Comparison Essay

Last Updated: June 24, 2024

Comparison Essay

When going over a particular topic, most students or even professionals are asked to write an essay that aims to compare and contrast two particular subjects. For example, you are about to encounter people from different ethnic groups namely the Arabs and Mexicans. You are tasked to create an essay that would let you compare and contrast about their attributes and tradition. To compare means to determine their similarities, while contrast means to determine their differences. How are you going to structure this essay? A well-written essay would give your readers an impression that you have fully understood your topic. In this article, you will be able to know about a comparison essay and how to create one.

7+ Comparison Essay Examples

1. Formal Comparison Essay

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2. Simple Comparison Essay

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3. Sample Comparison Essay

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4. Comparison Essay Format

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5. Editable Comparison Essay

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6. Printable Comparison Essay

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7. Structural Comparison Essay

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8. Professional Comparison Essay

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What is a Comparison Essay?

A comparison essay allows you to compare and contrast two different things. It is by pointing out each of their similarities and differences by which these subjects belong in the same class or category. In a comparison essay, the criteria for comparison will remain the same. Mostly, you will be asked to compare things like responses to a certain issue, theories, figures, events, attributes, way of living, techniques and more. Always make sure that you are aware of the basis of comparison. Also, it follows the basic essay structure. You may also apply a comparison chart if needed.

Purpose

The purpose of compare and contrast in writing is to illuminate the similarities and differences of the subjects. When you are able to distinguish things belonging in different categories, you are helping the audience increase their level of understanding on that particular class or category.

How to Write a Comparison Essay?

Know the topic

Assess yourself if you have fully understood what the topic is all about. You might encounter a topic that requires deep understanding of a particular theme or requires you to take focus on the construction of texts, form or genre. You should also allow yourself to engage in topics that contains one or two quotes. This makes you recognize the context in each of the quotes, identify its ideas and understand how are these explored.

Give equal weight to each text

Each texts offer you points to compare and contrast. Do not limit the scope of discussion. Instead, address each texts like you are going to balance one from the other.

Choose a structure for your essay

Every structure of an essay includes the introduction, body of paragraph and conclusion. The introduction of an essay would allow you to provide a clear overview of your topic or discussion which enables you to hook the attention of your readers. This should also contain the main ideas of your essay. The body of paragraph contains your explanations, arguments and supporting claims. The conclusion of an essay summarizes all your main points and consists of a statement that allows the readers to be left with your understanding about what you have written. In comparison essay, the body are structured in a way that it should observe either of the two basic approaches.

Block Approach – this approach involves examining the ways on how you going to address each of the ideas. This approach is straightforward allowing you to create a connection between the texts. Use linking words to maintain the cohesiveness of the essay.

Woven approach – this type of approach requires evidences from both of the texts in the paragraph to engage in deep analysis over the ideas. Begin your discussion by addressing an idea followed by a sentence that starts with a linking word that leads to the perspective of the second text. The next sentence should connect both texts.

FAQs

What are the examples of linking words used when comparing?

Linking words used in comparing are similarly, in the same way, also, likewise, etc. You may also see simile examples and metaphor examples to check on the words they use for comparison.

What are the linking words used when contrasting?

Examples of linking words used to contrast are on the contrary, unlike, however, on the other hand, regardless, etc.

What are the other ways in organizing a compare and contrast essays?

If it is regarding a subject, you may describe one then the other. If it is regarding individual points, discuss each of it.

Sometimes, we tend to notice more on the similarities than the differences or vice versa. In comparison essay, we make everything equivalent to the other. This type of essay provides us with the opportunity to learn more of the comparing and contrasting situations and letting us engage more with the texts and the ideas.

Comparison Essay Generator

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