways the two items are the same. This is the "compare" part of a compare and contrast essay. (For an in class essay, it will be good if you can bring in extra paper. If you can't, you can make some notes on the back of your blue book.)
Step 3

Make a list of the ways the two items are different. This is the "contrast" part of a compare and contrast essay.
Step 4

Decide which you think is more important, the differences or the similarities. It doesn't matter which you chose. In a compare and contrast essay, the point is to think both elements through. Sometimes it is easier to write an essay that disagrees with the most likely or obvious choice. You automatically dig a little deeper to support a less likely opinion. But that is not always so. Especially when you are writing an in-class essay test, pick the point of view you already feel you can support.
Step 5

Write your introduction. In a longer essay you will summarize what you are about to say, which is basically just quickly hitting the high points of the list. For a in-class essay test, you can probably skip straight to your "thesis" or point of view. For our point of view sentence, first acknowledge the opposite view from the one you are taking, then state your chosen point of view. "Although dogs and cats both make loving pets, they are very different animals."
Step 6

Start the main body of your essay with the arguments against your point of view. If you choose to say that the items are similar, start by contrasting the differences. If you feel they are more different than the same, start by comparing the similarities.
Step 7

Now get to your point of view. If you are writing a classic "five paragraph essay" you may want to spend a whole paragraph pointing out what is wrong with the arguments you made for the other side. If don't have to meet a specific number of paragraphs, you can just get straight to supporting your own point of view. Look at your list items that support you, and write about them all, and why they are important.
Step 8

With compare and contrast essays, the conclusion will be a lot like the introduction. You summarize what you just said. You may find that some points came up in writing that you hadn't put in your intro. This is a good time to refer back to those.
Step 9

If this is not an in-class essay test, you should try to set the essay aside after you finish, so you can go back later with your mind fresh. You may come up with a few other items you want to talk about on your compare or contrast list. You may come up with a better way to write your introduction or conclusion.

If you can master how to write compare and contrast essays, you will find that you can use that form for a lot of other essays when the instructor doesn't give you a format.