101 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Great Ideas for Essays

Nine compare and contrast essay topics, from types of animals to modes of currency

ThoughtCo.

Compare and contrast essays are taught in school for many reasons. For one thing, they are relatively easy to teach, understand, and format. Students can typically understand the structure with just a short amount of instruction. In addition, these essays allow students develop critical thinking skills to approach a variety of topics.

Brainstorming Tip

One fun way to get students started brainstorming their compare and contrast essays is to create a Venn diagram, where the overlapping sections of the circle contain similarities and the non-overlapping areas contain the differing traits.

Following is a list of 101 topics for compare and contrast essays that you are welcome to use in your classroom. As you look through the list you will see that some items are academic in nature while others are included for interest-building and fun writing activities.

  1. Apple vs. Microsoft
  2. Coke vs. Pepsi
  3. Renaissance Art vs. Baroque Art
  4. Antebellum Era vs. Reconstruction Era in American History
  5. Childhood vs. Adulthood
  6. Star Wars vs. Star Trek
  7. Biology vs. Chemistry
  8. Astrology vs. Astronomy
  9. American Government vs. British Government (or any world government)
  10. Fruits vs. Vegetables
  11. Dogs vs. Cats
  12. Ego vs. Superego
  13. Christianity vs. Judaism (or any world religion)
  14. Republican vs. Democrat
  15. Monarchy vs. Presidency
  16. US President vs. UK Prime Minister
  17. Jazz vs. Classical Music
  18. Red vs. White (or any two colors)
  19. Soccer vs. Football
  20. North vs. South Before the Civil War
  21. New England Colonies vs. Middle Colonies OR vs. Southern Colonies
  22. Cash vs. Credit Cards
  23. Sam vs. Frodo Baggins
  24. Gandalf vs. Dumbledore
  25. Fred vs. Shaggy
  26. Rap vs. Pop
  27. Articles of Confederation vs. U.S. Constitution
  28. Henry VIII vs. King Louis XIV
  29. Stocks vs. Bonds
  30. Monopolies vs. Oligopolies
  31. Communism vs. Capitalism
  32. Socialism vs. Capitalism
  33. Diesel vs. Petroleum
  34. Nuclear Power vs. Solar Power
  35. Saltwater Fish vs. Freshwater Fish
  36. Squids vs. Octopus
  37. Mammals vs. Reptiles
  38. Baleen vs. Toothed Whales
  39. Seals vs. Sea Lions
  40. Crocodiles vs. Alligators
  41. Bats vs. Birds
  42. Oven vs. Microwave
  43. Greek vs. Roman Mythology
  44. Chinese vs. Japanese
  45. Comedy vs. Drama
  46. Renting vs. Owning
  47. Mozart vs. Beethoven
  48. Online vs. Traditional Education
  49. North vs. South Pole
  50. Watercolor vs. Oil
  51. 1984 vs. Fahrenheit 451
  52. Emily Dickinson vs. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
  53. W.E.B. DuBois vs. Booker T. Washington
  54. Strawberries vs. Apples
  55. Airplanes vs. Helicopters
  56. Hitler vs. Napoleon
  57. Roman Empire vs. British Empire
  58. Paper vs. Plastic
  59. Italy vs. Spain
  60. Baseball vs. Cricket
  61. Jefferson vs. Adams
  62. Thoroughbreds vs. Clydesdales
  63. Spiders vs. Scorpions
  64. Northern Hemisphere vs. Southern Hemisphere
  65. Hobbes vs. Locke
  66. Friends vs. Family
  67. Dried Fruit vs. Fresh
  68. Porcelain vs. Glass
  69. Modern Dance vs. Ballroom Dancing
  70. American Idol vs. The Voice
  71. Reality TV vs. Sitcoms
  72. Picard vs. Kirk
  73. Books vs. Movies
  74. Magazines vs. Comic Books
  75. Antique vs. New
  76. Public vs. Private Transportation
  77. Email vs. Letters
  78. Facebook vs. Twitter
  79. Coffee vs. an Energy Drink
  80. Toads vs. Frogs
  81. Profit vs. Non-Profit
  82. Boys vs. Girls
  83. Birds vs. Dinosaurs
  84. High School vs. College
  85. Chamberlain vs. Churchill
  86. Offense vs. Defense
  87. Jordan vs. Bryant
  88. Harry vs. Draco
  89. Roses vs. Carnations
  90. Poetry vs. Prose
  91. Fiction vs. Nonfiction
  92. Lions vs. Tigers
  93. Vampires vs. Werewolves
  94. Lollipops vs. popsicles
  95. Summer vs. Winter
  96. Recycling vs. Landfill
  97. Motorcycle vs. Bicycle
  98. Halogen vs. Incandescent
  99. Newton vs. Einstein
  100. . Go on vacation vs. Staycation
  101. Rock vs. Scissors
Format
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Your Citation
Kelly, Melissa. "101 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/compare-and-contrast-essay-topics-7822. Kelly, Melissa. (2023, April 5). 101 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/compare-and-contrast-essay-topics-7822 Kelly, Melissa. "101 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/compare-and-contrast-essay-topics-7822 (accessed March 19, 2024).