Comparative Essay Writing: Methods and Examples
| Danielle McLeod
Danielle McLeod
Danielle McLeod is a highly qualified secondary English Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her classroom. With degrees in science, English, and literacy, she has worked to create cross-curricular materials to bridge learning gaps and help students focus on effective writing and speech techniques. Currently working as a dual credit technical writing instructor at a Career and Technical Education Center, her curriculum development surrounds student focus on effective communication for future career choices.
Writing effective comparative essays requires strategic techniques and thoughtful consideration of common pitfalls. A comparative essay explores the similarities and differences between subjects, allowing the writer to draw conclusions related to the topics of the material.
This article outlines key strategies, such as using transitions, incorporating evidence, and maintaining a formal tone. It also identifies mistakes to avoid, like failing to establish a clear basis for comparison or providing a superficial analysis.
The article emphasizes the importance of revising your comparative essay. This process enables you to refine your analysis, strengthen your arguments, and enhance the overall quality of your work. Incorporating feedback from peers or instructors can elevate your comparative essay and communicate your unique insights more effectively.
Whether you are a student or a professional writer, this guidance can help you craft comparative essays that captivate and inform your audience. Let’s explore the essentials of comparative analysis to enhance your writing prowess.
What is a Comparative Essay?
A comparative essay is a form of academic writing that examines and analyzes two or more subjects, identifying their similarities and differences. This type of essay allows students to develop critical thinking skills by evaluating and contrasting various topic elements.
For example, a comparative analysis of the Roman Empire and the Aztec Empire might make a good history class topic. In contrast, a comparative study of the Harlem Renaissance and the Chicano Art Movement would make a good art class focus.
Types of Comparative Methods
There are two main methods of structuring a comparative essay: the block method and the point-by-point method.
Block Method
- In the block method , you discuss each subject separately.
- You spend one or more paragraphs focusing on the first subject, then move on to the second subject.
- This allows you to go into more detail about each subject before comparing.
- The block method is good when the subjects you’re comparing have many differences or when you want to establish a strong foundation for your comparison.
Point-by-Point Method
- The point-by-point method jumps back and forth between the two subjects.
- In each paragraph, you address a specific point of comparison or contrast between the subjects.
- This structure encourages you to compare the subjects directly, clearly highlighting their similarities and differences.
- The point-by-point method works well when the subjects share clear, significant points of comparison, allowing you to explore their differences and similarities efficiently.
Why are Comparative Essays Important?
Comparative essays are an important part of academic writing because they encourage students to engage in deeper analysis, identify meaningful connections, and better understand the subjects being explored.
By comparing and contrasting different concepts, ideas, or phenomena, students can develop a well-rounded perspective and strengthen their ability to think critically.
What Should You Consider When Selecting Topics for Comparison?
When choosing topics for a comparative essay, it’s important to select subjects with some common ground but distinct differences. This will allow you to conduct a meaningful analysis and draw insightful conclusions. Consider factors such as the subjects’ historical context, cultural influences, or underlying themes to ensure a productive comparison.
For example, using the Block Method, you might do the following;
- Comparing the education systems in the United States and Canada
- Analyzing the differences between classic literature and modern young adult novels
- Contrasting the architectural styles of Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance palaces
In a block method essay on these topics, the writer would devote one or more paragraphs to thoroughly describing and analyzing the first subject (e.g., the US education system, classic literature, Gothic cathedrals) before moving on to discuss the second subject (e.g., the Canadian education system, young adult novels, Renaissance palaces). This would allow the reader to fully understand each topic before the comparative analysis is presented.
Using the Point-by-Point Method might be best used with these topics:
- Comparing the use of symbolism in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”
- Contrasting the political ideologies of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt
- Analyzing the similarities and differences in the marketing strategies of Coca-Cola and Pepsi
In a point-by-point comparative essay, the writer would alternate between the two subjects in each paragraph, directly comparing and contrasting specific elements (e.g., how symbolism is used, political views, and marketing tactics). This would encourage a more integrated analysis of the similarities and differences between the subjects.
How Can You Brainstorm for a Comparative Essay?
To begin brainstorming for a comparative essay, start by creating a Venn diagram to visually organize the similarities and differences between your chosen topics. This can help you identify key points of comparison and contrast, which will form the foundation of your essay.
