The word ‘essay’ originates from a word that can be translated as ‘a trial’, so this type of writing should be regarded as a learning experience. College students frequently receive tasks to write a compare and contrast / expository / argumentative, etc. essays and each of these assignments has an aim to sharpen the students’ critical thinking and communication skills.
Written assignments are supposed to encourage analytical thinking and favor better information retention. Besides, strong writing skills are necessary throughout college and professional life (e.g., to apply for a scholarship, prepare a report, etc.)
To create a successful essay, you should properly organize your thoughts and communicate them in a persuasive manner. Whether you have to compare and contrast two books, analyze your experience or tell something about yourself, you should make sure you convey your thought clearly.
Create a thesis statement. You should know what your central argument will be before you start off. Keep it in front of your eyes not to diverge from the topic.
Write several claims that support your thesis statement. Each of the ideas will be discussed in a separate body paragraph. Try to express each idea in one sentence which will later become a topic sentence. As you can see from any compare and contrast essay sample, each body paragraph is connected to the thesis statement. Remember to use evidence to make your claims more convincing. For example, you can support them with a quote or statistical data.
Start a conclusion. Simply summarize the main ideas.
Be prepared to revise your essay more than once. Make sure you do not lose focus till the end of the paper. Finally, ensure the introduction provides enough background information for further discussion.