COMPARISON AND CONTRAST ESSAY

Cách thực hành kỷ năng việt luận tiếng anh COMPARISON AND CONTRAST ESSAY

COMPARISON AND CONTRAST ESSAY Definition: In this kind of essay, the aim is to show the similarities and differences of two items, two people, two countries, or how something or someone has changed. When comparing two things, we focus more on the similarities though we may mention the differences shortly. When contrasting two things, we point out the differences between them. The most important point to consider while planning a comparison and contrast essay is choosing comparable items. e.g. Middle East Technical University and Bogazici University. We have to make sure that these two items have enough points to be compared. After writing the comparable points as a list, • location, • size, • reputation, • specialty, • social clubs, • sports facilities, we have to eliminate some of them and choose 2-3 from the list that can lead to full supported paragraphs. • location • size • specialty Organization: Two patterns of organization are possible: 1. Point-by-Point Organization In this pattern, the organization is as follows: Example 1: Thesis statement: METU and BOUN are Turkey's two very prestigious universities with some differences in their specialties, facilities, and locations. I. specialty A. METU B. BOUN II. facility A. METU B. BOUN III. location A. METU B. BOUN 1 Example 2: Thesis statement: One way to decide between two job offers is to make a point-by- point comparison of their features. I. The salaries of job X and job Y are approximately equal. A. Job X's salary B. Job Y's salary II. Job X offers the same fringe benefits as job Y. A. Job X's fringe benefits B. Job Y's fringe benefits III. In contrast to job Y, job X offers good opportunities for advancement. A. Job X's opportunities for advancement B. Job Y's opportunities for advancement VI. Unlike the high pressure and competitive asmosphere at Company X, the atmosphere in Company Y seems friendly and supportive. A. Atmosphere at Company X B. Atmosphere at Company Y Conclusion For each of the points of comparison, we compare and contrast the two items. 2. Block Organization In this pattern, the two items to be compared and contrasted form two separate paragraphs. In each paragraph the points of comparison are discussed in the same order, as in the following organization: Example 1: Thesis statement: METU and BOUN are Turkey's two very prestigious universities with some differences in their specialties, facilities, and locations. I. BOUN A. specialty B. facility C. location II. METU A. specialty B. facility C. location Example 2: Thesis statement: One way to decide between two job offers is to evaluate what the similarities and differences are before making a decision. I. The salaries and fringe benefits of job X and job Y are almost the same. A. Salary (Job X and Job Y) B. Fringe benefits (Job X and Job Y) II. Although the salary and fringe benefits are equal, there are big differences in the areas of workplace atmosphere and opportunity for advancement. A. Workplace atmosphere 2 1. Job X 2. Job Y B. Opportunity for advancement 1. Job X 1. Job Y Conclusion This pattern is mostly used when the amount of information about the items is limited. Also some topics (e.g. Your life before and after the divorce of your parents) lend themselves to block type organization. Language: The two patterns differ in terms of language as well. While pattern 2 is quite straightforward, pattern 1 requires more transitions but the end product is more understandable for the reader. COMPARISON STRUCTURE WORDS SENTENCE CONNECTORS CLAUSE CONNECTORS OTHERS Subordinators Coordinators 1. similarly likewise also too 2. as just as 3. and both and not only but also neither nor 4. like (+N) just like (+N) similar to (+N) 5. be similar to (+N) be the same as(+N) 6. (be) the same 7. (be) alike (be) similar to 8. to compare (to/with) Examples 1. Human workers can detect malfunctions in machinery; likewise/similarly, a robot can be programmed to detect equipment malfunctions. Human workers can detect malfunctions in machinery; a robot can also. Human workers can detect malfunctions in machinery; a robot can, too. 2. Robots can detect malfunctions in machinery, as/just as human workers can. 3. Robots and human workers/Both robots and human workers/Not only robots but also human workers can detect malfunctions in machinery. 4. Robots, like/just like/similar to human workers, can detect malfunctions in machinery. 5. Robots are similar to/ the same as human workers because they can both detect malfunctions in machinery. 6. In their ability to detect malfunctions in machinery, robots and human workers are the same. 7. Robots and human workers are alike/similar because they can both detect malfunctions in machinery. 8. Robots can be compared to/with human workers in their ability to detect malfunctions in machinery. 3 CONTRAST STRUCTURE WORDS - CONCESSION (UNEXPECTED RESULT) SENTENCE CONNECTORS CLAUSE CONNECTORS OTHERS Subordinators Coordinators 1. however nevertheless nonetheless still 2. although even though though 3. but yet 4. despite (+N) in spite of (+N) Examples 1. It began to rain, however/nevertheless/nonetheless/still, we continued our hike. 2. We continued our hike although/even though/though it began to rain. 3. It began to rain, but/yet we continued our hike. 4. Despite/In spite of the rain, we continued our hike. CONTRAST STRUCTURE WORDS - DIRECT OPPOSITION SENTENCE CONNECTORS CLAUSE CONNECTORS OTHERS Subordinators Coordinators 1. however in contrast in (by) comparison on the other hand 2. on the contrary 3. while whereas 4. but 5.differ from 6. compared (to/with) 7. (be) different (from) (be) dissimilar (to) (be) unlike Examples 1. The term rock music commonly refers to music styles after 1959 that were influenced primarily by white musicians; however/in contrast/incomparison/on the other hand, rhythm-and-blue music styles were influenced primarily by black musicians. 