Additionally, consider writing down any questions or observations that arise during this process, as they may guide your subsequent research and analysis.
How Should You Formulate a Thesis Statement for a Comparative Essay?
A thesis statement is a one- or two-sentence summary that conveys a comparative essay’s main argument, focus, or purpose. It provides the reader with an overview of the essay’s central claim, which the rest of the paper will work to develop and support.
Your comparative essay’s thesis statement should clearly explain the central argument or insight that your analysis will explore. This statement should go beyond simply identifying the subjects being compared and instead make a substantive claim about the relationship between them. A strong comparative essay thesis will establish the basis for your comparative analysis and provide a roadmap for the rest of your essay.
For example, using the examples mentioned above, consider these options:
- “Classic literature and modern young adult novels differ greatly in their thematic depth, complexity of characterization, and use of literary devices, though both genres can provide valuable insights into the human experience.”
- “Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance palaces represent vastly contrasting architectural styles, with Gothic structures emphasizing verticality, pointed arches, and religious symbolism, while Renaissance palaces showcase classical proportions, ornate facades, and secular grandeur.”
- “Ernest Hemingway’s ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ both employ symbolic imagery to explore themes of the human condition, but they do so in strikingly different ways that reflect the author’s distinct writing styles and philosophical perspectives.”
- “Though Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt held vastly different political ideologies, with Lincoln championing a strong federal government and Roosevelt advocating for a more progressive, regulatory approach, both presidents played pivotal roles in shaping the course of American history.”
What Strategies Should You Employ When Writing Comparative Essays?
When writing a comparative essay, it’s important to employ various strategies to effectively communicate your analysis. This may include using transition words and phrases to establish connections between ideas, incorporating relevant examples or evidence to support your claims, and maintaining a formal, academic tone throughout your writing.
Additionally, consider incorporating a Venn diagram or other visual aids to enhance your comparative analysis.
Strategies for Comparative Essays
To recap, use the following strategies in your work to help organize and structure your essay:
Use Effective Transitions
- Words/phrases like “in contrast,” “on the other hand,” “similarly,” “conversely,” etc.
- Help establish clear connections between ideas and comparisons.
Provide Relevant Examples and Evidence
- Draw from the subjects being compared to support your claims
- Use specific details, quotes, or data to strengthen your analysis
Maintain a Formal, Academic Tone
- Avoid casual or conversational language
- Focus on objective, analytical writing
Incorporate Visual Aids (if appropriate)
- Venn diagrams, tables, or other graphics can effectively illustrate comparisons
- Help the reader visualize the relationships between the subjects
Structure Logically
- Use either the block method or point-by-point organization
- Ensure a clear, coherent flow of ideas
Address Counterarguments or Limitations
- Acknowledge and respond to potential objections or alternative perspectives.
- Demonstrates depth of understanding
Which Mistakes Should You Be Careful of in Comparative Essay Writing?
Here are some examples to illustrate the common mistakes to avoid when writing comparative essays:
Failing to establish a clear basis for comparison
- Attempting to compare the plot of a novel to the musical score of an opera without explaining the relevance of that comparison
- Contrasting two political ideologies without defining the key criteria being used to evaluate them
Neglecting to address significant differences or similarities
- Comparing the leadership styles of two presidents but failing to discuss their differing approaches to domestic or foreign policy
- Analyzing the architectural features of Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance palaces without acknowledging their shared use of symmetry and classical proportions
Providing a superficial or unbalanced analysis
- Dedicating a single paragraph to analyzing the complex socioeconomic factors that shaped the development of two education systems
- The majority of the essay focused on the differences between the two subjects while only briefly mentioning their similarities.
Relying too heavily on plot summary or description
- Retelling the narratives of two novels in detail without delving into a comparative analysis of their themes, character development, or stylistic elements
- Extensively describing the physical attributes of two historical buildings without explaining how those features reflect the broader architectural movements.
Lacking a cohesive and logical organizational structure
- Jumping back and forth between discussing the two subjects without a clear basis for the order or flow of ideas
- Using the block method but failing to create a smooth transition between the sections devoted to each subject
Incorporating specific, relevant examples for each of these potential pitfalls can help illustrate the importance of avoiding them in comparative essay writing. These tips can help you when you just wish you could ask something to “ write my essay for me .”
Why is Revising Your Comparative Essay Crucial?
