Comparison, as a pattern of exposition, examines similarities or differences between two subjects
(people, objects, or ideas, for instance) in order to arrive at a judgment or conclusion. You are to write a
comparison essay over a topic of your choice. Think about how the subjects of your chosen topic are
similar and how they are different. This will help you to decide on which organization you will employ,
either trait-by-trait or subject-by-subject. Remember, as a common rule, a trait-by-trait organization is
helpful when the individual points of similarity or difference between your two subjects are noteworthy;
on the other hand, a subject-by-subject organization allows the writer to emphasize the purpose of their
essay, as the individual points of similarity or difference are not as relevant. Despite your method of
organization, you should include useful and interesting examples to discuss your topic in a meaningful
way for your projected audience (Use what you learned about description!). Remember, a strong
comparison essay goes beyond the obvious; it develops knowledge and insight worth sharing with your
readers.
Rules for Comparison Essay:
• Essay must be 2-3 pages in length with introduction and thesis statement, at least three
paragraphs for the body, and conclusion.
• Each paragraph must consist of 6-8 sentences.
• Do not use second person (you or your) anywhere in your essay. You will primarily use third
person (he, she, it, they, them, their, etc.), and you should limit first person (I, me, we, etc.) to
only personal examples (which should also be limited).
• Your essay must adhere to MLA formatting standards, including spacing, page numbers,
headings, etc. (For help with this, see the sample MLA page on Blackboard or consult OWL at
Purdue online).
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