Touchstone 2.1: Comparison/Contrast Essay

Begin by choosing a topic for your comparison/contrast essay. You are free to select your own topic, or you may use one of the sample topics listed below. However, you should choose a topic that you have knowledge of so that you have sufficient points of comparison or contrast to discuss in your essay. You will need to compare or contrast two or three primary points about the two subjects you choose to write about, resulting in an essay with either four or six body paragraphs, an introductory paragraph, and a conclusion.

• Compare or contrast two cities youve visited or that youve lived in
• Compare or contrast two members of your family
• Compare or contrast two sources of news
• Compare or contrast two singers in different music genres
• Compare or contrast two historical figures
• Compare or contrast two artists (for example, Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso or Keith Haring and Andy Warhol)
• Compare or contrast two eras in time
• Compare or contrast two television series
• Compare or contrast two types of technologies (for example, Android and Apple phones or PlayStation and Xbox)
• Compare or contrast two medical topics (for example, traditional medicine and modern medicine or doctors and midwives

C. Comparison/Contrast Guidelines

Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until your draft meets all of the guidelines.

Elements of a Comparison/Contrast Essay

Are there significant points of comparison or contrast between the two subjects you have selected?
Do you make clear comparisons or contrasts between the two subjects within the body paragraphs of the essay?
Are the body paragraphs organized either by point or by subject?
Have you used transitional words or phrases to indicate points being compared or contrasted?
Does the essay have a clear and consistent focus of comparing and contrasting two subjects?

Thesis Statement

Have you included a clear, focused, and detailed thesis statement?
Does your thesis state the subjects to be compared or contrasted and include the two or three points of comparison or contrast?
Is your thesis a single sentence located in the introductory paragraph?

Organization

Is there an introductory paragraph that contains your thesis statement?
Are there four or six total body paragraphs, each with a clear topic sentence?
Is there a conclusion paragraph with a concluding statement?
Have you used transitions to connect ideas between sentences and paragraphs?

Style and Tone

Is the tone of the essay objective and informative?
Have you carefully considered your word choices?
Is the purpose of your essay clearly to inform the reader about the similarities or differences between the two subjects?

Conventions

Have you checked your essay for grammatical and mechanical errors?
Have you used spell check or another method to check spelling?

Before you Submit

Have you included your name, date, and course at the top left of the page?
Have you completed the Think About Your Writing questions?
Is your essay between 3-4 pages (approximately 700-1000 words)?

F. Requirements

• Your draft must be 3-4 page (approximately 700-1000 words)
• Guidelines must be followed or submission will not be graded
• Double-space your draft and use one-inch margins.
• Use an easily-readable 12-point font.
• All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
• Your draft must be original and written for this assignment.
• Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
• Your submission must include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your draft.
• Your submission must include your answers to the Think About Your Writing questions