Revising your comparative essay is always considered an important step in the writing process, as it allows you to refine your analysis, strengthen your arguments, and ensure the overall explanation of connections and effectiveness of your essay.
During the revision stage, consider seeking feedback from peers or instructors. Their perspectives can help you identify areas for improvement and enhance the quality of your comparative essay.
Reasons to Revise Comparative Essays
Refine Your Analysis
- Example: Upon revision, you realize your comparison of two political ideologies lacks nuance and fails to acknowledge the complexities within each position. You then expand your analysis to provide a more nuanced and balanced perspective.
Strengthen Your Arguments
- Example: During revision, you identify gaps in your supporting evidence for a key point contrasting the marketing strategies of two rival companies. You then incorporate additional data and examples to bolster your comparative claims.
Ensure Coherence and Organization
- Example: In reviewing your essay, you recognize that your use of the point-by-point method is causing your comparisons to feel disjointed. You then reorganize your essay to follow a more cohesive block structure, improving the overall flow of ideas.
Incorporate Peer/Instructor Feedback
- Example: After receiving feedback from your instructor, you realize your comparison of two literary works does not adequately address a significant thematic similarity. You then revise the essay to incorporate this overlooked element into your analysis.
Enhance the Overall Quality
- Example: During the revision process, you identify opportunities to improve the clarity and precision of your language, ensuring your comparative essay communicates your insights effectively to the reader.
A comparative essay is a valuable academic writing exercise that encourages critical thinking, in-depth analysis, and the development of essential written communication skills. By mastering the structure, thesis formulation, and writing strategies associated with comparative essays, students can enhance their ability to engage in thoughtful, well-reasoned comparisons and effectively convey their research, discoveries, and opinions to their audience.
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The Comparative Essay
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What is a comparative essay?
A comparative essay asks that you compare at least two (possibly more) items. These items will differ depending on the assignment. You might be asked to compare
- positions on an issue (e.g., responses to midwifery in Canada and the United States)
- theories (e.g., capitalism and communism)
- figures (e.g., GDP in the United States and Britain)
- texts (e.g., Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Macbeth )
- events (e.g., the Great Depression and the global financial crisis of 2008–9)
Although the assignment may say “compare,” the assumption is that you will consider both the similarities and differences; in other words, you will compare and contrast.
Make sure you know the basis for comparison
The assignment sheet may say exactly what you need to compare, or it may ask you to come up with a basis for comparison yourself.
- Provided by the essay question: The essay question may ask that you consider the figure of the gentleman in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations and Anne Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall . The basis for comparison will be the figure of the gentleman.
- Developed by you: The question may simply ask that you compare the two novels. If so, you will need to develop a basis for comparison, that is, a theme, concern, or device common to both works from which you can draw similarities and differences.
Develop a list of similarities and differences
Once you know your basis for comparison, think critically about the similarities and differences between the items you are comparing, and compile a list of them.
For example, you might decide that in Great Expectations , being a true gentleman is not a matter of manners or position but morality, whereas in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall , being a true gentleman is not about luxury and self-indulgence but hard work and productivity.
The list you have generated is not yet your outline for the essay, but it should provide you with enough similarities and differences to construct an initial plan.
Develop a thesis based on the relative weight of similarities and differences
Once you have listed similarities and differences, decide whether the similarities on the whole outweigh the differences or vice versa. Create a thesis statement that reflects their relative weights. A more complex thesis will usually include both similarities and differences. Here are examples of the two main cases:
While Callaghan’s “All the Years of Her Life” and Mistry’s “Of White Hairs and Cricket” both follow the conventions of the coming-of-age narrative, Callaghan’s story adheres more closely to these conventions by allowing its central protagonist to mature. In Mistry’s story, by contrast, no real growth occurs.
Although Darwin and Lamarck came to different conclusions about whether acquired traits can be inherited, they shared the key distinction of recognizing that species evolve over time.
Come up with a structure for your essay
Note that the French and Russian revolutions (A and B) may be dissimilar rather than similar in the way they affected innovation in any of the three areas of technology, military strategy, and administration. To use the alternating method, you just need to have something noteworthy to say about both A and B in each area. Finally, you may certainly include more than three pairs of alternating points: allow the subject matter to determine the number of points you choose to develop in the body of your essay.
When do I use the block method? The block method is particularly useful in the following cases:
- You are unable to find points about A and B that are closely related to each other.
