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COMPARE-CONTRAST ESSAYS Comparing—listing and analyzing similarities. Contrasting—listing and analyzing differences. An essay will either focus mainly on similarities or differences. You should mention both, but focus on one or the other. Possible purposes for writing: To make the unknown more clear by comparing it with the known. To make an analogy or gain present a new understanding of something familiar. To persuade the reader to favor one choice, option, or opinion by comparing/contrasting it with another. Prewriting With your purpose in mind, decide on a good thesis statement. Your purpose will affect whether or not you decide to compare or contrast. An introduction to a compare/contrast essay is the same as an introduction to any other essay. You need a hook and a solid thesis statement. Similarities and Differences: Writing Chart. Subject 1 Feature Subject 2 Write down these columns, as you will use them to brainstorm an essay in this class. Directions: Step 1: Decide your two subjects. My example: “America in the ‘60s vs. America in the ‘10s.” Step 2: Think about some particular aspects of subject 1. My example: “Rock ‘n’ roll in the ‘60s” or “Politics in the ‘60s.” Step 3: Give a broader category to each aspect. This will be the “feature.” EX: “Music” and “Ideologies.” Step 4: Once you get going, think of as many features as possible. Tip: think “Who, What, When, Where, How.” EX: “Fashion,” “Relationships between different generations,” “Relationships between men and women.” Step 5: Begin by giving general information about subject 1. Then include specific details. EX: General: “Rock ‘n’ Roll in the ‘60s was rough, simple, and sometimes politically charged.” Specific: “Jefferson Airplane used high-pitched electric guitars in combination with a female singer, and was known for playing at extreme volume.” “Recording techniques were very basic; in fact, many fans actually preferred so-called ‘lo-fi’ groups, who made simple songs o