Organizing Compare Contrast
Paragraphs
Comparing Two Subjects in Two
Paragraphs
I. Block Format
When using the block format for a two paragraph comparison, discuss one subject in the first paragraph and the other, in the second.
|
Paragraph 1: Opening sentence names the two subjects and states
that they are very similar, very different or have many important (or
interesting) similarities and differences. |
|
Paragraph 2: Opening sentence must contain a
transition showing you are comparing the second subject to the first.
(e.g. "Unlike (or similar to) [subject #1], [ subject
#2]... |
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II. Separating Similarities and Differences
When using this format, discuss only the similarities in the first paragraph and only the differences in the next. This format requires careful use of many compare/contrast cue words and is therefore more difficult to write well.
|
Paragraph 1: Opening sentence names the two subjects and states
that they are very similar, very different or have many important (or
interesting) similarities and differences. |
|
Paragraph 2: Opening sentence MUST contain a transition
showing you are switching to differences. (e.g. Despite all these
similarities, [these two subjects] differ in significant
ways.) |
More resources for writing the compare/contrast essay can be found here.