- Your ideas about B build upon or extend your ideas about A.
- You are comparing three or more subjects as opposed to the traditional two.
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- Comparative Analysis
What It Is and Why It's Useful
Comparative analysis asks writers to make an argument about the relationship between two or more texts. Beyond that, there's a lot of variation, but three overarching kinds of comparative analysis stand out:
- Coordinate (A ↔ B): In this kind of analysis, two (or more) texts are being read against each other in terms of a shared element, e.g., a memoir and a novel, both by Jesmyn Ward; two sets of data for the same experiment; a few op-ed responses to the same event; two YA books written in Chicago in the 2000s; a film adaption of a play; etc.
- Subordinate (A → B) or (B → A ): Using a theoretical text (as a "lens") to explain a case study or work of art (e.g., how Anthony Jack's The Privileged Poor can help explain divergent experiences among students at elite four-year private colleges who are coming from similar socio-economic backgrounds) or using a work of art or case study (i.e., as a "test" of) a theory's usefulness or limitations (e.g., using coverage of recent incidents of gun violence or legislation un the U.S. to confirm or question the currency of Carol Anderson's The Second ).
- Hybrid [A → (B ↔ C)] or [(B ↔ C) → A] , i.e., using coordinate and subordinate analysis together. For example, using Jack to compare or contrast the experiences of students at elite four-year institutions with students at state universities and/or community colleges; or looking at gun culture in other countries and/or other timeframes to contextualize or generalize Anderson's main points about the role of the Second Amendment in U.S. history.
"In the wild," these three kinds of comparative analysis represent increasingly complex—and scholarly—modes of comparison. Students can of course compare two poems in terms of imagery or two data sets in terms of methods, but in each case the analysis will eventually be richer if the students have had a chance to encounter other people's ideas about how imagery or methods work. At that point, we're getting into a hybrid kind of reading (or even into research essays), especially if we start introducing different approaches to imagery or methods that are themselves being compared along with a couple (or few) poems or data sets.
Why It's Useful
In the context of a particular course, each kind of comparative analysis has its place and can be a useful step up from single-source analysis. Intellectually, comparative analysis helps overcome the "n of 1" problem that can face single-source analysis. That is, a writer drawing broad conclusions about the influence of the Iranian New Wave based on one film is relying entirely—and almost certainly too much—on that film to support those findings. In the context of even just one more film, though, the analysis is suddenly more likely to arrive at one of the best features of any comparative approach: both films will be more richly experienced than they would have been in isolation, and the themes or questions in terms of which they're being explored (here the general question of the influence of the Iranian New Wave) will arrive at conclusions that are less at-risk of oversimplification.
For scholars working in comparative fields or through comparative approaches, these features of comparative analysis animate their work. To borrow from a stock example in Western epistemology, our concept of "green" isn't based on a single encounter with something we intuit or are told is "green." Not at all. Our concept of "green" is derived from a complex set of experiences of what others say is green or what's labeled green or what seems to be something that's neither blue nor yellow but kind of both, etc. Comparative analysis essays offer us the chance to engage with that process—even if only enough to help us see where a more in-depth exploration with a higher and/or more diverse "n" might lead—and in that sense, from the standpoint of the subject matter students are exploring through writing as well the complexity of the genre of writing they're using to explore it—comparative analysis forms a bridge of sorts between single-source analysis and research essays.
Typical learning objectives for single-sources essays: formulate analytical questions and an arguable thesis, establish stakes of an argument, summarize sources accurately, choose evidence effectively, analyze evidence effectively, define key terms, organize argument logically, acknowledge and respond to counterargument, cite sources properly, and present ideas in clear prose.
Common types of comparative analysis essays and related types: two works in the same genre, two works from the same period (but in different places or in different cultures), a work adapted into a different genre or medium, two theories treating the same topic; a theory and a case study or other object, etc.
How to Teach It: Framing + Practice
Framing multi-source writing assignments (comparative analysis, research essays, multi-modal projects) is likely to overlap a great deal with "Why It's Useful" (see above), because the range of reasons why we might use these kinds of writing in academic or non-academic settings is itself the reason why they so often appear later in courses. In many courses, they're the best vehicles for exploring the complex questions that arise once we've been introduced to the course's main themes, core content, leading protagonists, and central debates.
