How to Write a Contrasting Paper
For most of your educational career, you will be asked to write contrasting papers (also known as compare-and-contrast papers) that compare similarities and differences between two topics, subjects, etc. As in a standard essay, a contrasting paper includes an introduction and a conclusion. The other paragraphs in the essay can take one of two different forms, which will be called Form A and Form B.
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Instructions
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Form A
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1
Write an introduction. An introduction should open up with a hook, which is a sentence or quote that gets your reader's attention. Follow the hook with an outline of what you will discuss in your paper, and close with a thesis statement.
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2
In the second part of your essay, write about your first topic, providing details. Do not mention your second topic in this paragraph. Discussion of your first topic can be one or more paragraphs.
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3
In the third part of your essay, write about your second topic, providing details. Do not mention your first topic. Discussion of your second topic can also be one or more paragraphs.
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4
In the fourth part of your essay, analyze both topics, highlighting the similarities as well as the differences. This part can be one or more paragraphs long.
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5
Write your conclusion. The conclusion should restate all your main points and reaffirm your thesis statement.
Form B
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6
Write an introduction, as described in Section 1, Step 1.
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7
In the second part, write about and analyze the similarities between the two topics. Identify at least three similarities. Ideally, you should write a paragraph for each similarity.
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8
In the third part of your essay, write about all of the differences between the two topics. Identify at least three differences. Ideally, you should write a paragraph for each difference.
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9
Write your conclusion, as described in Section 1, Step 5.
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