Comparison-Contrast

Organizing a Comparison/Contrast Essay

• Comparing and contrasting two ideas, items, or methods is a skill we often use in daily life.
• When writing a comparison/contrast essay, you might first talk about Subject A and then talk about Subject B.That would produce a paper using the AAA/BBB method, also known as the "block method".
• If you were to mention items from A, at the same time pointing out similarities or differences to B, you would be using the ABABAB method, also known as the "alternating method".
• You can use the AAA/BBB or ABABAB method for either comparison or contrast.
• Furthermore, you need to decide whether to focus on the likenesses (comparison), the differences (contrast), or balance the two.

Assignment

1. Begin writing a comparison/contrast essay. You may do any of the following or choose your own topic:

• Compare/contrast an aspect of Japanese culture with another culture.
• Compare/contrast life when your parents were sixteen and life now.
• Compare/contrast a current educational practice with a proposed change in the curriculum.
• Compare/contrast one period of your life with another period of your life.
• Compare/contrast two items you are considering buying.
• Compare/contrast two of the diets shown in these food pyramids (from the home page, click on pyramids and then choose any of the following: Asian, Latin, Mediterranean, or Vegetarian).

2. Draw up two columns, labelling each with the appropriate topic. List similarities or differences between the two topics. Whenever you put something in one column, add a similar item to the other one.

Life in a Small To Life in a Small Town	Life in a large City
slower	faster
clean, fresh air	smog in the air
clean streets	garbage in streets
safe to walk streets	crime-infested streets
everyone knows each other	people are lonely
boring	exciting night life
lack of cultural activities	rich cultural life

3. Exchange your lists. Discuss their completeness and decide on the best method for organization of your paper, the AAA/BBB or the ABABAB method.