The Right Way to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

We compare stuff all day long. iOS or Android? Marvel or DC? Taking classes online vs. dragging yourself to campus?

But when a teacher actually asks you to write a compare and contrast essay about it, things get messy really fast.

Most people panic, write one giant page about Topic A, another giant page about Topic B, and slap a conclusion at the bottom. That's not a compare and contrast essay. That's just two summaries stapled together!

If you want to actually get a good grade on this, you need a structure.

What is the Actual Point?

You aren't just listing random similarities and differences for fun. You have to make an argument.

Why are you putting these two things side-by-side? Are you trying to prove one is vastly superior? Are you trying to show that two things that look completely different are actually the same underneath? Figure out your why before you start writing.

The Method You Should Be Using: Point-by-Point

There are a couple of ways to structure this, but the "Point-by-Point" method is by far the strongest. It forces you to actually analyze the topics instead of just summarizing them.

Instead of organizing your paragraphs by the topics (e.g., all about Apple, then all about Android), you organize by the features you want to compare.

• Intro: State your thesis.

• Paragraph 1: Camera Quality (Compare Apple vs. Android right here in the same paragraph).

• Paragraph 2: Operating System Customization (Compare Apple vs. Android again).

• Paragraph 3: Battery Life (Compare Apple vs. Android).

• Conclusion: Wrap it up.

This structure is so much better because it creates a constant back-and-forth rhythm. The reader can see exactly how the two subjects stack up against each other on every single point.

Signposting

To make this back-and-forth work without giving the reader a headache, you need to use clear transition words to signal when you are switching sides.

• For similarities: Similarly, likewise, in the same vein.

• For differences: On the other hand, conversely, completely unlike, however.

Pick a specific point, put the two subjects in the ring together, let them fight it out, and then move on to the next point. That's how you do it right.