The first step to writing a compare and contrast essay is to pick two subjects that are different enough to be contrasted, but similar enough to be compared. This means that the subjects are not so different that you can't find a thing they have in common, or that they shouldn't be so similar that you don't have much to say about their differences.
Once you have picked your two subjects, you will need to do your research to figure out how much they have in common and how different they really are. Make a Venn diagram of the two subjects and write the similarities in the part of the intersecting circles, while writing the differences in the parts of each subject's circle that does not intersect with other. This will require you to check your sources, brainstorm, and analyze the two subjects on a deeper level.
Once you have made your list, think about the most important differences and similarities. Your thesis statement will be the one sentence that tells your readers how the subjects are similar or different, and why this is an important comparison to make. Most often, your thesis should focus on three points of comparison, so that you have three separate differences or similarities to discuss.
Once you have got your thesis statement on a piece of paper, do your outline with the first paragraph being your thesis statement, then your second paragraph will be your first thesis idea. The third paragraph is the second idea of your thesis. The fourth paragraph will be your third idea of your thesis. The last paragraph is the conclusion and it sums up all the points you have made.
At the end of all of your work you should have five paragraphs and should be able to type it on a computer.
Once you have picked your two subjects, you will need to do your research to figure out how much they have in common and how different they really are. Make a Venn diagram of the two subjects and write the similarities in the part of the intersecting circles, while writing the differences in the parts of each subject's circle that does not intersect with other. This will require you to check your sources, brainstorm, and analyze the two subjects on a deeper level.
Once you have made your list, think about the most important differences and similarities. Your thesis statement will be the one sentence that tells your readers how the subjects are similar or different, and why this is an important comparison to make. Most often, your thesis should focus on three points of comparison, so that you have three separate differences or similarities to discuss.
Once you have got your thesis statement on a piece of paper, do your outline with the first paragraph being your thesis statement, then your second paragraph will be your first thesis idea. The third paragraph is the second idea of your thesis. The fourth paragraph will be your third idea of your thesis. The last paragraph is the conclusion and it sums up all the points you have made.
At the end of all of your work you should have five paragraphs and should be able to type it on a computer.