howtodothec&c

How to do the C&C

Things to Remember When Comparing

Compare = similarities and differences.

Contrast = just differences

Steps to take:

1. You need to know about each item that you are comparing to be able to compare and contrast them fully.

2. Figure out what classification applies to both items (country, religion, empire, social structure, labor system, constitutions, etc.) because you cannot use this as a similarity. For example if you are asked to compare an apple and an orange, as they are both fruit you cannot use that as a similarity. Likewise if you are comparing the Haitian and French revolutions, you cannot use the fact that they are both revolutions as a similarity.

3. List some characteristics that describe each item.

4. Look at your list and see if you can identify the general kinds of characteristics that you listed. These constitute your basis of comparison. (For example, if for an orange you list the characteristics “rough skin,” “spherical shape,” and “orange,” the basis of comparison is appearance.)

5. Pick your 3 (at least) strongest bases of comparison for your thesis statement. (These will often be the broadest and most universal categories.) The characteristics become your supporting evidence in the body of your essay.

If you are not given specific areas to compare in the question/prompt (since you should definitely address those) you might want to consider these areas to focus on: Political, Economic, Technology, Cultural, Religious, Intellectual, Social, etc.

Remember TACo HEAR:

• T - Your thesis must directly and clearly state what is similar and what is different. Ideally it will cover all the items indicated in the question and divide them to some degree (so not just “they are socially similar,” but rather: “while they shared similar class structures, their gender roles differed”).

• A - Cover all parts of the question. Besides addressing all parts of the prompt, try as much as possible to address similarities and differences as equally as possible, but definitely address all parts in your thesis and supporting paragraphs.

• Co - Make direct comparisons. This means you need to fully state how they are similar or different. In comparing Greece and Rome simply saying “Greece gave its women rights in their laws” is insufficient. You have to address what China did as well to get the point for a full comparison. This also cannot simply be a rewording of the thesis; you need to further embellish the comparison when you put it in your topic sentences.

When writing the essay you must use comparative words or phrases in each paragraph at least once. Consider using these words to more forcefully get your point across. These words should become a standard part of your comparative essay writing skills by the time you take the exam in May.

Similarity

Also

As well

Both/all

Comparable

Equally

Furthermore

In addition

In common

In comparison

In this manner is like

Just like (just as)

Like (likewise)

Neither (in certain cases)

Similarly (similar to)

Too

Difference

Although/Even though

But

Compared to

Conversely

Differently (different than/from)

However

In contrast with/to

In spite of (despite)

In this manner is unlike

Instead of

Nevertheless

On the other hand, on the contrary

Otherwise

Poles apart

Unlike

While

Examples of similarities:

• Like her grandmother, Sally loves the Gallaudet Homecoming football game.

• Montana will be very cold this week. Likewise, Rochester will be, too.

• Ronda bought a new Saturn car; so in like manner the rest of her friends did the same thing.

Examples of differences:

• By comparison, Greensboro, N.C. is much smaller than Washington, D.C.

• Bob loves to go to parties. On the other hand, Sue loves to stay at home with her family.

• Compared to years ago when the printer worked well, it has been "ill" most of the time in recent weeks.

Both similarities and differences:

• Overall the constitutions are fundamentally different in the rights that they codify, however some similarities exist in values they espouse.

• All nursery rhymes are very similar in their style and purpose, despite the few differences that exist in subject matter.

• These fruits are similar in being roughly spherical; however are they overall different in genus, taste and seed placement.

• HE - Substantiate thesis with appropriate historical evidence. For this point you must give examples to prove that what you are saying in your thesis, and subsequent topic sentences, is true and that the similarities or differences that you have asserted exist, really do.

• AR - Analyze the reasons why the similarities or differences exist. This will be the hardest part, but essential. Think of events (recent and not so recent) which might have led to or might account for this situation. You can have different reasons for different similarities/differences. Often some of the big picture events will be good reasons.

Organizing Your Paragraphs (For an essay asking you to compare two societies politically, economically and socially). Each of these use only three body paragraphs, but you can have more.

1 - Categorically - The best way to organize a comparative essay is to organize your paragraphs by the categories discussed. This essay will require the most organization in advance to plan your thesis and paragraphs. It also almost automatically leads to expanded core points as your thesis is more sophisticated and your structure will include more direct comparisons and often analysis.

• Introduction – Your thesis should list the three categories that you will be discussing when comparing the two regions for example (e.g. political, economic and social).

• Body Paragraph 1 – Discusses the similarities and differences between both societies politically. You might divide this into two or three paragraphs if you have a lot of comparisons or evidence.

• Body Paragraph 2 – Discusses the similarities and differences between both societies economically. You might divide this into two or three paragraphs if you have a lot of comparisons or evidence.

• Body Paragraph 3 – Discusses the similarities and differences between both societies socially. You might divide this into two or three paragraphs if you have a lot of comparisons or evidence.

• Concluding paragraph reiterates the similarities and differences between the societies in these three categories.

2 - Similarities and Differences - The next best way to organize your paragraphs is by dividing your essay into paragraphs on similarities and paragraphs on differences. This structure is often easier to use than the previous one, but does not often lead to good analysis or sophisticated thesis statements.

• Introduction – Your thesis should list the similarities and differences that you will be addressing, ideally one each for the three categories that you will be discussing when comparing the two regions - political, economic and social.

• Body Paragraph 1 – Discusses similarities between societies: political, economic and social. You might divide this into two or three paragraphs if you have a lot of similarities or evidence. However you might not have similarities for each of the categories.

• Body Paragraph 2 – Discusses differences between societies: political, economic & social. You might divide this into 2-3 paragraphs if you have a lot of differences or evidence. However you might not have differences for each category.

• Concluding paragraph should reiterate the similarities and differences between the societies, again ideally addressing the three categories.

Note: There may not be similarities and differences in all three categories.

3- Items being compared - The worst way to organize your essay is to organize it by the items that are being compared, generally events, geographic regions or societies. This is the most common and usually least effective structure that students use. It CAN work effectively, but students usually forget to make direct comparisons between the items. If they compare at all, it is usually an implied comparison. Their thesis is usually not adequately developed and the structure does not encourage analysis and therefore students usually omit that as well. Therefore only use this structure if you are sure you will make the direct comparisons, generally in the second paragraph.

• Body Paragraph 1 – Discusses the first item being compared in the three categories: political, economic and social. You might divide this into two or three paragraphs if you have a lot of evidence.

• Body Paragraph 2 – Discusses the second item being compared in the three categories: political, economic and social. You might divide this into two or three paragraphs if you have a lot of evidence. Note when using this format you generally will make comparisons and contrasts in the second body paragraph referring back to information in given in the previous paragraph(s).

• Concluding paragraph should reiterate the similarities and differences between the societies, again ideally addressing the three categories.