2. Innovation in rock music comes not just from the United States; on the contrary the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were from Great Britain, and the music style known as reggae came from the Caribbean Island of Jamaica. (Note: On the contrary contrasts an untruth and a truth.) 3. The term rock music commonly refers to music styles after 1959 that were influenced primarily by white musicians, while/whereas rhythm-and-blue music styles were influenced primarily by black musicians. 4. The term rock music commonly refers to music styles after 1959 that were influenced primarily by white musicians, but rhythm-and-blue music styles were influenced primarily by black musicians. 5. Early rock music differs from later styles in that later styles make use of electronics to produce new sounds. 6. Compared to/with earlier rock styles, later styles have a harder sound. 7. The punk, rap, grunge, and techno styles of the '90s are very different from/dissimilar to/unlike the rock music played by Elvis Presley in the '50s, but they have the same roots. 4 Do not forget that using transitions enables the piece of writing to be coherent; it is easier for the reader to follow our ideas when transitions are used to link them together. However, overuse of transitions causes a traffic jam and should be avoided. We should be using transitions sparingly (only when necessary). Sample comparison contrast essays Sample 1: METU and Bogazici University Almost all high school students who would like to further their academic lives in the university search for information about the various universities of Turkey. Among many universities in Turkey, two of them are the most popular: Middle East Technical University and Bogazici University. They are considered the best. However, since both cannot be THE BEST, their specialties, facilities and locations need to be examined in detail to be able to choose the most suitable university for one's education life. One of the areas that one should investigate is the specialties of the two universities. METU is a comparatively new university (1956). Its aim was to contribute to the development of Turkey and Middle East countries and especially to train people so as to create a skilled workforce in the fields of natural and social sciences. The first academic program to start education was the Department of Architecture. It was followed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Today, there are 37 undergraduate programs in five faculties of METU. Bogazici University, on the other hand, is a very old university (1863). Its first name was Robert College. It got its present name in 1971. It started education by giving Bachelor of Arts degree. Engineering building was built later (1912). Today, Bogazici is known to graduate students who have strong social and business skills. The second point we would like to compare is their facilities. METU is widely recognized with its cultural and intellectual facilities. The campus houses pioneers of some clubs such as mountaineering and scuba diving clubs, which are only two of a total of 25 different social clubs that students can choose. There is an alumni society. There are two gymnasiums, 7 tennis courts, a closed and an open swimming pool. However, the campus is far from the city center; therefore, there are not many places to eat at around the campus. METU has a very good library with hard and electronic copies of many books and journals. Bogazici also has a very good library, a swimming pool, a gymnasium and an alumni society that offers many extra-curricular courses, such as fitness, yoga, cooking courses. There are canteens on campus. However, unlike METU, Bogazici is situated in Etiler and it is close to Bebek, places popular with young people and there are a lot of places to eat around the campus. This brings us to the third point we would like to compare; the campus. The two campuses are quite different from each other. Bogazici campus is quite old; dates back to 5 the second half of 19th century. The buildings are very old. Though they are restored from time to time, they have historical value and their facades cannot be changed. The campus is full of old trees and it has an awesome view of the Bosphorus. The campus is quite large. However, new buildings cannot be added so two new campuses have been constructed. One is called the North Campus and is quite close to the main campus. The other is in Kilyos, 40 km away. There are shuttle busses for both campuses. METU, on the other hand, is modern looking with concrete and red brick buildings. The campus is large enough to allow construction of new buildings. With many green areas where students can meet and talk, it has a more academic atmosphere. As a conclusion, we can say that METU dwells more on the technical departments and a closed campus life which enables the students to concentrate on their courses more. On the other hand, Bogazici is very good at social sciences and economics departments and has every facility to create a cultural and intellectual environment for the student. One should evaluate one’s priorities before making such a choice. Sample 2: The Senate and the House of Representatives The government of the United States is made up of three branches:the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch. The legislative branch, called Congress, is responsible for making laws. Congress is made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. In this essay, you will learn the differences and similarities between these two houses of Congress. There are many differences between the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Vice President of the United States is the