Comparison&Contrast

BASICS

To write an effective comparison and contrast, keep in mind that your subjects should be logically comparable and your composition should have a clear purpose

what it is
A rhetorical strategy and method of organization in which a writer examines similarities and/or differences between two people, places, ideas, or things.
Transitional expressions indicating comparison
"In the same way", "In like manner" "likewise", "in similar fashion"

Transitional expressions indicating contrast:

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Identifying points of similarity and difference

Short Fiction: "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Fall of the House of Usher" Although "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Fall of the House of Usher" rely on two notably different types of narrator (the first a mad murderer with a long memory, the second an outside observer who serves as the reader's surrogate), both of these stories by Edgar Allan Poe rely on similar devices to create their effects of suspense and horror. Compare and contrast the storytelling methods employed in the two tales, with particular attention to point of view, setting, and diction. REPHRASE INTO THESIS

POINT BY POINT
(comparing two jobs) make a list of factors that are important to you: salary, benefits, opportunities for advancement, workplace atmosphere, commuting distance from your home

Each factor, or point of comparison, is like a subtopic in a logical division essay.

MODEL
I. Introduction Thesis: One way to decide between two jobs is to compare them on important points II. Body a. salary b. benefits c. opportunities for advancement d. workplace atmosphere e. commuting distance from home

III. Conclusion

BLOCK STRUCTURE
arrange all the similarities together in a block and all the differences together in a block insert a transition paragraph or transition sentence between the two blocks

MODEL
I. Introduction Thesis: One way to decide between two jobs is to compare them on important points II. Body A. SIMILARITIES a. benefits b. commuting distance from home B. DIFFERENCES a. opportunities for advancement b. workplace atmosphere c. salary III. Conclusion

practice
WAE, p. 124-126 Marital Exchanges

Effective use of c&c

Two Kinds of Movies From "Happy Haneke"* by Anthony Lane As a rough rule, cinema can be sundered into two halves: six oclock films and nine oclock films. Most movies are nine oclock affairs, and none the worse for it. You get home from work, grab something to eat, head to the theatre, and enjoy the show. And so to bed--alone or entwined, but, either way, with dreams whose sweetness will not be crumbled or soured by what you saw onscreen. A six oclock movie requires more organization: prebooked tickets, a restaurant table, the right friends. Youre going to need them, because if all runs according to plan you will spend the second half of the evening tossing the movie--the impact and the substance of it--back and forth. So Persona is a six oclock movie, though it wont leave you with much of an appetite. As is The Deer Hunter, whereas Platoon, for all its sound and fury, works fine for nine oclock. The Reader is a nine oclock movie that thinks its a six oclock. Groundhog Day is the opposite. And The White Ribbon? A six-o'clock movie, if ever I saw one.

White Ribbon
An essay on White Ribbon
http://ruthlessculture.com/2009/11/18/the-white-ribbon-2009-the-challenge-of-empathy/

Anthony Lane "Happy Haneke", full text

ARGUMENTATION

BASICS

An argumentative essay is an essay in which you agree or disagree with an issue, using reasons to support your opinion.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO

take a stand on an issue, support the stand with solid reasons, support reasons with solid evidence.

PREPARING AN ARGUMENT
Choosing a Topic, Focusing an Argument, Planning an Approach

issues - possible topics, matters open for discussion

goal: to convince the reader, do not use topics which would provoke strong emotional response focus on what you actually know explore by freewriting/brainstorming

Focusing an Argument

begins with taking a clear stand on the issue express your point of view in a one-sentence proposal

Planning an argument
decide on the 3-4 points that best support your proposal, consider available evidence to support the points these will be your key arguments

PROs and CONs research up-to-date information Elimination of final grades in all courses Eg. "Final grades should be eliminated in all courses and replaced by grades of pass orfail."

BLOCK PATTERN
I. Introduction Explanation of the issue Thesis statement II. Body Block 1 A. Summary of other side's arguments B. Rebuttal to the first argument C. Rebuttal to the second argument D. Rebuttal to the third argument Block 2 E. Your first argument F. Your second argument G. Your third argument III. Conclusion-may include a summary of your point of view

POINT-BY-POINT
I. Introduction Explanation of the issue, including a summary of the other side's arguments Thesis statement II. Body A. Statement of the other side's first argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument B. Statement of the other side's second argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument C. Statement of the other side's third argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument III. Conclusion-may include a summary of your point of view

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Explaining the issue necessary attention grabbing intro Surprising statistics Dramatic story

add a paragraph explaining the issue

thesis statement

states clearly which side you are for

thesis can mention the opposing point of view writer's opinion is expressed in the main (independent) clause, and the opposing point of view is normally put into a subordinate structure
SUBORDINATE STRUCTURE

Despite the claims that curfew laws are necessary to control juvenile gangs,
MAIN (INDEPENDENT) CLAUSE

curfew laws are clearly unconstitutional.

SUBORDINATE STRUCTURE

Although there are certainly reasons to be cautious with stem cell research or any new technology,
MAIN (INDEPENDENT) CLAUSE

I believe that its potential benefits far outweigh its dangers.

Academic style

DO NOT USE 1ST PERSON!