Compare and Contrast

This writing assignment involves writing your Comparison and Contrast essay. Once you draft your essay and revise, you may submit it for feedback. The feedback will help you revise the draft so you can submit it as a final. The final version will be graded.

Option #1: The Classroom or the Web?

Which method of learning is better?

Option #2: The City or the Country?

Which is the better place to live?

Option #3: Which Vehicle is Better?

Which of two vehicles in the same class do you prefer?

Choose one of the options above and write an essay comparing or contrasting the two topics in your

selection using EITHER the point-by-point OR the subject-by-subject method to organize the details and specific examples. Consider focusing on three to five subtopics and generate ideas through prewriting.

Develop a strong thesis statement for your essay that both includes your opinion (either your preference for one topic over the other OR which topic is best for each subtopic) as well as the specific subtopics you used to compare or contrast the two topics in your body paragraphs.

Sample Thesis Statements:

If you prefer one topic entirely over the other:

"Living in the city is better than living in the country because (add reason 1), (add reason 2), and (add reason 3)."

OR

If you believe some subtopics work best for one topic while the other subtopics are best suited to the other topic:

"Online learning is more (add one reason why online learning is better) than classroom learning; however, classroom learning (add one reason why classroom learning is better) and (add a second reason why classroom learning is better)."