Carpenter
Freshman Composition
Essay Assignment #4: Comparison and Contrast
In an essay full of examples, compare and contrast the two subjects in any one of the following pairs:
· two musical styles, such as classical and contemporary reggae
· two scientists, such as Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking
· two military leaders, such as Robert E. Lee and Ulysess Grant
· two American Presidents, such as Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson
· two world leaders, such as Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Gorbachev
· two professional athletes such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant
· living on campus with living off campus
· online classes versus traditional classes
· two political systems, such as communism versus democracy
· two religions, such as Christianity versus Judaism
· two religious leaders, such as the Pope and Dalai Lama
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS ASSIGNMENT?
Writing a comparison/contrast paper involves comparing and contrasting two subjects.
o A comparison shows how two things are alike.
o A contrast shows how two things are different
It is not enough to merely list what is the same and what is different. Consider the following:
o What overall pattern is operating in the similarities and why does it matter?
o How does the comparison enhance our understanding of the separate entities?
o What is the cause of the differences and why does it matter?
o What unique and new insight comes from contrasting the entities?
The answer to these questions will form your thesis statement. The thesis must make a claim that goes beyond the listing of similarities and
differences and creates a new understanding, a weaving together of separate strands to make a new form. This new synthesis becomes your
thesis.
STEP 1: BRAINSTORM TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE SAME AND WHAT IS DIFFERENT.
STEP 2: CREATE A THESIS STATEMENT:
The thesis statement will evolve from the brainstorming. Look at your list and ask yourself some questions.
o "Is there something important, significant, or interesting in the similarities and differences on my list?
o "What have I discovered about my two topics?"
Present the subjects and indicate that they will be compared and contrasted. Make a point about the specific ways the two can be compared.
Example 1: (Compare two versions of a fairy tale)
The two stories of Cinderella, one from Disney and the other from the Grimm Brothers, have three important points of contrast: X, Y, and Z. Because of these differences, I would read the Grimm version to my niece Beatrice.
Example 2: (Compare two seasons)
Although there is exquisite beauty in the seasons of autumn and spring, there are also distinctions which allow each season to stand on its own.
STEP 3: CONSIDER THE POINTS OF COMPARISON OR CONTRAST
When writing compare and contrast essays, one is often dealing with a vast amount of detail. The subject must be broken down into parts for analysis
and a sufficient number of significant characteristics and details must be considered. Pull it apart and look at each detail in isolation so you can
decide how they all go together.
Example: When comparing the two stories of Cinderella (one from Disney and the other from the Grimm Brothers) compare:
· Characters
· Animals
· Costumes and setting
· Violence
· Parents and step-parents
· Lessons
STEP 4: PERFORM RESEARCH
o Research your topic
o DOCUMENT IN-TEXT CITATIONS AND FULL CITATIONS (MLA FORMAT)
STEP 5: ORGANIZE AND DRAFT YOUR ESSAY
The Alternating Pattern
Alternate the details from one side of the comparison or contrast to the other. You must include the following elements in your essay:
o Title Page
o Creative Title for Your Essay
o Your Name
o Date
o Draft (Rough or Final)
o Professor Carpenter
o Introduction and thesis statement
o Discuss and give all the details of the similarities between both subjects (use in-text citations using MLA format)
o Transition statement
o Discuss and give all the details of the differences between both subjects (use in-text citations using MLA format)
o Transition statement
o Concluding statement (The conclusion of your paper should include final connections about the two subjects and then a restatement of your thesis)
o Works Cited Page – include all sources used in essay in correct MLA format
Your essay should be 3-4 pages in length. Double-space your essay and use Times-Roman font 12.
Comparison and Contrast Rubric
Points Earned / Points PossibleTitle Page and Directions / Paper includes:
o Creative title
o Your Name
o Date
o Draft (Rough or Final)
o Professor Carpenter
Essay is 3-4 pages in length. Essay is double-spaced in Times-Roman font 12. / 25
Introduction and Thesis Statement / Paper includes an attention-grabbing introduction and clear thesis statement / Paper includes an introduction with a thesis statement that is adequate / Introduction is incomplete, and missing either a thesis statement or attention-grabbing topic sentence / Introduction is missing or inadequate. / 30
Purpose & Supporting Details / The paper compares and contrasts items clearly. The paper points to specific examples to illustrate the comparison. The paper includes only the information relevant to the comparison. / The paper compares and contrasts items clearly, but the supporting information is general. The paper includes only the information relevant to the comparison. / The paper compares and contrasts items clearly, but the supporting information is incomplete. The paper may include information that is not relevant to the comparison. / The paper compares or contrasts, but does not include both. There is no supporting information or support is incomplete. / 60
In-text citations (MLA citations) / In-text citations are accurately used to document sources. All in-text citations have corresponding entries on the Works Cited Page / In-text citations are used and most are documented accurately. All in-text citations have corresponding entries on the Works Cited Page / In-text citations are used but most are not documented accurately. There are in-text citations that do not correspond to the Works Cited Page / There are few in-text citations and those that are used are done incorrectly. / 40
Organization & Structure / The paper follows a consistent order when discussing the comparison. / The does not follow a consistent order when discussing the comparison. / The paper breaks the information into astructure, but some information is in the wrong section. Some details are not in a logical or expected order, and this distracts the reader. / Many details are not in a logical or expected order. There is little sense that the writing is organized. / 45
Transitions / The paper moves smoothly from one idea to the next. The paper uses comparison and contrast transition words to show relationships between ideas. The paper uses a variety of sentence structures and transitions. / The paper moves from one idea to the next, but there is little variety. The paper uses comparison and contrast transition words to show relationships between ideas. / Some transitions work well; but connections between other ideas are fuzzy. / The transitions between ideas are unclear or nonexistent. / 30
Works Cited Page (MLA citations) / o All in-text citations have corresponding entries on the Works Cited Page
o All entries are in alphabetical order and in correct format / 50
Grammar & Spelling (Conventions) / Writer makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. / Writer makes 1-2 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. / Writer makes 3-4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. / Writer makes more than 4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. / 40
Grading Scale:
Grade320-288 / 90-100 / A
287-256 / 80-89 / B
255-224 / 70-79 / C
223-192 / 60-69 / D
Below 191 / 59 and below / F
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