For comparative analysis in particular, it's helpful to frame assignment's process and how it will help students successfully navigate the challenges and pitfalls presented by the genre. Ideally, this will mean students have time to identify what each text seems to be doing, take note of apparent points of connection between different texts, and start to imagine how those points of connection (or the absence thereof)
- complicates or upends their own expectations or assumptions about the texts
- complicates or refutes the expectations or assumptions about the texts presented by a scholar
- confirms and/or nuances expectations and assumptions they themselves hold or scholars have presented
- presents entirely unforeseen ways of understanding the texts
—and all with implications for the texts themselves or for the axes along which the comparative analysis took place. If students know that this is where their ideas will be heading, they'll be ready to develop those ideas and engage with the challenges that comparative analysis presents in terms of structure (See "Tips" and "Common Pitfalls" below for more on these elements of framing).
Like single-source analyses, comparative essays have several moving parts, and giving students practice here means adapting the sample sequence laid out at the " Formative Writing Assignments " page. Three areas that have already been mentioned above are worth noting:
- Gathering evidence : Depending on what your assignment is asking students to compare (or in terms of what), students will benefit greatly from structured opportunities to create inventories or data sets of the motifs, examples, trajectories, etc., shared (or not shared) by the texts they'll be comparing. See the sample exercises below for a basic example of what this might look like.
- Why it Matters: Moving beyond "x is like y but also different" or even "x is more like y than we might think at first" is what moves an essay from being "compare/contrast" to being a comparative analysis . It's also a move that can be hard to make and that will often evolve over the course of an assignment. A great way to get feedback from students about where they're at on this front? Ask them to start considering early on why their argument "matters" to different kinds of imagined audiences (while they're just gathering evidence) and again as they develop their thesis and again as they're drafting their essays. ( Cover letters , for example, are a great place to ask writers to imagine how a reader might be affected by reading an their argument.)
- Structure: Having two texts on stage at the same time can suddenly feel a lot more complicated for any writer who's used to having just one at a time. Giving students a sense of what the most common patterns (AAA / BBB, ABABAB, etc.) are likely to be can help them imagine, even if provisionally, how their argument might unfold over a series of pages. See "Tips" and "Common Pitfalls" below for more information on this front.
Sample Exercises and Links to Other Resources
- Common Pitfalls
- Advice on Timing
- Try to keep students from thinking of a proposed thesis as a commitment. Instead, help them see it as more of a hypothesis that has emerged out of readings and discussion and analytical questions and that they'll now test through an experiment, namely, writing their essay. When students see writing as part of the process of inquiry—rather than just the result—and when that process is committed to acknowledging and adapting itself to evidence, it makes writing assignments more scientific, more ethical, and more authentic.
- Have students create an inventory of touch points between the two texts early in the process.
- Ask students to make the case—early on and at points throughout the process—for the significance of the claim they're making about the relationship between the texts they're comparing.
- For coordinate kinds of comparative analysis, a common pitfall is tied to thesis and evidence. Basically, it's a thesis that tells the reader that there are "similarities and differences" between two texts, without telling the reader why it matters that these two texts have or don't have these particular features in common. This kind of thesis is stuck at the level of description or positivism, and it's not uncommon when a writer is grappling with the complexity that can in fact accompany the "taking inventory" stage of comparative analysis. The solution is to make the "taking inventory" stage part of the process of the assignment. When this stage comes before students have formulated a thesis, that formulation is then able to emerge out of a comparative data set, rather than the data set emerging in terms of their thesis (which can lead to confirmation bias, or frequency illusion, or—just for the sake of streamlining the process of gathering evidence—cherry picking).
- For subordinate kinds of comparative analysis , a common pitfall is tied to how much weight is given to each source. Having students apply a theory (in a "lens" essay) or weigh the pros and cons of a theory against case studies (in a "test a theory") essay can be a great way to help them explore the assumptions, implications, and real-world usefulness of theoretical approaches. The pitfall of these approaches is that they can quickly lead to the same biases we saw here above. Making sure that students know they should engage with counterevidence and counterargument, and that "lens" / "test a theory" approaches often balance each other out in any real-world application of theory is a good way to get out in front of this pitfall.
