Compare / Contrast

Comparison is finding similarities in items that appear to be different: apples/oranges

Contrast is finding differences in items that appear to be the same: red delicious/braeburn

---

• Com/Con essay uses both comparison and contrast
• But focuses on one or the other depending on the subject
• Show us something we DON’T know
• Something that isn’t obvious from the subjects themselves
  

---

• Important to move beyond the obvious
• Not just about the differences/similarities
• Essay explains WHY they exist
• Essay is about giving them a purpose – a meaning – a reason to compare/contrast
• Audience affects how you approach – what they know or don’t know
  

---

• Similar to Classification in that you divide subject into smaller points
• Different in that you focus on 2 or 3 specific subjects, not large quantities
• Much more specific, not general
• Not types of customers, but comparing Bob to Bill as a customer
  

---

• Com/Con can just be about information
• But usually used to explain preference
  • Why one truck is better for lawn service
  • Skim milk as a better purchase
  • Investing with or without tech stocks
  • DVD versus VHS
  • Electronic bill paying as alternative
    

---

Your purpose affects the preference

Cats versus Dogs –

– As pets

– As Guardians of Home

– As companions

– As pest control

---

• Com/Con based on Criteria
• If buying a truck for a lawn service, you aren’t comparing trucks to each other
• You are comparing to the ideal truck
• Set up the important criteria for the ideal
• Then compare/contrast each subject to those criteria to determine best fit
  

---

• Let’s compare/contrast colleges
• What are you looking for in a college?
• Which are MOST important now?
• How do CCC and UNK compare to these criteria?
• Most preferences do not meet all criteria perfectly.
• Which one is better, at this time?
  

---

• Decide what you are actually comparing
• Not the actual subjects, but the general topic
  • Not Braun vs. Oral-B, but toothbrushes
  • Not Ford vs. Dodge, but a truck
• What is our purpose?
• What criteria affect this subject?
• What of those criteria matter the most?
• How do options/subjects fit?
• Which one matches our criteria best?
  

---

• How you organize the argument is important to com/con essay
• What needs to come first?
• What do you want to emphasize?
• Do you deal with “weaker” points first?
• Do you start with a BANG?
• The real question with com/con, however, is whether you want to emphasize the subjects/options or the criteria (emphasizing criteria is usually better)
  

---

Subject by Subject Organization

Intro – set up purpose/audience

Subject A – explanation/description

– Criteria 1 – how it fits

– Criteria 2 – how it fits

Subject B – explanation/description

– Criteria 1 – how it fits

– Criteria 2 – how it fits

Conclusion – ties everything together – does the head-to-head comparison (long)

---

Point by Point Organization

Introduction – sets up purpose/audience

Criteria 1 – explanation/definition

– Subject A – how it fits (if it fits)

– Subject B – how it fits (if it fits)

Criteria 2 – explanation/definition

– Subject A – how it fits (if it fits)

– Subject B – how it fits (if it fits)

Conclusion – tallies up the comparisons – pulls everything together (usually shorter)

---

Mixed Organization

Introduction—sets up purpose/audience

Subject A – explanation/description

Subject B – explanation/description

Criteria 1 –explanation/definition

– Subject A

– Subject B

Criteria 2 – explanation/definition

– Subject A

– Subject B

Conclusion – ties everything together

---

Mixed Organization

Introduction—sets up purpose/audience

Criteria 1 – show how it is really same for Subject A and B

Subject A – how different from B

– Criteria 2 –

– Criteria 3

Subject B—how different from A

– Criteria 2

– Criteria 3

Conclusion – ties it all together