Comparison OR Contrast Essay
Promp t: For your essay, you will write a Comparison OR Contrast Essay. If you choose to focus on
comparison, you will write an essay about similarities. If you choose contrast, you will write an essay
about differences. You may not do both. You must choose to either compare or contrast.
Topic: Choose two things to compare or contrast (well-known people/ideas/ places/times, things,
experiences, events, etc.) You want to demonstrate your critical thinking abilities here, so choose topics
of comparison or contrast that are not obvious. In other words, compare two things that are generally
perceived as different (for example, heavy metal and classical music) or contrast two things that are
similar on the surface (e.g., alligators and crocodiles). Because this is not a research-based paper, choose
two things to compare or contrast with which you are very familiar.
Due Date: Date on Course Calendar and @Bb>Coursework>Module 3
Assignment Guidelines:
*The assignment must be submitted through the appropriate link in Bb as a Microsoft Word document
(.doc or .docx).
*The length of the paper should be 3-4 pages. It should contain a minimum of five paragraphs.
*Use third person point of view. This means you are writing about your topic using words like he, she, it,
they people, students, one, etc. DO NOT use first or second person point of view. This means that you
should avoid using words like I, we, us, you, your, etc.
*Use MLA format.
* This is not a research-based essay; however, you can, optionally, use minimal amounts of outside
information to reinforce your analysis, if needed, but only if you use the CPCC library database to
obtain the information. You cannot use any direct quotes; only small amounts of paraphrased information
from your library source(s) are permitted. Any information from a source must include an in-text citation
with the author’s last name and the page number in parenthesis, i.e. (Smith 14). Thus, do not use
researched information without citing the source, and do not use any direct quotes – the writing in this
essay should be yours alone. The vast majority of your essay should be information you already know.
Also include a list of Works Cited at the end of the paper if you include information from sources. The
library database offers a “Cite” feature that will create MLA 8 citations for you.
* Use point by point style, as demonstrated in the outline below.
The Writing Process:
1. First, brainstorm to decide the two things you are going to compare or contrast.
2. Decide whether you are going to compare (tell similarities) or contrast (tell differences). Remember,
you have to choose to compare or contrast. You cannot do both for this essay.
3. Compose a thesis statement. The thesis statement must be one complete sentence that includes your
two topics of comparison or contrast and indicates whether you are comparing or contrasting these two
things. Your thesis may also suggest the organization of your essay by listing the three or four points of
comparison or contrast you will be discussing.