- For any kind of comparative analysis, a common pitfall is structure. Every comparative analysis asks writers to move back and forth between texts, and that can pose a number of challenges, including: what pattern the back and forth should follow and how to use transitions and other signposting to make sure readers can follow the overarching argument as the back and forth is taking place. Here's some advice from an experienced writing instructor to students about how to think about these considerations:
a quick note on STRUCTURE
Most of us have encountered the question of whether to adopt what we might term the “A→A→A→B→B→B” structure or the “A→B→A→B→A→B” structure. Do we make all of our points about text A before moving on to text B? Or do we go back and forth between A and B as the essay proceeds? As always, the answers to our questions about structure depend on our goals in the essay as a whole. In a “similarities in spite of differences” essay, for instance, readers will need to encounter the differences between A and B before we offer them the similarities (A d →B d →A s →B s ). If, rather than subordinating differences to similarities you are subordinating text A to text B (using A as a point of comparison that reveals B’s originality, say), you may be well served by the “A→A→A→B→B→B” structure.
Ultimately, you need to ask yourself how many “A→B” moves you have in you. Is each one identical? If so, you may wish to make the transition from A to B only once (“A→A→A→B→B→B”), because if each “A→B” move is identical, the “A→B→A→B→A→B” structure will appear to involve nothing more than directionless oscillation and repetition. If each is increasingly complex, however—if each AB pair yields a new and progressively more complex idea about your subject—you may be well served by the “A→B→A→B→A→B” structure, because in this case it will be visible to readers as a progressively developing argument.
As we discussed in "Advice on Timing" at the page on single-source analysis, that timeline itself roughly follows the "Sample Sequence of Formative Assignments for a 'Typical' Essay" outlined under " Formative Writing Assignments, " and it spans about 5–6 steps or 2–4 weeks.
Comparative analysis assignments have a lot of the same DNA as single-source essays, but they potentially bring more reading into play and ask students to engage in more complicated acts of analysis and synthesis during the drafting stages. With that in mind, closer to 4 weeks is probably a good baseline for many single-source analysis assignments. For sections that meet once per week, the timeline will either probably need to expand—ideally—a little past the 4-week side of things, or some of the steps will need to be combined or done asynchronously.
What It Can Build Up To
Comparative analyses can build up to other kinds of writing in a number of ways. For example:
- They can build toward other kinds of comparative analysis, e.g., student can be asked to choose an additional source to complicate their conclusions from a previous analysis, or they can be asked to revisit an analysis using a different axis of comparison, such as race instead of class. (These approaches are akin to moving from a coordinate or subordinate analysis to more of a hybrid approach.)
- They can scaffold up to research essays, which in many instances are an extension of a "hybrid comparative analysis."
- Like single-source analysis, in a course where students will take a "deep dive" into a source or topic for their capstone, they can allow students to "try on" a theoretical approach or genre or time period to see if it's indeed something they want to research more fully.
- DIY Guides for Analytical Writing Assignments
- Types of Assignments
- Unpacking the Elements of Writing Prompts
- Formative Writing Assignments
- Single-Source Analysis
- Research Essays
- Multi-Modal or Creative Projects
- Giving Feedback to Students
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Writing effective comparative essays requires strategic techniques and thoughtful consideration of common pitfalls. A comparative essay explores the similarities and differences between subjects, allowing the writer to draw conclusions related to the topics of the material.
At A-level I had to write a comparative essay on Webster’s The White Devil and Milton’s Paradise Lost, for example, which are completely different genres. Yet any differences or similarities you can pick up on.
In this guide, we explain how to write a compare-and-contrast essay, including some advanced tips and examples. We discuss how to structure your essay and how to frame your thesis, but first, let’s take a broader look at why comparison essays are so useful.
What is a comparative essay? A comparative essay asks that you compare at least two (possibly more) items. These items will differ depending on the assignment. You might be asked to compare. positions on an issue (e.g., responses to midwifery in Canada and the United States) theories (e.g., capitalism and communism)
Comparative analysis asks writers to make an argument about the relationship between two or more texts. Beyond that, there's a lot of variation, but three overarching kinds of comparative analysis stand out: Subordinate (A → B) or (B → A): Using a theoretical text (as a "lens") to explain a case study or work of art (e.g., how Anthony Jack ...
To craft an essay about these two novels and their similar themes, you would create your own list of similarities like those above, using a list, chart, or a Venn diagram. Sum up your overall theory about how these themes are comparable to create your thesis statement .