head of the Senate. He must vote in the Senate if there is a tie. On the other hand, the House of Representatives’ leader is called the Speaker of the House. The representatives elect him or her. Another difference is that the Senate is made up of 100 senators, two from each state. The House of Representatives, however, is made up of 435 representatives. The number of representatives from each state is determined by that state’s population. The greater the population in a state, the more representatives that state will have in the House. A third difference is that senators are elected to six-year terms, while representatives are elected to serve two-year terms. Every two years, the nation holds an election for members of Congress. At that time, all members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are up for re-election. There are also similarities between the Senate and the House of Representatives. For example, both houses of Congress are made up of men and women. Both senators and representatives are members of Congress who must work together toward the same goal: to create, discuss, debate and vote on bills, some of which eventually become laws. In the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C., senators and representatives often meet with 6 each other and in smaller groups to discuss laws. Before the President can sign a bill into law, it must first be approved by a majority of members in both the House and Senate. Although Congress is made up of two types of lawmakers, they must work together for the benefit of all Americans. Sample 3: Where to Go on Vacation: The Beach or the City It is a fact that not all the people have the opportunity to go on vacation. The ones who have the facilities like to go out of town once in a while in order to leave their worries behind. When we go on vacation, we have to decide the best place to go according to what we have in mind. The purpose of this essay is to contrast the differences between vacation at a beach or in a city. We will look at the kinds of activities, the clothing required and the pace of life available while vacationing on the beach or in the city. The first major difference between vacationing on the beach or in a city is the kind of activities you are able to do. On the beach, for example, you can go sailing, fishing, surfing, skiing, or take advantage of the sun and lie in the sand to get tan, or even in some cases feed sharks and swim with dolphins. On the other hand, in a city you can visit different sites such as museums, theaters, important buildings, downtown, among other things. This means that you have many places to know and you will need much more time and organization in a city than on the beach. Another difference between vacationing on the beach or in a city is the clothing and equipment you need to take with you. If you decide to go to the beach, you will have to take mainly a bathing suit, shorts, short-sleeve shirts, sandals, sunglasses, goggles, and sun block. Considering that you are going to the city where you will have to walk a lot, you will need comfortable and casual clothing such as jeans and tennis shoes. You will also have to take fancy clothes in case you want to go, for example, to watch a play or to a concert. The final difference between vacationing on the beach or in a city is the pace of life. If you want a relaxing plan, your option will be the beach. When you are on the beach you just let things happen while in the city you will have to schedule all your activities in order to have time to visit the different sites you want to. In conclusion, here you have these differences to consider when deciding where to go on vacation. Although both places are interesting and exciting, it all depends on what you are looking for. Keep in mind that wherever you decide to go you will enjoy it. 7 Sample 4: MY PART-TIME JOBS I have held six part-time jobs so far, and I have learned something from each one of them. I had my first paid job during the summer vacation before I started high school, picking strawberries at a farm near our summerhouse. During three of my four high school years, I cleaned offices near my house once a week after school. I have also worked as a receptionist for a passenger ferry company, a salesperson in a clothing store, a math tutor for middle school students, and a maid in a hotel. While there are a few similarities between these jobs, the differences between them are much greater. One obvious similarity is that they have all been part time. My parents didn’t allow me to work more than one evening and one of the weekend days (Saturday or Sunday) while I was a student. Of course, I often worked full time for a month or so during the summer but never during the school year. Another similarity is that they were all basically entry-level, unskilled positions. One might think that being a math tutor was a more highly skilled job, but actually I was given all the assignments and detailed directions for how to teach math points by the school. Still, I think the differences between these jobs are much more striking than the similarities. The first big difference between them was the amount of mental and physical work involved. My two jobs as a strawberry picker and as a hotel maid involved a lot of heavy lifting, and in both of them I walked many miles everyday. I remember crying after my second day in the strawberry field because my back muscles were so sore. The office cleaning job involved some physical work, such as moving chairs and waste baskets, but it was very easy in comparison. For my receptionist, tutor, and salesperson jobs, I worked in air-conditioned comfort and never lifted anything heavier than a pencil or a dress. Second, there was a great difference in the amount of independence I had. Picking strawberries, I could go as slowly or as