How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay? The process of comparing and contrasting several objects is indispensable part of our daily routine. This is what a six-months-old baby does when considering a rattle toy to choose, this is what a school leaver does when choosing a college to apply to. But whether we choose a brand of orange juice in a supermarket or a type of holiday we want to take, the procedure is mainly the same: Identify the key features of each object. Consider them carefully. Analyze them comparing the objects. State the differences or the similarities. Make your choice. Writing a compare and contrast essay is just the same, but with the additional emphasis on structure, which will help you express your ideas clearly and can be organized in two ways: you can either state the similarities first and then the differences, or you can use the criteria method, analyzing both options with the view of a certain factor, then proceed with the next one and so on. So, there are two possible outlines for an award-winning essay: 1. Introduction (use a rhetorical question, a quote or some personal experience to catch the readers attention, state your topic and make up a thesis). 2. Main body: Similarities (identify at least three points and illustrate them with examples). Differences (three more points followed by the analysis of the things contrasted). 3. Conclusion (reformulate the key idea of your essay and clearly state your opinion). Alternatively, you can use a different type of the main body structure: Key point 1 (compare and contrast the objects according to the factor mentioning both differences and similarities). Key point 2 (do the same for the next factor). Consider the results you have got in both key ares and make a transition to the conclusion.