quickly as I wanted; when I picked more strawberries, I got a lot of money. As a salesperson, I was also paid a commission on the amount I sold, so I had a lot of independence. In my other four jobs, I was told exactly what to do and when to do it. However, the biggest difference, in my opinion, was whether the work involved people or objects. When you are picking fruit and cleaning offices or hotel rooms, you really don’t need to talk with people much. Sometimes a whole day could go by in those jobs when I hardly said anything to anyone, but as a receptionist, salesperson, or tutor, establishing pleasant and effective relationships with other people was critical. To summarize, the similarities in the amount of work and level of skill needed are not nearly as obvious as the differences between these jobs. Physical labor is hard on your body, but the hardest thing about these jobs for me was that I rarely go total with anyone. I love to talk, and I have discovered that I need to have independence and responsibility in the kind of work I do. As a result, I kept my sales-person job through all four years of high school. Being a receptionist was somewhat boring, but at least I got to chat with a lot of different people. Therefore, besides earning pocket money and saving for college and some vacations abroad, my six jobs have taught me a lot about the kind of responsibility, and interaction with interesting people is the path for me. Two methods for writing a comparison essay are the Block and the Feature-by-Feature methods. Use the following information about each format to help your classes write comparison essays. 8 Sample 5: Industrial Engineer or Administrator? One of the most important decisions of your life is choosing a career. When you have two main options to study you can compare them in order to see the advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of this essay is to examine the differences between being an Industrial Engineer and being an Administrator. These are two similar careers, but each of them offers you different opportunities as a student and as a professional. Three main aspects comparing these two careers are the job opportunities, the specific skills you acquire and the work areas. One of the main aspects you should consider in selecting a career is the job opportunities. As an Industrial Engineer you have a very wide open field. You can work in many different areas. Industrial Engineers can work as administrators, manufacturers, and in departments such as human resources. As an Administrator you are more specialized, and the work field is more reduced. You can only work in departments such as human resources and economics but not in manufacturing or productivity departments. Another very important differences the knowledge you acquire. As an Industrial Engineer you will obtain more objective and specialized reasoning abilities. You will have to study subjects such as Physics and Mathematics and other kinds of subjects such as Human Resources and Administration. As an Engineer you will obtain both a social and a mathematical perspective. As an Administrator you have subjects such as Finance and Private Rights. You will obtain a better social perspective, but not a very critical or specialized mathematical reasoning. A third aspect to consider is what would you like to do after graduating. Both careers are good to be an entrepreneur. Engineers are able to work in the manufacturing process in order to offer good quality. Administrators are able to work checking the economic and material resources in order to produce. An Administrator is specialized in the financial aspects, and the Engineer is specialized in the productivity. It depends which area you like the most. Click here to understand more about Industrial Engineering and Managing. Definitely, both careers are great options. Both are needed in industry and business. It is very important to analyze if you are more into business or if you are more into manufacturing. Engineers use a very high level of critical thinking and analysis talking about productivity. Administrators use a very specialized reasoning talking about economics and resources. Both are similar, but they focus on different aspects within the enterprise. It is a matter of knowing yourself and finding out what kind of student and professional you want to be. 9 Sample 6: Two Great Mexican Cities Becoming a foreign student has given me the opportunity of living in two cities at the same time: Queretaro and San Miguel. Living in each city regularly has let me see many differences between the both, but there are three main contrasts between them, which are the size of the cities, the life rhythm of each city, and the activities you can do in each city. Usually the first difference that all people see is the size of the cities. Queretaro has grown into a great urban mass filled with industries, buildings, roads, and lots of people. The time it takes you to get from one place to another shows us how big it has become. San Miguel still maintains the essence of a colonial town in which most of its townsfolk know each other although the city has grown a lot in the last years. Another great difference is the rhythm of life in each city. Queretaro has become a city in which its people are usually in a hurry and have a lot of things to do throughout the day. This can be seen by the amount of traffic in the city. On the other hand, San Miguel still remains quite a calm city where most people walk and take their time. Maybe the most important difference between the cities are the activities you can do. In Queretaro you can find all sorts of things to do like shopping in plazas, going to the discos or bars at nights, going to the movies, etc. In San Miguel, there are places to drink a coffee and chat, theaters and art galleries to visit, and many places with beautiful architecture and decoration you can admire. As you can see, there is a great difference between these two cities, and it is best to be in each city according to what you want to do. If you like to be active during the day, survive traffic and stress, and go shopping and have fun at clubs or bars, Queretaro is the place to be. But if you want to have a calm day, hang out with friends to catch up on things, or use your time in cultural activities like painting or music, San Miguel is a great option. Sample 7: Cows and Whales There are some things that happen to cows and whales. One of the things, both cows and whales are eaten by people in some countries as edible meat. Another thing, although they are living different places like ocean and land, they have their own lives. It seems that cows and whales are in a same situation. But there are some differences that could be compared. First, many cows are slaughtered everyday. On the other hand, whales are protected by national law recently. Second, cows are important provisions for all over the world. However, whales are important edible animals only in a few countries. 10 [...]... cows and whales are both on the same situations However, practically both cows and whales are completely opposite situations and different treatment 11 FURTHER READING Writing Effective Comparison or Contrast Essays A Comparison or Contrast essay is an essay in which you either compare something or contrast something A comparison essay is an essay in which you emphasize the similarities, and a contrast. .. page, the explanation of the differences between the classic organizational styles of comparison and contrast essays, (1) block and (2) point-by-point or alternating arrangement How to Support Your Point of View though Comparison and Contrast It was stated in the first part of this paper that we use comparison or contrast in nearly everything we do When deciding what to eat, for example, we often choose... your convenience and lifestyle (347 words) 14 The essay above is the "classic" five paragraph essay that all non-native speakers of English should learn to write This essays also contains the "classic" point-by-point organization, each point stated and developed in a single paragraph The essay contains five paragraphs that contrast three differences between fresh and canned foods The essay includes (1)... difference (cost), and (5) a conclusion In the true classic tradition, the three main differences in this contrast essay flavor, health benefits, and cost—are stated both in the introduction and the conclusion as well My own observation is this: US kids are taught to organize and write five paragraph essays like this from early childhood, but they rarely attain the degree of perfection of the essay above... you emphasize the similarities, and a contrast essay is an essay in which you emphasize the differences We use comparison and contrast thinking when deciding which university to attend, which car to buy, or whether to drive a car or take a bus or an airplane to a vacation site In this section, two classic organizational patterns of a comparison or contrast essay will be discussed One is called block arrangement... Why or why not? What other ways could this essay have ended? An important point to remember when writing comparison or contrast essays is that many times writers use comparison or contrast to support a personal point of view Whenever possible and appropriate, writers should support their own views For example, the following paragraphs are from the book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert... places people choose for taking a vacation are the beaches and the mountains Both places offer a variety of fun activities The beach offers activities that the mountain cannot offer and vice versa The mountain and the beach are totally different The purpose of this essay is to contrast the climate, types of activities and locations of beaches and mountains I’m going to discuss mountains first The three... and we are responsible for what we eat We decide what we are about to eat and how it will affect our bodies The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast the differences between eating fresh foods instead of canned foods The three main differences are flavor, health benefits, and cost The most notable difference between these two kinds of foods is their flavor Fresh foods have great flavor and. .. First difference between mountains and beaches is climate A Mountains B Beach III Second difference between mountains and beaches are types of activities A Mountains B Beach IV Third difference between mountains and beaches is the location A Mountains B Beach V Conclusion Application: Block or Point-by-Point Examine the comparison or contrast essays that follow, and decide whether the authors used... future And they have to wait their slaughter in the field On the other hand, whales are free in a huge ocean They can swim and travel wherever they want Even though, they are caught by people, other whales have a future They don't need to wait their slaughter They have their lives and freedom until caught by people In conclusion, there are something that happen to cows and whales Both cows and whales . Effective Comparison or Contrast Essays A Comparison or Contrast essay is an essay in which you either compare something or contrast something. A comparison essay is an essay in which you emphasize. classic organizational styles of comparison and contrast essays, (1) block and (2) point-by-point or alternating arrangement. How to Support Your Point of View though Comparison and Contrast It was stated. essay in which you emphasize the similarities, and a contrast essay is an essay in which you emphasize the differences. We use comparison and contrast thinking when deciding which university